Beneath the Surface [Yandere Creature x Reader]

Chapter 7 - Missing Journal

The morning sun filtered through the canvas of my tent, casting soft patterns of light across my face. I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented. The events of the previous day came rushing back, and with them, the unsettling memory of the voice in the cavern. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and reached for my journal on the makeshift bedside table.

My hand met empty space.

Panic flared in my chest. I tore through my belongings, scattering clothes and supplies across the tent floor. But the journal was nowhere to be found.

How could I lose it?

It has all my notes, my sketches...

and my personal thoughts.

I stepped out of the tent, the morning air cool against my skin. The camp was already buzzing with activity, but I had only one focus: finding my journal. My eyes scanned the camp, searching for any sign of it, but there was nothing.

Just then, Mateo approached, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Y/N, everything okay?" he asked, noticing my frantic movements.

"I can't find my journal," I said, trying to keep the anxiety out of my voice. "It's really important. I might have dropped it somewhere."

Mateo nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Do you want some help looking for it?"

"Yes, please," I said, relief flooding through me. "I was thinking of starting back where I last had it, near the cavern."

He nodded again, and we set off toward the dense foliage that led to the southern quadrant. As we walked, the eerie quiet of the jungle enveloped us, the usual chorus of insects and birds strangely muted.

We reached the edge of the forbidden zone, and I paused, the memory of Mateo's reaction to my story yesterday resurfacing. I turned to him, curiosity getting the better of me. "Mateo, I never got to ask—what exactly is the reason that place was blocked off?"

Mateo's expression darkened slightly. "Oh, that place you went into... it's a bit of an old tall tale," he said, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance.

"I've got time," I prompted, eager to hear more about the mysterious cavern.

He sighed, glancing around as if checking to ensure no one else was listening. "They say that long ago, the island was home to a creature—part human, part something else. It had powers beyond our understanding, and the people feared it. They built the cavern as a prison, sealing it away to protect themselves. The creature was said to be immortal, kept in a state of suspended animation by the energy of the place."

My skin prickled at his words, the legend sending a shiver down my spine. "That's... creepy," I managed, trying to shake off the sense of unease.

Could there be any truth to this story?

Mateo gave a small, grim smile. "It's just a story. But the locals believe it, and they respect the old traditions. That's why they don't go near the southern quadrant."

I nodded, digesting his words. The legend was unnerving, but my rational mind struggled to reconcile it with the voice I had heard.

Could the voice be connected to this creature?

Or was it just my imagination running wild?

We continued our search, scanning the ground for any sign of my journal. The underbrush was thick, making it hard to see anything among the leaves and branches.

After a few minutes, Mateo broke the silence. "Now I get to ask you a question," he said, his tone lighter. "What's in your journal that's so important?"

"It's really stupid," I muttered, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

"Not more stupid than that made-up story," Mateo said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well... it has my thoughts, feelings, and pictures," I admitted, avoiding his gaze. "And... drawings of my ex."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "What's so bad about that? Bad break-up?"

"Not just bad... horrible," I said, my voice catching. "I mean, a day before I was supposed to fly out here, I found him in bed with my best friend."

His eyes widened in shock. "Oh..."

"And that's not even the worst part," I continued, the words tumbling out. "He got mad at me! Told me 'we'll talk about this when you calm down.' Like I was the one overreacting. I left and stayed in a hotel that night. And the worst part? They both act like I'm the problem!"

Mateo shook his head, his expression one of genuine sympathy. "Wow... I'm really sorry you went through that. No one deserves that kind of betrayal."

I sighed, feeling a weight lift slightly from sharing my story. "Thanks. It's just... like I said, a bad break-up. And I've been trying to move on, but losing that journal feels like losing a piece of myself."

We fell into a contemplative silence, continuing to search the underbrush. Despite our efforts, the journal remained elusive, hidden somewhere in the tangled greenery or lost to the darkness of the cavern.

As the morning wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching us. The jungle seemed to press in on us, the shadows lengthening as we moved deeper into the forbidden zone.

Finally, Mateo turned to me, a look of resignation on his face. "I'm sorry, Y/N. It doesn't look like it's here. Maybe we'll have better luck tomorrow."

I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks for helping me, Mateo."

He gave me a reassuring smile. "Anytime. And, Y/N, don't let the past weigh you down too much. You're stronger than you think."

As we made our way back to camp, Mateo's words lingered in my mind. The island's mysteries were far from being solved, and my personal demons were just as daunting. But for now, the search for answers—and my journal—would have to wait.