Silent Lake

"What a load of bullshit, everything that guide said," came Dad's voice from behind me. "It says here on Google that those students are still alive, and only two people died during the search, and even then due to wild animal attacks. These locals, man, always twisting tales to the point of delusion."

"Now, now, it isn't that big of a deal, dear," said Mom in a reassuring tone. "What I'm surprised about is how there's a signal here in the first place."

"I'm bored," said Sakura dryly, ending Mom and Dad's conversation.

I stared at a white lotus that lay on a bench overlooking the Silent Lake viewpoint. Well, it wasn't much of a viewpoint today anyway. The view of the lake down in the valley was completely covered by mist, the reflection of the sun on the water only barely visible through the thick fog.

The guide waited in the jeep, the Justin Bieber song he was listening to faintly audible from this distance.

I walked towards the bench and picked up the lotus, inspecting it. It was perfectly formed, and cut at just the perfect length in the stem, making an umbrella handle-like curve shape. It was also perfectly bloomed, too, looking straight out of a drawing.

Everything about it was just... Perfect.

"What are you looking at?" said Sakura, walking toward me. "Oh, that's a beautiful lotus. Where'd you get it?"

"I just found it on this bench. You want it?" I said, offering it to her.

"Oh, thank you," she said, taking it with a smile that could brighten anyone's day.

"Alright, time to go," said Dad, putting his backpack back on. "The fog messed up our view, so let's head to the next spot instead of wasting time here. Fingers crossed there's no fog or anything to mess up our experience. What was the next spot called again?"

"Yoren Cave," I said, preparing to leave.

"Yoren Cave... Sounds even more boring."

End Of The Day...

The sun was setting by the time we arrived back at the resort from the tour agency. Yoren Cave and the rest of the locations (obviously) sucked, so we were eager to get some rest after the long, boring day. After Dad parked the car in the parking spot and we got out, it was already dark outside.

"You taking another walk, Kin?" asked Mom as she headed towards the cottage with Dad and Sakura.

I nodded at her in response.

"Alright, don't stay out too late," she said, looking into my eyes. "If there's anything that's troubling you, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?"

"Okay, Mom," I said instinctively, lost in my thoughts.

After she left, I headed towards the spot I had visited last night; the cliff overlooking the mountain range.

The spot where I'd met Chi.

This time the moon was a thin waning crescent in the night sky, its light barely illuminating the grass on the lawn. I walked towards the direction of the fence, with an unknown eagerness I didn't recognize I had. When I reached it, I stared at the cliff beyond it, my face harboring a disappointed expression.

She wasn't there.

I climbed over the fence, the mountain air engulfing my body as I landed on the other side. Tonight was warmer than last night, and even more silent. The wind felt stronger but was much quieter, creating an eerie feeling that unsettled me despite the warmer temperature.

I looked over the mountains, especially over the one where the drums and lights had come from. Based on what the guide had said, if he could be believed, I wondered if the ceremony I'd witnessed was the Swarna Tribe's, and whether the forest on the mountain was the Mrityu Van. It was most likely true.

I need to do some more research to confirm it, I thought, to find out some more information about the tribe and the incident.

As my thoughts took over me, I turned my head, by impulse, to the spot at the edge of the cliff where Chi had sat last night while talking to me.

"What the-?" I said, my eyes widening in shock.

There, in the spot where she had sat, was a lotus that looked identical to the one I'd found at Silent Lake. From the stem to the petals, it was practically identical.

But there was one difference, one that sent chills down my spine.

It was covered in a red liquid that looked like blood.

Sakura!