they are watching, their eyes desperate... looking at me, needing something I don't know. The sound of flowing water and soft breeze against grass it's peaceful yet weird. Do I belong here?
'Mhmm!' Lilly exclaimed as she woke up from the same dream she see every night. Crumbled bedsheets and disheveled hair, she rubs her eyes softly while sitting up and turns her head towards the window, the soft sunrays kissing her face brightening up her brown eyes, she stands up stretching her limbs and walks straight to the bathroom and washes her smooth glowy face. Her pink plump lips, curled long lashes and long dark hair cascading down her waist, lilly was perfect looking young girl in her early 20s. She walked out towards the kitchen and made herself coffee and starts her day.
Sitting on her desk scribble down on a book, she tries to think of another story as her deadline reaches close, she scrolls through her social media, her readers comments everywhere asking for a new novel. "Ughh!!!" she exclaimed in frustration. "I can't think of anything new!" she slams the book shut and stands up taking her keys and a coat and heads out to clear her mind. Walking down the street Lilly looks around observing the surroundings to find any kind of inspiration. The cold breeze, rustling of leaves and the busy road, she couldn't think of anything. Walking by a park she came across a poster, 'Lemuria: lost continent of myth', a three days trip to an island called lemuria? It was a great opportunity for Lilly to get some inspiration for her story. She checked the date and time and registered her name for the next week trip through their website. Excited Lilly walked happily back home, little did she know what was waiting for her ahead.
Packed bag, charged phone, it was the day for trip. Lilly confirmed the bus timing, route and head off to the bus station. While walking down the street her friend Stella called her, she picked up the call in excitement. "Stella!! great timing!", Stella on other side of the phone confused of Lily's excitement laughs softly,
"What's up? You sound very energetic for morning."
"Well, you won't believe! I am going to Lemuria!!".
Stella goes quiet, processing her words she speaks softly, "Lemuria? You mean that lost island found few years ago?"
Lilly giggles "Yes! That lost island full of secrets!",
"Lilly! Calm down, are you sure about this? I mean no one knows what it hides."
Lilly scoffs as she reaches the bus station. "You are no fun Stella, anyways why did you call?"
Stella exhales, "Oh right! I needed our school photos..." As they continued to talk Lilly got into the bus and took her seat by the window, Just a day for her to reach her destination.
The bus rumbles into life, the sound of engine, the voices of passengers chatting excitedly while some staring blankly into their phones. As the bus hits the highway, the scenery changes. The city changes into countryside, the landscape unfolds like a green canvas with a small village at a distance. Children running around the fields of wheat and barley and the wind making the grass sway giving a sense of tranquility.
As the days goes on and the sun starts to set, a warm shade of pink and orange paints across the sky and soon the darkness takes its turn adding depth and mystery to the scenery, brightening up the moon and stars. As Lilly open her window, the night breeze crisp and cool caresses her cheeks and the world feels more alive and peaceful.
Hours passes as the sunlight falls over Lily's face through the window bringing her back to the world of living, she stretches her arms while yawing and looks outside the window and gasps. The coast in a distance, blue sky, bright sun, chirping of birds. A scenery straight out of a fantasy book, She quickly gets her luggage and gets out of the bus. She starts walking along with other travelers towards the villages of tribals, the ancient artifact, homes made of sandstone, and locals wearing deep shade of red and brown, the place was very lively.
As the day progress Lilly and other travelers settle their camp near the shore, they all got along well but Lilly chose to stay all by herself and write her journal for her upcoming book. She sat outside her tent and looked up at the night sky, it was peaceful and calming. Closing her eyes Lilly focused on her breathing and soft sound of wave. As time passed, Lilly stays seated while other travelers go to sleep.
*Soft rustling noise*
Lilly opens her eyes and looks towards the direction of the noise, peaked curiosity Lilly walks towards it, parting through bushes she comes across a barren land near the shore, only a rock right in the middle with strange symbol on it. A circle with a sun in the middle? And something written around it in some other language. Lilly walks closer and studies the rock mesmerized, as she raised her hand to touch the symbol an old man suddenly shouts from a distance making her flinch and back away. "Who are you?" Asks the man.
"I... Hello? My name is Lilly, just a traveller here-"
"Get out of this place! It's not for you!"
Scared Lilly quickly gets out of that place rushing back to the camp and gets into her tent. She thinks about that place, the symbol and the weird old man and soon drifts into deep sleep.
"Save me!!" "No! Let me go!!" "Save!" "Ivy!!" "IVY!!!" "Don't kill me!" "LILLY!-"
"AAH!" With a loud scream Lilly wakes up, drenched in sweat and disoriented. "What was that?" confused and scared, She couldn't stop thinking about that dream, the same dream but different.
similar dream like always, but this time the sound of flowing water turned into terrifying screams of help, and the soft breeze became blood splashing against the grass, and weirdly it felt home, "The place where I belong?"