Past Island: Regrets and Guilt (Past Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 9: Let go of that Regret!

Remy found himself on the same sand he was standing with the others earlier, but his friends were gone. The once lively beach now felt eerily quiet. The laughter and chatter that filled the air just moments ago were replaced by the sound of crashing waves and rustling leaves. Confused, Remy called out, "Jax? Darren? Killua? Ashton? Raiver? Where are you guys?" His voice echoed back at him, the only response he received. Panic began to creep in, but he pushed it down, determined to stay focused.

Taking a deep breath, Remy decided to head towards the forest. It was dense and dark, but it was the only place he hadn't explored. Maybe his friends were in there somewhere, and maybe he'd find some answers along the way. The trees loomed above him like silent sentinels, their leaves whispering secrets as the wind gently blew through them. Shadows danced and flickered, playing tricks on his eyes. Each step he took was hesitant, his heart pounding in his chest.

The forest was unlike any he had seen before. The trees were massive, their branches intertwining high above to form a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Every now and then, he would hear the distant call of a bird or the rustle of an unseen creature in the underbrush, but otherwise, it was eerily silent.

As he walked, memories of his mother flooded his mind. She had always been his anchor, the one person who believed in him no matter what. Her voice, her laughter, her comforting presence—all came rushing back with painful clarity. His mother's death was something he never got over. She had been his biggest supporter, always encouraging him to pursue his dreams. But when she fell ill, Remy was too caught up in his work to be there for her.

She had called him one night, her voice weak but still filled with love. "Remy, I can feel it. Malapit na kami magkita na papa mo. Please uwi ka na, anak."

But he didn't. He was too busy with a crucial project, too focused on his career to realize the importance of those final moments. By the time he made it home, it was too late. She was gone. The guilt had been eating at him ever since, gnawing at his soul like a relentless beast.

He recalled the last time he saw her, lying in that hospital bed, her eyes filled with a mix of love and sadness. He had promised her he would be there, but he wasn't. He chose his work over her, and that decision haunted him every single day. The image of her frail, lifeless body was burned into his memory, a constant reminder of his failure.

As he made his way deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around him, the shadows growing longer and darker. The air grew colder, and a sense of dread settled over him. He heard a soft rustling in the bushes and froze, his heart pounding. "Who's there?" he called out, trying to keep his voice steady.

To his surprise, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. "Mom?" Remy whispered, his voice trembling. It couldn't be. His mother was dead. But there she was, standing before him, looking as real as the last time he saw her. Her presence was both comforting and disconcerting. The soft glow of her smile, the gentle curve of her lips – it all seemed so genuine.

"Remy, anak," she said, her voice as soothing as he remembered. "Miss na miss na kita, anak."

Tears welled up in Remy's eyes as he ran to her, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. "Ma, sorry, Ma!," he sobbed. "I should have been there for you. I should have listened."

She stroked his hair, comforting him. "It's okay, Remy. Naiintindihan ko. I know you loved me. I just wanted you to be happy."

They sat together by a small clearing, Remy pouring his heart out, telling her everything he had kept bottled up inside. It felt so real, so right. For a moment, he forgot about the island, about his friends, about everything. All that mattered was this moment with his mother.

He spoke of his regrets, his guilt, his pain. The words tumbled out of him in a torrent, each one a release from the burden he had been carrying for so long. His mother listened, her eyes filled with understanding and compassion.

"But I should have been there," he cried. "I should have been there for you."

"Alam ko, anak," she replied softly. "But you were doing what you thought was right. You were following your dreams. I was so proud of you, Remy. I still am."

As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the forest, Remy noticed something odd. His mother's eyes were different, colder, and her touch felt strange, almost clammy. He pulled back, looking at her closely. "Mom?"

"Yes, anak?" she replied, her voice still soft but with an underlying edge that sent chills down his spine.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the doubt creeping into his mind. "I... I need to find my friends."

Her grip tightened on his arm. "You don't need them, Remy. Stay with me. We can be together again."

Fear gripped him as he realized something was terribly wrong. This wasn't his mother. It was something else, something trying to deceive him. "No!" he shouted, pulling away from her.

The figure's expression twisted into a sinister grin. "You can't escape your regrets, Remy. They will always haunt you."

Just then, he heard a voice calling his name. "Remy!” It was Jax, standing at the edge of a cliff nearby. "That's not your mother!"

Remy looked back at the figure, its form beginning to distort, its true nature revealed. It was a ‘Riget’, a creature that mimicked those you regret losing, preying on your deepest sorrows. "No!" he screamed, realizing the danger he was in. He pushed the creature away, watching as it stumbled towards the cliff's edge.

But instead of running away from it, Remy grabbed it’s hand, not letting go. “Tulong, Anak!” the Riget said, as if she was his mother.

"Remy, you have to let go!" Jax shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "It's not real!"

“Wait, my mom…” Remy said, crying a lot from despair. He cannot let go of her mother, he is not ready yet.

“Remy, let’s go!” Jax insisted.

With a final, desperate effort, Remy let go of the Riget, watching as it fell off the cliff, disappearing into the abyss below. He collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Jax rushed over, pulling him into a tight embrace. "It's okay, Remy. It's over."

Remy nodded, wiping away his tears. "I thought... I thought I could see her again. I wanted to say I'm sorry."

Jax patted his back, offering comfort. "You did what you could. Now we need to find the others and get off this island."

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Past Island: Regrets and Guilt

Written by: @Clintoooon_

DISCLAIMER : This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, place, or events and incidents are either the products of the author's imaginations or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

@All Rights Reserved. Clintoooon_. 2024.