When night fell, a bright full moon hung in the sky, and its light shone on a face filled with terror. The face was full of stubble the length of fingernails, its skin flabby, bloated, and drenched in sweat. It had dark circles and eyes as big as tennis balls, though they were bloodshot, and the man looked around him frantically.
His yellow hemp shirt was tucked in his pants, caked in mud, black soot, and ore remnants. His tight pants were in tatters because of the sharp branches in the forest, and two holes were on his knees, while crimson liquid stuck to them. At that moment, he was backing up against the thick pine tree, his hands on his knees as he panted heavily. His fingers — blackened by soot — were trembling reflexively, but he gripped his pants until his fingers were white in an attempt to stop his fear.
Bang, bang, bang. Then, loud footsteps boomed through the forest, and the ground trembled, leaves falling from branches. He covered his mouth with both hands in fear, curling up like a millipede. He hid behind the big tree, holding in his breath and listening to his surroundings closely. Every rumble sent fear up to his mind, making his body tremble reflexively. He held down on his nose and mouth even stronger, almost suffocating himself. He was reminded of a scene of extreme horror, and his eyes gleamed in fear.
A long, melancholic sigh flew across the forest, and the rumble stopped five seconds after that, but for the man, it felt like an eternity. Eventually, it went farther and farther, until the man couldn’t hear it anymore. He plopped down onto the ground, his chest heaving. He was like a fish out of water, and he gasped for air, for he’d almost died from asphyxiation.
Then tears fell down his cheeks. “I managed to get out of that somehow. Tina, Jim, I’m coming back tomorrow, and then we’re leaving this place. Wait for me. Wait for daddy,” he mumbled to himself, and his eyes that were filled with despair slowly had the gleam of life and hope with them.
But quietly, a vine as thick as an arm slowly moved down the rubber tree behind the man, not unlike a viper stalking its prey. Eventually, it approached the man’s head, and it lifted itself up, just like how a viper would, then it coiled, storing energy. A moment later, it pounced on the man, wrapping around him, pulling him ten feet off the ground. The man’s face turned red, and he frantically grabbed at the vine that was tightening around him, blood pouring from his mouth, and he kicked the air as if he were spasming.
But it was for naught. He was lifted high up and pulled back. Everything became a blur, and all he could see was green fern growing in the middle of the air between legs that were as thick as trunks. And then he went limp, just like a popped balloon. A few branch-like creatures stabbed his body, and along with the eerie voice they made, hot liquid spurted out, just like a fountain, and that was the end of his life.
The man’s face was drained of all color in an instant, and he murmured something as his death throes. He kicked the air, and stopped breathing. Forever.
***
A pale body was pierced by multiple branches, pinning him ten feet above the ground. As the moonlight shone on it, pieces of bloody entrails slid down the stomach, swinging with the chilly wind of the night. As the blood dripped onto the earth, it was greedily absorbed, and a sigh of satisfaction was heard in the dark.
***
Roy let out a sigh and got up to straighten his wrinkled clothes, dusting off the leaves and stems from him. He was drenched in sweat.
“Had a nightmare?” Letho tossed a few handfuls of soil into the campfire, dousing the fire, then handed Roy a hot rabbit drumstick.
“It felt like someone was throttling me, and I couldn’t breathe.” Roy chomped down on the meat and wiped the grease off his lips. He tried to convince himself. “Maybe my body’s telling me to watch out, because it’s getting cold. But that was the first time I’d had a dream since I’d started replacing sleep with meditation, and it was a nightmare.” He frowned.
“Fate works in mysterious ways. Sometimes it’ll give us clues in the form of dreams. This isn’t a good sign. Finish your meal quickly, boy.” Letho looked at the mountain covered in snow that was not far from them. “We have to pass through the Mahakams as soon as possible. I hope nothing else happens then.”
***
They journeyed on for a few more hours and came to the base of the mountains after passing through the west path. When they looked up, the peak was already hidden by the clouds and snow. Before them stood trees that had been brought low by the autumn winds, their branches swaying, and their leaves falling to the ground.
A boy in a blue cotton jacket was hopping around the forest like a bunny, scavenging for resources. Roy and Letho were about to ask him for directions when a sturdy woman darted out from the forest to pick up the boy and turn him upside down to spank him. “Running around again? What if you get eaten by the monsters? I should wallop you before that happens!”
The boy bawled, much to the amusement of Letho and Roy.
“Ma’am, is this the way to the Mahakams?”
“Who are you? I’ve never seen you two before.” The woman glanced at them and brought her guard up when she noticed they were strangers. She held the crying boy in her embrace nervously, as if she were facing two terrifying monsters.
“We’re not human traffickers, ma’am. No need to be afraid.” Roy smiled warmly, though the corner of his lips twitched. I look normal, and the girls from the House of Cardell liked me. I’m not that scary, am I?
The woman said nothing, only staring fearfully at the bald witcher behind him.
Roy looked back and realized the reason for the woman’s fear. He mumbled, “Poker face, weird eyes, looks cold. No wonder she’s scared.” He then turned back to explain. “Have you heard of witchers, ma’am? We have to look fierce, or we can’t hunt those monsters. Don’t worry though, since we’re just going to ask for directions. We’ll leave after that.”
“You’re witchers?” The woman observed them in suspicion, then she scrambled away with the boy in hand. She looked back at them on the way and almost tripped on a stone, but she didn’t fall. Her child gurgled happily.
“Don’t leave!”
They looked at each other, confused, then tailed the woman. They walked across the pine forest and saw white smoke coming from the chimneys of the houses in a village.
Under the signboard with the name ‘Svanthor’ carved on it stood a red-nosed man wearing a felt hat, and a few village women were behind him. Children were hiding behind the women, though they looked at the two people who came to their village curiously.
The man with the felt hat glanced at the snake-shaped necklace hanging around Letho’s neck, and he rubbed his hands and forced a warm smile. “Why don’t you stay for a meal if you have the time? We have a request for you. Please, come with us.”
