Chapter 5

The sun sparkled through the windows, lightening the entire room with a golden glow. It's Saturday, which means the Grace siblings can enjoy the peace of the morning a bit longer because their father is not working. However, that morning the door to Phillip and Lillian's room opened abruptly, showing their father busily carrying a large bag. The man approached his children excitedly.

“Philly! Hey, Champ, let's wake up!"

Harold shook the boy's body until he woke up. Phillip sat on the end of the bed, rubbing his half-closed eyes. Now Harold turned to Lillian's bed and stroked his daughter's head.

“My little princess, wake up, Honey. Daddy has a surprise for you."

Seeing their father wearing a brown T-shirt wrapped in a vest, gaucho pants plus a pair of high boots made of cloth, and a head covering that is the hallmark of a hunter, their drowsiness immediately disappeared, and excitedly approached their father. Harold had the children in a row across from him while he stood up like a captain.

"Today, we will go camping to Tomer Forest."

Phillip shrieked. "Oh, are you for sure?"

"Cool, it's been a while since we went camping!" continued Lillian.

“That's right, Daddy wants you to change your clothes and prepare your camping gear, don't forget to bring warm clothes and thick blankets. We'll probably spend the night in Tomer Forest!”

Without being asked twice, Phillip and Lillian immediately rushed to their closets, putting lots of clothes and blankets into their bags. Harold smiled at their enthusiasm, but the look in his eyes gave off a melancholy that no one could notice. When they finished getting ready, they said goodbye to Miranda who sent the three of them away with great joy. She even hugged Lillian as if she loved her very much.

"Be careful, honey. Don't be naughty and obey what your father said," said Miranda as she took off her hug.

She was about to hug Phillip too, but the boy immediately walked away, not giving Miranda a chance to touch him. Miranda waved excitedly as the three of them made their way towards the lush Tomer Forest.

***

Tomer Forest in the morning feels fresh, the aroma of dewy leaves, and the drops soaking the ground win the mind. Harold led them deeper into the forest, making sure that there was some special place they could camp. Phillip and Lillian are certainly eager to welcome their father's invitation.

They turned left, right, cornered, rounded a large tree, even along with thorn bushes that were taller than their heads for a long time. After several tens of minutes passed, and they're still have not arrived at their destination. Phillip turned to his father.

“Dad, why are we just going in circles? There is a lot of good spots here for setting up tents. "

"Just a little more, Philly. There is a special spot in the Tomer forest where a clear river flows, and we can eat ripe fruits directly."

Lillian looked at her father's face for a moment and realized something was strange with him, "Are you okay, Daddy?"

"Well, I'm terrific," he replied immediately, "just a little forget where the spot is, but don't worry, it looks like we will arrive soon."

They continued to explore Tomer Forest, the deeper this forest, the bigger the trees in it, the trees were intertwined to form a giant cave, making sunlight-visible only slightly through the leaves. To distract them, Harold tells which types of trees and fruits are not poisonous, shows Phillip how to properly wield an arrow, as well as reminds Lillian which plants can be used as medicine.

As the day grew, the man finally invited them to sit in a shady tree. As promised, it was a fine place, with trees ripe, the grass spread out so soft they could lie down without spreading their mats.

“Beautiful place, right? Let's help Dad put up the tent, after that, we have lunch together."

Phillip helps his father set up a tent and a campfire while Lillian prepares their lunch. After the tent was finished, they sat in a circle eating sandwiches and salad. After lunch, Harold allowed his two children to play.

Phillip and Lillian looked so happy, they were running around and laughing so wildly. It was a sight like this that the man had wanted after all this time. Harold turned his head to the side, then smiled wistfully. Usually, there was someone there, a pair of ink-black beads who would glance back lovingly, whom he could laugh with together.

"Phillip, Lillian come on over here," called Harold as the sun began to lean towards the West. They immediately approached, then sat across from the father. “Philly, you've grown up, you're the boy dad is most proud of. Cleverness and courage make you always be able to solve problems well." The man started.

“And Lilly, my beautiful daughter. Do what you usually do, always think positively. I asked you two never to be separated because you two complement each other."

"Dad, why do you suddenly talk like this?" asked Phillip suspiciously. "As if we were going to separate."

“Nothing, I just feel proud. You are the greatest sons a father has ever had."

Seeing the innocent expressions of their two children was heartbreaking, they looked so happy. It made Harold's eyes fill with tears. The man turned his gaze to the water bottle they were carrying.

"Well, looks like we ran out of water, I'm going to go to the river, and refill it."

"I'm coming with you," cried Phillip at once.

"No, you stay here, I want you to take care of your sister! I want you to take care of each other and stay here until I come back, you understand!" Harold hugged his two kids again this time tighter and whispered. "Daddy loves you two very much."

Phillip and Lillian glanced at each other in their father's arms.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" asked Lillian again.

"Nothing, Daddy will be back soon." Harold kissed his daughter's forehead.

“Don't be too long, okay. The sun is almost setting."

Harold smiled and nodded in response to his daughter's words. Then get up to start the step. At first, he walked casually, then faster, and then faster until finally, he was running fast. The man parted the grass in front of him with trembling lips. Not once did he look back.

Unbeknownst to his two children, the man was dragging the string on his way out so he wouldn't get lost, and as he walked home, Harold rolled the string so the children couldn't return.

Having felt far enough, Harold leaned against the large tree trunk and rubbed his face roughly. He couldn't believe he could do something as stupid as this. This is not what he wanted, but his heart and mind have never been in sync lately. She only hopes that this action will not harm her children.

"I'm sorry ... I will be back as soon as possible."

It was getting late, even the sun was half setting, but Harold hadn't come back yet, was it taking this long to fetch water? Phillip paced back and forth, while Lillian sat with a sour face, playing her fingers incessantly.

"Why are Daddy taking so long, Phillip?" asked the girl.

"I do not know ...."

"Why are you pacing like that?"

“I was thinking, why is Dad acting so weird all day long? If Dad doesn't come back at sunset, then my guess is right!"

"What guess?"

Phillip gave her a serious look. "Dad Abandoned us!"

"Impossible!" Lillian stood up in shock. "My Daddy would never do that!"

"Of course it's not Dad's idea, it must be that evil woman who influenced him, she has indeed hated us for a long time, she must have planned all this!"

"But that's impossible, Daddy can't possibly throw us out. Is he? Daddy will pick us up, right? "

"It's okay, we'll wait until the sun goes down if Dad still doesn't come. We better start walking home."

They waited with worry and expectation, Phillip continued to embrace Lillian whose face was filled with worry. The look in her eyes radiated anxiety and fear, even her body trembled too, holding back tears. The sun became less and less visible and finally set perfectly. For this time, Lillian cried in her brother's arms.

“How could Daddy do this to us! Why does he have the heart to abandon us?"

Phillip didn't flinch. He did not answer due to the very tightness that filled his chest so that if he spoke, his voice would vibrate, while he did not want to sound sappy in front of his sister. After taking a deep breath and calming himself down, he let go of Lillian's hug and stared at her.

"Be strong, Lill, we can find our way home. It's not that hard, we just have to remember what we passed on the way here. "

"What if daddy doesn't want us anymore? We've been dumped!"

"Don't say that, he is our dad, he is just being consumed by Miranda's evil talk, he will never have any intention of throwing us away." Phillip hugged his sister. Again, to hide the puddles in the eyes. "Now we must start walking, I want you to stop crying and help me find the way home, okay?"

Lillian nodded, immediately stood up when her brother pulled her. Phillip looks up, sees the direction of the stars, and decides to head North, they begin their steps carefully parting a thicket of a bush, hoping that nothing is waiting behind it. When it seems safe, Phillip made a steady step to the North.

White fog danced in the air, the sound of owls, and the flapping of bat wings made the atmosphere even more frightening. They are used to hearing these sounds at night, but usually, the scary sounds can be heard from inside the house, in a safe place. Lillian gripped Phillip's arm tighter when she heard a wolf's long howl. The girl bit her tongue, struggling to hold back the tears.

They only had each other now, no adult, no one to turn to for advice, and nowhere to complain. Phillip as a big brother feels the most responsible for controlling everything, no matter how difficult the situation, he must remain strong for Lillian.

Phillip walked in front, unbeknownst to his sister, tears dripped from the green bead. He felt hurt, irritated, sad, and scared, but who was he taking refuge in now? To whom do they take safety? After all, he was with his sister, Lillian relying heavily on him at the moment. Phillip must be a strong brother. He promised father and mother, and he will prove it if it is not rubbish.

***