Mount of Never Return

“The Heavenreach”

No one knew the end of its peak. The peak had never been seen. If some has ever saw it, they never lived to tell the tale. Some believed the clouds hid it. Some believe it’s not that special but that certain entity made a mystery of it. Others believed the mountain exceed beyond to the space itself. No one could know or predict its true height. There are no even decent technologies that help to figure it out.

On daily, Peoples live near it often lay on grass, staring upward, wondering how it is in the peak. What did the view from the peak look like? Was it truly like heaven or was its heaven itself? Or perhaps, did it conceal an indescribable hell instead?

Adults never looked for long. They had learned that looking at Heavenreach for too long stirred an ache in the heart that was hard to ignore and haunt them for the rest of their live. So, some have accepted the fate of them and decided to live below the shadow of the mountain

Every year,

Every new expedition,

Everyone disappeared mysteriously. No survivor, no bodies and not ever update with story. Only silence remained.

But still, many of people trying to conquer it as if the mountain itself was calling them. Perhaps they might have unwavering determination to uncover the truth hidden beyond the peak.

Miru.

Miru was fourteen years old. He had no friends. Nothing that interest him. Everyday feel same. Live just to do the same routine. Eat, help his grandmother in gardening, sleep and repeat. Everyday live with nothing excitement but repeat the same comfortable life ignoring what lies ahead beyond the handful of the peak. His small wooden house laid at the edge of the village , where the Heavenreach filled as the view outside his window. He often found himself staring at it without realizing.

It felt beautiful…

But at the same time so lonely...

One Evening, Miru asked the question out of curiosity about the Heavenreach.

"Nenek..."

His grandmother looked while carrying a large fruit basket filled with freshly harvested fruit.

"Hm?"

"What would happen if someone reached the top of Heavenreach?"

The basket placed. For several seconds it was silent. Then she continued checking the fruit as though she did not listen it.

"No one ever reaches the peak."

"But what if someone had?"

His grandma refused.

"They can't."

Miru frowned.

"I think I want to try climb it."

“I think it has nothing so it might be reachable”

Her face turned pale.

"No."

Miru sound in a sad tone.

"Nenek…"

Her voice grew more serious tone.

"I said no."

" That just your child thinking, you might never know what lies climbing there"

Her voice never sounded so rough and firm than before.

Miru stunned.

"Do you want to disappear too?"

"..."

"I already lost your father."

Tears welled in her eyes.

"I can’t lose you too."

Miru added confidently

"B-but what if, I can change something?"

"I Feel that I can save them that got lost, I think I can do something, I have prepared enough"

She remained firm.

" It's not what you think"

"In case you don't make it back alive..."

Her voice faltered.

"...you'll leave me with nothing but more grief."

Silence fell between them. Neither of them spoke. The room grew painfully quiet as they avoided each other's eyes, each lost in their own thoughts.

That night...

Miru lay awake with many of noises full in his mind. The word spoke by his grandma as well as “what if…” kept replayed endlessly in his mind. His grandmother wasn't that angry. She was just afraid to lose many important persons in her life. She had raised her grandson for fourteen years with endless love and care, protecting him from the harsh realities of the outside world.

But the stronger his grandmother's warnings became, the stronger Miru's desire grew to see the world beyond the village. It was as if the mountain had planted a seed deep within his heart.

Near midnight, Miru finally fell asleep. As he slept, he found himself standing in a thick white mist in the middle of a misty forest. He heard loud echoes coming from somewhere ahead. He suspected that he was already at a certain level of the mountain.

Then, he heard a familiar voice.

"...Miru..."

"Dad?"

A silhouette stood in the distance.

His father. 

Still wearing the climbing backpack from fifteen years ago. His face was hidden. His body looked painfully thin, and his clothes were torn. He slowly raised his poor hand tremblingly.

"Please..."

His voice cracked.

"...find me."

The mist slowly swallowed him.

Miru awoke with his heart pounding. He looked out into the middle of the night through his window. The Heavenreach stood beneath the moonlight. For a brief moment... he could have sworn... someone was standing high upon its cliffs and watching him from the peak. His dad that lost two years ago might still hoping for him go to the peak to retrieve him.

The next morning, Miru finally made his decision. Before dawn, while the village was still in silent, Miru quietly stepped outside. He glanced back at the house.

"Nenek..."

The house was silent. Taking a deep breath, he picked up his backpack and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to step out, something on the bench caught his attention. A small cloth bundle. Curious, Miru walked over and slowly unwrapped it. Inside were several foods like fried rice, curry puff, and a flask filled with water. A folded note rested neatly on top. The moment he saw the familiar handwriting, his heart skipped a beat. It was from his grandmother. He unfolded the note carefully.

Miru,

I knew you would leave today.

No matter how many times I told you not to climb Heavenreach, I knew I couldn't stop you forever.

You're just like your father.

Once you've made up your mind, no one can change it.

So instead of stopping you...

I made you some food.

You always forget to eat when you're excited.

Promise me you'll eat properly and take care of yourself.

I don't know what awaits you on that mountain, and that scares me more than anything.

But wherever you go...

Please come home.

I don't care if it takes a week...

A month...

Or even many years.

I'll keep waiting for you.

So don't make this old woman worry too much, alright?

Come back safely.

I'll be here.

Love,

- Nenek

Miru lowered the letter. His vision blurred. He wiped his eyes before a tear could fall onto the paper. "...Thank you, Nenek." His spirit lifts up after knowing that his grandma believes in him to conquer and return from the peak. He carefully folded the note and tucked it inside his backpack, close to his heart. Then he picked up the food. Looking back at the quiet house one last time, he smiled.

"I'll come home."

With that promise, Miru turned toward Heavenreach and began walking. Behind him, hidden behind the curtain of a small window, his grandmother quietly watched him leave. She didn't call his name. She simply pressed a trembling hand against her mouth and whispered,

"Please... come back to me, my hero."

Miru never looked back. The mountain was already calling him.

 Deep down, Miru knew he wasn't fully prepared to conquer Heavenreach. He only supplied with delicious foods, water, small knife, camera and an old worn rope. He got a bit nervous. This wasn't an expedition. It was simply curiosity.

"I'll just take a look around..." he whispered to himself.

"If I have not enough supply, then can freely come back home".

 As he stepped through the entrance to the mountain forest and entered the woods right after, trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the space before him dim and unfamiliar. A trace of hesitation welled up inside him, yet he still cautiously steps forward, one step after another. The deeper he ventured, the more he realized this place was far less frightening than he had anticipated. instead, it was quiet, even peaceful. Not long after, he reached a steep slope with a gradient of nearly 30 degrees, and gripped vines and thick plant stems to climb upward slowly.

He stopped to catch breath after climbing 50 meters up from the foot of the mountain, when he was suddenly transfixed by the forest scenery, clear stream waterfall flowed and emerald color wildflowers he had never encountered before, golden sunlight filtered through gaps in the forest, and this beauty far surpassed the expectation of him.

Miru laughed.

"Hahaha!"

"So... this is what everyone was so afraid of?"

He walked over to a nearby waterfall and sat beside it, quietly taking in the breathtaking scenery. His eyes wandered across the unfamiliar plants surrounding him. He couldn't help but wonder what kinds of animals lived at the foot of Heavenreach. So far, he hadn't encountered a single one. Throughout his journey, all he had seen were pleasant-eye trees, flowers, and vines.

Feeling hungry, Miru took off his backpack and began pulling out his food.

Then...

A shadow with red lurking eye moved behind him.

He froze.

A strange feeling crept over him.

It felt as though someone... or something... was watching him.

Gathering his courage, Miru used up all his courage slowly turned his head.

Nothing.

Only towering trees swaying gently in the breeze around the waterfall.

"...Probably just my imagination," he muttered, forcing a positive mind.

He then quickly took a bite of his curry puff and then eat the whole rice as he got tired after the slope climb.

Hours passed by before Miru realized himself. Looking up, Miru noticed that the sunlight was beginning to fade. The golden glow of the afternoon started slowly gone leaving the darkness across the forest.

"I should head back," he murmured.

He shouldered his backpack over his shoulder and took one last gazed at the beautiful surroundings before turning to leave. He had stayed for few hours glazing at the surrounding nature near the waterfall capturing all the moment and nature with his old camera.

Suddenly, Miru was overwhelmed by hunger and thirst.

It felt strange. He had only been walking for a few steps, yet his stomach was already growling, and his throat felt unusually dry.

"Why am I so hungry already?" he wondered.

He assumed it was because he had used up so much energy walking along the mountain trail. He had eaten all of the food. He tilted his water bottle, hoping for another drink, but only a few drops fell onto his tongue.

Looking around, Miru realized something that even stranger. There were not any food sources like animals and fruits. There was no small animal roaming around the area even it looks habitable. Feeling thirsty, Miru go to the waterfall back to take the water from it. He cupped his hands, scooped up the crystal-clear water, and drank. For a moment, the cool water refreshed him but somehow a few minutes later, the thirst feeling returned. It was even worse than before. His throat felt dry, as if the water had done nothing at all.

"That's weird"

The forest looked alive, yet he could not find anything to be food. Feeling of unease overwhelmed him.

"I should reach the foot before it gets dark," he muttered.

He knew that journey to downhill shouldn't take that long, and once he returned to the village, he could finally eat a proper meal. With that thought, he started his journey and began following the trail he had taken earlier.

Several minutes passed.

Then... He stopped.

He realizes that he did not follow the same trail as he go before. In its place stood a wall of dense trees as though there was no footway exist.

"That's... strange."

Trying to stay calm, he turned away and looking for another path to go down. After several minutes, he found the way down. After he went down, he just follows the trail that laid in front of him, but the same enormous tree stood before him.

The same twisted roots.

The same moss-covered rock.

The same fallen branch lying across the ground.

His face turned pale.

Every path led back to the same place. His heart pound faster.

"No..."

He felt more panic.

"This... this can't be happening."

The once-lively forest had fallen into complete creepy.

No animals.

No insects.

Not even the sound of the wind. It was as though the entire forest was gone mad.

Then...

He felt it. Something like hand, cold and sharp rested gently on his shoulder.

Miru got paralyzed.

His heart pounded so violently he could hear it in his ears.

He wanted to turn around but he couldn't. It felt as if his body no longer listened to him. A hoarse voice whispered from behind him.

"ooo...Human."

Miru swallowed hard.

"W-Who... who are you?"

The voice let out a dry laugh.

"Ha Ha Ha"

"I've already eaten your food."

Miru frowned.

"W-What...?"

"W-Wait..."

"I ate all of my own food..."

"Didn't I?"

The whisper grew closer.

"Did you?"

"And I ate on something far more delicious."

His fingers trembled.

"I don't understand..."

The voice replied as though it were enjoying his fear.

"I have been eating alongside your soul... little by little."

Miru's eyes widened.

A cold shiver ran through his spine.

"Look."

He felt like the voice no longer behind him. It echoed from everywhere.

"Look at your belly."

Slowly Miru lowered his gaze. His face drained of color. 

A black, skeletal arm slowly pushed its way through his abdomen. There was no blood and wound but it simply emerged from inside his body flawlessly. It's not even painful but it felt incredibly draining as if it had always been there.

The arm twitched and then another finger appeared.

Miru stumbled backward, unable to breathe.

His hunger.

His thirst.

The endless exhaustion. It wasn't because of the used-up climb. Something had been feasting on him from the very beginning.

"W-Why...?"

His voice cracked.

"Why are you doing this...?"

The darkness around him remained silent and his vision blurred. At that moment, regret washed over Miru. He had underestimated Heavenreach even at the lowest point. 

His legs gave way.

Just before everything faded into black the unseen entity finally answered.

"..." 

- To be continued.