Chapter:1 summer trail
Off the southern coast of England lies a remote clusterof small islands, known to the locals as **Ariasu**.Among them is a single, ominous isle that stands apartfrom the rest. It's called **Aris**, and it bears areputation darker than the deepest part of the sea.The villagers speak of it in hushed tones:> "The Island of No Return."It's said that **no one** who has ever stepped foot onAris has returned.Yet here we are—headed straight for it.
---
The golden sun shimmered over the harbor, casting awarm glow across the sea. Gulls soared in the distance,their cries swallowed by the wind. Amid the dock'screaking wood stood three young figures, facing theunknown. The first was **Luca**—a spirited boy around eighteenor nineteen, his **blond hair tousled by the breeze**. His**jewel-like blue eyes** sparkled with anticipation.Beside him, arms folded and brows furrowed, stood**Lucia**. Her **crimson hair** was tied in a neatponytail, her **scarlet eyes** narrowed in skepticism.She looked unimpressed, her lips pressed into a thinline.And a few steps behind them stood **Rudger**, tall andsilent, seemingly lost in another world. With **messyblack hair**, **expressionless dark eyes**, and earbudsin his ears, he scrolled lazily through videos on hisphone.Luca clapped his hands and spoke with infectiousenergy."**This summer vacation, we're going on an adventure!You guys ready?!**" His voice rang out brightly, like achild about to open a gift.Lucia groaned, exasperated."**Luca, we agreed to do something fun. Not chase afterstupid ghost stories on some cursed island.**" She gavehim a sharp look. "**I thought you had a real plan—notthis nonsense.**"She turned to Rudger."**Tell him, Rudger. This is a complete waste of time.**"Rudger didn't even look up from his phone."**Do whatever you want. Just tell me when you're donearguing,**" he mumbled in his usual detached tone.Lucia's jaw clenched. "**That's not how decisions aremade!**"But Luca was already cheering, fists in the air.
"**So it's decided then! We're going to Aris!**"
"**Hey! Nothing's been decided!**" Lucia snapped.
---
The ferry bobbed gently beneath their feet as they stood
on its deck, ocean breeze tousling their hair. Seagulls
danced overhead.
Lucia leaned against the railing, arms crossed.
"**Great. Now we're wasting our summer vacation
chasing old wives' tales.**"
Luca, grinning from ear to ear, turned to her.
"**Come on, Lucia! This is going to be amazing! Don't
be so gloomy.**"
Lucia rolled her eyes. "**Whatever. I'm going to the
restroom. Don't lose my bag.**"
"**Yosh!**" both Luca and Rudger replied, giving casual
salutes.
---
Inside the restroom, the heat was unbearable. Lucia
splashed water on her face, trying to cool herself down.
As she stepped out, muttering under her breath:
"**Ugh, why are we even here? This is all that idiot
Luca's fault. And Rudger—if he had just said one damn
word—**"
A sudden gust of dusty wind hit her.
"**Ugh, great timing.**"
She squinted, brushing her hair out of her face. And
then she saw it.
A small girl, no older than seven, walked slowly across
the deck. She wore a pure white frock and held a red
balloon tightly in her tiny hand. Her head was lowered,
her bangs hiding her eyes—but her lips were curled in
an eerie smile.
Lucia felt a cold shiver trail down her spine.
The wind rose again. She shielded her eyes for a
second—
—and when she looked back, the girl had vanished.
Lucia spun around, scanning the area.
"**Where did she go...?**"
As she turned back toward the deck, she collided with
an old woman.
The woman's wrinkled hand latched onto Lucia's wrist
like a claw.
"**Don't go there! Don't go to that island! No one comes
back! Death awaits you there!**" the woman shrieked.
Lucia stepped back, startled. "**W-What?!**"
A young man quickly came forward, gently pulling the
old woman back.
"**I'm sorry, miss. My grandmother's not well. Please
forgive her.**"
"**It's... it's fine,**" Lucia stammered.
The old woman kept mumbling as her grandson led her
away. Just before disappearing from view, she turned
her head one last time—eyes wide, mouth moving
silently.
Lucia didn't exhale until she was alone.
---
Back on the deck, Luca waved at her enthusiastically.
"**Hey, Lucia! You alright?**"
She nodded, forcing a small smile.
"**Yeah… I'm fine.**"
"**Ready to go?**"
She looked around. "**What? Are we swimming now
or—**" Luca chuckled.
"**Of course not! We rented a boat.**"
Lucia raised an eyebrow. "**You… rented a boat?**"
"**Yep! Come on. Let's get moving!**"
As the boat pulled away, Lucia glanced back toward the
dock.
There stood the little girl again, waving with her balloon.
Lucia hesitated, then waved back.
Luca noticed.
"**Who're you waving at?**" he asked.
"**That girl… on the dock.**"
Luca turned and looked. "**What girl? There's no one
there.**"
Lucia's eyes widened. "**She was just—she was right
there!**"Luca smirked. "**Starting to imagine things already?
Drink some water.**"
"**I'm not imagining anything!**"
He chuckled. "**Sure, sure. Whatever you say.**"
---
By the time they reached Aris Island, the sun had dipped
low, painting the sky with hues of crimson and violet.
The boat captain stood with a stern expression.
"**Alright, listen up. I'll be back in four days, first thing in
the morning.**"
He raised three fingers.
"**One—Don't go deep into the island. Two—Don't
disturb the sleeping deity. Three—Don't believe what
you see, and don't trust what you hear.**"
He glanced at their phones.
"**No signal here. Take care of yourselves.**"
The three teens nodded.The boat pulled away, disappearing into the fog.
Luca immediately turned to the jungle.
"**Adventure time! Let's start exploring!**"
Lucia grabbed him by the collar.
"**Did you not hear what he just said?! Don't go deep
into the island, genius!**"
Luca shrugged. "**You really believe that crap? It's just
local folklore.**"
"**Even so, what if there's something dangerous? Wild
animals? First priority is setting up camp.**"
Luca sighed. "**Fine, fine. Camp first. Then
adventure.**"
---
They pitched their tents by the edge of a clearing. The
night crept in, stars blinking to life overhead. A fire
crackled in the center.
"**So tired,**" Luca moaned, flopping onto a mat.
Lucia chuckled, sitting beside him. "**For once, I agree
with you.**"
They both turned to look at Rudger, who was seated
calmly in a foldable chair, flipping through a book as if
untouched by fatigue.
Lucia whispered, "**Are we sure he's human?**"
Luca laughed. "**He's just... built different. Let's not
bother him and focus on dinner.**"
"**Yeah. Let's eat and sleep. Tomorrow we start our
research.**"
---
For two days, they explored and tested the land, but
nothing unusual happened. No signs of ghosts or gods.
Just trees, soil, and silence.
Until the third night.
A voice echoed from deep within the forest:
> "Help... someone... please help me..."
At first, they ignored it. Then it came again. Louder. Desperate.
Lucia sat up. "**Did you hear that?**"
"**Yeah. It's coming from the forest.**" Luca was already
on his feet.
"**We can't go after it. You heard the captain—**"
Luca looked determined. "**But what if someone's
actually in trouble?**"
Lucia sighed, then stood. "**Then I'm going with you.
You're not going alone.**"
Rudger looked up.
"**It's fine. Go. You have *that thing*, right?**"
Luca grinned. "**Yep. We'll be fine.**"
They fist-bumped.
Lucia looked between them. "**What thing?!**"
Luca winked. "**If you're unlucky, you'll find out.**"
They disappeared into the jungle.The forest air was damp and heavy. Each step forward
caused dry leaves to crunch and vines to brush against
their legs. Strange bird calls echoed faintly through the
dense trees.
Lucia walked just behind Luca, swatting away
overgrown branches.
"**Are you sure this is the right way?**" she asked,
already irritated.
Luca nodded, glancing over his shoulder. "**Pretty sure.
This is the direction we heard the voice from. Besides,
I'm marking our path so we can trace it back.**"
Lucia rolled her eyes. "**Since when did you get so
smart?**"
Luca smirked. "**I've always been smart. You just never
noticed.**"
She scoffed. "**Yeah, right.**"
They walked a few more steps in silence until Lucia
suddenly stopped.
"**Hold on—my shoelace came undone. Give me a
sec.**"Luca turned, slowing his pace. "**Alright, but hurry. I
don't wanna lose the trail.**"
Lucia bent down, fingers quickly tying the lace. But just
as she finished, a sharp voice tore through the woods—
> "HELP ME!!"
It was loud. Close. Desperate.
Before Lucia could react, a **black figure** darted
across the path, faster than her eyes could follow.
"**What the—?!**" she gasped.
"**Did you see that?!**" Luca shouted, already giving
chase.
"**Luca, wait!**" Lucia yelled after him, sprinting to catch
up.
Branches clawed at her arms as she ran, her heart
pounding against her ribs. The forest seemed darker
now, like it had shifted around them.
Up ahead, Luca had stopped.
Lucia skidded to a halt—and froze.> There were **two** Lucas.
Standing side by side. Identical in every detail. Same
blond hair, same blue eyes, same torn sleeve on the
right shoulder.
Lucia's breath caught in her throat.her heart thundered
in her chest as she tied her shoelaces.
The forest was dense—veins of shadow snaked through
tangled vines and fallen leaves. The air was thick, hot,
and humming with an unnatural stillness.
Suddenly—
**"HELP!!"**
A **scream** echoed, tearing through the silence like a
blade. Then—
A **black figure** flashed past her peripheral vision, so
fast it felt like a hallucination.
**"Lucia! Follow me!"** Luca's voice rang from ahead.
She shout up.
**"Luca! Wait!"**
She sprinted through the undergrowth, her feet catching
roots and loose earth. Branches clawed at her arms.
And then—
She froze.
Ahead, in a clearing dimly lit by shafts of moonlight
through the thick canopy, stood… **two Lucas**.
**Identical**. Same blond hair. Same electric-blue eyes.
Same clothes. Even the same scrapes on the knees and
dirt-smudged cheeks.
They both turned toward her at once.
The **Luca on the left** took a cautious step forward,
desperation in his eyes.
**"Lucia! That thing—he's the imposter!"** he cried,
pointing at the other.
The **Luca on the right** immediately mirrored him.
**"No! Don't listen to him! *He's* the imposter!"**
Lucia's eyes darted between them. Her throat ran dry.
Her mind reeled.
Their voices sounded the same—but there was
something… off.
**Left Luca** reached toward the ground.
**"Lucia, grab the bag! Quick! Before he does!"** She looked down. A **canvas
backpack**—Luca's—half-covered in dirt.
**Right Luca** shouted, eyes wide.
**"There's a shotgun inside! Use it! Use it on *him!*"**
Lucia stared at the bag. Her fingers trembled as she
unzipped it. Sure enough—
A cold, metallic **shotgun** lay within.
Her eyes shot back up.
**Left Luca** narrowed his gaze.
**"You… how do *you* know what's in that bag?"**
**Right Luca** scowled.
**"What the hell are you talking about?! It's *my* bag!"**
Their voices were rising. The clearing felt tighter.
Shadows twitched.
**Left Luca** pointed at the right.
**"Lucia, shoot him! That bastard isn't me!"**
**Right Luca**, flustered, shouted,
**"No! Don't listen to him! He's trying to trick you! I'm the
real one!"**
Lucia backed up a step, lifting the shotgun hesitantly.
**"SHUT UP!"** she screamed.
**"I… I don't know who's real!"**
Both turned to her now, eyes pleading.
**Left Luca**, in a softer voice, said:
**"Lucia… remember your last birthday? I gave you that
yellow T-shirt you loved."**
**Right Luca**, more confident, added:
**"And I brought you a bouquet of red roses too,
remember? We ate strawberry cake afterward."**
Lucia stared at them both.
Both were right. Both had the same memories.
Her hands trembled. The barrel of the shotgun wavered.
Then—
**Left Luca's lip twitched.**
Just barely. Like a smirk. Like a mask slipping.
Lucia saw it.
She turned, took aim—and **fired**.
**BANG!**
The echo cracked through the trees.
**Left Luca's body** jerked back. Blood splattered
across the ground like ink spilled on paper. He crumpled
with a heavy thud, unmoving.
Silence.
Smoke drifted from the shotgun's barrel.
Lucia stood frozen.
The body of **Luca** lay on the ground in front of her —
unmoving, soaked in blood. She had shot him.
Her hands trembled as she looked toward the other
Luca still standing. He smiled.
> "You did the right thing, Lucia," he said.
Lucia's lips parted, her voice unsteady.
> "Did I… did I really do the right thing?"
But the smile on his face began to twist unnaturally.
His skin bubbled. His hair melted. His body sagged
inward as it began to **dissolve** into a thick, black,
slimy substance. One eye turned a glowing **gold**, the
other faded into darkness.
> "Yes," he whispered, his voice now warped and
monstrous.
> "You did the very right thing."
His body sank into the earth—melting into the ground
and vanishing completely.
Lucia's breath caught.
She turned back toward the body she had shot. Her
eyes widened.
> "Luca…?"
She screamed
She dropped the shotgun and rushed to him, falling to
her knees.
> "Luca! Say something!"
She shook him. His body was cold.
He didn't respond. Her fingers curled against his shirt as tears streamed
down her face.
> "I killed him… I killed him…"
Blood stained her hands.
She grabbed his face, shaking it, trying to wake him up.
His skin was cold.
She sobbed uncontrollably. Her scream tore through the
night like a jagged blade.
But the forest wasn't done.
From deep within, the **scream for help** echoed again.
> "Help… help me…"
Lucia's head snapped up.
She grabbed the shotgun with shaking hands and stood
up. Her eyes scanned the trees.
She heard something — movement behind her.
She quickly turned, pointing the barrel toward the sound.
A **human figure** ran toward her, fast. Startled and afraid, Lucia fired.
> *Bang!*
The body fell forward onto the ground.
Lucia ran toward it.
It was a **young woman**, maybe in her twenties. She
didn't move. Lucia prodded her with the gun, but there
was no response.
Her heart pounded in horror.
Realising that she has killed another human again
> Why all this is happening..
As she decided to run back towards the coastline
following luca left trails
But noticing that all the trails have disappeared
And then she heard **laughter**.
Deep, distorted, inhuman laughter. It echoed around her,
circling closer.
Laughter which coverd the whole forest. She turned, shotgun raised.
Then—**behind her**—something moved.
She spun around.
The creature was there.
The same thing that had tricked her. It had **half of
Luca's face**, and half a monstrous, melted one. Its
golden eye gleamed as it stepped forward.
Before Lucia could aim—
That monsterous thing disappear from her front and
appeared behind her
> Its black, slimy hand covered her face.
It's says" you did the very right thing lucia, hehehehehe"
And with a single brutal snap—
> *Crack.*
Her neck broke.She collapsed beside Luca, lifeless.
–
Lucia's body hit the ground with a dull thud.
Her neck twisted at an unnatural angle, her eyes wide in
shock. A breathless silence settled over the forest as the
black, slimy hand that had crushed her life slipped back
into the shadows.
Beside her lay **Luca**, blood pooling beneath him
where she had shot him. His once lively face was now
pale and still, eyes half-lidded, staring at nothing. A few
steps away, the **unknown woman**—no older than her
mid-twenties—lay sprawled, struck down by Lucia's fear.
Her body was limp, unmoving.
The shotgun rested in the dirt, still faintly warm.
For a long moment, there was nothing but stillness.
Then came the **laughter**.
It echoed through the trees—deep, garbled, unnatural. It
wasn't human. It didn't even try to be.
And then, it vanished. The morning sun rose behind a veil of clouds.
From the shore, a small motorboat cut across the water
and arrived at the edge of Aris Island. The **old
captain** stepped off slowly, his face grim. By his side
stood the same little girl.
She didn't speak. She didn't move. She just stared into
the jungle, her balloon tugging gently against the wind.
Footsteps crunched across the sand.
**Rudger** emerged from the treeline—tall, calm,
completely untouched. His black hair swayed slightly in
the breeze. His shirt was unwrinkled, his shoes clean.
No blood. No fear. No urgency.
He walked straight to where the bodies lay: Lucia. Luca.
The woman.
He looked at them silently.
Then, after a pause, he muttered under his breath:
> "I was late… again."Slowly, he reached inside his coat and pulled out a
**silver pistol**.
The metal caught the sunlight.
He raised the barrel to his temple.
His voice, calm and quiet:
> "Maybe this time… I'll wake up before it starts."
**Bang.**