I walked outside, pulling on the palm leaf above my head. The rain beat down, soaking me in seconds. I sighed and leaned back inside the cave, using my torch to create a small fire with the logs in front of me. I took the creek water and poured it into a wooden pot, holding it carefully over the fire to boil. While that was cleaning, I took the wild berries and crushed them with a clean rock, scooping them into my mouth slowly.

I laid the small wooden plate next to my feet and sat down, crossing my legs. Picking up the now cleansed water, I gently poured some into a wooden cup that I carved. I would go outside, to hunt and explore but I can't. They're after me, they think I'm dead. In fact, they're convinced I am, and they can't know I'm alive.

"Ijōna nanika o mitsukemasu. Watashi wa sore ga kimyōna kanojo no karada ga yukue fumei ni natta mitsukemasu. Watashi ga iu yō ni anata ga, ippan-tekidesu. Ima iku, seikō shimasu," someone's voice boomed. I tensed and silently slid to the far wall, covering the light from the fire. Don't make a sound, Emma.

I knew what they said, I can understand Japanese, it's something you pick up when you have nothing else to do. It's been two months, sixty days. They aren't coming, I know so. They said, or I think Kuroti said, "Find anything unusual. I find it strange her body has gone missing. I am the general, you do as I say. Now go, be successful."

"Kanojo wa watashitachi ga tsudzukeru hitsuyō ga ari, kokode wa arimasen," a younger boy said, I recognized his voice immediately. They're retreating at least.

I hugged my knees and buried my face in my shins, "Where are you?" I whispered, "Cole- I'm scared..."

"I know- I know you told me not to be afraid, of the dark, of silence, of voices, but, Cole- I am. I'm all alone, it's not the same here, please- help me."