Down System

Chapter 16

I was on my last legs. It was getting hard to breathe. My heart was pounding. My knees were shaking. I was at the point of losing my strength.

It was almost an hour since we began the long trudge. The mountain I was walking in was no joke; it was peaky, and the pathway was rocky.

Mount Marrior was the highest mountain in Hades. Its altitude in meter was eight thousand eight hundred. With that towering summit, the mountain was divided into two areas: the community from the bottom to the middle part belonged to our region, and those who were at the top, the indigenous group, was another locality.

I wasn't actually wholly familiar with the old state of Hades, but I knew these things because I had researched it in the school library. It was necessary to study things before experiencing them— just like having bullets before going into a battle.

The sun that was peeking through the woods could reach my skin, causing my sweats to run down. Fortunately, the trees were giving off the air that I needed; somehow, there was it to wipe my wet body.

"Can you still carry on?" Namika asked when she noticed me running out of breath. "If you're tired, we can rest for some time, young girl."

I took a seat on a big rock and drank water. "Are we still far to your house?" I gasped.

"We still have to take ten minutes more, but it still depends on how fast you walk."

"I can't imagine you're walking this far, yet your bones were still strong. What drug are you taking?"

The old woman chuckled. "I told you, it has been a habit."

I guzzled the water until even the smallest drop wasn't left anymore in the big bottle I was holding. If only I knew I wouldn't take an errand but a trek, I should have brought a gallon with me.

I didn't let my parents knew that I was having this journey with Namika; once they knew about this, they would surely scold me. Besides, I didn't want them to be troubled while at work.

Hearing the crickets chirped monotonously, I picked my scrunchie inside my pocket. Because of exhaustion, I had a hassle tying my hair up and the fact that it was too long. Out of patience, I threw the ponytail and frowned.

"Are you mad at me?" the old woman asked.

I shook my head. "I just hate my hair."

She walked towards me and sat beside me on the big rock. "Would you allow me to do it for you?"

I looked at her and nodded a bit.

Namika took a pink ribbon inside her pouch and smiled at me as she bound my hair in a messy high ponytail. She was like a mother doing this to me. It was surprising that she had no daughter when, in truth, she could be a near-to-perfect mother.

I thanked the old woman after doing the favor to me. After some time, I told her to continue walking because I already had enough rest. But before it could slip in my mind, I picked up the scrunchie I hurled; Mother gave this to me and if I lost this, she would sulk about this.

Almost ten minutes had passed when we finally reached Namika's house. It was located in the middle part of the middle, and that explained the long trip.

As soon as I saw the old woman's dwelling, my eyes grew bigger. After entering the towering gate, I was welcomed with a mansion that was higher than the trees in the mountain; it was even bigger than our house.

"Is this yours?" I asked the old woman in astonishment.

"Uh-huh. I've been living here for sixty-three years."

"And it's equivalent to your age, is it?"

Namika nodded.

"So that means, you were born with this swanky house?"

The old woman nodded once more before steering me inside the mansion.

I couldn't help myself but smile because of the great walls I was stepping in. There were stairs outside that were way through the inside. Going up, I wandered my eyes everywhere in the exterior before finally entering— the walls were painted brown and there were sculptures carved on them.

"What's the meaning of those carvings?" I asked the old woman, pointing them out.

"Those are the images of my ancestors," Namika replied. "They once lived in this house, and when they died, their portraits were made there as a remembrance."

"And they were made by whom?"

"By the sculptors of this village," she answered. "It is a promise made by our race that when somebody dies, someone in the family should pay a sculptor to design a portrait."

I niddle-noddle listening to her until we reached the interior at last. The big chandeliers greeted me. I was on the second floor of the mansion, and that was why I could see everything. I was like a princess in the castle.

"Are you really living alone in this house?" I asked the old woman, still gaping around, especially at the gemstones attached to the wall. "This one's gigantic for you."

"Well, for my rituals, it's just a small world."

"What kind of rituals do you do?"

"I'll show you when it's time," she said. "For now, let's just go down, so I could offer you food and drink. I know you're worn out, young girl."

A beam flashed in my lip the moment my ears heard what the old woman had said. I'd been craving since the beginning of the journey, but I didn't fancy eating during the walk.

I took a deep breath when we finally headed into the dining area. I almost ran out of breath because it felt like traveling around the city. I couldn't live with this expansive place no matter how significant it was!

"Where's your room located?" I asked the old woman as she prepared meals for me.

"Fourth floor," she answered.

My eyes widened. "F-fourth floor? How patient are you that when you feel hungry, you have to surpass three decks before you get here?"

"I have my own kitchen in the room. This area is for visitors only."

Namika's possession was incredible. If she was rich like this, why would she still work for us?

I swallowed the food and burped. The meal was satisfying because it was made by Namika. I loved Mommy's dishes, but honestly, this old woman cooked better.

"Get used to this house," Namika mouthed while watching me drink milk, "because from now on, all our plans will be held here."

"I will," I said in an affirmed manner.

On the next day in school, I had not had the energy to talk because I was still fatigued. I got down on the mountain with my own two legs because there was no other way but this, so I had no choice.

The calming silence in the room somehow relieved me. Despite my weakness, I was still able to maintain my remarkable aptitude of being the most punctual student in the whole section.

I walked towards the window to see the children playing outside, not noticing my tears falling from my cheeks little by little. My memories when I was a child in my first life were brought back to my mind. At that age, I was supposed to be playing with toys, but it was me who had been played like a toy by the Hadessian men.

I was four when I first experienced rape, and worst, it happened in the house. My mother Priscilla was there, but she couldn't save me, especially since she was also being harassed. I could still remember what the man had whispered in my ears before he started doing his dark plan: "Let's play a game... I'll kiss you and for every kiss, you'll tell me which part you'd like to be touched by my lip. Alright?" I just nodded, not because I wasn't aware of his bad game, but because he would kill me and my mother if I refused.

I wiped my tears when a familiar voice aroused in the room. When I turned around, my best friend Ferelith cheerfully spoke to me her pleasantries, but as soon as she noticed my red eyes, the smile on her lip faded away.

"Are you crying?" she asked, holding my hands.

"Uh, no. I'm fine. By the wa-"

"No, you're not," Ferelith cut me off. "C'mon, come with me!" She pulled me out of the room and steered me to the playground.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked. "The class would start soon."

"Twenty minutes more before class, don't rush me. I know you cried, and that's why I bring you here— to let the wind wipe your tears if you can't and if you don't want me to do it for you. Tell me, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I told you."

Ferelith placed her palm against mine, and her adorable eyes like nature genuinely looked at me. "I'm your best friend and I promise you can trust me. Your secrets are all safe in me, but if you're not yet ready to speak things, it's okay. But swear to me that when you can't hold on to your damages anymore, you'll let me wipe them for you. This will be the first and last that I will permit the wind to take my place."

I smiled at her, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I promise to tell you when it's time," I said. "I love you, Ferelith."

She hugged me. "You'll always be my best friend, Aleera. I love you!"

We stayed in the park for some time and spent time eating grapes Ferelith had taken from her lunchbox. When the buzzer buzzed, we went back to the room and got surprised by the zero presence. Where were they?

"Why is it no one's in here?" I asked Ferelith.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I don't think so if we have outdoor activities today."

"Wait," I uttered, "did you see anyone from the other rooms?"

"I don't guess so. Wait a moment, I'll peek through their windows." Ferelith moved from her place to have a glimpse of the rooms, and after a minute, she went back with folded brows. "There are no people on this floor," she said.

"What about to the other decks?"

"Guess we have to check them as well."

My heart pounded when we started exploring the whole building; it was strange to be emptied for no reason. As far as I knew, there were no programs to be held in the school nor necessary outdoor activities.

"Do we have a class for today?" Ferelith asked, creasing her brow.

"Of course. I bet you've seen the children playing a while ago. It's not a special day anyway. Are you updated on the announcements?"

"Yes, I am. No one had declared suspension. Maybe they are in the conference hall?"

"And what the hell they will do there? We have no program, haven't we?"

Ferelith bowed her head and bit her lip. "I don't know."

We were still in the middle of confusion when two girls with anxious faces came in the way; I had a peek of little hope somewhere.

"Excuse me," I said, blocking their way. "I'm sorry, but can we ask?"

The two girls didn't say any word, they just nodded in perturbation.

"Why is no one here in the building? Where are the students and the teachers?"

"H-haven't you heard of the news?" one of them asked, still shaking.

I shook my head. "May we know what's happening?"

"O-one of the students here was found dead in the t-tree near the creek." She was referring to the stream inside the academy. "He's been stuck, s-stabbed, in an open trunk."

My eyes grew bigger, as well as Ferelith's.

Meanwhile, the companion of the girl who talked vomited. She might have seen the blood, which made her feel the surges of puke.

"We're leaving," the girl who told me about the news, said in haste.

"I'm sorry, I have one last question!" I said, trying to stop the two from walking away. "What's the name of the student?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it's," the girl mouthed, "Ferno."