AWAKENED BY HER VOICE

Chapter Four — The Fall

After breakfast that morning, I stood up from the table and stretched.

I had already made up my mind.

“I think I'm going to explore the mountain today.”

My mother looked at me.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she smiled.

“Oh, that's good.”

I frowned.

“What?”

She picked up a plate and began clearing the table.

“Something is already waiting for you.”

I stared at her.

“Mom, stop it. Not today.”

She laughed.

“I'm sorry.”

“I mean it. I'm not in the mood for your fantasizing and all those stories about the moon goddess and prophecies.”

My mother raised her hands innocently.

“Okay, okay. I won't say anything.”

I shook my head.

“Good.”

I went upstairs and prepared everything I thought I would need for the hike.

I packed some water, snacks, a jacket, a few other things, and my phone.

When I came back downstairs, Jules was still sitting at the table.

He was already playing his video game.

I looked at him.

“Jules.”

He didn't look up.

“Yes, sis?”

“Won't you follow me?”

He finally looked at me.

“Follow you where?”

“To the mountain.”

He immediately shook his head.

“No, sis.”

“Why?”

“I have stuff to do.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What stuff?”

He looked at the game in his hands.

“Important stuff.”

I laughed.

“You mean your video game?”

He grinned.

“No, sis. I have stuff. Really important stuff.”

I shook my head.

“Fine. Continue with your stuff.”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

I picked up my bag and walked outside.

Before leaving, I remembered Kate.

I quickly took out my phone and video-called her.

She answered almost immediately.

“Emily!”

“Hey!”

“Where are you?”

“I'm about to climb the mountain.”

Her eyes widened.

“The mountain?”

“Yes.”

“You're serious?”

“Of course.”

“Wait. Show me!”

I laughed.

“Okay.”

I turned my phone around and showed her the scenery.

The snow-covered trees.

The village behind me.

The enormous mountain rising above everything.

Kate stared at the screen.

“Wow.”

“Beautiful, right?”

“Very.”

I turned the camera back toward myself.

“I'll call you later when I'm closer to the top.”

“Be careful, Emily.”

“I will.”

“I'm serious.”

“I know.”

I smiled and ended the call.

Then I began climbing.

It had been a long time since I had climbed through snow.

And I had forgotten how difficult it could be.

Every step required effort.

My boots sank into the snow, forcing me to pull my legs free with every movement.

Sometimes I slipped.

Sometimes I had to grab onto a tree for balance.

But somehow, I was enjoying myself.

The cold wind hit my face.

Snowflakes landed on my hair.

I laughed.

“This is actually fun.”

Whenever I reached a higher point, I would take out my phone and record a short video.

“Kate is definitely going to laugh at me when she sees this.”

I would put my phone away again and continue climbing.

Higher.

Higher.

And higher.

The village slowly became smaller behind me.

The trees became thinner.

The air became colder.

Eventually, I reached the top.

I stood there, completely breathless.

And then I saw the view.

My mouth fell open.

It was beautiful.

The entire village stretched beneath me like a tiny painting.

Mountains surrounded the area in every direction.

The snow reflected the pale sunlight, making everything look almost magical.

I took out my phone.

“Kate is going to love this.”

I recorded another video.

Then I put my phone away.

For a while, I simply stood there enjoying the silence.

There was something peaceful about being so far away from everything.

No school.

No dean.

No Mike.

No accusations.

Just me and the mountains.

I decided to walk around a little.

I moved carefully through the snow, looking at the landscape.

Then—

CRACK!

I froze.

“What was that?”

Before I could take another step, the ground beneath me suddenly disappeared.

“Ah!”

I fell.

My stomach dropped as I plunged into darkness.

“God!”

I grabbed at the air, trying desperately to hold onto something.

Nothing.

I was falling deeper and deeper.

“God, please!”

My heart pounded violently.

“I shouldn't die here!”

I thought about my mother.

My father.

Jules.

Kate.

My mother was still waiting for me at home.

“Please!”

I closed my eyes.

Then—

THUD!

I landed on something soft.

For a few seconds, I couldn't move.

I lay there breathing heavily.

My entire body hurt.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“What...?”

I looked beneath me.

There was nothing soft.

I was lying on hard stone.

I quickly pushed myself up.

I looked around.

Darkness surrounded me.

“Where am I?”

I couldn't see anything.

Then I noticed something beside me.

A flashlight.

I picked it up and switched it on.

A narrow beam of light cut through the darkness.

I stared at it.

“My mom must have put this in my bag.”

I remembered packing my things earlier.

I hadn't even noticed the flashlight.

I certainly hadn't planned on exploring a cave.

I looked upward.

The opening through which I had fallen was far above me.

There was no way I could climb back up.

“Oh, no.”

I turned around.

Maybe there was another way out.

I tightened my grip on the flashlight.

“Okay, Emily. Don't panic.”

I took a deep breath.

“You just need to find another exit.”

I began walking.

The cave was strangely quiet.

My footsteps echoed against the stone walls.

I moved slowly, shining the flashlight in every direction.

There were narrow passages.

Large rocks.

Ancient walls.

I touched one of the walls.

It was cold.

Very cold.

Then I noticed something carved into the stone.

Writing.

I moved closer

.

“What is this?”

The symbols were strange.

Some looked familiar.

Others didn't.

I raised the flashlight.

There were more writings farther ahead.

And deeper inside the cave...

Something that looked like an ancient chamber.

I swallowed.

“Okay...”

I took another step.

I had no idea that I had just entered a place that had been hidden from the world for a thousand years.