Norfolk

Chapter 13

Ceesta had expected a dark and gloomy atmosphere, one filled with dead and dying trees and a foul smell of decay. But instead, she met a majestic landscape, the towering trees reaching to the sky and the air filled with the smell of life. The Fernwilds...

Mukha lang naman itong normal na gubat. Buhay na buhay ang mga berdeng dahon ng nagtataasang puno, mga naglalakihang ugat na gumapang sa iba't-ibang direksyon.

Naglipana rin ang malalagong halaman, makukulay na bulaklak sa paligid na maya't maya ang talon at lipad ng mga insektong tila naglalaro doon.

Although, it was a far cry from what she had been expecting because of how the book described Fernwilds. Ceesta felt a sense of uneasiness, with the forest seeming to be filled with secrets that she don't quite understand.

The towering trees surrounded them. The air was thick with the scent of moss and soil, and the sound of the birds and insects filled her ears. It was a strange and eerie place, and she felt an immediate sense of wonder and reverence.

The forest seemed to be alive. She took a breath, bracing herself for the journey ahead, and started into the depths of the woods.

“Hmm..” Nakapamewang na iniapak ni Apollo ang kaliwang paa sa malaking ugat habang linilibot ang tingin sa paligid. “Kaliwa o kanan?”

“Cee?” Pag-ulit nito matapos ang ilang segundo na hindi pagsagot niya pagsagot.

Kunot noo na tinitigan ni Ceesta ang hiwalay na daan. Iba ito sa pagkakatanda niyang sinabi ni Olia. “Apollo, naka ilang na kanan tayo?”

“Lima.” Mabilis na sagot ng kasama.

Mas lalong lumalim ang linya sa gitna ng kilay ni Ceesta. Wala dapat ang hiwalay na daan dahil sabi ni Olia sa kaniya, matapos ang limang pagliko sa kanan, ay diretso na ang daan.

“Sigurado ka?”

Apollo nodded his head. “Siguradong sigurado.” Bumaba ito at lumapit habang naka turo ang isang daliri sa kaniya. “Hindi ko gusto 'yang hitsura mo, Cee. Huwag mong sabihing naliligaw tayo?”

It was hard to tell for sure, but there was a feeling of familiarity present. She knew that the human mind can trick itself sometimes, but as she scanned the patterns of the tree trunks and the giant stone with a green frog on the top, it convinced her.

“Naliligaw tayo.” She revealed.

Apollo cursed under his breath.

Ceesta knew that they had been in these woods earlier and that the patterns were all too familiar.

“You know what-- namali lang yata ako ng bilang.” Apollo said with a hint of distressed. “Tara sa kanan.”

Her lips parted. Gusto man ay hindi na niya pinigilan ang kasama. Mas gusto niyang maniwala na baka oo, baka nga namali lang sila nang bilang dahil sa pagod at ilang paghinto dahil sa layo nang kanilang nilalakad.

“We're gonna get there, Apollo.” She assured just to make his repeated sighs stop. “Just trust me.”

Apollo didn't spoke. But he sighed.

Ceesta glanced at him and asked, “Do you trust me?"

Apollo make a quick lazy gaze to her and then looked away. He sighed, again. “Magagalit ka ba kapag sinabi kong hindi?”

She felt a surge of frustration wash over her. Gamit ang siko ay tinusok niya ito sa tagiliran ng kasama.

Napangiwi ang ito sa sakit at pagkatapos ay nag pukol nang masamang tingin kay Ceesta. “Kita mo! Kaya ayoko mag salita. Nananakit ka.”