I look at the figure of Josh''s walking; he uses his hand to hold up his upper body.

    -So you can walk after all. (Farah)

    -Well, you can say so. (Josh)

    -Then, what were you doing in there? Lying on the ground when we first found you, Josh? (Farah)

    Josh stops walking.

    -Do you know why I stay in the cave in the first place? (Josh)

    Amy becomes angry at Josh''s question and inquires him back.

    -How can sister know about that? (Amy)

    -Ahaha, you are right! (Josh)

    -My job is to help other challengers overcome this trial. It''s one way to redeem what I had done in the past. (Josh)

    Josh continues.

    -However, It has been a long time since I see the last patches of challengers. (Josh)

    He forces an awkward smile.

    -If I didn''t see you guys, then I would have tried to kill myself today. (Josh)

    -Eh? Why would you do that? (Farah)

    -I can''t live while carrying my guilt like this. The nightmare tortures me every night. (Josh)

    -Kill yourself... You mean you want to consume that suspicious water. (Farah)

    -It''s one way of dying, and another way is being eaten by the gigantic shadow you guys saw in the past. (Josh)

    -Eh? How can you be so certain about that? (Farah)

    -The death can''t talk, that''s all. (Josh)

    We continue walking deeper inside the secret passage.

    -We are almost there. (Josh)

    In my head, Death said to me.

    -I think he is wrong about this matter, Farah. (Death)

    -What do you mean by that, Death? (Farah)

    -The monster we saw last night holds an enormous amount of soul. The people who are eaten by it will become prisoners of that monster''s body. (Death)

    -No way. (Farah)

    -This whole trial is like a cruel joke of God. It tortures all the challengers even after they are killed. (Death)

    -I agree. (Farah)

    Mia seems to notice I am different from usual and asks me.

    -What''s wrong, sister? (Mia)

    -Nothing, Mia. (Farah)

    -We are finally here. (Josh)

    We finally arrived in a cramped room. There is nothing but an enormous bed in the middle of the room.

    -Welcome to my room! Make yourself at home. (Josh)

    Suddenly, Mia''s stomach growls. Her face becomes bright red while trying to avoid my line of sight.

    -I''m sorry, sister. (Mia)

    I caress Mia''s head.

    -It''s normal for you to be hungry after travelling a lot. (Farah)

    -Ehehe. (Mia)

    Mia seems to enjoy me caressing her head. When I turn around, I can see Amy looks at Mia with jealous eyes. I instantly try using my other hand of mine to pat Amy''s head.

    -Sister...I (Amy)

    When I try to finish the patting''s time, Amy tries to hold back my hand and asks me.

    -Can you pat me a little more, sister? (Amy)

    It''s incredibly rare to see mature Amy act differently from usual. Can I bring her home? She is so adorable?

    -Can''t you? (Amy)

    Mia instantly jumps and hugs Amy.

    -Sister is acting too cutely. (Mia)

    I can feel smokes coming from Amy''s head.

    -Because I feel so comfy when sister pats me, Mia. (Amy)

    -Right, Right. I feel that sister''s hand has unusual power. Her hand can make us feel at ease every time she pats us. (Mia)

    -Ahaha. (Farah)

    Josh coughs and said.

    -You three seem so close. (Josh)

    Mia makes a proud face and says.

    -Naturally. (Mia)

    We have dinner after that. By using canned food, I can make some simple dishes. After finishing eating, we sit on the bed and try to listen to Josh''s story again.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Josh''s POV

    Maria is acting weird after we came back from the lake. At night, when we are sleeping together, Maria stands up and walks out of the tent.

    -Maria, where are you going? (Josh)

    However, she doesn''t answer my question and keeps going in the lake''s direction.

    -Hey, Maria. (Josh)

    I run out of the tent and start following her. I can hear Maria babbling from afar.

    -Ma..e U Hole (Maria)

    I try coming closer and can see the face of her disappear and looking toward me.

    -Make Us Whole! (Maria)

    I become too frightened and fall to the ground, While Maria leaving me behind. I shake my head.

    -It must be an illusion. (Josh)

    I stand up and start following Maria again.

    -Maria! (Josh)

    I shout out loud and hope that Maria will overhear me.

    -She is not here... (Josh)

    I try looking at the sky, so I can find the direction that leads to the lake.

    -There is no star in this space. And how the hell can I see in the night without a torch? This space is really unpleasant. (Josh)

    I try to look at the ground and recognize the footsteps that imprint on the ground.

    -This way! (Josh)

    I run like crazy, and I ultimately arrive at the crimson lake. I can see Maria is trying to drink the lake''s water using her hand.

    -Maria! (Josh)

    Again, there is no response come from her. I come closer to Maria and place my hand on her shoulder. Maria''s head spins 180 degrees and looks at me. This time I can only a mouth on her head. The eyes and other things have disappeared.

    -Hiiiii! (Josh)

    I retreat far from Maria. A familiar voice comes out of Maria''s mouth.

    -What''s wrong, Honey? (Maria)

    Maria gradually walks toward me.

    -Do you want to take a sip of this water, Honey? (Maria)

    Her voice suddenly becomes creepy.

    -It''s really delicious. (Maria)

    -Ahhhh! (Josh)

    I touch myself and notice I''m still lying on the bed.

    -Hah! Everything is a dream, right? (Josh)

    -What''s wrong, Josh? (Maria)

    Maria comes into the tent and asks me.

    -Are you sick, Josh? (Maria)

    When Maria tries reaching my side to check up on me, I hit off her hand.

    -Eh...(Maria)

    -Can you leave me alone for now, Maria? (Josh)

    Maria looks at me with a worried face.

    -All right. Get well soon, Josh. (Maria)

    When Maria leaves the tent, I start questioning myself.

    -Everything is a dream, right? (Josh)

    However, I find out something that denies my assumption. My feet is full of dirt.

    -I remember that I chase after Maria on my barefoot. (Josh)

    Madeus

    Thanks for reading (??ヮ?)?*:???

    We are halfway through the first trial. Farah will crack down this trial flawlessly soon OwO