ISLAND

Jo looked through the window and saw the island in the distance. Tall trees surrounded
the shoreline and people could be seen walking underneath the bright and blazing sun. Jo’s
curiosity towards the island began to grow and got the best of him. He stood up from his bed and
walked up to the deck to stir the wheel of the ship to take a closer look at the island he saw. A
woman in her 20s with long sleek brown hair and fine skin wore a dress that looked as if it was
made out of the most luscious silk. She waved her hand at him, motioning him to come to the
island. Jo raised his eyebrows and looked around him, wondering if the woman was waving at
him or someone else, but no other ship was at sea except his. In his tired state, Jo gave in and
made his way towards the island, moving closer to the woman he had seen from a distance. As
he stepped foot on shore and sunk his feet on the beach, he could feel the warmth of the soft
golden sand.
Jo looked at the woman, stupefied by her beauty, as she ran with delight towards him.
She had wide, azure eyes as blue as the ocean surrounding the island, her brown hair waving
with each step she took. A warm and curious smile appeared on her small face as she opened her
pink kissable lips to talk to him, yet Jo, still stunned by her beauty couldn’t hear a thing she said.
He was caught off-guard, so to speak, and only when the woman put her hands on his face did he
finally snap back to reality.
“Welcome to the island, handsome traveler,” she said, as her sharp eyes scanned his face
and fixated on his eyes, before whispering in his ears.
“We’ve been waiting for your arrival, Jo.”
“Wait, how do you -- ”
Before he could ask how she knew his name, the woman put her finger on his lips, thus
sealing them. Then, she finally backed down and, while putting her hands together, bowed and
introduced herself.
“My name is Lilith, the village chief will be looking towards your presence,” she said, as
she turned around and glanced flirtily at him before heading towards the dense forest. Jo had no
choice but to follow her through the forest to the village, where he was greeted by a rare sight.
Jo was in the vicinity of a tribal village, filled with houses made of straw and bamboo
that were circling him. Jo froze in place, captivated by the houses’ primitive yet priceless design,
until he realized he was not alone. Tribal people were everywhere, and they were interrupted
when Esmeralda loudly clapped her hands once.
“The lost traveler has been found!” shouted Lilith with a smile and the liveliest voice Jo
has ever heard.
The crowd took a second to process her words before suddenly bursting with rejoice.
Some of them started gathering wood and animals, seemingly preparing for a feast. Jo had no
way of seeing this coming. It was almost like they were waiting for him…
“You must be wondering why we knew you would come, don’t you?”
Jo was startled. Lilith had just read his mind.
 “Well, of course, I mean, uh, who wouldn’t?”
Lilith burst into laughter, then replied.
“You’ll see soon enough. As I said, the village chief is waiting for -- oh!”
Without warning, the crowd went silent, and everybody except Jo bowed to the ground as
they welcomed the village chief, who slowly came out of his cabin, his face gradually becoming
clearer and clearer…
“A- Adam?!”
Jo froze in place as he saw his once lost friend now in front of him, fully intact.
“You’ve been- you’ve been here all this time? You were alive?!”
The village chief smiled warmly. “I knew you would come, Jo.”
Jo could not hold his tears as he flung himself to hug his friend who supposedly went
missing 8 years ago during an expedition and was presumed dead.
Jo and Adam had been friends since childhood, and they dreamt of becoming adventurers
who would one day explore the world. Adam successfully became a certified explorer, but as for
Jo, his father had forced Jo to work in his family restaurant. Jo was surely happy that at least one
of them fulfilled their childhood dream. However, eight years ago, disaster struck as a storm
wrecked Adam’s boat during one of his expeditions. After his presumed death, Jo was
determined to visit the last place where Adam had visited, which is where he spotted the island.
“Adam, I missed you so much, buddy. Welcome back,” Jo said, sobbingly. “But still,
what happened to you?”
Adam patted his friend on the back, and told him the truth.
“I was simply stranded here. I met the people of the island. They took good care of me.
Their village chief died suddenly, and I was the most knowledgeable person back then. So… you
can tell what happened next.”
“My, being a chief ain’t so bad, eh, Adam?”
But just then, Adam frowned, his once warm smile disappeared and replaced by a new
face Jo had never seen Adam make.
“Oy, it’s celebration time! Let’s go and feast!”
“Oh, what are you doing, Mako? We still have time until tonight! And see? You
interrupted Chief’s reunion! Now he’s mad, and it’s all your fault.”
“What? No, why me?”
The couple caught Jo’s attention, but when he looked back at Adam, his smile was back.
“Let’s save the fun for later, Jo. You see, I am still the village chief, and I have a village
to manage.”
“Oh right, yeah, let’s… save it for later,” Jo replied. Then Adam walked away.
What happened, Adam? Jo thought.
No, something definitely happened here. He’s never made that face before, even when --
His train of thought was interrupted when Lilith patted his shoulder and talked to him.
“Your room is over there. Don’t worry, the Chief is perfectly fine. It’s just the burden you
have to carry when you become a village chief.”
 “Oh, okay then, I -- wait, did you just eavesdrop on our conversation?”
Lilith did not answer, but she glanced over her shoulder flirtily before walking away to
help the people prepare the feast.
Wow, that was weird, Jo thought, as he made his way to the cabin that was prepared for
him.

Later that night, Jo was resting when one of the people called to him from outside his
straw and bamboo cabin. He got up, feeling curious as to how the feast would be executed, but
upon arriving at the bonfire...
Well, this is… mediocre, I guess…
What Jo thought would be a grand feast of kings turned out to be just numerous boars and
deers roasted over the fire. There were no decorations whatsoever, just the smell of the billowing
smoke and the gentle breeze of the night. However, Jo was not too disappointed, for he saw
Adam helping the tribal people carry firewood.
“All right then, I guess this is time to eat!”
“Oh, should you be that glutinous, lost one?”
Lilith suddenly appeared behind him, once again unnoticed, which makes Jo surprised
and uneasy.
“Oh, should you always be there every time I do something? And who the hell is a lost
one? I know full well where I am geographically.”
Lilith google, and Jo then proceeds to sit with the people around the blazing bonfire as
they begin to feast on the simplicity of tribal food.
Jo had never eaten unprocessed food such as the roasted animals, yet Jo could somehow
feel as if he was at peace, knowing that it is the very food his very ancestors eat for their
survival.
Halfway through the feast, Jo decided to talk to Adam once more, to ask him what had
happened. Adam noticed Jo approaching him, so he let Jo sit beside him.
“So, Adam, did something happen?”
“Nothing much, it’s just… taxing that’s all.”
Jo was still worried. “Are you really okay, buddy? Because you sure don’t sound like
you’re fine.”
Adam did not answer, instead he continued to rip the reddish meat from his roasted pork.
Jo had never experienced the duties of a village chief, but eight years should have been
enough for someone to get used to doing any tedious work.
No, something definitely happened, something traumatising. Adam hardly ever gets upset.
The silence went on for the duo until the feast ended an hour later. Adam decided to stand
up and head back to his relatively spacious and most elaborate cabin. Jo followed him, tried to
initiate a conversation, but failed to do so. For starters, he needed to know what was wrong with
Adam, which he did not.
 In front of the curtain, Adam stopped walking and turned around to face the worried Jo.
Looking at his expression, Adam sighed, and finally spoke.
“Look, I understand your concern. It’s just, I have been doing this for how long I could
remember, the exact same tasks every time.”
“Then why don’t you come home? Your parents would be happy. No, they would be
more than that! Literally seeing their supposedly dead son --”
“It does not matter any longer,” Adam interrupted. “I cannot escape from my fate -- and
nor can you.”
Jo was shocked to hear the drastic change in his tone of voice. Adam sounded wise, just
like how a village chief should be. Yet there was lingering sadness in his voice, something Jo had
to feel to understand.
Jo paused for a while, then continued. “Is it because of the people? Is it because you need
to protect them?”
Adam shook his head. “It is my fate to be the guardian of this island. And it will not be
long before you find yours, my friend. Now rest, for the day is near.”
“What? It’s only 9 o’clock, what do you --”
Adam closed the curtains of his cabin and snuffed out the small fire. Soon after, the tribal
people followed what their village chief had done. They saluted to each other, and to Jo, and
began their rest through the long dreary night. Jo, who was still standing in the middle of the
small grass field, had no choice but to head back to his small private space and prepare to
sleep…

***

I stand upright, facing the endless tunnel, my back sharing the same view, my sides
barely touching cold stone walls. There is only faint light from an exit seemingly miles away.
Light that would be extinguished any moment and give way to eternal silence. Light that is the
only hope. Light that is calling me.
You have to walk forward, Jo. Walk to the light. Away from the dark.
I take a step forward, then another, then another, repeatedly a thousand times over. Then,
I gain speed, accelerate, faster, closer to the light. My legs have gone numb. I keep running,
sprinting.
Away from the dark.
The light is near. My senses grow sharper. I can hear the call, as it soothes me, comforts
me, gives strength to my feet.
An eternity passed. I stand before the open gate, blinding layers of white emanating from
it.
I take a step forward, then another, then another, as I enter the domain of revelation.
I passed the border.
Nothing happened.
 I turn around.
The abyss stares, baring a million fangs, wriggling, struggling, the hymns of the damned,
trapped, pushing, reaching, calling, grabbing, pulling, swallowing, piercing, pain, closed, sealed.

Gone.

“AAAAHHHHH!”
Jo woke up sweating, gasping for air. His breath was heavy, his throat was scorching, and
his lungs were burning.
What kind of dream was that?!
He tried to recall the nightmare he just had, but no matter how hard he did, his memory
would not allow him.
There was a corridor, then… then what?
He frantically pulled out his pocket watch. It read 00:01. Jo sighed heavily, his body
shivering. He lied down, closed his eyes…
But he couldn’t sleep. His brain had developed a trauma against whatever resided inside
his dream. Not only that, but a scratching sound was disturbing his sleep.
A sound made from carving wood.
Outside, a group of people stood facing Jo’s cabin, their posture perfect, unmoving.
Their eyes stared into nothingness.
***
Jo did not get enough sleep last night. His eyes were droopy, and he would yawn every so
often. However, this was not the reason for his constant anxious glances.
He could feel as if someone, or something, was watching him.
Or even watching over him.
Worse, he is not the only one whose behaviour changed drastically.
Adam, despite being the village chief, only sat down in front of his cabin, his face devoid
of emotion, as if in trance.
Jo approached him, but unlike yesterday, he does not have the courage to speak. He knew
exactly what Adam felt.
He knew how it feels to be watched.
“So, Jo, how was your night?” Lilith suddenly asked behind him.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Ooh, such audacity, starting to mimic our chief’s behaviour, aren’t you?”
“I said I do NOT want to talk about it!!”
Jo yelled and startled Lilith, whose face turned from cheerful and bright to worried and
confused. The others turned their head towards Jo, for his actions caught everyone’s attention.
“You don’t sound well, what happened?” Lilith asked
“Nothing. Sorry.”
 Jo replied with a quick, cold voice, and was starting to walk towards his cabin when
Adam stood up and called his name. His voice carried little concern.
“Jo.”
Jo stopped and slowly turned around, his eyes lifeless and tired.
“I need to show you something. Follow me,” Adam continued.
Jo did not answer, instead he passed by Lilith and followed Adam into his cabin,
All the other people were looking at them.

Upon being inside Adam’s cabin, Jo’s eyes lit up. Not because he was in awe of the sheer
size of the room, nor was he amazed by the antique furniture.
There was no furniture.
It was only an empty room with random objects lying across the floor.
And the walls… They are filled with countless vertical and diagonal cuts, resembling…
A tally?
“Adam, what’s going on here? What were you doing to your room? What were you
counting to hundreds for? No, more importantly, was the sound of wood scratching last night
your doing?”
The tally spans nearly three of the four walls, barely any single space between them.
Adam stood in the middle of the room. He took a deep breath, then looked straight at Jo’s
eyes. “The number of cuts you see here, it is the number of times I have gone through this.”
“Gone through what?” Jo yelled.
Adam did not reply.
“Answer me, Adam! What is wrong with all of this?”
“You shall see.”
“You --”
Jo had enough of Adam dodging his questions. His breath grew heavier. Then, something
came over him. Without hesitation, he lunged straight at Adam, aiming for his lower jaw.
A second later, Jo blacked out.
Whatever happened, it was clear he lost consciousness. But Adam was still standing with
no hint of movement.
What the…?
Jo looked around. He was lying on the ground. He tried to get up, expecting his body to
ache as he did, but found himself unscathed.
What the hell just happened?
Adam walked towards the entrance and opened the curtains.
“You shall see.”
A glint of melancholy was seen on Adam’s face before he exited.

It was high noon, and the heat of the sun rays further amplified Jo’s discomfort. Nothing
seemed to be out of the ordinary. Adam was helping the hunters catch some wild boars and deers
for lunch. Birds were chirping, and the skies were as clear as ever. But the more Jo tried to
convince himself that nothing was wrong, the more nervous he became.
It’s all because of him. This sorry state of mine, it’s all because of him.
Jo locked himself in his cabin out of frustration. He was trying to make sense of Adam’s
words, which repeated itself in his mind.
What is he trying to make me see?
After wasting his time thinking about useless matters, Jo finally made up his mind to just
focus on what he should do and forget about figuring out what exactly happened during his
conversation with Adam.
Jo walked out of his cabin. Everyone was sitting around the fire, and the smell of roast
meat filled the air. Jo’s appetite was slowly regained. He took a seat, ready to eat, until he noticed
Adam walking towards him and sat next to him.
Neither of them did anything in particular. They kept silent, continuing their feast. It was
not until Adam finished eating did he finally speak up.
“Jo, look, I am sorry. I don’t know what happened, but… each time, I lost my grip on
reality. I lost my cool, and acted as if I was some know-it-all, some super chief that holds all the
power. I became someone… that is not me.”
“Well, you sure never sounded like one,” Jo said, his mouth full. “Still, I won’t
understand anything until you tell me what the hell happened.”
“It’s regarding the ritual.”
Jo immediately turned his head around to see Lilith, who answered on behalf of the chief.
“Every year, we hold a sacred ritual to receive blessings from the gods and ask for
divination to help us go through the following year. So, please understand, the village chief did
what he did not to hurt you.”
“What do you think he did?” Jo asked coldly.
“I heard a shout from the room, the sound of something falling, then the chief appeared,
followed by you who seemed to be in pain.”
Jo recalled the strange occurrence that happened in Adam’s room, right when he tried to
punch Adam on the face.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Well, gotta give you something for not eavesdropping this time.”
“I thought it was an important matter that I must not intervene.”
“So, next question, when will the ritual be held?” Jo took a bite from his roast pork.
“Tonight.”
“Buh--!”
Jo nearly choked on the piece of meat in his mouth.
“Tonight?!” Jo looked at Adam. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“You are an outsider, Jo. We do not want to bother you with our private affairs.”
 Jo paused for a moment, contemplating on his actions. He did not try to understand the
burden of becoming a chief of a remote tribe. Nor did he appreciate the effort Adam must have
spent leading the upcoming ritual. Eventually, he put down his meal and stood up.
“I’m sorry for being rude. It’s just… I have never thought it would be such a taxing task,
Adam. And… I decided not to bother you further.”
Jo took a deep breath.
“I’ll leave this island now.”
Upon hearing those words, the whole tribe stood up with a shocked look on their faces.
“No, no, you should stay! Why bother leaving when you just arrived?” Lilith asked,
covering her mouth in disbelief.
“I only ventured into this area to visit the place where Adam lost his signal eight years
ago. I never wanted to disturb your peaceful lives. Besides…” He looked at Adam, his eyes filled
with hope..
“Knowing that you’re alive and well is enough.”
Adam smiled, then he walked back to his cabin, only to come out holding a beautifully
carved dagger. Its shape resembled that of a lightning bolt, and the elaborate carvings on the
golden handle and sheath were glimmering. Adam held the dagger with both hands and extended
it to Jo.
“For my beloved friend, I shall give you a most symbolic gift; for our minds shall stay
sharp, like the sword that cuts lightning; and shall our memory stay fond, engraved for eternity
within this treasure.”
Jo received the dagger that was given to him. The dagger was light, and yet it conveyed
their friendship deep into his heart. With teary eyes, he hugged his friend one last time.
“Thank you Adam. I’ll let your family know that you’re safe and sound.”
“It has been a pleasure.”
And so, Jo prepared to depart from the island. He packed all his belongings into the small
suitcase and walked out of the cabin into the dense forest. He looked back for a moment, seeing
the whole of the tribe giving him their farewells, and walked straight to the shore, where his ship
was waiting. He climbed onboard, put his suitcase down on the floor. With the closed dagger on
his palm, he started the engine, set up the GPS system to head back home, and closed his eyes.
There were still many questions he would like to ask, but he would have to forget about them as
soon as he left the island. He thought about Adam, his time with him back when they were still
young, how he had always loved to discover more about the world; he thought about Lilith,
whose captivating eyes first captured his attention, how she always seem to know about the
matter at hand; he thought about the village, the cabins, the bonfire, the food, the cold night air,
the hot sun, the strange dream he had last night, Adam’s frequently changing behaviour, the tally
that counted to hundreds…
His trail of thought stopped.
It dawned upon him. Hit him as hard as a speeding truck.
For he only realized it then and there.
 The ship… It’s still here?!
Jo looked out the window. As feared, he was still stuck on the shore.
No… No! Please, don’t!
Jo frantically pressed random buttons and flicked any kind of switch on the deck with the
hopes of making the ship sail towards the sea. But as the engine roared, the ship stayed put,
trapping Jo on the island for good.
Jo hurriedly went to the engine room where all the machinery is located. He had been
taught how to fix a small ship in emergency situations, and as he recalled the lessons, he scanned
the metal pipes and copper wires, searching for the source of the problem. He checked fuel levels
and the motor, expecting to see a leakage or a fault. He went outside to examine the ship,
thinking it was stuck on a rock, or the propellers were shattered. He even pushed the ship
towards the water, hoping it would start once it reached deeper waters. But it refused to budge.
Jo’s initial fear was not being able to successfully repair the ship.
However, it soon occurred to him that there was something even more frightening.
There was nothing wrong with the ship, yet it refused to set sail.
What the hell is happening?!
Jo lied helplessly on his bed. Electricity was working, water systems kept running,
virtually everything was good to go.
But something is preventing me from leaving.
It’s keeping me here.
But how is that possible?
With no clear understanding on the current situation, Jo had no choice but to return to the
village, where he would seek help from the tribal people.
But upon reaching the village, he realized something was wrong.
Something was truly wrong.
There was nobody on the field; it was silent although the sun was still high in the sky.
He searched for any hint of presence, but failed to find anyone inside the small cabins.
That was until he heard a groan from inside Adam’s room,
Jo shivered. He took a step forward, not knowing the consequences of his actions. Is he
trespassing on private matters? Is Adam inside there? Is everything even real? Jo dares not to
further upset the tribe or their gods, yet he could feel a force pulling him further into the very
matter he tried to avoid. Jo took another step, then another, and reached for the curtain that
covered the entrance.
What lies beyond was only separated from him by an unlocked door.
And Jo was scared he would not be able to turn back from this.
Jo stopped short from opening the curtain, his heart and mind not ready for what was to
come. Cold sweat dripped from his chin, his feet glued to the ground, his heartbeat erratic.
Jo steeled himself, and moved an inch forward.
Then, a shriek.
An inhuman shriek called out to the heavens, and clouds converged above the island.
 Jo instinctively knew whoever was inside wasn’t human.
And yet, as his friend’s image crossed his mind, he gained newfound courage.
He quickly opened the curtains, and a man’s back was facing him.
Adam’s back.
Out of surprise, Jo gasped, and Adam detected his voice.
He turned his head, a hundred and eighty degrees clockwise, without moving his body.
Jo was finally greeted by Adam’s wide grin, one that scarred him for life.
And as Jo looked straight at where his eyes should have been, it stared back at him.
Immediately, everything went dark.

Jo woke up out of breath, gasping for air, and scanned his surroundings.
He was back in his cabin.
Jo sighed in relief, convinced that everything was only a dream.
But he looked at the floor.
His suitcase wasn’t there.
And it was raining outside.
He tried to remember what had happened, and, unfortunately this time, hsi mind
succeeded in retaining that forbidden encounter.
Jo had witnessed something he never should have been, and his breath suddenly lost its
rhythm. He cowered in fear, covered his head with his hands, and closed his eyes, praying that
everything would disappear, and he would be back inside the safe confinements of his ship.
Then, the curtain was opened, and Lilith walked in, carrying a stone bowl full of corn
soup.
“Are you -- no, it’s safe to say that you aren’t okay.”
“Wh- Who are you? Who are all of you? What the hell are you guys?!”
Jo’s body convulsed out of control, his voice stuttered, and his eyes darted here and there,
as fear started to consume him once more.
Lilith put down the bowl on a stool, then proceeded to comfort Jo with her soothing voice
and several pats on his back.
“Don’t worry, it’s all going to be alright.”
Once Jo had calmed down, Lilith began telling him her side of the story.
“You were somehow very exhausted, and when you reached the village, you suddenly
passed out. Choi was the one who carried you to the cabin, and we began treating you. Well, we
were going to but it seemed there weren’t any. It started raining a few minutes ago, then you
woke up after three hours of sleep.”
“How- How’s Adam?” Jo asked, his body trembling to the core.
“He has been preparing for the ritual since you left. He is now in his cabin.”
“Wh- What? In h- his cabin? No. No! NO! GET ME OUT OF HERE! He’s not human. I
heard it. I saw it. That shriek. That smile! THOSE EYES!! You can’t hide it from me, you
demons. No! Get me out! Let me out! LET ME OUT!!”
 Jo could no longer hold back his fears. The image of Adam’s twisted face kept rushing
through his mind, further amplifying his shrieks. Lilith and the others tried to keep him down,
but upon seeing more of the tribal people, Jo’s survival instincts kicked in. He stood up, his face
filled with anger and madness, and unsheathed his dagger.
“Get away from me! Or I’ll kill you!”
He looked at Lilith, straight in the eye, and pointed his dagger towards her.
However, Lilith did not flinch.
Her face became emotionless.
What was a loving and caring woman had transformed into a mere vessel that had a duty
to be done.
Jo flung himself, preparing to stab her. With a swift movement, however, she not only
dodged the attack, but also struck him right on the nape, thus paralysing him.
Jo was starting to lose consciousness as exhaustion rebounded against him after all that
tantrum. Just before he blacked out, he could hear Lilith whispering in his ear.
“You shall complete your purpose, little boy. Everything shall return to how it once
was…”
Eventually, Jo’s senses shut down, and everything went silent.

***

I float idly in the endless colourless void. I remember nothing, think about nothing,
except the eternity I spent in this imaginary space. I have no purpose; all that has happened, and
will ever happen, have no meaning any longer. What is important is now.
I just want to get out.
Away from the dark.
But my body no longer possesses a will.
That is, until I hear the whisper.
It is calling me. Pleading me to face it.
My mind roars, as my body twitches, struggles, and finally moves.
I swim upwards, towards the heavens, and follow the voice of salvation, as it grows
louder and louder.
I see it. A pitch black point, the singularity, the origin.
I reach out to it.
But it is still far away, beyond my grasp.
I swam harder, the voice giving me strength. Each stroke becomes bolder, forceful.
I will soon reach it.
And I feel… happy.
For it was the one who gave birth to me.
And I will soon become a part of it once more.
 As I swim closer and closer, the singularity itself opens up, a gate that connects me to the
outer realm.
I swim harder, faster…
Until the singularity is whole, encompassing everything around me.
I am no longer trapped in the dark.
I am delighted.
I am at peace…
Until I open my eyes.
The tendrils of hell, spanning the universe, turning, spinning, stretching out to the worlds of
myriad, Its cosmic eyes looking, searching, until It finds each fragment of Itself, crushing, harvesting,
planting, repeating Its monotonous endeavour.
It looks at me.
It looks at itself.

Jo opened his eyes, waking up from his slumber. He felt dizzy, detached from reality,
trying to recall what he did.
I was in my room, then I met Lilith… No, that’s not all, there were more of them. But
before that… What the hell happened before that?
That’s when he began to scan his surroundings. He was no longer in a cabin.
He was standing in the middle of the dark forest.
The moon was obscured by the greyish thunderclouds, dormant, ready to strike any
moment. There were no birds chirping, no wild boars groaning, no wind blowing.
Except for a lone man who stood amidst the silence.
Jo searched for any sign of life, but minutes passed, and no matter where he walked, he
could not find anyone or reach the village.
That was, until he spotted a villager who stood facing away from him.
“Um, hello? Hellooo?” Jo called out to him. But he did not turn his head.
“Hey, excuse me! What is this place?”
No answer.
“Oh come one man! This isn’t funny! Bring me back!”
No answer.
Jo grew more and more frustrated. He was sick of the eternal silence of the night, so he
walked towards the mysterious man, and yanked his back to reveal his face…
But there was no face.
“AAAAAHHHHH!”
Jo walked several steps back, nauseous, sweating.
But the wrangled flesh he had come face to face with was no longer seen.
He was in a different place entirely.
What… What was that? What the hell was that thing?!
 Jo once again looked around, and immediately he saw a group of people circling around a
lifted piece of land. An altar.
Jo ran towards it for a clearer vision. There, he saw numerous hooded figures kneeling
before the circular grey altar, which had spirals and various other carvings engraved on it.
He recognized those patterns.
He brought out the dagger in his pocket.
The patterns matched.
Jo had too many questions, and reluctantly called out to the hooded figures.
“H- Hey! G- Guys? Wh- What is g- going on?”
His voice was soft and filled with fear. He was afraid of barging into forbidden affairs…
Wait, isn’t this the ritual Lilith talked about?
He took a step, calling out, poking on the hooded figures. None of them budged an inch.
But they were all mumbling something.
For a better view on the altar, he stepped on it, and stood above it.
What a mistake that was.
The hooded figures gradually lifted up their hands.
“What- What are you guys doing?” Jo panicked, his head turning all around.
But the heavens answered in their place.
The clouds rumbled, growled, and converged above Jo’s head. A vortex formed, as a dark
hole appeared above the clouds.
Then, the ritual started.
A ray of light descended from the skies, lighting up the altar with Jo on it.
The hooded figures stood up, shouted in a language Jo did not understand. It was not only
foreign, but also induced queasiness on him. He felt nauseous, dizzy, confused on what was
happening.
But when he tried to move, his feet refused to move, for it was glued to the floor.
“No! No! What are you doing to me? Get me out of here! I want to go home!”
Jo had lost all reasoning, and only wished to get out of the island. He pictured the sweet
apple pie his mother would prepare for him, the fragrance of roses and tulips he would together
with his family, the cheerful faces of his would-be children…
He was interrupted when one hooded figure ascended the altar and spoke to him.
“‘Home’ is where you are headed to, child. For He is waiting for you at heaven’s gate.”
Then, all hell broke loose.
The ground shook, the trees billowed, strong winds ravaged the landscape. Jo’s feet were
no longer glued to the ground, and he instinctively took a step back, down to the low grounds.
However, he quickly lost his balance and fell on his back.
That was when he saw the faces of the hooded figures.
“Lilith?!”
 But they were no longer the tribal people he knew, for as the island wailed and cried,
their faces contorted and their bodies twisted beyond recognition. Their hands turned to vines,
tentacles, their necks elongated, as they turned into forms of pure flesh and gore.
And they were coming for him.
“Get away from me! Demons! No! NO! DON’T COME ANY CLOSER!”
Jo ran with all his might, away from the dread of the unnamable creatures who wished for
the descent of their god.
I knew it. I knew it! They were monsters! I was right all along! I should have escaped
when I had the chance!
The island was filled with chaos. Trees were falling down, cracks were forming on the
ground. Jo had no clear destination. He dared not to look behind him. He was terrified, but his
legs were losing their strength.
Jo closed his eyes for a moment.
And the terrain grew quiet.
Jo was now in the village.
What the hell?
He somehow chanced upon the village he had been searching for.
But it was no longer a village, for there were no houses, no grass, only a barren plain of
yellow rock.
And in the middle of it was Adam.
He was praying, his eyes closed, his mouth letting out voices of inhuman langage.
“Adam… why… why are you doing this?!”
Jo had eyes full tears; his mind cannot grasp the purpose behind all the events that had
happened. Was this the reason Adam seemed different? Was this the fate he had been assigned
to? Was this the one he wanted Jo to see?
Adam opened his eyes.
“The One is coming. And the world shall return to how it once was. Do you hear me, Jo?
We shall be no more. Throw away all your lingering desires, and embrace the Beginning, the
End.”
“What is this ‘One’ you’re talking about?! What the hell is our purpose?! Tell me
Adam!”
Adam looked at Jo. His eyes a myriad of colours, the void, the link to the beyond.
“You still don’t understand, do you, Jo? There is no escaping his grasps! Both of us were
born from the same soul; we are two fragments of His Existence! I was tasked to bring you to
Him, Jo! You are the key! The one who shall bring us to the Origin! Hihihi… HAHAHAHA!!!”
Adam’s hysterical laughs reverberated through the entire plain, and with it comes thunder
and lightning. Rain poured down, heavily.
Adam suddenly stopped. He looked up, the sky purple and blue, and the roar, the damned
roar, the trumpets of the Revelation had sounded.
Adam lost all hope to live. He closed his eyes.
 “The One has arrived. And He shall reap what he sowed.”
Silence.
Then, an explosion.
And Adam’s body was no more
An orb ascended to the clouds, to the world beyond, once again with its creator.
And Jo let out the same inhuman shriek he had once feared.

***

The shore. To the shore!

Jo stumbled and fell, but he did not hesitate. He rampaged through the terrain, ran straight
ahead across the dark malicious forest, searching for a way out. He just wanted to go home, away
from this nightmare.
All around him, the trees mutated. Their vines reached out to him and occasionally
caught his feet. But the dagger he held so dearly cut through them with ease, freeing him from
the grasps of the island.
However, the creatures weren’t the true threat.
Jo’s stamina is depleting. Faster than he could run.
No… stay with me! Don’t falter! I don’t want to die!
His will to live was strong. He did not stop even for a moment, for he feared the fatigue
that would kick in later would render his legs useless. His only choice was to rely on his
adrenaline. But even that has its limits.
Don’t stop now! No! Keep going!
He paid no heed to the constantly changing terrain, nor to the creatures lurking within the
shadows, nor to his running in circles around the island that prevented him from escaping.
How long is this going to last?
No matter where he went, even if he ran straight ahead, he would be kept within the
eternal forest that seemingly spans his entire universe. He no longer had a sense of direction, for
every step he took brought him to the same foreign darkness.
That was when he spotted the light.
The moon shone, brighter than ever, and led Jo’s way.
He had hope.
But he feared it would soon extinguish to nothingness.
And so, he ran faster, closer to the light. He disregarded the strained muscles in his legs,
the overwhelming smell of sweat and blood, and of his vision blurring ever so slightly. He just
wanted to flee, away from the dark.
Away from the dark! Back home!

The warm sun was rising.

The blue waves were breaking on the soft golden sand.
 A foot appeared out of the dense mass of vines.
Jo had succeeded.
He was now away from the dark.
He was now at peace.
I made it… I finally made it…
Jo was too tired to even climb his own ship, so he had to lie down on the beach, resting
his fatigued legs. He imagined what his life would have been had he accepted Adam’s death. He
would still be protected in his house, together with his family, and would lead a happy life.
However, somehow, he did not regret seeing Adam in the flesh. No matter how crazy he had
become, he was still a dear friend, and the one who had given the golden dagger as a memoriam.
Jo started to lose his vision. He closed his eyes, determined not to ever, ever, venture out
into the unknown, into the horrid wonders of the Earth.
Jo held the dagger in his palms, relaxed his body, and smiled, as his consciousness slowly
faded away…
Then he fell.
Not asleep, however.
His body was no longer suspended on solid ground, but was free falling into the depths of
the abyss.
A hundred meters. Two hundred. Three. Then four. Jo screamed in terror as darkness
enveloped him, as his body accelerated into the unknown.
He hit something.
The ground.
The bottom of the abyss.
But he felt no pain.
For his eyes fixated upon the window, the door, the barrier between worlds.
Light was emanating from it.
And on the other side was The One.
And he was enraged.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!!! NO! NOOO!! DON’T GO NEAR ME! NO! GET OUT OF MY

HEAD!! GET OUT!!! GET OOOOUT!!!”
Jo screamed, wriggled, as his sentience broke into infinity, The One tearing his mind
apart.
“AHHH!! AAAHHH!!!”
The island.
“GET OOOUT!!!”
The forest.
“UURRGGHHH… RAAARRGHH!!!”
The tribe.
“OUT MY HEAAAAD!!!”
 Adam.
Jo had lost his humanity.
He shrieked, trembled, insane.
He felt his body, perpetually crushed, ripped, reassembled, chthonic horrors placing him
in eternal purgatory. His arms, stretched, bent; his legs, twisted, pierced; his bones, crumbled; his
blood, boiled. In a realm beyond space. Beyond time. Beyond reality.
The harvesting was nearly complete.
The key would soon be ready.
The door would open.
The One would cross over.
And the world would be no more.
“AARRGGHH!!! KILL! KILL ME!! PLEASE!!”
Jo retained his sentience. He pleaded.
But his words were unheard.
“NO! I DON’T WANT TO DIE! I WANT TO LIVE! LIVE!!”
Jo knew he stood no chance.
But his will to live transcended time and space.
Just like the dagger that was forged from lightning.
“ADAAAAAAAM!!!”
A dagger materialised in his hand.
Overwhelming strength. Willpower. Adam.
A swift movement.
Stab.
Death.

***

Jo woke up on his bed, his eyes wide, his palms sweaty, his breath and heartbeat heavy
and rapid. He checked his surroundings.
Four walls. A clock. Two paintings. A desk. A chair. My laptop.
Jo heaved a sigh of relief.
This is my room.
I’m on my ship.
Jo stood up, his shirt wet from sweat. He went to the bathroom to have a quick shower
and changed his clothes. He looked at the clock.
12:37
Jo walked outside. The sun was shining, seagulls were squawking, the waves were
crashing against the hull of the ship.
Jo went to the deck, where he took a photo of two people. One of them was himself.
The other one was his best friend.
 Adam.
I’ll be sure to visit you.
Jo steered the ship to the area where his friend last let out a signal for help.
The place where he faced his last storm.
Jo stopped the ship.
Then he prayed.
Rest in peace, buddy.
Tears ran down his cheeks as he reminisced about their beautiful friendship.
Once he finished delivering his final prayers towards his friend, he sat down, and was just
preparing to set his ship’s GPS to head back home.
That’s when he spotted it.
Jo looked through the window and saw the island in the distance.

***

Group 8 Members:
Jason Ray (5)
Marcella Kezia (14)
Savannagh Storey (21)