The sea lay calm—like a broken chain lost beyond the horizon.
The sky at that moment bloomed across the vastness like a painting woven from red and yellow threads.
But in the hearts of those standing on the shore, there was no such peace.
Daniel, Francis, Juliet, Arthur, Daril, and Peter had gone deep into the forest searching for food.
But their journey had not been fruitful.
They had gone hoping to hunt a large boar.
But what they returned with was a small rabbit and a few wild fruits.
Tired and anxious, they made their way back to the beach.
No sooner had they arrived than a woman named Mary Fernandez, who had been at the shore, came running to Daniel in a panic.
Catching her breath, she began to speak.
"Daniel... four people are missing."
Daniel looked at her, stunned.
"What are you saying? Four people are missing? Who?"
"Charlie, Barry, Harry, Edward… they've been gone a long time now.
We have no idea what happened."
While Mary said this, her daughter—a little girl named Max—tugged at Daniel and said she had something to tell him.
Daniel knelt beside her, ready to listen.
Breaking her silence, Max softly began:
"Barry, Harry, Edward, and Charlie—I saw them go into the forest this morning.
I heard them say they were going to see a waterfall.
I was hiding and listening.
They told me they'd be back soon.
That's why I didn't tell anyone until now.
But I've been really scared…"
Daniel placed his hand gently on her head.
"you don't need to be scared now.
You did the right thing by telling uncle.
Now leave the rest to me.
Don't be afraid, okay?"
As he said this, the weight of responsibility hit Captain Daniel heavily.
Determined to find them, Daniel set off into the forest, taking Francis, David (the police officer), and Arthur—Barry's close friend—with him.
With torches in hand and their small weapons ready, they disappeared into the jungle's shadows.
A forest with no paths...
Rugged wilderness, primal, and proud—nature's true face.
Daniel and his three companions walked slowly, one step at a time, through that dominating jungle.
Without the help of the dim beams from their flashlights, they couldn't see anything ahead.
Every tiny sound in the forest stirred fear deep inside them.
After walking for some time, the four of them finally reached the large waterfall.
Under sunlight, the waterfall had worn a dazzling, joyful smile—
But now, in the suffocating darkness, it had become something else.
A black smile.
A smile of death.
That same waterfall now pulled all four of them into the very peak of terror.
They began shouting the names of those who had gone missing, calling out around the waterfall.
They circled it carefully, scanning the surroundings.
After a while of searching, they finally found the missing group—
Inside a large hollow of a tree.
"Barry!" Arthur called out loudly.
Recognizing Arthur's voice, Barry and the others slowly climbed down from the hollow.
"Arthur… the moment I saw you, I felt like I was saved,"
Barry said, hugging his dear friend with visible relief.
There was relief on their faces—
The kind of relief that comes from being rescued.
But deep within their eyes…
There was a fear that still hadn't left.
Francis looked around, counting them.
Then he realized—
Harry wasn't among them.
"What happened, Barry?
What happened to Harry—the one who came with your group?"
Francis asked, his voice hurried and concerned.
Barry remained completely silent.
That's when Edward stepped forward and began to explain.
"We saw the waterfall.
It was beautiful… breathtaking, actually.
We swam for a while—just enjoying it.
But then… just as we were getting ready to leave,
This terrifying creature appeared behind us."
"It wasn't fully human…
And it wasn't fully beast either.
It was something in between."
"It came straight for us.
We couldn't fight it.
We ran and climbed into a huge tree nearby."
"But Harry—he wasn't fast enough.
He couldn't climb up in time."
"The beast got him.
It dragged him away.
We were too scared to come out of the tree,
So we just stayed inside until you all found us."
Edward's voice trailed off as he finished speaking to Francis.
Everyone who heard the story now realized—
This was going to be far more dangerous than they ever imagined.
"We shouldn't stay here a second longer.
Let's head back to the shore—now,"
Daniel said urgently.
The group—shaken and afraid—began walking quickly back toward the beach.
To be continued....
Next chapter release date 11/7/25