"And now.... Beware,"
Toki said dramatically like she was reading a book.
"because now you're going to face one of the most dangerous places in this forest.."
"Or just one of you."
Toki loves being dramatic. But as she brushed off a few leaves, I realized why she was so dramatic.
The River of Lies.
"Deep inside this river is floating the second piece of map. But the forest also whispers more and more scarier lies inside that when you'll have the piece in front of you, you'll just swim back up without it. I mean, that's what the last visitors did. But only those who can hold breath the longest can survive, because the piece is too deep... But if you really want to go inside, you can. I'll give you time to decide who will go inside."
We all looked at the river, then at ourselves.
"I'll go! I'll go!" Rosy jumped.
"What? Are you kidding me? You can't hold you breath even for a second!"
I snapped.
"Then I'll go?" Snow said quietly.
"NO! You can't die!! You almost died when we were pirates, and that's enough!"
"What? Pirates?"
"Then I'll go! I can hold my breath the longest!" Kai added.
"You can't swim."
"Oh."
"What about you, Toki?" Rosy called.
Toki turned and looked at Rosy.
"Who, me? No way, the forest will hate me. And I never risk my life for someone else.."
"Alright, it seems like there's no option left for us.." I said as I looked at the river and went a little closer to it.
"What?! No! You have the strongest lies! And you are the reason we came, c'mon, I'll go!" Kai called as he grabbed my hand.
He looked at me.
I looked at him.
"Kai, I promise I'll be okay, okay?"
After a moment, he nodded and he let go.
I stepped closer.
And closer.
I looked into the water, I saw my reflection.
And I jumped, hearing voices behind me.
"Be careful!"
"Just don't die, okay?"
"don't think we'll continue without you!!"
And I swam
deeper
and
deeper.
And then I heard whispers of a voice I couldn't really recognize.
And the same voice was echoing the voice.
"You don't belong here."
"You never did."
"They were happier before you changed."
"You're not a rabbit anymore."
"And you'll never be human enough either."
"Look at them."
"They walk. They sit. They live."
"You fall."
"What if this is punishment?"
"What if you were chosen because you were wrong?"
"You wanted adventure."
"Now live with it."
Then softer. More dangerous.
"Your sisters will be fine without you."
"They'll forget how you used to be."
"They already are."
And one whisper that its echo sounds like my own voice:
"What if going back hurts more than staying?"
I was already down and in front of me floated the piece of map. But I hesitated.
Then I thought about Rosy.
Snow.
Luna.
White.
Pink.
Bunny.
Kai.
Chaos.
They were always there for me at my worst.
Now it's time to return the favor.
I grabbed the piece, and I went up, and on my way I felt how the water is more nervous.
And I heard whispers.
"Stay."
"Let go."
"Stop trying."
"This body is easier than missing home."
"You were never meant to return."
I accidentally said "mm" in my head, but I also heard it in real. I can talk in my head and the river hears it?
So I got an idea.
*"I'm scared."*
*"But I still want to go home."*
Then I felt it more nervous.
I was back up.
Toki and Kai helped me get away from the water. As I catched my breath, I saw them just curiosly looking at me.
So I showed them the piece.
And everyone cheered and hugged me.
And I?
I knew this isn't the end yet.
This was the beginning.
Because we held only two out of five pieces.
But we were one piece closer, and that's already a win!