As they continued their walk through the forest, they passed people riding bikes along one of the many winding paths the forest offered. The hum of spinning wheels and occasional laughter filled the crisp air.
Mama Ipoh glanced down at Viora, her hand warm and steady on her own, and asked with a curious smile, "Do you know how to ride a bike, Viora?"
Viora shook her head, her expression turning somber. "No one has ever taught me how to ride a bike before…" she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
Mama Ipoh chuckled softly, squeezing Viora's hand gently. "Well, how about I teach you sometime this week?" she suggested, her tone light and encouraging.
Viora's face brightened instantly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That would be great!" she exclaimed, her small voice brimming with joy.
The two continued down the path, their steps in sync, as the sounds of the forest and distant laughter accompanied their journey.
As they walked along the path, Viora and Mama Ipoh noticed several barricades set up around a cluster of trees. The bark of the trees was charred, blackened scars marring their once vibrant forms. A somber sign stood nearby, marking the area as off-limits.
A man stood in front of the barricades, his arms crossed as he gazed at the damaged trees. Mama Ipoh let out a deep sigh, her brows furrowing. "Geez, what on earth could have happened for those trees to end up in such bad shape?"
Hearing her voice, the man turned his head, noticing the older woman and the young girl beside her. He sighed as well, shaking his head before turning back to face the damaged trees. "It's horrible, isn't it? Some idiot started an illegal fire in the forest. About ten or so trees were burned down," he said, his tone heavy with frustration. "Luckily, the fire was spotted early, and we managed to put it out quickly. Who knows what could've happened if no one noticed in time…"
Mama Ipoh stared at the burnt trees, her expression one of quiet anger. She exhaled slowly, her voice low but sharp. "People really have no respect for nature whatsoever. Don't they realize trees give us the very air we breathe?"
The man nodded in agreement, his voice firm but courteous. "I couldn't agree more, ma'am. But don't worry—we're investigating the incident. We'll find whoever's responsible."
As they continued their walk, Mama Ipoh raised a hand in farewell, offering the man a small wave. "I hope you do," she said with a tone of resolve, her grip on Viora's hand tightening slightly.
Viora looked up at Mama Ipoh, her gaze curious. "Do you think they'll find out who did it?" she asked softly.
Mama Ipoh glanced down at her, her expression softening as she gave a reassuring smile. "They better," she replied, her tone firm. "People like that need to be held accountable. The forest deserves better than this."
As they walked away from the charred trees, Viora noticed one of the blue plasma orbs—those mysterious floating lights that often danced above them—lower itself timidly behind her and Mama Ipoh. Something was wrong. It wasn't just frightened; it looked utterly terrified.
Concerned, Viora gently cupped the small orb in her hands, its soft glow trembling against her fingers. "What's wrong?" she asked in a quiet voice.
Mama Ipoh, noticing Viora's sudden stillness, stopped walking. She was about to speak when both of them froze, their attention drawn to a piercing sound that erupted from the depths of the forest.
A scream—raw, furious, and inhuman—ripped through the air, echoing between the trees. Viora clamped her hands over her ears, but it wasn't enough to block out the sheer force of the noise. It was the most terrifying sound she had ever heard.
The scream grew louder, overwhelming, until Mama Ipoh knelt down and pressed her hands gently over Viora's ears. Her touch was firm but tender as she whispered, "Don't worry, little one. It'll be over soon."
Even with her ears covered, Viora could feel the scream reverberate through her body, shaking her to the core. The blue plasma orb quivered in her hands, barely maintaining its shape.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the scream stopped. The forest fell eerily silent, as if holding its breath.
Mama Ipoh removed her hands from Viora's ears, and the young girl blinked up at her, her voice trembling. "What was that?"
Viora looked up at Mama Ipoh's face, expecting the usual calm, easygoing expression she knew so well. But instead, Mama Ipoh's face was different—serious, sharp, and deeply focused. It was a side of her Viora had never seen before.
"Mama Ipoh?" Viora asked hesitantly.
The older woman blinked, her usual laid-back demeanor slipping back into place like a mask. She smiled warmly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Ah, sorry about that, sugar. Guess my mind wandered to the moon for a moment. But hey, look at the time! It's almost dinner. How about we head home, and I whip us up some of my famous homemade food? You'll love it."
Viora hesitated, her gaze shifting to the blue orb as it began to rise, still trembling but slowly regaining its composure. She nodded. "Yeah…"
As they made their way out of the forest, Viora couldn't help but glance back one last time. In the distance, she saw the same man standing guard at the barricade. He hadn't moved a muscle, still in the exact position as before.
He didn't look frightened—or even concerned.
The thought struck Viora like a cold wind: Did he even hear the scream at all?
***
About two hours after the strange scream, they finally reached home. Mama Ipoh pulled out her key and unlocked the door with a faint click. As the door swung open, Viora let out a long sigh.
"Finally, we're home…" she mumbled, stepping inside.
Mama Ipoh smirked, placing her hands on her hips as she followed. "You're acting like it's been a hundred years since we left! Are you tired already? Come on, sugar, I'm more than ten times your age, and I'm less worn out than you. And don't even think about dozing off—you haven't had dinner yet!"
Viora scrunched up her nose and groaned in frustration. "I'm not tired—or sleepy! I'm just… a little… not energetic."
Mama Ipoh burst into laughter, her warm chuckle filling the room. "What kind of explanation is that? Such a silly thing to say—but I guess that's to be expected from a child."
"I'm not silly—you're sillier!" Viora retorted, puffing out her chest in a futile attempt to appear bigger.
Mama Ipoh grinned as she slipped off her shoes. Meanwhile, Viora quickly kicked off her own, her earlier frustration forgotten, and dashed toward the dining table with newfound energy.
Mama Ipoh walked toward the kitchen, glancing back at Viora, who was sitting at the dining table with her chin propped on her hands. She smiled warmly. "You sure you want to sit there the whole time, sugar? Dinner's gonna take a while. I can call you when it's ready. Maybe you'd like to play in the backyard—no, scratch that, we've been outside enough for today. How about watching some cartoons instead?"
Viora stood up, her hands gently cradling one of the glowing plasma spirits that hovered near her. "Cartoons will do," she said with a small, content smile before darting off toward the living room.
The little spirit bobbed after her, glowing brighter as they settled on the couch together. Viora picked up the remote, flicked on the TV, and nestled into the cushions as the soft glow of the screen filled the room.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mama Ipoh began preparing dinner. As she stirred a pot, her expression turned thoughtful. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, folded talisman, holding it delicately between her fingers.
"I'll have to deal with this tomorrow," she murmured to herself, her tone serious. Her gaze flickered toward the living room where Viora sat, her laughter faintly audible. "It's probably best I give this to her—to keep her safe while I'm gone."
She tucked the talisman back into her pocket, her usual smile returning as she focused on the task at hand.
chapter twenty-four end