11 Chapter 2 - Alluring Nightmare

Part 5

"So, Papang had decided. I must go with Laum, then." Marikit said with determined face.

She stared at Laum with unblinking eyes, dead straight. She stared at him so long as if she was reading his pretty tanned face to predict his response to her. No longer than before the sound of sea waves reach his ears, Laum averted her eyes, looking to the blue sea.

"No, you don't have to." The fact that she was a pixie, the foreigner land would be fervidly interested on her. It was written on his chest that he would protect his dear ones. Upon having cleared his mind and having able to eat their lunch, he thought of something. He's father was not that wrong. In fact, it was the best way of dealing the situation. Laum decided that he would agree on his father's. Not that he had choice to begin with.

Besides – "Besides, you will guide Mayumi for me, won't you?"

"But I am not hers, I am your pixie." She sat on the shoulder and patted it in stubbornly manners.

"But – "Knowing the delicate circumstances, it would be doubtlessly dangerous for her to follow Laum into stranger's land. Nevertheless, the Pixie's determination was as hard as a stone. She even disrupted him talking.

"No Buts. Laum is stubborn, but he's nothing compare to me." Crossing her arms on the tiny body of hers, she strongly said.

Laum's eyebrows turned up. His mildly sweating forehead formed three lines. "It's dangerous for you – "she held his cheeks, cutting his words and forcing his lips to smile.

"I know, but as I had said already, I am your pixie, I'll follow everywhere you go, even in death."

As she said the last word, she looked down, not wanting their eyes to meet. She let go his cheeks. Her eyes were upon the weird statues standing everywhere. Knowing that being serious was not her plaything, she thoughtfully looked other things to tackle.

"Look, the place seems a little odd." She said while flying close next to one of the bird-like statue.

It was blackened as molds and lichen almost entirely dominated its surface, though the outline of the statue was still obvious to say it was a bird-like. Marikit grazed its rigid surface, trying to scratch the lichens. Time and altering weathers had already done a good job, not only the statues, but also the ancient village in this lone island.

"I think this island is close enough to the next village, so why no one was living here now?" Laum said while getting closer to the serpent-like statue.

Why would they leave such place with statues and monument around which symbolized the rich culture of the place?

Seeing the pixie touched the bird-like statue, he became more curious. She might a thing or two about this place. "Do you know these things?"

"N-no, but I could sense ominous mana lurking somewhere in this island." she answered her, averting her eyes away from him.

Must be because there's something deep in this island.

Looking ahead, there was a single mountain in the island that was completely covered by the greens. Laum faced forward eager to know more.

"Alright, let's have a look" he looked at her that made her shrugged a shoulder as if she correctly guessed the flow of events. "- before we head back."

Finally letting out a sigh, she agreed. "What I can do? I am your pixie"

Her tones were always cheerful as ever but this time, it seemed something bothered her. Laum could see somehow that she was in panic and nervous. He thought that she could tell him not to proceed deeper, but for some reason she did not.

Maybe for the fact that he could not have another chance to explore this mysterious island given that he was destined to leave his homeland, she let him do whatever he wanted.

"Follow me until death, huh?" Laum murmured to himself.

He was not afraid losing his own life now, given his current situation. Heck if I care death will come, then come forward and I will face you. Whew, calm down, me. Where was the calmness that he already had earlier? No, I am calm as the sea. With a deep breath, he decided. He just needed to explore a little more about this island. Something was bothering him. Yeah, I won't deny it. He had to remedy the curiosity of his.

He knew that even something would happen on him while he was exploring this wilderness, the Council of Rajah would not hesitate to fine another son of Maginoo to be his replacement. His younger sister would not do specifically because of the gender. Moreover, he knew his parents would not allow this to happen, neither Laum.

The pixie noticed Laum's face had lightened up a little bit. She had read the eagerness to explore Laum's written on his face. Flipping her wings, around and around of Laum, then she landed on Laum's shoulder.

"Okay" She replied only in one word, but in downward tone. Her voice sounded like she had decided something too.

****

Soon, they walked straight following the trails of once a pathway, but now, green grasses and bushes grew even the middle of pathway. On the side of the trail, peculiar sculptures and statues were standing; on the left was the bird-like statues and on the right, it was the serpent. The sculpture and statues gave out an eerie feeling as if they were carefully staring at them, observing every single step they took.

The pixie was sitting silently on his shoulder. Seeing her from the edge of his sight, her heartbeat must be racing given the stagnant and gloomy atmosphere of the place. Still, she steeled her heart telling herself it was okay since she was with him, with her Laum.

It was still pass mid-noon and the sun was coming down from the highest peak of the sky, yet the heat from the sun's ray did not reach their skin. In fact, the dark shadow under the trees, casted as the sunray hit the canopies, was perfect place for monster and magical beast to hide as they watch their prey, which somehow gave out chills on their spine. They should be sweating from the scorching heat of the pass-noon's sun but cold air caressed them, alluring them deeper inside the island.

He could feel some eyes were staring at them, yet they continue strolling ahead.

This is absurdity.

The thought clicked in his mind as every step took them deeper inside the island. Nonetheless, he brought the idea. Maybe we should go back? The pixie was still sitting on his shoulder, grabbing his ears. It was silent but deafening. Abnormally silent that he could hear even his own breath. Yet, they continued until they should stumble something.

Finally, it was the pathway's end and the statues on the side of the pathway circled around a ritual site. At one look, Laum could tell it was one. The Bird-like and serpent-like statues were circling and were alternating around the circular ritual site. The total statues circling it were twelve, six of the bird-like and other six of the serpent.

The diameter of the ritual site was approximately twenty handspans. The ground's floor was made of limestone block, neatly arranged in a ring, layer after layer, until a single circled limestone was in the middle of the sacred place.

In that center limestone, a black stone embedded. It was like a black diamond as dark as the raven's feather. No, actually, it was darker than that.

He glanced at the pixie and saw her poker face did not conceal her nervousness as his right ear was shaking she was holding.

Laum fixed his eyes on her until she left the black diamond from her sight noticing his eyes were looking at her. In response, she shook her head. She was bothered, he could tell. However, her eyes were looking down again, avoiding the meeting of their eyes. Soon after, she let out a sigh, in which Laum thought she was telling him to go on, investigate.

Laum nodded, continuing to walk forward to the center of the ritual site, closer to the black diamond to have closer and more detailed look.

The stone was obviously shining. No, it was not its own luminescence. As dark as this diamond, he doubted it would have the ability to glow its own light. It shone only because the sunrays reflected against it smooth and refined surface.

Something's odd…

Kneeling down, he attempted to touch the stone, which he stopped noticing something was odd. No, in the first place, the island was lurking with ominous aura all along was adequately odd, but what follows was even odder.

The pixie fled behind his back, leaving no image from his sight. She sensed something bad was going to happen, but she did not warn him.

The sun, the sun was reflecting its radiance to the stone. Of course it was. However, the top of the smooth and refined black stone reflected the image of the sun, directly to its center. It should not be a possible since it was now pass mid-noon.

To confirm his observation, he looked up to the sky but the sun's blinding ray prevented his eyes so he used his right fingers to filter the light.

How could it be? The sun was again at the zenith. You gotta be kidding me! The shadow of the bird-like statues was casting directly straight. It was dead straight which supported the sun was at the peak of the sky again.

As he had noticed earlier when she flew back behind, he turned around to search the pixie but the pixie's image was nowhere to be found.

"Mari – "Laum tried to call for her, however, he bit off his own tongue as the ground was suddenly shaking.

The ground suddenly shook, the sound something big underground had wake up.

Afraid losing his balance for the shaking of the ground became stronger each second pass by, he anchored his self to the rumbling limestone blocks with one knee on the floor and hands on the side, touching the ground.

Where's Marikit? Why did not she alarm me?

Marikit has pixie's intuition. She should have warned him. As the ground continued having a bad mood, he searched warily for pixie. She must have been taken out first by the evil entities who the mastermind of this since she could sense incoming danger, he thought or.

No, I think she's alive somehow. He felt it. She did not betray me, I could tell.

He knew the pixie for so long and she would not think of something like betraying him. Even he sensed the pixie was alive, he still worried about her. However, things were getting worse as the limestone, where the black stone embed, started to crack as the black stone levitated as if the sunray was pulling it up. Soon, the black stone floated upward, just below the level of his eyes. The continuous shaking of the ground made the white stoned rumbled.

Fixing his eyes on the ominous stone, he saw the sun's reflection again. What the –

On the sun's image from the black stone's reflection, a dark sphere was trying to cover up the sun's light. The sphere was smaller, as it covered itself against the sun and produced a ring of light. Looking up to confirm, no doubt, it was really happening. The phenomenal picture was indeed breathtaking and beautiful, a shining ring of light. Nevertheless, as for his current situation, he had no leisure to enjoy the sight.

It must be something to do with the ground's shaking. Of course, it does. It should not be coincident. This event was definitely not a pure coincidence. No time to watch around!

He slapped his self hard. He needed to exit this place as soon as possible. But what about the Pixie? She knew her. Even if she was such tiny creature, she could pull a trick to get herself out from this.

Therefore he stepped back, away from the floating black stone, but his clumsy foot tripped for the ground was still trembling, accompanied by panic and fear running through his distending veins. As a result, his butt hit the shaking floor, his hands supported his back voluntarily.

He crawled back to move away from the black stone.

Dust started to emerge from the shaking floor and as he became aware, he made a checking to the statues for they also gave out some dust. Perhaps, this was because not only the ground was shaking but also the statues were moving on its own. They were growing larger and larger as if the shaking ground nourished them. However, it was only the serpent-like statues were growing and attempting to cover the open sky completely.

He looked behind, it was also the same; the serpent-like statues were considerably growing. I have to get out from this place, no matter what! That was the thought that sprung instantly. Without any other thoughts, he quickly created bubble barrier.

At the time he flew fast forward away from the center of the ritual site, a black fog covered and blocked the exit. The black fog came out from the black stone and circled him, hindering his way out. Looking around to find another way, he got one, above.

There was still time to fly upward, and away from this sacred yet horrifying ritual site. However, as he did so, a tinkling, sweet voice called him back.

"Laum, wait!"

It was Marikit. But wait, where was she? She was nowhere to be found.

The heinous black fog must had covered and entangled her, pending her escape. Laum could not leave her in this place, could he? Therefore, he flew back.

"Com' on, Marikit, where are you?"

Sooner, the black fog encircled the bubble barrier again and – Pook! – The bubble barrier burst.

"What!"

He landed with his bare feet and then he moved forward looking for the pixie without the bubble barrier.

"Come! Marikit!"

However, as if fate shook its head, denying him to see the pixie, the block fog had completely covered his escape. Moreover, it started to form an image.

A serpentine with black fog covering its body was emerging in front, a naga. The glowing red eyes were piercing. At the same time, the growing statues covered the sky, forming a dome with a small hole in the center designed enough only for the sun's ray to pass through.

The shining ring of light reflected on the refined surface of the black stone.

"You've come"

The voice of the naga had a low-pitch tone with raspy feminine voice.

"W-what is this?" He confusedly asked. "What… is this?"

Then, he heard someone was crying. It was the pixie, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Sorry… sorry" Her words were crumbling, sobbing.

He turned around but no pixies. "Marikit!"

"Sorry, Laum"

"No, it's okay just tell me where you are. Don't move."

But she repeated apologizing. "Sorry… it's my fault"

He heard her clearly, those apologetic words. He ran. He searched for her at the same time the naga was chasing him. It was just tailing him but he ignored it. He must find the pixie immediately.

But as he ran again, his right foot was tripped by the shadow Naga's fog, which made his head hit the ground. He felt dizzy. He used his last force to face up, lying on the ground. However, he regretted doing it, for the Naga had started moving.

The naga had closed enough to him. Her darting eyes fixed on him.

"You've come" The Naga repeatedly said. She was delighted, grinning with those red –blood eyes.

"What is – "

As he spoke those words, everything darkened and he saw nothing. He felt nothing. Everything was so dark, but he still heard something.

"Sorry… sorry…"