The Following

We stood in the shadows, and from the corner of the wall, our eyes were trained on Elyana and her companions. Marie is also with me, and I think she is finding it all fun and games, but I am having an uncanny feeling about them.

One boy is tall and looks decent; the second one is quite muscular; and the third one seems wickedly nerdy-type with those glasses. The other girl seems distinctly friendly with Elyana.

"Arghh.. What's with that girl's hairstyle and clothes.? Isn't she revealing her body too much.? She has kept three buttons from her jacket open, and her skirt length is too short." Marie said, giving a repellent reaction.

"True..."

"It'll be a bad influence for Elyana if she hangs around the girl like that."

"Right."

"That tall guy looks handsome, though."

"Hmm..."

"What if he's Elyana's boyfriend?"

"Hmm, I don't know."

"I hope that weird-looking specs guy isn't the one."

"Hmm..."

"Then that muscu-"

"Marie..!!" I murmured angrily, concealing my voice as much as possible.

"Sorry- Sorry-" She brushed it away with laughter.

*Sighs** I am keeping the reply short, as it's usual for Marie to get into gossip, and I don't like it at all. All of my attention is only on Elyana at present. She isn't coming home properly these days.

Yesterday, the entire night, she was away from home. Was she with them.? And if yes, what were they doing.? Club around the town? Partying.? Knowing Elyana, she won't go in the everyday attire that she is wearing at present. Too many questions were crossing my mind at that time until the series of internal queries broke when they turned right from the district circle.

"Let's move." 

"Yeah.."

We followed Elyana from a distance, keeping our eyes fixed on her every move. She seemed unaware and unconcerned about our presence or if someone was following her. Her focus is solely on her friends. It seems like she is the one guiding them and leading the way. So my hunch was right, and it's safe to assume that they are not from here. We slowly and steadily traced their path.

Soon, the light around us started to glow, and the sound of music increased gradually. Before we could realise it, we were at the carnival.

"OHH, THE ASURA CARNIVAL! It was supposed to start today." Marie said it with excitement.

"Yeah, some were talking about it in the class today."

"There are so many people here."

"I know, right. I came here with Mom and Elyana three years ago."

"Elea, let's enjoy ourselves."

"We came here for something else. Stop getting distracted."

"But..." she said in a diminishing tone.

We can't be helped; we came here to follow Elyana, not to have fun.

"Relax.. Carnival will stay for the next two weeks. Let's come here on the weekend. You, me, and Yui." I said it with the most convincing gesture possible.

"REALLY..!! You are so good. I love you, Elea.!!" She said that, hugging me all over. *sigh* What a girl!

Elyana and her friends stopped at the market, looking through clothes and trying out our kingdom's famous dishes. Looking at them, I got even more confused. So Elyana just wanted to show them Carnival.? I asked myself. Soon, they enrolled themselves in games like Executioner Sword. The one who can slice the most number of objects around them in 10 seconds gets the prize. The tall, handsome one participated in it.

"Come on, Ethan, you can do it." said the girl, with Elyana cheering him on.

"I'll do my best." he said.

The game began, and he started swinging his sword. He made his pose and gesture look pretty professional, but the swings seemed like nothing special.

"He is so cool..." 

I heard the voice, lost away in love from my shoulders. It was my usual Marie in delusion.

People started clapping, but it was not for Ethan, as he came in second, but for the guy ahead of him.

"Ahh, it's too tough." said Ethan.

"It's okay; you did your best." said Elyana

"Congratulations, brother." said Ethan as he was trying to shake hands with the first prize winner.

But the winner stared back at Ethan's smiling face for a few seconds.

"You held back." he said.

"What are you talking about.?" Ethan asked, confused.

"Nothing, nevermind."

He walked away, ignoring his handshake.

"It seems like he doesn't like me." said Ethan while awkwardly smiling.

Did he really hold back.? I didn't feel like that because Ethan was sweating too.

Then another game of weightlifting was played, in which their muscular guy friend took part. He came undisputably first. Considering his figure, I guess it was obvious. We also caught the muscular guy's name when his friends were cheering for him: "Bruno."

And before the very eye, the sun had started to set, and the sounds of laughter and excitement filled the air at the carnival. The smell of cotton candy and funnel cakes wafted through the crowds as people of all ages roamed around. Elyana and her friends are enjoying their time. Till now, they haven't done anything immoral or even shown any sign of ill intention.

Just then, the nerdy specs guy stopped on his toes, shook his hand in the air twice, and looked up in the sky. What was that.? Did something happen to his hand.?

He made a gesture to Elyana and others. Seeing that, they started to walk straight without halting at any other shop anymore. It seems like they are done with all the fun.

Now I wonder where they'll head. I and Marie both vanished into the crowd, walking side by side, yet hard to recognise from the distance. A perfect camouflage behind Elyana at 30 metres.

"Elea.." Marie called, casually chewing bubble gum she bought from the Carnival.

"Yes.?"

"What if she just happened to make new friends and wanted to have fun, and you are doubting your sister for no reason?"

There was seriousness in her voice. She must be getting bored of it now. It's been 3 hours. I can't blame her for feeling like that.

"I understand your question, Marie, but you haven't realised it by now.? "

"Realised what.?"

"Today is the first day of Carnival, and she wasn't home yesterday throughout the day and night. This isn't just about yesterday night. She's been acting strangely for the past few months. Earlier, she used to be aggressive like a child in her teenage years, feeling insecure, but now she is completely distant. I am afraid we might lose her, and what do you think can be the reason for you to not attend class properly or to stay away from home until late at night? If she is really going out with friends, she can just say it. Mom knows about her friends already, but it doesn't seem like that will be the case."

"I see."

"Yeah.. "

"Sorry, Marie, I know you must be tired by now."

"It's okay. I was the one who asked to tag along anyway."

"Still, thank you so much."

"You better come here with me and Yui this weekend." Marie said it with a deadly glare in her eyes.

"Sure, sure, I will, I promise."

"Hmm."

The winter dusk has arrived, and the stars have started to twinkle in the sky. We have remained steadfast in our pursuit of her. Every step she took, we followed closely behind. At one point, for the first time, the girl with Elyana turned behind suddenly, as if sensing our presence, but somehow we managed to slip into the shadows and avoid detection.

The chase continued until they finally came to a halt near the Ashura River in an uninhabited area. We saw them going inside the abandoned, empty warehouse.