Before You Remember

Season 2 Chapter 10 The Lion's Den

"My most sincere apologies sir, but we could not locate Kiaria after she entered the mountains. Her tag no longer works either. And..."

"And?" Jax probes as he looks into the incident reports up the town mountain.

"Apologies sir. This is what our dozen Federation troopers have shared. They said they lost their ways and their sense of time. Sometimes, they thought it was night time and when they left the mountain it was still afternoon. Sometimes they would walk until the fog completely ceases their visibility."

"I am impressed with how troopers can collectively come together and lie about the ability of a mountain," Jax casually says as he flips the pages over. Each report details a trooper's odd experience up the mountain.

"My most sincere apologies sir. I would like to share with you something unique regarding this mountain. There were rumours that long ago, there was a temple up the mountain that served the great Mother Nature spirit."

"Oh."

"There is a legend that an ancient group of possessors a long time ago even before radioactivity mutated the genes. These group practices Chlorokinesis and worshipped the tree spirit."

Jax put the reports down to look at his secretary.

"Ayla was also a Chlorokinesis user."

"Yes, she was."

"What did the town folks say about the mountain?"

"Some said that the mountain was heavily guarded by the ancient Goddess. Some said that the mountain is cursed. Either way, it has been 2 days since Kiaria entered and none of the scouts has reported seeing her come out."

"How are Cassie and his friends?"

"They are all down with the virus. Cassie has been impacted the most. He needs an oxygen breather to support his frail lungs currently."

"Okay. Book a flight over to Hans and plan the route to the town. We will take the fastest route. Make sure that we land there by morning so there is time to explore the mountain."

"Yes sir."

The trip was expedited because it was Jax involved. Upon touchdown, they immediately headed for the mountains and walked up. Jax noticed that there were indeed mists and fog surrounding the plants. He walked up a bit more and then all the noises disappeared. He turned around and saw that the troopers who were walking with him had all disappeared. 

This must be a nasty joke. Jax thought to himself. This place was not normal. Usually, people will find solace in religious institutions in such a National crisis but he did not meet town folks up the mountain.

A woman appears among the fog in his view. Jax was initially taken aback as the woman looked like his mother, but he reminded himself that this mountain was not normal. White golden hair locks with her blue diamond eyes that made her unforgettable in his memories.

"Who are you and who are you to mimic a dead person?"

"I am just a mountain being." The lady replies.

"Do a better job in mimicking her then. You don't even have 2 legs." He looks down to see this figure is sliding down the floor. The figurine looks down and back to Jax. She laughs.

"I am just showing someone familiar to you so that you are more comfortable up the mountains. If you don't see me being able to move freely, that's probably because you see her that way." The figurine smirks and smiles, showcasing all her long and wide teeth while her eyes disappear into her face.

Jax frowns. Perhaps it is true that he saw his mother like this when she was alive. His father dictated what his mother did at all times and she didn't have an opinion on her own. When he passed away in a military incident, she lost her will to live and became weak and immobile, gradually meeting her demise in her sleep.

"Where is the temple?"

"Only worthy ones can enter the temple."

"How is one deemed as worthy?"

"When they don't have hurtful and malicious intentions. Also, they have a strong purpose."

"I believe I fulfil the 2 conditions now. Otherwise, I wouldn't be seeing you, would I."

The figurine laughs again and lets a creepy laugh. "I am just telling you again to remind you what you can and cannot do. You're lucky you're a handsome man. Otherwise, I would have eaten you up for your arrogance."

The figure floats across the floor and leads the way.

Soon, they finally reach their destination. The figure opens the door for Jax to step in. "Remember the conditions, Minister. You might not have malicious intentions now, but I smell blood on you." Jax walks over to the other side, staring at the figure. His mother might have told him off for the way some died during the possessor war.

The door slammed shut loudly, with a sound that seemed to echo across the mountain. He felt a strong presence in the temple. For once, he felt like he was walking into a Lion's den.

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