That morning, the air at Port-town University was dry and sandy, yet it was also humid. It picked up leaves and tossed them aside as it whirled in the wind. For those who are eager to spend the day dozing off, the sun's hiding place behind gloomy clouds created the ideal atmosphere. But he was running as late as usual for his lectures that Thursday morning. In an attempt to reach his lecture hall before 10 am, he hurried to the hostel bus stop, zipping up his yellow jacket. As a fresher, you would think he would be more responsible in his early college years, but alas he couldn't seem to break his habit of being tardy.
Vic: (he looked around in disbelief) Shoot! 'Sigh.' Not again...
The wind blew in the breath of the scrubland ahead of him. With a soft grin and a slight tilt of his head, he glared at his next destination.
Spotting something by the corner of his eye, he saw another figure next to him, making it clear that he was not the only one to miss the bus that morning. Standing still on the curb was a girl with dark clothes bigger than the weather itself and straight, unbrushed hair cut in a bob right before her shoulders. She stared at the distant bus as it traveled along the rocky road, concealing her frustration.
A bit relieved that he wasn't alone, he walked up to her front and grinned at her blank expression. She looked up at him, dotting her only visible right eye from his nose to his jaw, but never his eyes. Anyone would feel uncomfortable at Vic's actions, but the guy could tell from the trembling in her eyes and the sweat down her cheek that she just lacked confidence and would do anything but have self-esteem.
Girl: (shudders, visibly anxious)...
Vic was clouded with a question,
What was she so afraid of?
Vic: … Hey you, I guess we'll walk, yeah?
There's nothing on earth to be afraid of.
Girl: It's fine (looks at the ground under Vic's feet); I can... I'll just wait for the next bus...
Her voice was low, almost beyond hearing.
Vic: 'hehehe' (He rests his hands on his waist.) There is no 'next bus.' I've been in this situation often enough to know that. But we can take the shortcut if you're interested (walks towards the bushes and does a welcoming pose); trust me, five stars.
Girl: … (she looks at Vic, shocked.) That place isn't safe.
Vic: It actually is; I use it all the time!
He's only gone through the bushes once a while back—a scarring experience, but she didn't know that.
Girl: Are you sure?
Vic: totally! (walks into the scrublands) I tell no lies!
Girl: 'What's with that guy? Maybe I should just...' (shaking her head) 'No, no, I'm not following a stranger in there! There has to be a better way...' She checks the main road for the bus but doesn't see it in sight.
She walked up to the other side of the road, where the path through the scrublands paved and teemed, and just standing there made her body feel like it would draw into the strange place at any moment.
Like she was being called into it.
Girl: 'heaves and exhales' Screw it!
She went into the bushes without any second thought, hoping she wouldn't lose sight of Vic.
A risky move, one that didn't feel like it would be worth it.
Nevertheless, she was filled with a sense of familiarity about the place.
The class area was far; although it took 5 minutes or less to get to with the bus, no one dared walk the distance along the empty road or enter the scrublands with only discouraging rumours attached to it.
Vic: Test run 2! Rumour has it that this place is littered with human bones and flesh. Yeah, right!
Vic only saw each moment he passed through the place as an opportunity to disprove the rumours from it.
Girl: 'wait, what!?'
Vic: (He turns to face her while pointing to himself.) I'm Vic, by the way, and you are?
Girl: … (slows down and looks at her feet) 'WHAT AM I DOING!?? I DON'T KNOW THIS SICKO!! HE COULD BE A CULTIST OR... OR A BODY-PARTS RITUALIST! (coughs) Okay, calm down; everything's fine! (stares at Vic) I won't get too close to him; he seems off; if anything wants to happen, then I can easily run back and rethink everything. Or I can finish him right here... Gosh, what am I doing?'
Vic: (puts his hands behind his head and turns around) It's a long way to the lecture hall; well, depending on which department you're in, I'm in forensics science, so it's even farther! Funny right? He pauses and looks at the soulless-looking girl behind him. Nah, I guess not—I don't know why I thought it was funny... 'hehe'
Girl: 'forensic science... huh.'
trush
trush
trush
As they ventured further, the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves surrounded them, while the thorny bushes and sandflies left several scars on Vic's face. He looked back at the girl who had no issue with any of it—as if they were staying away from her, the path was getting fuzzier, unfamiliar, and repetitive.
Vic: (slaps his arm at a swarm of flies) disgusting black creatures!
Girl: … okay
Vic: Don't worry though; this would be over before you know it! They don't call me 'The Bush King' for nothing, 'hehe.'
Fifteen Minutes Later…Vic and the girl were still wandering in the bushes, as they lacked any direction to keep a productive path with their morale dwindling by the hour. The sun was high in the sky, and its heatwave was intense. The experience had felt never-ending.
Vic: 'Groan, we should be in class. What is all this!?
Now, insects were not their only problem. The bushes had gotten shorter too, but the heat was something from the depths of hell.
Vic: (stops) I'm sure this was the right path.
Girl: No, that's where we're coming from.
Vic: (collapses on his bum) No… more! I've had enough.
She walked up to him and stared at his sorry state. She paused a while before saying,
Girl: I thought you were a bush king.
Vic: Shut up! (Rests his hands on the carpet grass.) I'm just catching my breath!!! Oh, frickin hell! (He raises his right hand to eye level.) Ah!
The young man had tears in his red-stained eyes while the girl stared at him with barely any reaction.
Girl: What is this?
Vic: Something bit my hand!!!
His right middle finger had a large red patch.
Vic: Where? (scurries to his feet and looks around.) Where is it, so I can kill it!?
She couldn't help but laugh at his state.
Vic: There's nothing funny about this.
She sat on a rock, opposite him, so she could observe her possible threat. Vic put his finger in his mouth, trying to suck out the pain. He found himself looking at her again; the girl, as usual, looked away.
Vic: You look familiar.
Girl: …
Vic: What department are you in?
Girl: …
Vic: You're not a witch or anything, are you?
Girl: ugh!!! (He turns around and faces his back at Vic.)
Vic: …
Girl: …
Vic: So what's your
Girl: Can't you be quiet for 1 minute? Guy, you've been talking non-stop since I met you. And the world would be a whole better place if that event didn't happen!
Vic: 'Heh,' you're finally talking to me, yeah?
Girl: Do not get used to it. 'I want nothing to do with the likes of you'
Vic: (removes his finger from his mouth) How are we getting out of here? (looks around) We need clues and ideas. (gets up to his feet) Motivation! WILL!! POWER!!!
Girl: I only need-
Vic: Come on, I'm back to speed. I'm going to get us out of here in no time.
Feeling defeated, the girl let out a helpless sigh before mustering the strength to rise to her feet.
Vic: ONWARDS! (starts walking in a nameless direction)
Girl: no! That's where we're coming from.
Vic came back and started in the opposite direction, his back slouched and his finger pointing forward.
Vic: 'heehee'
They wandered for another while, and before they knew it, the sun was almost setting. The day had gone before they knew it, and yet, no progress seemed to have been made.
Twilight, the bugs came back, this time in the form of random buzzing of mosquitoes through their ears. They both wore long sleeves, so their faces were their only option.
Vic: 'groan'
He was reaching his limit.
Girl: 'I should probably do something to help; all this is affecting me too.' Should we take a break? Maybe we'll get some ideas on what to do.
Vic: no!
Girl: Oh, 'why did I even try?'
Vic: This, isn't about getting to the class area anymore; we just need to get out of here, that's it!
Girl: And you're right! That is what we ought to do (walks up to his side and dips her hand in her bag).
Vic: …
Girl: (brings out a sachet of water) You want?
Vic: oh… (takes it reluctantly) Thanks, 'heh.'
Girl: you're welcome
The moon rose, declaring the night sky. Progress was still far from them, but they couldn't stop then. With all the deadly nocturnals running amok, sitting at a place wasn't the smartest option. Vic led the way with the girl walking behind him. He used the faint light from the screen of his flip phone to guide the way.
Girl: … Hey, did you try calling?
Vic: Till tomorrow, no network today. They said a whale ate their optic fibre cable or something.
Girl: Oh, that's... (she stopped)
Vic: what?
Girl: stop!
Vic turned to give her attention. She appeared to be fixated on something ahead.
He didn't want to ask her what it was, so she looked at the direction she was facing instead.
Vic: Whoa!
Off in the distance was a tall, moving figure, dark as the night, vertical and irregular in form. It moved like it hovered on the grass, like a ghost.
Or something more haunting.
It moved in a fixed path, like it was going somewhere.
Anyone would try not to interfere with such ethereal-looking things.
Vic: Hey! Excuse me, we need to know our way! (he shouts)
The girl's eyes popped out of its socket. Vic put his hands on his waist while the girl scurried away.
Girl: crap, crap, holy...
She stopped and looked at Vic, then at the thing he called at. It certainly took note of him.
It stopped,
Stopped moving.
Then steadily, it was coming for them.