Saithilien

Chapter 11 - The Ascendancy Ritual Part 2

As Freya was already inside, the two assistants who vanished, came from the back curtain and joined their master on the stage to close the cabinet doors. The crowd was still cheering, but Monique seemed nervous.

“Kaya, save her,” Monique whispered.

“What?” Katsuro couldn’t hear Monique because the crowd cheers were too loud. 

The magician finally opened the door and everyone cheered when Freya was missing. Monique glared and glanced at the nuns. To her surprise, the nuns were gone and had already left the tent. She was in a panic looking around, desperate to find them. 

Suddenly people were in a commotion when they heard a gunshot outside. It was the perfect opportunity that the magician was waiting for, so he and his assistants immediately put away the cabinet and other props and eventually left the tent. Outside, two men were fighting over the g*n.

“You bastard! You’re guilty of stealing the wallet.”

“You were too rude. I didn’t steal it!”

People started to gather and helped in restraining the men. They became calm and turned their backs from each other, but their glaring eyes seemed to deliver that they’re not yet finished. 

“Monique!” Navya approached them.

“We need to find Freya, she’s missing.”

“What?!”

“We’re going to the castle.”

“I guess I’ll be staying here, be careful.”

“We will.”

Navya nodded and joined the other representatives. In a vacant lot, they gathered, and Paulo pulled out his phone. 

“Is that an iPhone? What are you going to do with that?” Navya gasped.

“Back at the horror ride. Two girls from the back seat went missing after. All of us noticed, but the operator told us that no one was sitting back there since the beginning.” Anna said.

“Something’s weird happening here, Freya is missing too.” 

“This place is not safe anymore, people start to go missing and staff here doesn’t even seem to notice.”

“So what’s the plan?” Talya asked.

“We need to find a way to contact the MapleGrove, If we stay here longer, all of us will be in danger.”. Anna said.

“It’s been almost three hours since the MapleGrove left. We still have time.” 

“Wait! Where’s Monique and Kaya?” Afina asked.

“They went to the monastery, she suspected that the nuns were behind all of this.”

“I can help in contacting the train, I was an engineering student.” Daniel raised his hand.

“That means Monique and Kaya must find Freya within three hours.” 

Everyone split up and tried to convince everyone to go to the station within three hours, for the train’s going to fetch them. While Daniel and the boys stayed in the vacant lot to figure out how to reach MapleGrove. Suddenly Christiaan came with some scraps and tools that can be used in getting a signal.

“There’s a signal!” Hermann exclaimed.

“MapleGrove? Is this the MapleGrove?”

“..........static…….static……..Yes, go ahead.”

The boys were overwhelmed as they heard the conductor’s voice. As the night was brightened up by the moonlight, the sky was filled with scattered clouds. The crowd happy laughs and cheers made the carnival alive that seemed nothing’s dark was happening. Back at the monastery, Monique and Katsuro were hiding in a dark alley, while a group of nuns lined up and went downstairs to the basement. They secretly followed them until they reached a dimly lighted hall with a statue of a man with a hooded robe in front, holding a rose. The statue bothered Monique. That’s impossible! 

“Our great Synesius! Accept these souls we offer and grant us eternal power.” A priest led the ritual. The nuns bowed down and started to chant with him. Monique and Katsuro were surprised to see Freya and Arya together with some people lying on the floor.

“It’s like they’ve been used as an offering,” Katsuro whispered.

“A sacrifice.”

Suddenly, a thunder growled and the sky became dark, and eventually, heavy rain started to fall. The nuns chanted even louder, their voices echoed through the basement. Meanwhile, at the carnival, the Cirque’s crew started to pack up and fixed their tents. The representatives led the other guests to the station as the MapleGrove was nearly approaching the town. Everyone was panicking and scared learning that some of their co-passengers disappeared. It triggered a mass panic that some lost control of themselves. 

“Kaya, we’re too late, there’s nothing we can do. They’re gone.” Monique sighed in grief.

“But, we can still save them.”

“No, Kaya!” Monique turned to Katsuro and glared at him.

“How can you be so selfish?!” Katsuro exclaimed and ran towards the hall.

“No! Kaya, come back please don’t leave me. I - I’m scared.” Katsuro halted and looked back at Monique. He saw her trembling in fear and tears were about to fall off her eyes. Katsuro slowly went back to her and held her hand.

“Alright, let’s leave this place.” Katsuro made his last glance at the ritual and pulled Monique’s hand to exit the basement. Running towards the castle gates, Katsuro remembered Arya giving him her necklace.

Flashback…..

As Monique walked ahead of Arya and Katsuro going to the big tent, Arya poked him. She stopped and slowly took off her necklace. She stared at it for a long time, then handed it to Katsuro. He was shocked at the same time, puzzled. 

“Here”

“Why are you giving that to me?"

“I’m not certain if we’ll be meeting again or I’ll be leaving this town alive. Use this to protect her, it’s the only way.”

“I don’t understand.” Katsuro accepted the necklace and looked at Arya, still bothered.

“You will, soon.”

End of flashback…

In an empty space near an unfixed tent, Darren noticed two men fighting over a g*n again. It was them, who fought a while ago. As they were pulling each other, they accidentally knocked down a drum full of gasoline. It spreads throughout the carnival space and it alarmed Darren. He took a last abrupt look of the space and ran away from the field to catch up with the others. MapleGrove can be heard whistling as it slowed down in the station. Everyone hurriedly boarded the train and sat in whatever cabin they find empty. The representatives gathered in the dining area. 

“Where’s Monique and Kaya?” Navya asked worriedly. The other representatives looked at each other. No one answered.

“I didn’t see them anywhere.” Darren was panting as he came.

The moment Monique and Katsuro reached the carnival space, the g*n randomly fired and the field burst into flames. They were thrown away when some parts of the area exploded. Katsuro immediately stood up and went to Monique He helped her stood up and eventually the heavy rain started to clear the flames. But they noticed that the water tower stands were badly burned that weakened the tower. It was about to fall when Katsuro held Monique’s hand and they started to run towards the station. 

MapleGrove blew its final whistle and started its engine. The water tower finally fell down that created a huge flood., Its water flooded the area following Katsuro and Monique’s path. The water almost got them but luckily they’ve overrun it. The train was slowly making its way to leave the town. Suddenly Monique stopped.

“Kaya, just leave me here, I’m just going to burden you in catching the train.”

Katsuro glared at her and tightened his grip on her hand. “No, I won’t leave you.” Katsuro slowly carried her and started to run towards the leaving train again. Around Katsuro’s arms, Monique stared at him in amazement and almost cried in joy.

Navya was in distress learning that her friends were left behind. Everyone bowed in silence and comforted her. “There they are!” Christiaan exclaimed as he opened the window and peeked with his head outside. Paulo joined him. “Let’s help them.” Everyone rushed and ran towards the back end of the train. 

Paulo held to a grill bar of the train’s small edge balcony and stretched his arms towards Monique and Katsuro. The others supported Paulo preventing him from falling, while Navya was panicking at the back. Monique let go of her hand on Katsuro’s shoulders and reached for Paulo’s hand. As she held the hand, Katsuro threw her towards him. Everyone held on to Monique and helped her to safety. Navya hugged her and tears went down both of their cheeks. The rain was making the situation more difficult for Paulo as his hand was kinda slipping from the bar. Katsuro finally reached his hand and was pulled to safety. Both of them were panting as they went inside the train. 

“Thanks for helping us.”

“We’re all in this together right?” 

Katsuro nodded and they all went back to the dining area. Everyone became silent and was in doubt to start a conversation. “What did just happened?!” Vera exclaimed, still in shock of the recent happening. “Wait! Kaya, have you seen Freya?” Talya asked, eager to know what had happened to her closest friend. 

“Well.... she’s uhmm,” Katsuro was stammering as he looked at Talya.

“She’s gone.” Monique sighed and felt restless. Everyone was shocked by hearing the news and was puzzled but remained silent. “Where’d you found her?” Anna asked.

“She’s been sacrificed together with the other missing guests. I think Mr. Marchion’s ridiculous story about this town is not ridiculous at all. In fact, it’s the truth.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Daniel asked.

“Weird beliefs, a cult, inhumane activity, worshiping some kind of dark entity is what making Filerethea a hell town. It even takes place in the monastery. Doing rituals to summon a dark form of power from an evil force cursed the town for unending darkness and haven of dark forces.” Monique grabbed the towel holding by Katsuro and wiped her hair. 

After a few minutes, everyone left the dining area and went inside an empty cabin they could find. Everyone was tired and preparing to sleep. Katsuro noticed that Monique fell asleep leaning on the cabin window, so he slowly took her and let her head rest on his shoulder. He then stared at the bright moon and calm sky. The storm is finally over.