Nasus was first to wake up. The sunrise felt earned, after days of travelling by horse, after uncovering the secrets of Lewis, the orange hue of the sky and the golden clouds hit differently. Nasus didn't think of waking up the others, he walked out of the room and observed the long hallway and then went and stood in front of the door of Room 401. He didn't want to disturb her, but he wanted answers. He cautiously knocked on the door. A minute or two passed and then she slowly opened the door, "Oh, it's you again?" She said. "Uhh... I'm sorry to disturb you... S-so you said you knew Oculus.. right?" Nasus said, looking at the ground. She playfully smiled at the thought of Nasus' extreme shyness... "So... Oculus... Wait... Is it who I think it is!?" She said, shocked. Just in the moment, Oculus panicked to see Nasus wasn't there... He ran outside his room to see Nasus speaking with the woman. She saw him approaching, she observed Oculus for a minute... And then grinned..."Oculus? Is that... Really... You?" She said, happily.
Oculus gasped! "Do I remember you...? Umm
I'm sorry but... Wait... You do look like someone I know..." Oculus said, shocked. But he was confused and didn't know how she was related... "Hey... So how do I know you...?" Oculus asked... She laughed... "Umm... Oculus! Don't you remember playing Jenga back then? I raged because you won fairly? You actually forgot? That's crazy..." She said, smiling awkwardly... Oculus nodded awkwardly, pretending as if he had always remembered that... But then... He began thinking about the Jenga game he played with back then... He took a glance at the woman, his gaze shifted to her bright red eyes... And then the memory snapped in place. "Oh... You must be... Wait I know the appearance but forgot the name... It's like Eve? I'm really sorry... I just..." He said as he looked at her repeatedly trying to remember... She smiled... "It's Eva, Oculus. I'm... Your cousin!" She said, Oculus forced a smile, although he was very doubtful. "Oh yes! Really... Now I'm sure I remember... I'll remember now..." Oculus told her as he assured himself to remember her. The windows began swaying, the sense of unease didn't truly leave Oculus. He didn't entirely remember Eva. He made sure to be extra cautious.
Auris woke up and looked out of the windows... He shivered. He ran towards where Oculus stood, panting... "What happened, Auris?" Oculus asked. Auris didn't say a word, he saw Eva but he decided to go to the ground floor to take in some fresh air. Oculus was worried, he accompanied Auris. "What happened, Auris? You're acting strange lately..." Oculus said, trying to make sense of his everything. Auris stopped and looked at Oculus. "Um... Oculus. I'm not feeling right. Some... weird sounds are coming from the south.... We can talk about this later..." Auris finally spit it out. Oculus paused for a moment...
"You know, I've been seeing a light from the south too... I don't get it. You only hear it right? Let's ask Nasus if he felt anything strange too." Oculus said. Auris looked out of the window which showed the southeast, the same strange light was visible for Oculus, Auris heard the strange sounds, clearer this time. "Something fishy is going on there... Oculus." Auris said. Then he started repeatedly admitting that he never wanted to hear those sounds. They reached the ground floor and saw some people getting kicked out of hotels because they wore a specific clothing. "Look you ain't allowed here, pals! GET LOST!" the manager kept ordering them to get out. Oculus went and asked the manager why these men were being mistreated... "Ohh it's simple pal. They just don't belong here. That's all there is. Don't go off asking random stuff, pal." the manager said. Auris didn't understand why they were being kicked out and mistreated, the brothers themselves were foreigners too. Oculus thought about how strange the day had been... Then he noticed someone in his peripheral vision, a black, shodowy figure approached them, he quickly turned to see the figure correctly.
It was some strange man, wearing a full suit came up to the two brothers. "You see you two, don't ask much questions. If you don't know, you don't know. There's not much to it. The world you see is the tip. The iceberg has more to it. When the sea level lowers, all of this will slowly reveal itself." He spoke, strangely. The aura around his body seemed very unsettling, like energy that felt untouchable. But something told the brothers he wasn't lying. The man in the suit continued... "Some thoughts don't leave.
They settle… deeper than memory.
And when they rise again...
you won't recognize what you've become." The manager glanced the man...
He looked annoyed and kicked the man out of the hotel.
Oculus kept thinking about what the man meant. He thought about the iceberg, he didn't know what to make of it. The manager saw Oculus zoning out... "Don't think much about it, pal. He's some madman." the manager said, casually as if this was another Tuesday for him. Auris started explaining about the sound... He said it sounded like people screaming, violently. Nasus slowly came to where his brothers were seated. They sat there for some time and Oculus called the waiter... "We'd like some of your tea, please." Oculus babbled. "W-what again?" The waiter asked. "A cup of tea please." Oculus said, louder. Oculus glanced Auris for a moment, he noticed Auris' trembling fingers, as if he was in a fight or flight moment. "Don't worry that much about it, Auris." Oculus said.
Auris looked at Oculus with teary eyes, his knuckles whitened, he clenched the chair handle, his eyes grew wider, he didn't want to tell it, it didn't sit well with him, "I couldn't... Quite make it out..." He said, as he started breathing aggressively... "But I'm certainly sure that..." He paused. A sad yet terrified pallor spread over his face... He gathered up all the courage... And deeply inhaled.
"I didn't quite catch the screams while we were in the taxi... But now I'm certainly sure... That within one of those screams was... Mom." He stopped. Oculus went pale... He looked at the light from the southeast... It grew brighter... It was calling.