C4
She gently turned Ely around, carefully checking his small body for any bruises or signs of injury. Her hands were soft but steady, her eyes sharp with maternal concern. The boy didn’t say anything, he simply stood there, quiet and withdrawn.
Their father approached and placed a firm but gentle hand on Ely’s back. His face, lined with worry, spoke louder than his words.
“These attacks are happening more often than usual.”
“Yes, honey,” she replied, meeting his eyes. “I’ve noticed it too. We need to take him to the healer.”
“Okay then. We’ll ft prepare ourselves before going.”
“Mama, Papa… I want to come with you?” Pandora said, stepping forward, hopeful.
“No, Pan,” her mother said softly. “We’re going with your brother. We need someone to stay behind and look after everything while we’re gone. Please.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “I’ll go make dinner.”
“Thank you, my sweet daughter.”
Pandora smiled faintly at them. She wasn’t upset. This wasn’t the first time they had to leave her behind because of Ely’s health. Still, she couldn’t help but worry. She truly hoped her little brother would be alright this time.
Things began to settle after her parents returned. Her mother resumed her usual responsibilities, cooking and doing laundry, while her father took over caring for the animals and going to the market. As for Pandora, her days were simple, fetching water, cleaning the house, and occasionally keeping an eye on Ely, who had returned to his usual behavior.
Ely was always trailing someone, either their mother, their father, or Pandora herself, depending on whose attention he felt like pestering that day.
One fateful morning, Light came to visit her. Pandora was getting ready to go gather firewood. The forest near the village was safe enough to enter during daylight, but once the sun began to dip toward the horizon, it became an entirely different world, one whispered about in half-spoken warnings and unconfirmed tales.
There was a girl once, young and curious who had wandered too far. Dusk had crept upon her. When her parents realized she hadn’t returned, they ran to the village head in a panic. Strong men were gathered, armed with torchlights and blades. They entered the forest together, calling her name into the darkness. They found her eventually but she wasn’t the same. Dirt covered her entire body. Her eyes were hollow and unfocused, like something deep inside her had been torn away. She never recovered. She may have left the forest alive..... but she didn’t come back whole.
“I saw Ely and your father herding sheep earlier,” Light said as she approached Pandora.
“Ely wanted to follow Papa today,” Pandora responded with a small smile. “You know how clingy he can be with all of us.”
“Yes,” Light chuckled. “I talked to Samuel about your brother. I hope I didn’t offend you?”
“It’s fine. Everyone pretty much knows everything anyway.”
“Should we go to that place?” Light asked, her tone bright with mischief.
“Oh, let me think…” Pandora put a finger to her chin, pretending to ponder, then suddenly shouted, “Race you!”
She darted into the forest, her laughter echoing behind her. Light burst out laughing and chased after her. The two girls raced each other down winding paths and between thick trees, giggling as they narrowly dodged roots and branches.
Their laughter slowed as they approached their secret place, a small cave hidden among rocks and dense growth. Its entrance was so short and narrow it could easily be mistaken for a burrow. Most people would never look twice at it.
Inside the cave, darkness pressed in at first. But as they moved further, beams of natural light began to stream through cracks and openings in the rocky ceiling above. They were almost at their destination when Light exhaled softly.
“I’ve missed this place a lot,” she said.
“Me too,” Pandora smiled. “I left some firewood here last time. I’ll take that so we can stay longer without having to go back.”
“Okay. I missed the flowers,” Light said wistfully. “I tried planting them in my mum’s garden… but they all died. I stopped after the third attempt.”
“Me too. I’ll bring some for Ely. He loves them.”
“Wow…” Light whispered as they emerged fully into the clearing. “It’s even more beautiful than I remembered.”
It truly was a place from a dream, a scene one might find in a forgotten fairy tale. A small waterfall tumbled gracefully into a crystal-clear pool. Flowers in surreal shades of red, purple, black, and white bloomed in abundance around the edges, leaning toward the sunlight. The water shimmered, warm and inviting but not scalding. The stones beneath their feet were smooth and white, mixed with soft hues of yellow, forming a natural mosaic.
“I’m going in first,” Light announced with excitement, removing her dress and carefully hanging it on a large stone.
Pandora followed, equally eager. “This place changed a lot since the last time we were here.”
“Huh? It looks the same to me,” Light said as she stepped into the water. “Except for the new flowers growing around the river. Those black and purple ones are new.”
“Maybe it’s the flowers… but I’m feeling a shift in the air. Like… like it’s tinged with something. I don’t know how to explain it. I can’t place my hand on it.”
“Well, I don’t feel anything strange,” Light replied, already submerged. “But feel free to investigate while I enjoy my well-deserved hot bath.”
Pandora chuckled and joined her. “I’m done thinking. Coming in!”
The water enveloped them, warm and calming. Both girls sighed in delight.
“I could stay in here forever,” Light murmured. “It really works like magic. All my body aches are gone.”
“I want to bring Samuel here,” she added softly. “But I want to ask your permission first.”
Pandora hesitated. “Light… about Samuel… can you really trust him?”
“What are you saying, Pan? Of course I can. He’s already seen my parents. Our wedding will be set tomorrow or maybe today.”
“That fast?” Pandora’s expression dimmed slightly. “I’m going to miss you, Light.”
“Miss me? I’m not leaving the village. I’ll be visiting you, and you’re always allowed to visit me.”
“Light, you’re so childish it hurts,” Pandora said with mock sadness. “You won’t have time for me once you’re married. And when you give birth, I’ll hardly see you.”
“No, you will. I’ll be coming. So do I have your permission?”
“What if he’s not worthy of your trust? What if you show him the cave and he....”
“Then I’ll hit him till he forgets everything,” Light said with a grin.
“Hahaha! He’ll die first before losing his memories!”
“Then I’ll forget about him and marry you instead!”
“Owwhh, that’s tempting, young maiden, but I must decline, sadly,” Pandora said, pretending to swoon.
“Oh, mister! You dare deny this maiden? I’ll tell on you. You’ve seen me naked, and now you reject me?”
“You’ve seen me naked too, miss! I thought we were in love!”
“Which is exactly why you must marry me!”
Both girls burst into laughter, their giggles ringing out like music through the hidden paradise.
“That was so funny,” Light wiped tears from her eyes. “Okay then. I’ll bring him but we’ll show him together.”
“Okay. Thank you, Pan.”
They swam leisurely until their stomachs grumbled in unison. Climbing out of the water, they explored the small grove surrounding the river and plucked ripe fruits from low-hanging branches. The trees bore vibrant, juicy fruit that glistened under the sun.
Anyone with a discerning eye would’ve found the place suspiciously pristine, too perfect, too untouched. But to the two girls, it was simply magical.
“Light, you look so beautiful and glowy,” Pandora said suddenly, eyeing her friend.
“You too, Pan. That’s what relaxing does to your body.”
“No, I mean… really. You look beautiful. Your skin looks soft and supple. Your face is smooth like a baby’s.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am! Look at a mirror when you get home.”
“Okay then. Here’s your share of the fruit.”
Pandora blinked. “Wait, when did this start growing here?”
“I don’t know,” Light said cheerfully. “But I know they’re edible. I’ve already eaten one.”
“Light!!” Pandora gasped. “You’re too careless!”
The girls sat together in the grass, laughing and eating their fruit under the soft sun. The air was rich with floral scents and the distant hum of birds.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure cloaked in black stood at the edge of the clearing, hidden in shadow.
It watched them with a sinister glint glowing in its deep, dark red eyes.
