...
When they made it past the hanging bridge, Gian saw how they turned their backs and started walking as though she's not a part of their group. Their footsteps looking like giant leaps and she always felt the need to catch up to them.
"Alright, Gian. You can do this. Just don't look down. Don't look down," she chanted as she stepped into the hanging bridge.
She successfully crossed it after half an hour.
"Guys?" she called but no one answered. The chirp of birds, the whispers of the wind and her echoing voice were the only sound she can hear.
"Where are you?"
She dialed their numbers but no one's answering.
She turned around, the giant trees towering over her and the orange skies peeking in the gaps between the grayish leaves.
It's getting dark.
A ray of hope was casted on Gian's face when she saw footprints. She followed it until it stopped in the middle of a clearing.
"Safiya? Cleo? Preston?"
She took a wrong step and she tripped with her face lying flat on the ground and there was a creaking sound. Gian helped herself up and saw something that wasn't there before.
Stairs leading underground.
Suddenly, Gian's phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Gian! W-Where are you?"
She was panting and Safiya's tone sounded urgent.
"I d-don't know."
There was a scream from the other line and it was soon followed by gunshots.
"W-What's happening, Safiya?"
"G-Gian, help us. S-Slade... he's déád."
And the call was ended.
Gian found herself climbing down the flight of mossy stairs. It ended infront of a door with a rusty doorknob. She pushed it open, still thinking about what Safiya said.
Gian stopped and stared at the wall with a picture hanging on it. Her stomach churned and the hairs on her nape stood. It was a picture of her déád brother and his bestfriend, Niles.
---
Midnight when Gian received a message from Saf.
Saf:
Tjeyre tsking revengr on yoir brother and Niles' desth.
Before she could understand it, the door burst open revealing a man who looked as surprised as her.
---
"So the suspects would be Preston and Cleo. Taking revenge for Niles' déáth. Because we, asked them to buy food, and they díed. The culprit wasn't found until now. It's a bit off, the motive is way too shallow. What if, Kuya was the culprit or what if Niles was the culprit but he ended up dead or maybe, he kílled himself because of guilt? It's possible, Kuya likes Cleo. I'm getting crazy."
"Are you sure about the messages you received?" Hawk asked, he was the man who owned the underground bunker. They got into a meaningless fight in the middle of the night but they ended up talking about it.
"Of course, Safiya is my bestfriend."
As if on cue, she received a new message from Safiya.
Saf:
YOU ARE READING
Why Fiction? (Short Stories Compilation)
Random'Cause magic don't exist in real life.
