CHAPTER 01 - Alarms and Sirens

Even today, remembering those horrific scenes, my heart trembles.

The mistake of going to Norwood Island ruined my life. And stepping into the palace could derive my worst phrase.

Ages ago, when I began my journey with my friends, Anna and Bell, we were unaware of the dreadful sight that may be coming our way.

We were taking our last sleep, looking at the setting sun of the evening when the ship started overflowing with water.

As the ship rose to the top of the wave, we noticed an endless enormous sea rolling towards us, and all we could do was scream our lungs out.

We double-lashed everything and decided to land on a nearby island. Bell opened the map, and there was no island around us. 

I could feel tears building up in my eyes as I gave up on the hope of being alive till tomorrow.

But then, either it was God's charisma or our adverse luck, we got the key to the locked room of Norwood.

We looked at the map twice, but there was no mention of this island so far. Seeing this secret island, my soul shivered and answered me. 

I kept on convincing them. "Guys, I don't feel right about this place."

But when life was at risk, then the intellect of ethics got destroyed. Bell and Anna rebuked me. "Are our lives more valuable to you or not? Irene, be thankful to God. We're lucky to find a shelter to survive."

They were right, but I still couldn't agree with them. 

Fortunately, we landed safely. With land under my feet again, my thoughts were full of contentment, cheerful and optimistic under the most dreadful stress.

I stepped ahead and felt a slap of chilly gust against my cheek. It was like a caution symbol. I was sensitive, and it gave me goosebumps. I couldn't dare to move inside this mysterious place. 

Slightly, I joined my hands and bent my waist. While peeking here and there, I followed them.

I advanced again, passing through the red-colored coast to reach shivering, on the touchdown surveying the maze.

Everything in that place was strange, which did not hold back to amaze us.

The cascade encased in red color thrilled us. Even the fruits and flowers were only black and red.

For a time, we were all staring at each other. The soil in many areas was sunken where walking was almost impossible.

Bell picked up bananas that fell on the ground. I even warned her, but the hunger was taking our lives off.

Anna ate it too and explained it to me. "It's so yummy. I don't know why it's red, but it's super sweet. Irene, you should try it." I backed off as my grandma taught me not to eat without consciousness. I wrapped my arms and watched them enjoying the so-called sweet bananas.

I rested my back against the tree when I fell a pushed back. It was like the tree threw me. My eyes widened, and my flex made me turn. 

I stood at its root as if I feared to touch it. But it mystified me. More- I was curious.

Anna grabbed my hand to protect me, and Bell did the same. 

I twisted the stem. The coldness leaped along my arm like an iced spirit freed from a spring. The blow was mild against the soggy bite of my own body.

The hatch opened, and the darkness beyond was denser; it seemed to swell into the new side, smoothing shadow. We flinched away, opposed to touching this initial blackness.

I was sure it was not nighttime yet. Anna gazed at her wristwatch, and it sent chills down her spine when she noticed the hands of the clock were juggling.

She took it off as soon as possible, and it fell to the ground. The spark that came from the wristwatch sent creepy vibes. In a blink, it got destroyed in front of us, but none of us was aware.

She put a hand over her mouth, not making any sound. We weren't in the state to utter a word.

"Are we in hell or what? This island seems horrific."

We both had no answer to Bell's words. Likewise, we had the storm arise in our minds.

My heart pounded when the sky blasted and the night turned red.

All the trees around us had become the ashes of the black furnace.

Even the drops of water had stopped in the air. After going there, I came to know the exact meaning of the pause of time.

Witnessing these disturbances, we panicked and started sliding backward. 

Anna grasped one of my arms and stuttered. "I- I- I can't survive here. Guys, let's take our boat and leave this island. I won't be able to watch this anymore."

We kept trying to get back. But only time passed. Moreover, we never saw our boat back.

Even while telling this story, the wrinkles on my face were plunging. Tolerating that time still makes me scream inside. 

It took me three years to overcome that I came out from the mouth of death. I picked out a tissue and wiped my tear before it rolled down and terrified others.

Lowering my head, I resembled my broken puzzled life along with a deep breath and continued to tell my story.

The interviewer gave me a moment to relax. He then asked again. "What happened when you didn't find the boat?"

I rigged while answering him. "I suggested finding a shelter to spend a day here. We left with no choice. They agreed with me, and our journey started... to our deaths." 

I pronounced 'death' in a dull voice. Somewhere I still consider myself responsible for that.

We turned our heads, wandered here and there. 

Belatedly, we found a luxurious palace situated in the middle of Norwood Island.

Today when I think about that, it seems like a well-thought-out plot of our ends.

A pale, wispy moon lightened in a room. Shadows moved beneath. 

Seeing that, a ray of hope arose in the minds of both of them. It felt as if we had got an angel sent by God on this island, who would guide us out of here.

But from the beginning, the fluttering eyelids were giving me consciousness again. My eyelids were never proven wrong, and that fear was eating me up.

Both of them had reached the entrance gate too, but my feet halted there and didn't let me move in.

Bell grabbed the handle, and then my eyes fell on the window. 

Body covered in black shade, but the vibes emanating from round red eyes made me shudder. 

I felt taken aback. 

I felt a lack in my breathing power. My energy seemed all soaked by just one eye contact.

I called Bell's name in my halting voice. "BELL, Don't."

But before my voice could vibrate in her ears, our death tinkler had rung. A creaking sound groaned in our ears, and the door opened.