Lost

Chapter 2

She stood there in her own thoughts, wondering what he meant by those words. Levels of hope can define someone's fate? The idea seemed crazy, remembering the world around her however, didn't make it seem so impossible.

"What do you mean 'hope levels is your fate'?" Her voice seemed steady, but secretly dripped with concern for her own well-being. A sense of danger arising as fate was brought into the conversation. The word almost seeming fickle and sick.

"Well..." it almost seemed like he could sense her unease. He couldn't tell whether is was based on the environment, the conversation, or the lack of food. "Hope levels... In a sense... Run this place..." he tried to think of ways to explain the topic. "It's like health levels, but you can check is." He seemed more confident in his explanation now. "The more you get attacked, upset, or even hurt here, the lower your hope levels will drop. Everyone starts off at one, but through their actions they can either gain more levels or lose levels, also based on your actions, can change what happens after death or in the afterlife." He explained, pausing as he noticed she had stopped walking.

"What do you mean?"

"Well.." He was starting to hesitate once again, it brought a sick feeling to her stomach. "Hope levels with only one digit in limbo... Well, they can't leave. If they die there, they become souls of the lost. If you have double digit hope levels, then you can return home, or become a Shiriyama, as long as you're actions throughout this place was good though." He looked unsettled. "However... Not everyone who comes here is good. The not so good people, who gained hope through violence become Lisakima. Lisakima are spirits who create harm to others and can create chaos throughout the realms here." He explained, even he seemed set off by the information he had given. However, that wasn't the only reason she was unsettled, a shiver running up her spine as she felt beams of ice spiking through her skin and into her soul. There was something watching, something she couldn't see. He quickly seemed to notice. "Keep moving, let's get out of here. There should be more people nearby, they're leaving by morning so we need to move quickly so you can rest." It was obvious he tried to play it off, get her mind off whatever was here.

Accepting the fact he wouldn't explain the chilling sensation of cold eyes staring, she simply nodded and continued walking, following the directions he gave her to where people would be. Questions started to form in her mind, she wondered about the different creatures she had met here, why they were so odd and seemingly like ghosts. She knew he wouldn't answer them though, only if the moment came and she was in danger. She was curious as to why, but pushed it off to him too, being unsettled by his own home.

"So what are you then?" She asked instead, hoping maybe this question he'd answer, "A shiriyama?" he had proved to be good and unlike all the creatures around her. Perhaps then, he was one of the creatures he did tell her about, a kind one that helped her.

"Yes I'm a Shiriyama. If you wish, you could call me Shiriyama, or any short abbreviation." his answer was blunt and cold, it was curious as to why he constantly changed the way he talked to her. But looking over her shoulder at him, she could tell he wasn't meaning to. Pie cut eyes darting around, he was surveying the area, as to why or to find what, she didn't know. That information wasn't for her just yet.

As she walked, voices could be heard, drawing nearer and louder with each step. The smell of fire in the air as white smoke rose up, joining his new family in the sky. The voices however, stopped as she drew nearer, and she had hoped they didn't run away. Had they thought she was a monster? Maybe a voice carried through the wind by a frog? She couldn't tell either way, not without questioning it herself. Moving brush out of the way, she could see four people standing adjacent from the makeshift fire, ready to run if necessary.