The darkness on the island was growing deeper and deeper.
Even though the moon was out that night, only a faint bit of its light reached the island.
It was as if something was blocking it.
After Sarra finished telling the story of King Lycaon, those who had listened felt like they had just heard another folktale.
Because of that, none of them took it very seriously.
Immediately, the captain rose from the ground and addressed everyone:
"No one has anything more to say, right?
It's gotten pretty late.
Everyone should go back and get some rest now.
The cold is starting to pierce right through to the bones."
The travelers were all shivering badly.
The island's cold was far more intense than the chill they were used to back in London.
"Before we go, I have one more thing to say.
We can't just leave the campfire burning like this and go sleep.
The light might attract that creature to the shore.
So we have to put it out."
Everyone understood the seriousness of what was said.
So they all agreed to it.
Daniel and Francis stayed back to put out the campfire.
Everyone else went back to their tents.
Mary's Tent
"Mom… do you think the story they told is true?
I feel scared inside," Max asked her mother.
"Max , you shouldn't believe all that.
They're just made-up stories.
There must be some reason behind what's happening,"
Mary gently explained to her daughter.
Max hugged her mother tightly and tried to sleep.
Outside, the cold only grew stronger.
Day 5
In the morning, they had their usual meal.
Afterwards, they began discussing what they were going to do that day.
Leading the conversation was the captain himself.
"We need to act quickly.
Otherwise, what happened to Harry could happen to someone else.
A few of us are going to the waterfall again.
The rest can stay back and continue with the usual work at the shore."
"Isn't that dangerous, Daniel?"
Francis voiced his concern seriously.
"We have to do something, Francis.
Just staying at the shore won't help.
Who's to say that beast won't come here?
Everyone's safety is my priority."
Francis only grunted in response to Daniel's reply.
Meanwhile, a few of them were getting ready to head into the forest.
Daniel, Francis, David, Joseph, and Daril were the ones going to the waterfall.
Joseph hesitated at first, but when it was made clear that Barry, Edward, and Charlie couldn't come, he agreed.
Glenferd had said he wanted to come, but after what happened the previous day, Charlie refused to let his father leave his side.
Francis opened his suitcase and secretly tucked a pistol gun into his pants.
He hadn't told anyone that he had a gun.
After taking it, Francis stepped out of his tent.
Daniel was already outside waiting for him.
As planned, the five-member group began walking into the forest.
Time: 10:30 A.M
Glenferd was sitting inside his tent, busy working on a new novel.
At that moment, a voice rose from just outside Glenferd's tent.
It was Martha.
"Am I disturbing you, Mr. Glenferd?"
"Hey… no, come on in. Did you come with any purpose, Martha?"
"Nothing in particular. I was just sitting idle and thought I'd come see what you were doing," Martha replied politely.
"Oh, that's all? I'm trying to write a new novel.
The plot isn't something I made up.
The story is based on the accident that happened to us.
I'm just thinking about how the rest of it should go," Glenferd said to Martha.
"Oh… am I in the story too?"
"Of course… I haven't left anyone out of it,"
he said with a smile.
Hearing that, Martha gave a soft smile.
"Alright then, you carry on writing. I won't bother you,"
she said and stepped back outside.
12:30 PM Inside the Forest
Daniel and the others, who had gone once more to investigate the waterfall, were resting beneath a tree, exhausted from walking.
Even during the day, the forest was deeply unsettling. That fear had already seeped into the hearts of all five of them.
It was Daril who broke the silence.
Daril had small, attractive eyes.
His height was only just enough for his age.
Though he was 26 years old, he didn't appear that age at all.
"Hello Friends , can I ask something...?
What kind of courage do we even have to walk into that waterfall area?
What proof do we have that the creature won't be there?
And even if it comes to attack us, we don't even have the weapons to fight it off."
Daril said this seriously to everyone.
"Edward saw that creature after dusk.
And the others said the same about Harry and the group
that it happened after sunset.
So I believe the creature only comes out after dusk.
That's just my conclusion,"
Daniel tried to reassure everyone.
But Joseph wasn't convinced.
"So we're walking into this with nothing but a conclusion?"
Joseph voiced his disagreement.
"Life does not respond to the conclusions we imagine. It has a path of its own.
It moves forward, not yielding to our thoughts or desires.
When we reach one conclusion, life raises a new question before us.
At the end of that question, we arrive at another conclusion.
What do you understand from this?
Life is not something we must try to grasp it is something we must experience and understand."
Francis said this to Joseph, hoping to ease the stern expression on his face.
But it didn't work. Joseph got angry.
"You all do whatever you want... For me, my life is most important.
I'm heading back to the shore."
No sooner had he said that, Joseph walked back the way they had come.
No one tried to stop him.
After he left, the remaining four ended their break and resumed walking toward the waterfall.
Because they were afraid, they walked slowly.
Even when stepping on dried leaves, they moved with utmost care to avoid making any noise.
After walking for a while, they finally reached their destination.
But... the joy and excitement they had when they first saw the waterfall were no longer on their faces.
Instead, only fear and hatred toward the wolf-like creature remained.
To be continued...
Next chapter release date 19/7/25