"Dear reader, you are now part of their
Odyssey "
~~~~~~~~
August 25, 2039
At exactly 9:00 a.m., an unusual rule was declared.
For some reason, it felt both right and wrong.
A blessing and a curse.
~~~~~~~~
One… two… three… four…Four people! wait, maybe six? I honestly don't know anymore. The number of people who had been thrown out keeps growing, and it's starting to feel… troubling.
I pushed my way through the crowd until I reached the front. A massive bulletin board displayed the names of the exiled. There were so many that reading them one by one would take over thirty minutes. The more I stared, the heavier my chest felt.
What happened to these people? Are they still alive? And the creepy part is that... No one knows.
Anyone who was exiled never came back.
Of course, that only fueled the rumors. I watched as a man nearby gestured wildly while speaking, as if to make his story believable.
People around him listened like it was some sort of a gospel. Well, I couldn't blame them at all. It was thrilling to hear every word.
"…Even as people disappear, their behavior hasn't changed. For them, death is nothing but a game!"
Everyone had a different story, and I had no idea who or what to believe.
Sometimes, I forget this isn't just a story.
It's a story about a place. A place said to be the place for the wicked. Terroveil.
A place sealed off from the world. Terroveil welcomes only those burdened by fate's judgment.
I glanced down at my left wrist.A tally mark was etched into my skin. No matter how hard I tried to scrub it off, it wouldn't fade. It felt like it was carved down into my flesh.
We had a weird rule called the Mark of Offenses.
An individual could only get two marks. A third mark means exile to Terroveil. I have two marks.
And if I get one more? That only means I'll be gone and my name will be listed on that stupid bulletin board.
There's a cruel truth about how I got this marks. Well, you see i haven't really done anything wrong. I was just framed and blamed.
Those who caused it were good liars, good actors they were so good just like a politician. And the patrol, the one who mark us? They don't listen. Once they made a decision to mark you. It's final.
Another rule weighed over everyone.
Before 9:00 p.m., everyone must be in their homes. Because it is the time of Curfew. Anyone caught outside gets a mark.
The crowd around me kept growing, noisy and messy. I decided to leave and headed straight to the seashore, hoping I could calm myself.
Like everyone else, nature could calm me. It was as if time paused just long enough for me to breathe.
A gentle, cool breeze drifted in from the sea, brushing against my skin, while the sand crunched softly beneath my feet.The weather was perfect. Not too sunny, not too dark.
A silver-gray sky stretched above, quietly watching over this place. The waves crashed and whispered at the same time.
I sat on the sand, watching the water as the wind continued to caressed my face.
The forecasts said bad weather was coming. Expecting heavy rain. No wonder the skies had been gloomy these past days.
"Jom?" A male voice called from behind me, footsteps approaching.
Moments later, he sat beside me.
"What are you doing out here?"
It was Grei pronounced as Gray. He hated it when people pronounce it as Gree, but I used it anyway just to annoy him.
I love to see him annoyed anyway-
We argued sometimes. Still…it doesn't change the fact the we were partners in crime. The both of us admitted we were troublemakers. He just happened to be worse.
"Nothing. Just bored at home " I said.
"Bored—or your phone died?"
I stayed quiet for a few seconds. "I just didn't feel like doing anything."
"Then clean."
"I don't want to." I'd rather stare into space than move.
"I don't want to do anything" I repeated.
"Lazy?"
"So what? At least I'm honest."
He stayed quiet, just staring. I couldn't tell if he wanted to say something or if he just liked staring.
It might not be obvious that I'm fighting the urge to poke his eyeballs with my fingers.
Then he smiled. Slowly bit his lower lip.
"I'm handsome, right?" he asked and winked
"In your dreams"
"Denial?" He lightly smacked my shoulder.
"Are you insane?"
He pouted dramatically, then stood up and dusted himself off before heading toward the water. I stayed put, watching him splash his feet like a carefree child.
He looked genuinely happy.Then he turned to me with that wide grin. The wind blew at the perfect moment, brushing his hair into place.
I rolled my eyes. Of course, the wind's on his side.
"Come here!" he shouted, waving me over.
I stood up, leaving my slippers near a rock, and waded into the water. The cold crept over my feet, wrapping around my ankles.
"It's freezing" I said, sighing.
I lifted my sling bag higher to keep it dry. I didn't want it to be stolen by someone
"You always say that," he commented.
We walked farther in, the water rising slowly. I shivered as the cold seeped into my bones.
He looked at me and gave a mischievous smile "Weak."
He laughed not a nervous laugh, but a teasing one.
"It's cold!"
"You knew that and still followed me."
"You told me to. I just obeyed."
I tried to pinch his side, but he manage to dodge.
"Aww," he cooed in the most possible teasing way. "Good dog. Come here, doggie."
"Grei Sazo Asitra!" I yelled back.
He chuckled. "Seriously, you follow so fast. I never knew you were that obedient."
We continued walking as gentle waves brushed against us. With each step, the cold intensified but so did the strange lightness in my chest.
For a moment, everything felt quiet.
Ahead, a long wooden bridge extended from the shore. Old, straight, but sturdy.
"Let's go there" I said, pointing at the wooden bridge not far from were we are.
I was about to take a step forward when I notice that he was looking at something else. He didn't hear me. Without any warning I grabbed his shirt and tugged him along.
"I can walk!" he protested but didn't remove my hand "What are we gonna do there anyway?"
"Drown" I said as if it's a normal thing "You said we are best friends forever, so you're coming with me."
"I said forever but of course not until death. There's a say Ladies first "
"Fake best friend!" I sarcastically said.
After a sort of time I let him go. The both of us continue to approach the wooden bridge. Time by time the waves crashing onto it became louder.
"I just want to see how far you can see from there. We haven't been here in a long time." I answered
We climbed out of the water, our clothes soaked and heavy. The bridge creaked under our steps. A small boat was tied to the side. I took off my sling bag and
We reached the end of the bridge and admired the view Infront of us. Grei stood quietly beside me while I sat down, letting my feet dip into the water.
Moments later, he sat beside me and spoke in his usual tone. "Remember the first time we came here?"
"When we got caught by curfew?" It's been a long time since that happen but still I cannot forget that moment.
"Yeah. When we hid in the tall grass."
~~~~~~~~~
Flashback
"What the hell?! You said it wasn't nine yet!"
Behind us, Several patrol officers is chasing us at full speed.
"It's only eight!" He yelped while trying to speed up. I once again took a glance behind and they were still there.
"That clock doesn't work! Its a decoration! "
The two of us took a turn and made a choice to hide in the tall grass. It was itchy but we have no where else to hide.
And finally comes the patrol officers. They turned on their flash lights and began searching the surroundings.
We are just lucky enough that the grass happen to be tall enough to hide us. Or else....we will come home with a mak.
Grei tried to be quiet as possible and so did I. Everything was going smoothly when all of a sudden I felt something move near in foot
Fear began to take control of me, I grabbed Grei's shirt and spoke in a shaky voice "Something is moving in my foot"
"It's Just grass" he said calming me but then he look down, his face immediately went pale "oh no..."
"What?"
"Don't move...!"
"Why..!" My body froze after hearing a hissing sound, followed by something wrapping around my foot.
Oh my-
"Take it off..!" I tried to weaken my voice. I pulled harder at his clothes, not caring if it will tear. My heart felt like it was going to burst from how fast it was pounding.
He scratched his head. "Ehh, I'm scared..! That's a python, you know."
He really didn't think! He was only scaring me more. I bit my lip as I felt tears trying to fall from the corners of my eyes.
"Geez, don't cry, we'll both get caught..!" I'm more concern of the snake that is wrapped in my foot.
"What if it bites me..!?"
"Then bite it back too? for fairness, right?" And at that point, I couldn't hold it in anymore. My tears finally fell.
End of flashback
~~~~~~~~~~~
I smiled faintly as I remember those moments. "I really thought we were gonna get caught."
"Instead, we slept in a shack and mosquitoes ended up sucking our blood." He continued still remembering those unexpected times.
"And got scolded by Red the next day." Grei laughed softly.
Everything is going good until his cheerful tone slowly died. Followed by a question that made the heavy feeling inside of my chest back.
"When you get your fourth mark…" he asked quietly "what will you do?"
I didn't answer right away. The truth is I don't know. I don't even know what will happen to me if I got exile to Terroveil.
"I don't know," I said. "Maybe… run."
"And then?"
"…Jump."
"Where?"
"cliff."
He stared at me while I avoided his eye contact. I averted my gaze at the water. Strangely, I can feel his concern.
"That's not funny." This time he sound serious. Grei is still in denial at what I just said.
"I wasn't joking."
The heavy feeling began to worsen each second. I'm thinking of leaving but my body won't cooperate with me.
But then, that heavy feeling was gone when rushing footsteps from behind interrupted us. Followed by a female voice
"Hey! You two! Don't have the right to sulk!" She yelled. It was no other than Estri.
Both of her hands were raised in the air as she sprinted toward us at full speed. A mischievous grin spread across her lips, like she knew we wouldn't escape whatever she had in mind.
Before we could even speak, her arms struck in unison. A quick, straightforward move.
We felt her sudden and heavy grip on our shoulders. Grei was on the right, while im on the left.
Along with that simultaneous hold came the full weight of her body, which she could no longer restrain from pressing onto us. Because she was running. Because she had no brakes.
The next thing I felt was both of us losing our balance, our bodies lifting from where we were seated, followed by the fall of our bodies and the cold impact of the water beneath us.
I shook my head and immediately brushed my hair away from my face.
"Estri!" I called with a hint of annoyance which she just brushed off.
"Selaria" Grei ended firmly
Both of her hands were raised in the air. It was obvious she was enjoying what she had done to us.
"I didn't mean to" she smiled knowing it was a lie "but the timing was perfect. I saw you guys and splash! it was cinematic!"
"Cinematic, huh? I almost hit my head on the rocks!" I complained, clutching the bridge.
But I still couldn't forget what she did.
This bridge had become a launching pad for mischief.
"I'm soaked!" Grei said, half-pouting letting the water drip off his sleeves.
"You're overeacting. It's just water, do you have rabies or what?" Estri commented in a sarcastic way.
Soon, the rain poured down, but it still wasn't enough to get us out of the water. I mean we are already soaked in water.
"Let's just enjoy it! Red will lecture us later," Grei said, right before he splashed us directly in the face.
I immediately retaliated against Grei and Estri. I mean, who care if we look like total idiots here?
"Weak!"
"Enjoy now, lecturelater!"
"I can't breathe!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
15 minutes later
We decided to head back home the house where the four of us lived together. Our soaked clothes were still dripping onto the floor.
We both stopped in front of the door, hesitating whether to knock or not. There was only one thing we were sure of. A lecture was waiting for the three of us.
I nudged Grei with my elbow. "You knock."
"Huh? Why me?" He elbowed Estri instead. "You do it."
"What do you mean me? You knock. You're the guy."
"Wow, just because I'm a guy?"
"So who's it gonna be?" I cut them off before it turn into an argument.
"Let's just do rock-paper-scissors" I said. They nodded instantly, like it was already agreed upon.
"One round only" we said as we prepared our hands.
"Rock… paper… scissors!" I looked at our hands. Three papers.
"Again" Estri said, still serious."Rock… paper… scissors!"
I got paper. They got scissors. Of course. Just my luck.
I took a deep breath, accepted my fate, and gathered the courage to step toward the door.
Estri and Grei stayed right behind me like kids who didn't want to get scolded but were perfectly fine using me as a shield.
When I knocked, no one answered right away. A few seconds passed before the door slowly opened. And there he was..Alcred Better known as Red.
Cold stare. Rigid posture. I really couldn't bond with him. Yes, we didn't live with our parents, but he felt like the feared guardian of the house.
He scanned me from head to toe, as if counting our sins using only his eyes.
"What happened to you?" His voice was firm and emotionless.
It barely sounded like a question more like an interrogation. "We… went swimming in the sea" I answered, almost stuttering.
He stayed silent. The kind of silence that makes you wonder whether he's about to yell or kick you out.
Red had forbidden us from swimming earlier, because the weather wasn't good.
'Wasn't what I said earlier clear?" he asked sharply. Every word felt heavy.
"No-" He moved as if he was about to step closer and flick my ear. I backed away slightly, almost slipping.
"Just kidding!" I said knowing it won't help him to calm down.
He let out a sharp breath. "If that's the kind of joke you make, then learn to accept the punishment when something happens to you." I knew he wasn't done yet "Get inside."
No emotion. An order. No room for discussion.
We obeyed immediately. We grabbed towels from the side and sat down, still wet and nervous like freshly bathed dogs.
Grei went to the bathroom first, leaving the three of us in the living room. Then, the Silence is back. The kind of silence where everyone is expecting that something bad will happen
Until Estri broke it. "Too bad you didn't come. It was really fun" she said with a grin.
Red only looked at her straight on. No reaction at all.
"Im not in the food for that" he replied shortly. Not angry, but firm and solid. Like one more word and he'd start writing rules on a whiteboard.
"Next time, I'll drag you with us" I said without any hesitation in my voice. Almost sounding like I was proud.
"Try it, and when you get back, all your stuff will be outside."
I sighed. "You're so hard to bond with!"
"Did I ever say I was easy?"
There's always that one friend who's really hard to bond with sometimes, right? The kind you really have to force yourself to connect with.
Let's just say this house is chaotic but what matters is that it's my comfort and happy place.
As long as the four of us are together. 4ever.