Tristan's Journal: Where They Died

Mission dela Cuesta - Day 3

While heading to the place she wanted to lead me, Carie started feeling scared of the rain. I thought it was just because he did not want to soil the dress she made herself. But there seemed to be another reason.

"You know, Erica told me a scary story once."

That's what she said and it got me interested. I had to make her cough up more information on Erica so I could wrap up this mission more quickly. But she didn't finish the story because she started screaming. I guess she is really fearful of the rain, especially the thunder.

She screamed so loudly and looked truly afraid of something. I felt a little bad. Now, I know that I was trained to be totally cold to the witch. But she is not Erica dela Cuesta. And it wouldn't hurt to comfort her just this time, right? It's just a one-time thing. I am, in no way, betraying the World Government.

"We're here," she said.

I observed the place. It took no second look to know it was a graveyard.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"Erica told me about this place many times. She told me I would meet a lot of great people here. She never said they're dead," her voice got quieter.

Honestly speaking, it weirded me out. Carie who used to be annoying became too silent. Even when she talked, I could not read her at all unlike before. If she's going to be like this, she should've been like this in the first place.

"Did you think that she had been staying in this place, being cared for by all these," I stopped myself from saying witches, "women?"

"All the people here made their own graves. And they buried themselves, too." She turned around and she had her original demeanor. "Isn't that kind of freaky? What if they will rise up and start eating us?"

Now that she's back to her normal self, I feel like I should have savored the time when she was quiet. It will be noisy again from now on.

"What if I'm actually not Erica's friend but one of the people buried here? Awoooo."

"Stop with the jokes, Carie. Let's go back now."

She broke into a fit of laughter. "Are you scared? I was just kidding."

"I am by no means scared by you or by anything. You thought these people are alive but they are 10 feet under the ground. You thought Erica had been with them but she is not here. There is no reason for us to stay in this place," she explained.

"No. We need to stay here. I feel like Erica will show up later on."

"Sleep? In this place?"

"You're really scared." She tapped my shoulder. "But don't worry because I will hug you and caress your back to make up for what you did for me." She shook in disgust. "I can't believe I acted like that. I shouldn't have pestered Erica to tell me that story."

"Speaking of that story, what is it?"

"Do you really want to hear it?" She squinted her eyes and stepped closer slowly. "Are you sure you'll be able to sleep tonight? Do you want to take the risk?"

"Carie, I am not scared."

"It's just when the thunder claps, people in the woods will disappear. I thought I would be taken away since I'm here in the woods."

"That's all there is to it? Nothing else?" She nodded. "And you acted like that because of that story?" I asked.

"Stop reminding me of how I acted. And Tristan, you didn't hear it the way Erica said it. It was terrible. But I'm a bad storyteller so just deal with it." She moved closer to one grave and beckoned me to follow. "I put some mat inside. Bring it out so we can prepare our sleeping quarters."

"Are we really going to sleep here?"

I think it's not good to sleep in a place far from the witch's house. Sure, Erica always talked about this place. However, Carie said that Erica never left the house. She never took a step outside. If she wanted to go out, there must be only one destination. Since she's not here at the moment, this is not where she wanted to go. Moreover, you always go home after doing some work although in my case, I go back to the mansion. It's too tiring to pass by some other places.

It's better to wait at the cottage.

"Tristan, I promise to protect from the ghosts as thanks to your help a while ago."

I set up the mat. Reasoning with her was in vain.

"I really hate it when you make that face when I tell you what I feel. You know, I truly feel that Erica will be here later. And if she does show up, you need to listen to my guts."

I continued setting up our sleeping quarters. We ate dinner. I was amazed at how she could keep on talking by herself. She had so many topics. She talked about what she did last night, how she made her dress, what she thought of me when we met. Then she realized that we had met way before which was in the plane. She then started complaining about how nobody would like me because I was too indifferent.

"Erica won't like you if you continue being like that. Try to be kinder," Carie said.

"Shall I change myself to be loved?"

"I'm not telling you to change yourself to be loved. I'm telling you to change yourself because you love. Surely you don't want to be harsh towards someone you love." She dropped her spoon. "Wait. That line. It's what Damian said. OMG! Do you read You Can Love Me?"

I nodded.

She smiled so widely and stopped eating. "I'm a fan of that book, too. You know, I've read it many times. And when I say many times, I'm not talking about 5 or 6 times. I'm talking about rereading it every day. I got too bored waiting for Erica so I read her book. What's your favorite part?"

She didn't even let me answer. She kept on talking about her favorite parts. She even reenacted some parts, playing the roles of Damian and Danica. The day ended with her telling me what happened in the story completely.

I can't believe I was able to go through that.

Tristan Allegre, Shadows Society

Mission dela Cuesta - Day 3 fin