Taking the fifth Harpy cycle, I follow Terra and Icarus beyond the Forbidden Woods and towards the Nowhere. I look at the rugged, mountainous region. All of the reddish rocks, it seems to be alien-like. Those colors arouse me in a weird way. Could it be just how it came to be or as a result from the war?

Since the war, the landscape changed drastically. I remembered one teacher telling me back in school, the land reacted oddly. And now some of the rocky formations are altered with different colors. Some of the animals that survived those centuries ago barely changed.

If I was a one of the ancestors before the war, I would be appalled.

I'm still surprised, albeit pleased Emmet hesitantly allowed me to join the others. Terra did her best to convince him; maybe the Orre played a hand. Whatever was the reason, I understood now.

Being here, I feel I'm this close into finding Anita. I want to comb through her lavish hair with my hands. I want to kiss her knowing it's been torturous not knowing where she is. And that Raudan kidnapping her was my fault.

As we make our way to the bottom of one of the steep mountains, we abandon the cycles and hike our way up. Terra heads up first. A minute later, I begin to follow her. My hands grabbing any protruding rock sticking out or any small hole, my fingers can easily grab hold onto. While I start climbing, I notice red dust stockpiling on my inner hand. I don't try to wipe away, as I can hear Terra shouting us that this climb might be treacherous.

I then hear Icarus chuckling from behind me. My head quickly shift down, seeing Icarus with his axe on his back. I know he has our backside. So what's funny?

"What's wrong my tennis, it's not up for the task?"

"Nope."

"So why you're laughing?"

He smirks at me and replies, "Climbing this mountain is something I always wanted to do. To get me back in strength."

Really? We're trying to find out what type of malefic action is up in the peak, and he's worrying about how he shapes up. I know his muscles are firm. He likes to exercise and pump up. But I don't see the point here. My head leans up, ignoring him. That's Icarus doing his Romaness. So I can't justify it. I just got let him be him. Trusting him might be harder than I thought.

We continue to ascend, slowly getting to the top. It could take another hour seeing how much higher points we have left. My eyes veers back down. I stare at the bottom. We're already sixty feet from the ground. As I try to turn back around, I attempt to lift my right foot on a rock. However, I didn't notice that rock slips out of place. I begin sliding down, my hands struggle to grasp on anything firmly fixed. While sliding, I collide with Icarus. I hear an "Ughhh!" coming from him. We both fall down, fighting to grab any steady rock. Eventually, we each manage to reach one.

I exhale heavily as I feel the sweat coming down. The sun shears its full force, the heat reigning in. No water from miles away. This whole mountain is just dry and hot. I look back down, thankful we didn't fall completely. Seeing my arms a bit scraped up, I then see Icarus. He breathes out as well, but is not thrilled what just went down. He stares at me with those menacing eyes.

"Don't do that again."

I simply nod and then I glance back up hearing Terra a mile up.

"What happened down there?"

I look back at Icarus. He doesn't say anything. He just signals me to climb in front of him again. Taking notice, I begin to get back the mile we lost because of my brilliant awareness.

As we all climb tightly close inches apart, Terra leads as usual. I'm in the middle, and Icarus is in the back. We reach another two miles. Until we reach towards a large gap, almost like a piece of the mountain's face side is missing. It forms into an open mouth.

Seeing how we're all thirsty and hungry, we all get into the big gaping hole. Sheltering away from the heat, we all take a long breather. We each sit down on the rock ground. I notice Terra reaching down to her cargo pants. She takes out three silver bags. Throwing two-one to me and the other to Icarus. I rip the sealing top, seeing its some goldish-brown cubes. I munch on one, and another tasting the delicious creamy blocks. Each one melts in my mouth, leaving the aftertaste in my tongue. The taste feels curious, yet awesome. I ask Terra what are these things. They're outstanding.

She explains to me that it's something she whipped up as it was one of her mother's favorite recipes. Those cubes are what she calls caranutters. I wonder what she means by that. She explains further, "Those cubes to what I know of are made of caramel, peanut butter, nutmeg, and honey orange."

I let her know those things are fantastic, each one lusters in brilliance. Observing Icarus, he doesn't say anything. He lays silent, chavels on every single cube. I guess he's been a member of the caranutter club. I remind her to make some more when we make it back to the Basement.

But she hesitates to make anymore. "The last time I made these was on the anniversary of my parents' death."

"And yet, you made them when we left?"

"I didn't make them today. I kept extra in store."

I remain confused wondering what she means by that. When did she make them?

Then out of nowhere, an unusual voice almost likes a girl yelling. The haunting yell pierces through my eardrums. I quickly get up. I hear Terra, "What's wrong?"

I stare at Terra and Icarus both showing no concern. How can't that be? "Did you hear something?" They don't reply. And then as I turn, I hear the same oddly noise again. I look around, and spot a cave blocked by a rock wall. I walk forward. I reach my way to the slim cave-like entrance. As I fit myself through the entry, it gets dark quickly. And then without light, I bang my left foot on something hard, most likely a rock. I moan quietly in pain. My hand covers my lips. I muster through it.

And then I'm stunned, a small light appears. I turn to see its Terra weaving some type of slender, metal stick. She mentions to me what she's holding is a lightstick. It can easily fill up a room of darkness, and shines it up in a second.

"Be careful, I have a bad feeling about this."

With the lightstick glowing brightly, we march forward through the cave. Icarus is not that far behind. Three miles from the exit, we continue until we stop to see some type of drawings on the cave walls. It might be ancient cave paintings I saw in that cryptic language book. Terra leans the lightstick over to the wall, I lean closer to observe the images. There are three identical, beastly figures separate. Then I see another image of the same three creatures bunching up.

"What is this?" I ask quietly.

Icarus looking closely as well, rubbing the images etched on the wall. I see him with a dumbstruck face. I hear Terra asking him what's up with him. Icarus just stares at the images, and after a few seconds. He replies oddly, "I can't believe it."

"Something looks familiar." She says.

"I had seen these pictures before. These same exact images." He gasps in awe. "It can't be." He mumbles. Suddenly he turns to me. "You heard a feeble yell didn't you."

"Yeah!" I answer back pondering it could've very well be Anita needing help. My help. I let Icarus know it has to be Anita, but he shakes his head instantly.

"It may not be." He states.

"Why?" She asks.

I wonder that as well, what his point is. If it wasn't Anita, who was it.

Icarus informs us he got an idea and wants us to watch this. He lays his hands on the images, and hollers.

"Hear us now. We speak to you. Come to us, so we can see!"

Terra looks a bit worried as she looks at me. I stare puzzled. I feel some worrisome, and as well a bit of fear. And then my anxious nerves start coming back, flowing through my body. I try to fight it off as I glance back at Icarus.

"Why you did that?"

"You'll know right about...." He says cryptically, and then as the cave floor begins to shake. He finishes off, "Now!"

"Get ready!" Terra yells.

I see Terra twisting her dual bowguns, while Icarus reaches for his axe from his back. They both get in their defensive stance. And I just lift up my fists, seeing how I don't have anything. Then out of nowhere three skinless creatures appear with big hands and big frog-like legs.

Each with a significant feature, one with two black eyes, two small nose slits, and one mouth sewn shut off with metal links. The second creature has its eyes and mouth sewn shut with the same links, has the same nose slits, but have hole-like ears. The third has its eyes sewn shut like the second and has the nose slits, but unlike the first two, its mouth is wide open with sharpen teeth.

What in the world are they?

As I walk forward still bewildered, Terra pushes me back. "We got this!" So I stand still, Terra and Icarus run off to face each of the face-mashed creatures. I then hear Icarus telling Terra, that whatever they do they can't let these monsters be together. Icarus struggles to hold even one back, and then as he quickly retreats back to me. He reaches towards his belt, and tosses a small sphere to me. I observe the silver orb with the violet line in the center.

I remembered back when we were at the ground level. He kneeled down at his harpy getting something. I spotted something spherical.

And that's what is in my hands. I view with a fremd gander. "What does this do?"

"It's a sonic disruptor."

I keep staring at it unknown of its purpose, and baffled with the name 'sonic disruptor'. What does it disrupt? I then hear Icarus again. He wants me to throw it at one of the creatures. Thus causing a domino effect, the others will be affected as well. I got the sphere held firmly in my right hand. I'm about to throw it, yet the two-eyed beast comes right at me. I try to dodge, but the creature knocks me to the cave floor. As I lay falling, I lose possession of the sphere.

Then as I try searching for it, I locate a few yards away from my feet. I turn around, crawling for it. However, I hear the fray inches to me. I see both Terra and Icarus getting pushed back by the other two creatures. Grabbing hold of the orb, I frantically try to open the stupid thing. I don't know how to work it. Icarus failed to tell me. And then I look in horror, as the three creatures unite.

They each stretch out their clawed hand, each one touching one another. They circulate around; the one with the eyes stare blankly. The one with hole-like ears looks down, and the one with the mouth, looks up and then keeps its mouth wide open.

Suddenly voices come from out of nowhere, a collection of echoes. There're all screaming in pain; a heap of painful echoes. Those yells are screeching so loud, I try to block my ears from listening to anymore. Hearing the pain coming from those creatures' victims. I then see Terra holding back, mustering through the yells. Icarus stands up upset going nuts.

"I didn't want this to happen." He says frustrated, fighting through the same screams.

"Why can't we just split them up?" I look to him.

Icarus says, "It's difficult because it has to take a considerable force to break their hold."

Hearing that, I glance at the orb still rested in my right hand. "Does this do?" I show him the orb.

"What else can we do?" Terra turns to Icarus.

He shrugs, not giving us any hope actually. The yelling forcing us to back away, I have enough. I get up and march my way towards the creature trio. I hear Icarus telling me to get back, and that we should think about something else. I can't. I continue walking holding tight of the sphere. Fighting my way to the creature trio, I then hear another voice from the collection of victims. This peculiar voice is hoarser, yet feminine. As that voice screams, it's not yelling in pain. It's yelling a name.

"NAVEN!"

I suddenly stop with the orb still by my waist side. How one of those victims knows me. And then as I hear that voice again, screaming my name again. I'm taken back. I know that voice. It sounds familiar now.

Anita?!

Did Raudan use Anita as bait luring these three creatures out to assault her? It has to be her. But I lower my head down, I hear that voice again. It appears much clearer now. That's not Anita.

"Merissa." I mutter.

As her name rums through my head, I'm totally baffled. Stunned and furious, how those freaks have my sister's voice. Fueled with rage, I rush at them. My hand holds the orb tight. I try to strike as I hear Icarus shouting at me don't get close. I ignore him. And then as I run a couple of yards to the three creatures, I stop immeadtely. The two-eyed beast narrows its sight on me. The hole-like eared freak lifts its head up right at me. And then the open mouthed creature, quickly glances to me.

Out of the blue, a piercing effect rocks me back. I let go of the orb as it drops to the floor. I then stumble hard, falling to my knees. Then I feel my body beginning to shake, and suddenly I let out one huge cry.

"Aaaaagh!" I squint in pain.

Suddenly, I cough up blood and spit on the floor. Then the next thing, I gasp. Hearing my breath let it out, yet I can't talk anymore. I hold onto my throat, not ushering any sound. And then I start losing my hearing. I hold onto my ears as it starts bleeding. As I stare at the blood on my fingertips, my vision begins to smear away. As I only see a hazy glare, I'm able enough to see the three freaks breaking away from their hold to pounce on me.

Then I can see Terra and Icarus jumping in front. I can't hear them, but they're able to force them back. Using their weapons as best they can, trying to shield me. I commend them. Then I see Terra kneeling down to reach the orb. She taps hard on the bottom side, and twists it clockwise two times. The center violet light blinks a glow. She soon throws the orb right at one of the freaks. The orb makes its target with the two-eyed beast.

The orb explodes into a yellowish-purple shield, the creature reacts in pain. And then the other two begin to react the same way. Terra then kneels down towards me. Icarus stands guard as I can barely see the monsters twisting in violent contusions.

As I try to turn to Terra, I fall to her knees. She starts to cradle me. Yet I can only see her blurry face, her lips moving. I can't hear. I can't speak. And then as I try to focus only on her, I lose my vision.

***

Resting comfortably in the Basement's infirmary, it has been a slow and painful recovery trying to get back my senses. The first sense that came back was my sight. It was painful, as my eyes were bleeding tearfully. Luckily, Terra was there to treat it. She has been a great nurse. The first thing I saw once I got my vision back was a plate of sliced honey oranges shaped as a smiling face. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't.

That was the first of many nurse-like tasks she did for me. I was happy and quite surprised. She may be even better than my aunt.

As the days went on, my hearing came back next. Like my eyes, my ears were bleeding painfully. Once I got my full hearing, I was able to hear Terra explaining what happened when I lost my sight. She told me those freaky creatures fled away once the orb worked. She and Icarus quickly escorted me out of the cave and proceeded back to the base. It took several days until I got my sight returned. She then told me, while I was in here. She was arguing with Emmet over the cave incident. He was upset with me and Terra. Icarus tried to defend us; he said to Emmet "We didn't know what was coming. Raudan was never there." Icarus did his best.

Terra told me that Emmet regretted sending me. For once, I actually agreed. I wished I never went. And now my sister's voice continued to echo out my name.

It took a longer time until I was able to regain my voice. Similar to my eyes and ears, it was a painful return as my mouth was bleeding for a minute. Once I got my senses back, I wanted to leave this room. However, Emmet ordered me to stay in the infirmary bed indefinitely.

I reacted surprised, but I think he won't allow me to go until he sees it's ready. And that could take forever. I don't want to be coop up in this bed. Anita is still out there.

Today's June 23rd. Silas came hours earlier letting me know about that. After his visit, Terra didn't come back. I don't know about the others. Seeing I'm all alone in this rocky room filled with hospital matbeds and med equipment, I take out the sticky thing that was attaching my chest. I get up from bed. I see a black, sleeveless shirt, a pair of cargo pants, and two black boots lying on another matbed beside me. It must have been Terra, who laid this down for me just in case I want to leave. I change clothes, swapping the grey sweatpants.

I exit out of the infirmary and walk down the hallway, bypassing the eight doors-four on opposite sides. I then take a sneak peak out to the foyer. I don't see anybody, no one near the Grub, and no one near the slab table. Did they go on another non-rescuing task again? And then as I see a shadow nearby the stairwell, I fear that could be Emmet.

I walk back into the hallway heading back to the guest room, which is on the right side. I then spot one door in the middle left side cracked open. I sneak closer, and see somebody inside. I decide to go in ignoring to knock. Then I'm surprised to see Icarus. I look around to see this is his room with a matbed nearby. I then spot Icarus sharpening his axe on some type of wooden station. I walk over to him, and then as if he knew. He jumps and grabs hold of his axe. The next thing I know is the axe halfway inches to my eyes.

"What the hell are you doing here, this is my private space." He continues, "I almost killed you."

"I noticed." I say sarcastically.

"Humph." He smirks, as he turns back. He sharpens his axe again with the flat tool on the station. I suddenly think back at the caves. I ponder how Icarus got so much knowledge of those paintings, those creatures, how to defeat them. I waste no time and ask straight out, what was those things we faced. How I lost my sight, hearing, and voice all at the same time.

Icarus hesitates for a minute. Yet he finally responds back. "What were those creatures is actually one thing."

"You lost me."

"They're known as The Caemusur."

He explains further, the cae came from the Latin word, Caecus meaning "blind". The mu part came from Mutus, meaning "mute", and the sur coming from Surdus, meaning "deaf". They each have the name based on their facial feature. Separately, they are hard. But collectively if they joint their power, they can rob a victim's sight, hearing, and voice.

I react stunned about this. "How do you know this stuff?"

"Everything I know about The Caemusur and how to summon the three beasts were from my studies. As a youth, I read a lot of Roman myth when I was kid. My grandfather taught me everything about these myths. There were a lot of mentions of sense-robbing beasts. So I asked my grandfather. He told me the story of The Caemusur. How being together, uniting themselves to take away senses is their strength. But their greatest weakness is if you injure one, you injure them all."

"Oh, I didn't know. Where's your grandfather now?"

Icarus then walks near his matbed; he brings out a seashell necklace. And on the center seashell, he opens it to see a picture of an old man.

"I lost him a few years ago. It's tough to explain." He quickly closes the shell necklace and throws it back at his bed. Feeling frustrated, he fights off some tears.

Suddenly, I think about my family. My sister. Her voice. I inform him about my sister, Merissa. And how she died ten years ago, but I heard her voice back when that Caemusur let out those ailing victim screams.

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"The Caemusur only steal the voice of a victim, and have it collected up to a week until it disappears."

"That doesn't make sense." I lean my head down, realizing my sister died. That couldn't be her, but it sounded like her. As I recollect, hearing my name coming from her voice.

Could it be my sister is still alive?

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**Please comment/vote on what you read so far. I really appreciate it.