Epilogue

My biggest flex?

I grew up in a family where love blooms radiantly.

I was surrounded by friends who genuinely cared for me.

I had the perfect love story.

Well, I thought so.

The rain was almost gone when we started running for our lives again. But even if the rain subsided, it was not my tears. To this day, they still continue to flow from my puffy eyes.

Camilla and Lily tried to ask me something, but I never spoke again.

I still mourn the death of our friends.

Especially Macey.

I saw it with my own eyes. I witnessed how the quicksand slowly engulfed her. And I did nothing to reach his hand.

I didn't do anything to lift him out of there.

I did nothing to save the life of an innocent child.

I violently wiped the tears from both my cheeks. My vision was blurring and I was really very tired.

I could hardly see where we were going. The nights are getting darker. We also spent some time wandering around looking for a possible passage.

Our stomachs are still empty.

Aside from being tired, I'm also hungry, and I'm sure Camilla and Lily are too.

I looked around, but I really didn't see even a single tree with fruit that we could eat so that somehow our stomachs would be full.

I just ignored my churning stomach.

We just kept going, even though we were both very weak and sweaty. Every breeze is getting colder.

I guess it was almost two in the morning.

We continue to hope to find a way out of this jungle.

Until finally, we can see a light from afar.

"Is that a light?" Camilla pointed something out.

Lily and I both turned to what Camilla had taught. That's enough. There is a light on our left.

"You're right!" Lily exclaimed.

"Let's go." Let's just hope it's not another abandoned mansion." I said. Despite the hesitation, I walked slowly in that direction. Lily followed behind Camilla and me.

Camilla held my hand, and the shiver was obvious. I let him squeeze my hand.

When we reached the end of the muddy road, a sigh prevailed over the three of us. The light we reflected from our whereabouts earlier was from a lamp post.

"We're..." We're finally out." Lily struggled.

I have never been able to pull a single word out of my mouth.

I felt so tired but glad at the same time.

We're finally out of that horrible forest.

We were on the side of a highway, and a few cars were passing by. I just sobbed with joy because we were finally out of the forest, which had tormented us for several days.

Exhausted, we stumbled on the dirty floor.

Camilla sat across from the lamp post and made the pole lean. Lily lay on one side. Intense fatigue could be seen on their faces.

I suddenly felt very dizzy and weak. My vision is also blurring. I tried to maintain my balance, but the dizziness was just too much to bear.

I slowly dozed off to sleep.

The last thing I remembered was a lady who happened to pass by. I even heard it hysterically call for an ambulance.

I woke up in a bedroom. All I see around me is pure white.

I am in the hospital.

I knew that right away because of the devices next to me.

Soon, Mommy and Daddy came in crying. Ronald was also behind them. They immediately approached me and hugged me tightly.

Next to enter were Camilla and Lily, who woke up earlier than me. They were with their police.

We accommodated their questions about the incident. We told the truth that someone was chasing us, but we didn't know.

We stayed in the hospital for a few days to rest. The police also went to the forest where we were stranded and searched for the bodies of our friends.

Abi's body was first found in the abandoned house where we came from. Its condition is pitiful.

They even had a hard time finding Francine's body and had to use choppers because they also didn't know the jungle.

Chren's body was never found. So is Macey.

I even cried again when I remembered how I hadn't even rescued Macey. Her mother cried when she was once invited to the precinct. Mommy was always sorry to Emilia for neglecting me. I said it was okay because it wasn't his fault what happened to us.

It's also been a few months, and I'm trying to forget everything that happened. Daddy and I were often out of town, so somehow I couldn't remember everything very well.

The art gallery I built was also finished, and just a month ago I formally opened it to the public.

It's Saturday and we don't have much to do, so I invited Camilla and Lily to my house.

After all, we deserve to take a break and relax ourselves.

I left the two in the kitchen first to pick up my cellphone in the bedroom. I left the one charged earlier.

I had fun baking cakes and cookies, so I missed my cellphone.

Mommy and Daddy are not here because they have important things to do in Baguio.

The older brother, on the other hand, is finally preoccupied with the woman. I'm glad he'd already found someone he'd spend his time with aside from his dogs.

I smiled as I walked towards the second floor, where my room was. I didn't even take off my apron because I would be right back to help them with what they were doing.

I was approaching my room when I stepped on a soft, slippery object on the floor.

My forehead furrowed as I bent down to look at what it was.

Mud.

It seemed like a footprint of someone. But how can there be mud here? It doesn't rain here, and there will be no mud here because our house is made of concrete.

Even though I was nervous, I just continued to walk slowly towards my room.

My heart is beating faster.

The steps I take are increasing. There are small footprints, and there are also large footprints full of mud.

I bent down as I walked. It also follows where the footsteps I am following are going. Until I got to the opposite door of my room.

Opposite it, stood two people.

I slowly raised my eyes to confirm what I saw.

As I looked up and up, I realized a girl and a tall young man were standing in front of me.

They are both muddy and dirty.

I was just shocked when I met the two.

I covered my mouth as they both smiled at me. Their smile was so sweet, but my heart was pounding with shock and fear.

Later, the girl stepped closer to me. I wanted to retreat, but I was already staggered in my position.

The child's smile widened at me even more.

When he approached me, I realized that both of them had black eyes.

"Hi love. I missed you. "

"Hi Aya!"

Erron. Macey...