I manage to fall asleep somehow.
Visions. Again. I just want all this to stop. Whatever killed Laila and her family has to payback for her death. it was definitely not in a car accident that they died. I want to see Laila again. Suddenly I realize out of nowhere that I am saying out all these out loud to a hooded thing, in my dream. But if this is a dream, why am I conscious? "you are doing the wrong thing. you don't know about them and don't try to know them. Save your life. Go back. Because if you come, one of you is staying.Forget her. Shes mine. Don't think about her."
I wake with a gasp and a severe headache. Everyone else is outside. Guess we reached. What was in the dream felt so real. "one of you will stay" it said. The more I think about it, the more I am sweating. I touch my forehead to wipe off the sweat. When I bring my hand down, I realize it is blood. Well, that explains the headache. I don't care anymore. I know what I want and I will get it.No matter what. I don't care if something is trying to stop me. I'll do it alone if I don't have my friends. i find a hankie and wipe the blood off.
Laila's soul is trapped. It has to be freed. No one deserves to be trapped. Every soul has its own right to be free and join whatever must happen after death. death is a part of life and it completes it. I cant let my own cousin, confidant and friend stay trapped, living a dead life.
Austin's voice breaks my chain of thoughts. "you know what? everything is going to be alright. We'll do this damn trek, find out why we are being targeted and go back." He says and touches my face, wiping my tears.
Turns out I was crying the whole time.
i wanted to tell him that we re targeted because laila is related to me. she wants help and she chose me. in us 6, i am the only reason we are targeted. instead, I smile at him and turn around to grab my phone. I text mom and dad that were having fun and that I love them. Making sure I say my goodbyes, just in case.
I get out of the car and get my trek gear. Before starting our trek, we all decide to eat.
Priorities never change.
Raj spreads out a table cloth just next to the hill and everyone else put whatever snacks and food they have. while we all eat in silence, i know we have our own thoughts. we all know this is may be the last time we eat. we all know this may be the end of all of us. the scary part is one us has to stay back. one of us will be the exchange to laila's soul. even if we survive, this will change us forever. we will never look at treks the same way hereafter. uada will not be just some random greek word.
so why are we doing this? why are risking it all?
i dont know. i dont want to know.
is it my selfishness or is it that i am desperate to get my cousin?
i dont know. i dont care.
"you know what? i just....i dont know man, why is this even real?" says dev. "its all my fault. i shouldnt have driven all you guys into this. especially you raj." ugh. that just makes me even more guilty.
"no bro. we're good. i dont mind meeting a few ghosts." says raj. we all fall into this infinite silence again, eating slowly. after we are all done i checked the time. we were eating for like 15 minutes. it felt like forever.
some infinities are bigger than the other infinities. looks like this is my biggest, i dont know if i will be alive to go through the other infinities waiting for me.
"time 9:30. this, ladies and gentlemen, is the time we choose to change out lives. i hope y'all are ready for this insane trek." says jerusha with that fake smile. she definitely doesnt want to change HER life. but i guess it's okay. i'll just be selfish for now, but i dont mind her leaving anyway. we all reply with a faint "yeah" and start off.
7 steps towards the hill, and here it is. the home of death. a place that life would probably rate a 0 on 5 for a holiday spot. but yeah, thats the thing about curiosity. it demands to be fulfilled. it demands to be quenched of thirst, not matter how psychic it is.
one last time i pray to god and thank him for everything ive got.
all that is left,now, is a trek to survive and a mission to change our lives.
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