Kylo’s Point of View
Darkness made it hard to see the people who attacked us with arrows. We remained alert for their next move. The cool wind blew through my nape that I shivered as my hair stood up.
They said that our sense of hearing is stronger when our eyes couldn’t see. I have proven it when my head automatically turned when I felt something behind my head. Before I could make another move, Wagner’s hand caught the arrow that they struck straight to my face.
My eyeballs almost fell off when I faced the tip of the arrow an inch away from my eyes. I heaved a sigh before I dropped to the ground. Agitation trod softly within me as it took my breath away.
“We surrender. Please don’t harm us. We come in peace,” Wagner said.
He raised his hands and knelt down. The pirates followed what he did.
The night was mute, enough for me to hear our heavy breathing. There was tension while we waited for something to happen. I didn’t expect that Wagner would surrender himself in times like this. In a single blow, we might end up dead without defending ourselves.
A minute of terror passed by. People emerged behind the trees while others slid down like monkeys. They pointed their bows and arrows at us as they stretched their legs and sauntered. Their eyes looked fierce as they surrounded us.
As they came closer, their appearance became clear to me. They have skin as white as snow, and the color of their hair strands was rose gold. Their eyes were evergreen and they have freckles on their faces. I have never seen such a human being.
“Are they Osca’s cousins? They look quixotic.”
Wagner whispered beside me while we stick together.
“They are aesthetic,” I said.
They stopped moving a few meters from us.
“We are not your enemies. We are friendly and we don’t bite,” Wagner said.
The people didn’t respond. They scrutinized us from head to foot.
“Maybe they don’t understand us. They must have their own language,” I said.
Wagner looked at me and thought.
“Watashitachiha warukunai.”
“Ulineun joh-eun salamdeul-ibnida.”
“Eimaste filoi sou.”
Wagner spoke in a dialect I don’t understand.
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“I said that we are not bad in Japanese, we are good people in Korean, and we are friends in Greek.”
My eyes widened while I covered my mouth in amazement.
“Jinjja? Debak!”
I said a few words in Korean as a result of watching Korean dramas.
One of the people stepped closer to Wagner. His muscles were firm, and his skin was flawless than Wagner. He has ears like those of the elves. All of them have a scar on their arms, which was shaped like an inverted cross. He sniffed Wagner’s neck and spoke.
“They are not bad. They are good people, and they are our friends.”
His voice was husky, yet seductive. He moved his face away from Wagner and smirked.
“What? You jerk.”
Wagner’s mouth was uncontrollable that I shook his arms to ease him.
“Calm down,” I said.
They didn’t break their eye contact as if it’s their way of communicating. But I’m sure it irritated Wagner.
“The name is Sojin,” the man said.
“I don’t care who you are.”
I covered my face with my palm in frustration. It’s not the time to argue against them. Wagner’s temper would kill us in no time.
“Hold them up! Lead them to where they belong.”
Sojin’s voice threatened me. He sounds like the leader of their gang. They held our arms and pulled us into the woods. They have a weird stick that has a circular glass in its end. The glass produces light amidst the dark and unwelcoming path.
Every step made my heartthrob. I could barely see the road, and the leaves were tapping my body while we walk. My skin was sensitive that it itched every time.
We stopped in front of a pond. It looked like a pool in a circular shape. My imagination scared me as I kept seeing a white lady coming out of it. I shook my head to erase such a horrible idea.
“Can you swim?” Sojin asked.
His evergreen eyes were shimmering as the light bounced into his eyeballs.
“Yes, we can,” I replied.
Wagner didn’t utter a single word. He looked agitated. I bet he hates Sojin.
“Hold your breath and follow us. If you dare to escape, we’ll send our pets to hunt you down.”
They jumped to the pond. We have no other choice but to join them. Their wands shined brightly in the water. It was like crystals that glimmered through the dark. I prefer to call it a wand because it looked like one.
I don’t know where we were going, but it seems like we’re inside a tunnel. We swam for about two minutes. The School of little fishes greeted us on our way. They don’t seem afraid of us.
My eyes widened in awe the moment we reached the surface. I couldn’t stop my mouth from adoring what was ahead of us. We were in an underground waterfall. The sparkling water flowed beautifully to the floor.
Stalactites hanged from the ceiling. What shocked me the most were the emerald stones glued on the stones. They were glowing endlessly, and I smiled like crazy.
We emerged from the water and walked as we roamed our eyes to see the wonders of the place. I wrapped my arms around my body to ease the cold. Exotic birds flew above us. I don’t even know what it was. As I narrowed my sight, I realized some rocks were floating. I rubbed my eyes to check it twice.
“What is this place?” I whispered under my breath.
“Our home,” Sojin replied.
He stopped at the center where the emerald stones shined brighter. We were quiet while we waited for his next move. All I could hear were the water drops and the chirping of the birds.
Everything was so solemn, not until I heard someone hums an unfamiliar rhythm. It was Sojin. He closed his eyes and hums a sweet melody. The sound was slow and smooth at first, like the freezing weather. It seems to comfort me and takes my troubles away.
His tempo raised as his brows furrowed. His facial expression was so emotional that it moved my heart. I was teary-eyed. The rhythm turned into a sorrowful piece. Fireflies flew around him, which made him looked more enchanting.
As I think about it, he was so handsome. His jawline was charismatic and his lips were apricot. His pointed ears didn’t bother me, it’s his asset. I didn’t know what’s going on, but he seems harmless at that moment. His bare chest was captivating.
I shook my head and stopped my fantasies. Osca should be the only one in my heart aside from Treyton. Sojin’s outstanding voice echoed through the cave. I used to hate caves because of the changelings, but Sojin changed my mind.
Sojin stopped humming and opened his eyes. After three seconds, we heard the beating of drums. It was loud and magnificent. For a second, the idea that we were being offered to the Gods crossed my mind. The beat became livelier as people came out. They don’t look like humans; they were Sojin’s kind.
They surrounded us while dancing harmoniously with the beat of the drums. Sojin grabbed Wagner’s waist and led him to dance. Someone pulled my clothes, and I saw a beautiful creature. She smiled at me and swayed her hips while holding my hands.
It shocked me, but I went along with her. As I glanced at Sojin and Wagner, it was quite obvious that Wagner wasn’t having a good time. His straight face showed he wanted to punch Sojin, but he couldn’t. My partner touched my cheeks and made me look at her. I found myself smiling at her cute gesture.
The beat stopped. I was panting, but I smiled from ear to ear. What we did took away my inhibitions in a short time. Wagner wasn’t delightful, but it seems like Sojin loved seeing his mad face.
I wasn’t a dancer, but the beats were convincing enough to make my bones move on their own. The woman I was dancing with was flabbergasting like an enchantress that I’ve seen in movies. She was seductive, and I would fall for her if I were a man.
“Welcome to Animea,” Sojin said.
The creatures cheered pleasurably. They were happy to see us. They looked so cool with their hair color, which glimmers when light touches it. The creatures wrapped their private parts with rugged garments, but they appeared clean and fascinating.
I wanted to think that they weren’t harmful, but I have learned my lesson. Wagner was right about not trusting anyone. They may be good at first, but who knows about their hidden desire? We seem like sacrificial beings and that was their ritual. It may be a way of celebrating with their captives.