Start

ARAIA’s P.O.V 

"Good morning everyone!" Bea greeted him as she came down the stairs.

"Good morning too!" Hasel replied.

We are now in the living room, everyone woke up at noon because they were tired from the trip, but I only slept for two hours. What I saw in the forest early in the morning kept me awake all night.

I wanted to ask Sky because he might know it but I'm not sure if what I saw was true or I just rolled my eyes.

I'm sure they'll just laugh at me when they hear it.

"Hey do you know, there are stories here," said Sky. Later Bea says.

All of us sitting at the table stared at it, interested in what it had to say.

"What's that girl?" Hasel asked.

Bea sighed a little as if wanting to whisper.

"There are unknown creatures living in the forest." It says poorly.

My hair stood on end. Is this true?

"Oh, how unknown is that?" Joseph asked.

"It is said that many people see shadows in the forest especially when the sun is about to rise…" It continued.

"Maybe they're just imagining it?" second by Hasel.

My mind was focused on what they were talking about.

"Many are said to hear crackles and footsteps in the forest, even though they have no one else with them…"

My hair stood on end at what I heard. Does this mean that what I saw earlier this morning is real and not just a fantasy?

"It's scary…" said Hasel.

"Yes, so the advice here is that no one comes out from midnight until dawn- to be exact, before the sun rises."

I stared at it. Wasn't it before the sun rose when it happened?

I closed my eyes. Let's just assume that it doesn't exist…

"Araia, are you okay?" Unbeknownst to me, my table companions were already looking at me.

"Y-Yeah, Of course!" The smile I gave them.

“Are you sure? You look pale. ” Hasel asked.

I nodded at the question and smiled again. Maybe I won't ask them what I saw.

Eventually, their attention was diverted.

"Do you want to go around here in the villa?" Sky asked.

Everyone agreed.

"Of course bro!" Joseph happily agrees.

"Good idea!" Hasel followed.

There the plan was formed to tour the villa this afternoon. After lunch we tried to rest in the garden of Sky's house.

There was a hammock and chairs with engraved angels. As can be seen in the shows at the time.

"The beauty here in your house is Sky." Said Hasel.

"Thank you." Sky replied aloof.

It’s really stingy to speak often but it’s kind.

"Hasel, catch!" After a while Joseph cried out.

Hasel quickly turned to his habit and in a flash there was mud on the girl's face.

"Oh my gosh!" Tili is Bea. Sky immediately grabbed the bride and pulled us away.

"Joseph!" Hasel shouted angrily.

The young man replied with a laugh.

There is even equipment there for making clay pots. It turns out that Joseph threw clay at Hasel.

Hasel angrily chased the young man and they threw stones at Clay.

"Who makes the Clay pot here?" I asked Sky.

The two sat side by side, a few meters away from us.

"My uncle." its answer.

“Oh…” I came a little closer to the Clay pot factory.

There is a lot of equipment here, a variety of mixers and evenly, there is also a lot of clay but you will notice that it has been on the ear for a long time.

Sky looked at me again. "Where is he, your uncle?"

It took quite a while to answer.

"He passed away last year."

"Oh ... I'm sorry."

It just smiled at me as if to say it was okay.

I looked again at the place where the clay pot was being made. I don’t know why I'm so interested in it, I have no history of being involved with someone making it or being interested in this issue before.

I tried to hold one of the seemingly knives that were there. There was a lot of dirt around it but I noticed what seemed to be etched on its handle.

“L.A…” These are probably the initials of Sky's uncle.

When the intensity of the sun was gone we decided to take a walk around the villa.

We carried only a fan, except for the easily thirsty Hasel. It carries water.

“Let’s go!” Joseph said excitedly.

We have Sky’s house staff included. Sky is also not very familiar with this place, according to him he only went there once last year.

We first went to the horse stable which was on the right side of the terrain.

"Lots of horses!" Joseph shouted, still excited.

"Hey reunion." Hasel teases him. 

"HA.HA.HA." Joseph had a fake laugh.

They’re teasing each other everyday. A day wouldn’t pass without them teasing each other. 

"Can we ride?" I asked the keeper of the stable.

"Opo mam, pwede po."

"One!"

Manong's horse picked us up, mine was white which was not very big. It's just my first time riding it and I haven't thought of a bigger horse yet.

Hasel and Joseph got black, while Bea and Sky rode the same horse.

We were taught the basics then the old man guided us as we sat on the horse and slowly made it walk. He left us after thirty minutes when we finally got some of his words. 

We rode the horse for almost two hours, we just stopped when Bea seemed tired. She has a weak body after all. They told us that they will go first and we can still continue our tour but we decided to just go home instead. 

That night Bea had a mild fever because she over exerted herself. We felt bad that's why we took turns taking care of her. While Sky reassured us that it’s normal for her and it’s kind of her fault we still took care of her.

We also decided that we will do the tour the next day or anytime we’re free since we’ll stay here for two weeks. 

THE NEXT DAY we wanted to go horse riding again so after we ate breakfast, we went back to the horse stable. This time Bea and Sky aren't around, she needs to stay in the house so she won’t be tired again. She can’t risk her life so we advised that she stays home for now until she gets fully better. 

We go early in the morning because Hasel told us she wants to feel the fresh air here in the province that we barely get in the city. I wear a sweater because I am weak to cold, while Joseph and Hasel seem to enjoy the cold breeze that they didn’t even put effort into their clothes. 

Thankfully, the old man who guided us yesterday is still there. 

“Hello manong!” Joseph greets him. 

“Hello to you too young boy!” The old man happily accepts us. 

“Can we ride the horses again?” Hasel asks. 

He smiled and said, “Of course! There’s no problem with that.” 

He let us sit for a while because he’s still finishing something. He wants to guide us because according to him, we’re still new here and we still didn’t know the direction so we need a guide- a tour guide. 

After a while,we finally got to ride the horses that we rode yesterday.This will be our second time doing horseback riding but I’m still excited. This is a once in a lifetime experience though, especially to me, a city girl. Horseback riding in the city is quite expensive. 

“Yeehah!” Joseph shouted as soon as he got to the horse. 

The horse started running and he looked so excited. Meanwhile, Hasel and I just keep our pace, old man’s still guiding us not until someone calls him and asks for his help. 

We thank him before he goes.

“OMG Araia! I’m still nervous!” Hasel exclaimed as she grabbed the rope tightly. 

“I am too…” 

We’re side by side while riding the horse. Later on, Joseph came and told Hasel that he will help her. 

Hasel agreed and joined him on his horse. Aren’t they mortal enemies? I can’t really understand what is happening between the two of them. Now they’re okay but later they will start fighting. 

Minutes later, I can’t see them anymore.

They didn’t even pay me a glance! Are they that excited to be with one another that they forget their friend? 

Hello! I’m here! 

“Did they just leave me?” I raised my eyebrow and took a deep breath. 

I look around, there’s just trees and trees, nothing more. The morning sky looked so great which makes me want to set up a camp here and stay here forever. If only I could do that. 

I stayed in that place for almost thirty minutes, waiting for Hasel and Joseph to show up but they didn’t. 

“Where the heck are they?” 

I can’t hear anything besides the natural sound of the forest, bugs and such. 

I comb Angel’s hair, this horse’s name is Angel. I was really starstruck the first time I heard about it because it suits the horse very well. From her white as snow long hair, soft and comfortable fur and her posture that looks like a queen of horses. I’m joking, but she’s really beautiful. 

I waited for a few more minutes but I couldn't see them. Maybe it’s time to return to the horse stable since I don’t know where I am. 

I was about to turn when my eye caught something. 

“What’s that?” I lean a little to see it clearly. 

I was stuck in my place when I saw the familiar shadow.

“Oh my…” 

It wasn’t really far from me but I couldn't see it clearly. A few seconds later, the shadow started running away. 

I was so scared for a minute that it might run towards me but it didn’t. It ran in the opposite direction, I didn’t know why but my hands started to move as well as the horse I’m riding. 

I just realized that I’m heading towards the shadow’s direction a while ago, I can’t think clearly. All I want this time is to see who that person is or whatever it is that I keep on seeing and giving me creeps. 

It’s still daytime so there’s nothing that shadow can do to me, or so I pray. 

The shadow started running fast as if it felt my presence and wanted to run away. 

“It’s fast!” 

I need to keep up! 

“Heeyah!” 

The horse started running faster, I can now see the shadow but still, not that clear. The air started to feel colder as I got closer to the shadow. 

I keep on chasing the shadow until I can no longer see it. 

“Where did it go?!” 

I look around one more time but I really can’t see the shadow anymore. I became nervous again, am I really imagining things? But I’m sure I saw it with my own eyes! 

I let out a frustrated sigh. I’m going to be crazy! 

My mind keeps telling me to look more into the forest but my instincts say otherwise. After a few minutes, I’ve decided to follow my mind. I better go back now and talk to my friends about this. 

Maybe I’m just imagining things and if I really did, I need to see an expert. I can’t live like this! 

I pulled the reins, telling the horse to turn back but I was shocked when the horse suddenly went amok. 

“Woah!” 

“Angel!” I called for her to calm down. What’s happening to her? 

Is she hurt? 

“Angel, calm down!” I was gripping tightly to her reins while calming her down, afraid of falling. 

She’s going everywhere, I can’t handle her! 

“Angel!” I called her one last time before I felt my hand slowly slipping to her reins. What is happening to her?!

Goodness! I don’t know much about horses! 

I was calling her but she kept on jumping, she looked scared all of a sudden. I can feel my hand aching because of the reins! 

“Help!” Someone, please! Oh my gosh!

She started running faster deeper into the forest. 

“Angel, calm down!” 

Why isn’t she stopping? 

She continued running until I saw a cliff in the direction she’s heading to. 

“Angel, stop!” I tried to stop her. 

I pulled her reins and called her name, hoping she’d stop but instead, she ran faster. 

I still keep on pulling her reins while praying, I don’t know what to do! Should I abandon her?! 

If I jump now I’d still make it! I think of another way but as she goes faster to the cliff, my head feels blank. 

I called her one last time and waited for a few seconds before I decided to jump off her now. I let go of her reins and look for a bush where I’ll get less hurt. 

I counted up to three before I jumped. 

“Ah!” As soon as I let go of her, I felt my body hit the bush. I can feel my body being pierce with the branches. 

“Ouch!” I tried to move, trying to stand but I felt like I'd step on something. One moment, I can feel my body rolling down somewhere. 

“Ack!” I was falling down, realizing that I’m on a cliff. 

Somebody help me! 

I covered my head, scared of hitting something hard. Scared of being pierced by something, I closed my eyes tightly. 

I felt my body going numb… 

Few seconds later, I felt my body hit something hard… My body’s numb, I can’t even open my eyes… I suddenly remembered my friends… They must be looking for me… 

Am I going to die? Is this how my lonely life will end? 

Help… 

Please… 

I wanted to call for someone but my body’s so weak. 

I pushed myself to open my eyes, I need to see where I am, at least. 

Everything’s blurry, it took me a few seconds to see where I was. 

I can’t Move my body so all I can see is what is in front of me. All is grass and a muddy ground, I can't even tell how far I fell. I was struggling to look around when something caught my eye. 

In front of me is something that sparkles. I tried to reach it, slowly…

Since my body is weak, I even need to rest my hand for a few minutes. 

After so many attempts, I finally reached it. This time I’m trying to get it, I poured out all of my energy to get the thing that sparkles under the muddy ground. 

When I finally got it, I saw something moving near me. Its color is black… It looks like the shadow that I saw… 

The thing started walking towards my direction…  

Who is that? 

I wanted to ask who it was but my head started spinning, I slightly saw the thing who’s coming towards me. 

“Who…” 

 But even before I could ask it, everything went black.