Attack on the River Path

That morning, the villagers performed a ritual to ask for fortune and protection for Lia and Ren at the command of the village chief.

The people danced around them as they stood at the center of a circle made of limestone. The jingling sounds of wooden bracelets hanging from their wrists and ankles echoed through the air.

While the rare moment unfolded, Ren had already placed his camera in one corner, using auto recording mode atop his small tripod.

When the dance ended, the chief approached them while carrying liquor inside a leather bottle at his waist and a small container in his left hand.

He murmured a long chant with his eyes closed, then spread a thick sap onto their faces. After that, he took a mouthful of the liquor, swished it around, and sprayed it onto Ren’s face.

Ren had expected it, yet he still accepted it with good humor. Such practices were common among remote tribes. What he could not accept was that the chief did not spray his sister as well. She only received a gentle breath upon her forehead.

A clear frown formed on his brow.

Being sprayed like that felt disrespectful from a modern person’s perspective. Most of all, why only him? Why not his sister? Perhaps after leaving this place he would become a gender equality activist.

When the ritual was finished, they sent someone to accompany the siblings. That person was Xilama, with the sweet smile that never left her lips.

"So... you are our guide?"

"Yes. Do you mind?"

A faint smile curved Ren’s lips. "No. Not at all." But his smile faded, replaced with a colder expression. "It is just... why not the chief? I mean, would it not be better to send someone more experienced if this is dangerous?"

The girl placed a finger before her small lips. "I am sorry, but I cannot tell you the reason," she said lightly with a sweet smile. "It is a secret within our clan."

Ren asked no more. He called his sister, who was hugging several village girls as they placed flowers upon her head. Somehow they had already become close.

They then walked toward one side of the village where a small river flowed. A little boat waited for them, big enough for three or four people. Two pairs of paddles lay ready upon it.

After bidding farewell, they finally boarded the boat and began to paddle. Slowly but steadily, they drifted away from the peaceful village. Morning fog veiled them, becoming a curtain that seemed to close the door behind them.

He knew it was a farewell, yet the heaviness in his chest remained.

There was no time to drift in thought. They had to reach their destination before night. In the end, he paddled with both his hands while the two girls used one paddle each.

"Come on, Ren. You will never marry if you look weak in front of women. That is how it works in our tribe."

"Huft... we live in different worlds. Women today do not care about strength. Most of them look for someone successful or handsome. So your words do not apply to my world."

"Really?" Xilama turned to Lia.

His sister confirmed it, but added, "But, brother... you are not handsome. And not as successful as you think."

"Ugh... I do not want to hear that from you."

Soft laughter drifted across the rippling water, following the rhythm of the gentle current that carried them through the quiet river with little warmth breaking the silence of their journey.

Along the way, Xilama explained a little about this place.

Their village was actually a small part of a grand city called Tenochtitlan. A water city that represented the peak of Aztec civilization. Sadly, the city had been burned and destroyed by the Spanish invasion.

Their god used everything in his power to move the city into the underworld. At least that was what Xilama knew, since many elders never explained the details fully.

As in history, this city had many water canals for travel between districts. At its center lay the throne of their lord, Mictlantecuhtli. The throne was surrounded by a pool of blood, a desert of bones, and a cursed forest before the peaceful villages stretched outward.

Hearing the layout as she explained it, Ren became even more convinced that Mictlantecuhtli was simply an introvert. Yes, quite similar to Hades, Anubis, and other gods of the underworld.

They all came from the same root of mythmaking, manifested differently according to each civilization’s beliefs.

Suddenly, Lia’s hands stopped rowing. A faint tension appeared upon her cheeks. "Hey, Ren, Xilama. Do you feel something?"

"No," Ren answered while continuing to paddle.

"I do not either. Why, little Lia?"

She shook her head. "I feel like... something is following us."

"Impossible. It must only be your imagination. Look behind you. There is nothing there."

"True... maybe it is just my imagination."

Choosing to ignore his sister’s fear, which might simply be paranoia, Ren increased the rhythm of his paddling. They glided swiftly along the riverbank, passing the haunted forest where they had arrived two nights ago.

He slowed briefly to look to the side reflexively, but quickly resumed paddling when he saw how pale Lia looked.

"Are you afraid?"

She nodded. "Yes. That night felt like I was about to get a heart attack. It was like we were inside a horror film, running from living trees and chased by a woman with hair dragging across the ground."

Xilama blinked several times. "A woman ghost? Could that be her?"

Ren raised a brow. "What do you mean by her? Do you know her?"

"Perhaps the woman spirit you mentioned is Maria. You may know her as La Llorona."

Lia visibly swallowed.

Xilama turned toward her and smiled. "Do not worry. She is not the type who will chase you brutally. She will frighten you once. Then no more after that."

Ren furrowed his brow. Something in his instincts disagreed, but he did not want to dwell on it.

Noon reached its peak. After long rowing, they had passed two thirds of the forest. Soon they would reach their next destination, the desert of bones.

But... before they even saw the forest’s end, the boat shook as if struck by waves.

"W-what is happening?"

All three grabbed the boat’s edges, trying to steady themselves. But before they could understand the situation, their boat capsized.

Splash.

Blup... blup...

Water filled their mouths before they could inhale. With what little breath remained, they swam upward.

Xilama surfaced first, followed by Lia. Both gasped desperately and clung to the overturned boat.

"Wait... where is my brother?"

"What? He is not with you?"

Turning to the other side, they saw bubbles rising. Both immediately understood.

"Brother!"

"Ren!"

Lia and Xilama dove again. They nearly lost their breath in shock when they saw Ren struggling as a woman choked him at the bottom of the river.

Xilama looked around underwater as if searching for something. But Lia... she immediately dove deeper and began hitting La Llorona’s hands as she strangled her brother.

"Shaaaah!"

The spirit woman turned, revealing her ruined pale face.

Lia froze, but then she struck weakly at La Llorona’s face. She knew she was weak. She knew she was afraid. But one thing was certain, she feared losing her brother more than she feared La Llorona.

Ren’s eyes widened.

Lia...

No more running. No more hesitation.

That small armed girl used all her strength to strike La Llorona. Ironically, the spirit simply turned her face away as if ignoring her existence.

In the midst of their struggle, Xilama suddenly appeared from behind and pressed something onto La Llorona’s back. The spirit screamed, the water trembling violently as if echoing agony.

Her grip loosened. Ren seized the moment and pushed himself upward using her face as a foothold. He broke through the surface and inhaled sharply.

Lia looked confused, but Xilama signaled her to rise.

Both reached the surface and clung to the overturned boat, filling their lungs with as much air as they could.

"Hah... hah... where is Xilama?"

"Still below, brother..."

Ren clenched his jaw. He inhaled deeply, ready to dive again to help her. But before he could, the water grew still. A dark shadow flashed away.

Byur...

Xilama finally surfaced, panting heavily.

Ren moved as if to embrace her, but there was no plot for romance. Xilama ordered him to push the boat toward the riverbank.

"Huft... huft... what happened? She was more aggressive than what you said earlier."

"Actually, I should be the one asking... what did you do to make her chase you that fiercely?"

"I-I? but I did not—"

"Yes. Clearly she only targeted you. What did you actually do, Ren?"

Ren fell silent, staring at the dark shimmering water. No answer rose in his mind. Only confusion clung to him like cold mist upon his skin.

"What did... I do?"