Love is just Illusion

CHAPTER 6

Love is just Illusion by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER VI

MAY

“Mori!” Isabell shouted through the vast grass field away from the manor. She and her other companions are currently looking for her nephew who has been missing for hours.

Other voices echoed through the night attempting to find Mori and even hoping the missing man would answer them back. The dry leaves crunches beneath their feet and the cold night breeze is making their breaths foggy.

Light from the flashlights, lanterns, torches, and even each other’s voice are the only thing that serves as their guide through the night. Because even if someone knew every turn of the forest, one may night survive it during the night.

A certain hurried footstep was heard from a distant as if it’s running and when the man finally illuminated by the light he stops. “He’s… we… can’t… find.” He said in between pants.

“Easy there Lukas, take your breath.” Said by Lance, the man that Jack said that knows every turn of the whole hacienda.

“Lord Mori is not in the manor, and was not seen in the stable, he’s not even in the fountain nor the botanical garden” He said hastily yet clearly after Lukas regained his composure. “We can’t find him anywhere.”

“There is only one place left that we have not searched yet.” Isabell said but before she could proceed to walk she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

“This is the farthest we can go.” Said by Lance, with his words everyone with them halted. Carmel was taken aback when she heard him. “Let’s go back for now.”

“What do you mean?” She asked. “We have not searched the river side yet.”

“We must not go by river side at this time.” He said with a calm tone, but Isabell caught the fear on his eyes, it may not be noticeable due to the lack of light but with the distance between them is enough. “Maybe we should search in the morning.”

“What the f**k are you saying, man?!” Carmel grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt and pulled him up to her level. She wasn’t the type of woman who curses a lot but with this kind of situation she doesn’t have the control over her mouth. “And why is that, huh?!”

Lance is tip-toeing because of their height difference and the intensity between their eyes is thick that even the knife can slice it. He swatted the hands of the Montemayor making her dropped him on his feet.

“Just look at everyone they are all tired.” He started, to which Carmel saw what he meant.

The people who goes with them are all sweating and they may not showing it but their breathings are getting heavy and their eyes are showing fear, “and we don’t know what is in there.” He said indicating to the river side.

“What do you mean you don’t know?!” Carmel shouted at his face, “you are all living here for your entire life and you don’t know what is in there?!”

“I am truly sorry,” Lance muttered.

“Don’t you dare-” Once again Isabell’s fiancée was cut off when Lukas defended his older brother.

“We have not gone to the river nor to the woods beyond it! We are not allowed to go anywhere near the border!” He yelled back but in a frustrated manner. “Lady Sapphire has forbidden us to do so.” He muttered the latter part as he hangs his head low.

“Border you say? Don’t f**k with me-” Carmel was interrupted when when Isabell beat her to do so.

“You are right, Mr. Lance. You should go back and get some rest.” She said which makes Lance and other let out a sigh of relief.

“Isabell! What do-” She was again interrupted by the sound of gun’s click.

“I don’t care what is in there,” she said with her eyes burning with determination of finding Mori. “I will find him.”

With a shotgun on her right hand, she then took the flashlight out of Lance’s hand and proceeded to walk towards the location of the river. The people were all tired but worried for their safety and so, despite what they are feeling they chose to follow Isabell.

“Mori!” Isabell’s nephew’s name once again echoed. But this time their voices was heard by the sleeping figure of the missing man.

“Huh?” He said as he sits up on the top of the huge rock, “I think I have heard something.” He muttered as he rubbed the sleepiness away from his eyes.

“Crap! It’s already passed sundown.” He muttered as he hastily put on his boots, “aunt Isabell must be worried sick.”

Without hesitation, he jumps off the rock and his feet are immediately greeted by cold water of the river and some droplets are all splattered on his trousers, “Oh men, I have forgotten there is a river here.”

He sighed loudly as he felt the water soaked his boots. “Now I’m wet.” He whined in a whisper.

But his attention was caught when he heard the faint voice shouting his name, “Mori! Where are you? Please answer!”

“Oh dang! This is what I’m talking about.” He said frustratingly as he walks towards the river shore. “They are looking for me, aunt Isabell will be so mad at me.”

But before he could step out of the water, he felt shiver crawl up to his spine. As if something or someone is intensely looking at him.

And so, he slowly turns his head from side to side but he found none but the tall grasses and wild flowers. He then looks behind his shoulder. But only the darkness greets his eyes on the other side of river.

The wind that was peacefully kissing his pale skin is now bringing intense pressure. The feeling of coldness it brought was refreshing but now, it is eating every piece of his sanity.

“Must be my imagination.” He mustered to himself, thinking that his mind was just playing tricks on him.

“Mori!” He finally recognizes the voice, it’s the voice of his aunt. He was about to shout back but was stop when he heard loud rustle of leaves out of nowhere.

He can’t distinguish where the sound come from, but by now his instincts are right; he’s not alone in there.