The Way Back Home's

White Owl

William taught them a few more tricks. When you're done talking, replace Denise.

“I think we should start seriously. It won't be seen soon if you're just skiing for fun. Farrell, Milo, Libby, start to split up. Look around you. Tell me any strangeness you find. Okay?”

Farrell frowning. He doesn't understand anything Denise says. But, Milo and Libby seemed to understand. They nodded slowly then glided over the ski track towards a different direction. Milo moves pretty fast. Libby glides slowly. The two had already disappeared from his side when Farrell was just about to ask what Denise meant.

“Why are you still here?” Denise looked at him, pouting.

Farrell stared back at the woman in front of him in a daze. “What do you mean?”

Denise folded her hands to the front of her chest. “Don't you feel like you have to find something?”

“Something? What?”

Farrell rolled his eyes trying to remember something. He stared at the snow track and occasionally at Denise. The woman had golden hair with several strands painted black. His hair was tied to a ponytail. His face was well-done. Yesterday Farrell thought this woman was charming but just now the impression changed drastically. I don't know why she felt that Denise was kind of creepy.

Denise stepped forward, bringing her face closer to Farrell's. “You should feel excited now. You should be haunted by curiosity. You should want to discover the wonders that are here. Come on, Farrell, don't tease me.”

Farrell shook his head. “Sorry, but I have absolutely no idea what you mean.”

Denise turned her eyes to William.

William immediately raised both hands, a sign of surrender. “Don't look at me. I'm not a chef here.”

Denise brought her face closer to a distance just a few centimeters from Farrell's face. Farrell spontaneously held his breath. Not because of groggy, more because there was horror emanated in Denise's eyes. Especially when she talks again. “There are many wonders scattered in this inn. You just need to open your eyes wide and observe the sekelling. Just try it, you will be amazed.”

Farrell recognized the remark. That was exactly what my uncle said when they had tea together. Now Denise says it like a spell.

Denise looked at William again.

William shook his head. “I don't know anything. Just ask Remy.”

Denise's look and look changed. His eyes widened to look at Farrell from head to toe. His mouth was still pouting and his eyebrows were bending. He seemed to be trying to understand what was happening.

Farrell gets a hunch that Denise is just as confused now. “I don't understand anything here. Can anyone explain it to me? Why do I have to find something? What do you mean? What kind of miracle is there?“

Hearing the question, Densie's face paled. “I... should look for Remy.” He left without saying anything else.

Farrell looked at William, “Now—”

“Wait! I think something bad happened.” William looked up. Farrell followed. The two of them saw a white owl flying low above them. He flew around a few times then flew down the snow course. “Kurasa Gizmo wants us to follow him.”

“Gizmo?”

“That's his name,” William pointed at the owl. “Come quickly!”

Farrell has not had a chance to react, now William is leaving. With agility, William went down the snow track following the bird. Farrell himself tried to go steady so as not to fall. The track is steeper than the upper track. Now, he began to doubt whether he could stop just in time. Farrell had read several articles about accidents while skiing. He obviously didn't want that to happen to him.

His fear turned to horror as he looked at the pink color on top of the snow pile. He recognized the pink scarf that my aunt had given Libby earlier. He also remembered that Libby was wearing that scarf today. He could guess exactly what was lying on the snow.

Libby was lying on a ski track. William has stopped near Libby . Farrell needs extra effort to quit. He almost hit a tree while doing so. Hurry up, he's balancing the body. After throwing a ski pole, removing his glasses and helmet, he rushed to Libby.

“Libby, Libby!” Farrell squirms next to Libby and calls again. His sister flinched unconscious. Farrell didn't see any outside injuries or blood. But that doesn't make him calm. “Libby...” Farrell shook his sister's shoulder slowly while calling her name. “Libby.”

From behind the ski goggles, Farrell saw his sister's eyes tremble.

“Libby...” Farrell calls his name again as gently as possible.

“Kakak..” Libby voice vibrates. “I'm afraid.”

“Calm down, I'm here.”

Libby moved slowly to get up and sit down. He took off his glasses. Tears flowed down from her eyes to her cheeks. His face and nose were red. “Tadi... I.. I slipped...” Libby sobbed.

“Is anyone sick?”

“My arm...”.

William crouched down beside Farrell. “What hurts if you move now?”

Libby moved her left arm slowly. He looked at William and shook his head.

“Maybe just bruised,” said William ended in a smile. “You will be fine.”

“I was afraid..” Libby sobbed and fell into Farrell's arms. “I... I want to go home..”.

Farrell holds his sister. “We'll be home. Just chill. So, don't cry anymore, huh?”

Libby didn't answer, she was still crying. Farrell won't force his sister to stop crying. In his arms, he felt Libby's body trembling in fear. His own body now feels bad because it is attacked by anxiety. Even if relief begins to be there.

Farrell turned his head as Christo came closer, gasping for breath. “What happened?”

“I think Libby fell.” William gave an answer.

“What are you doing? Why don't you take care of her?” Christo protested at his co-worker. “And where's Milo? Aren't you guys supposed to be skiing threesome?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Denise asked them to split up. So, Milo's there, Libby's here, and.. Farrell stays where he is,” William said as he glanced at Farrell. “So I accompanied him with Denise. You want me to split up and accompany them one by one?”

Christo seemed ready to give a follow-up protest, but he paused it. The owl, Gizmo, flew low and alighted in a tree near where he stood. Christo looked towards him coming. Milo is sliding there. Just like her, Milo was shocked as well.

“Libby why?”

Ignoring Milo's question, Farrell asked. “Where are you from?”

“I went there.. Probably. I don't really remember. All I remember is that the owl attacked me when it stopped!” Milo pointed at Gizmo above the tree. The bird looked back at him with its head tilted. Milo clenched fists at him. “Awas only later!”

Farrell knew something was amiss going on around him. Milo and Libby, Denise, everything. He should return immediately to ask for an explanation. In this case, the uncle and aunt should be able to give an answer.