I opened the window and felt a cool breeze entering my room, making my lips upwards. After months of harsh winter, I gleaned the snow started to melt, leaving behind emerald green patches as a grand entrance for the lovely spring season. As I waved goodbye to my aunt who was standing in front of the door, I ambled on the way to school, picking up some lost trinkets that were buried in the snow.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaLSd5z4Gw
A shiny gold ring, a large shovel which Mr Siva must have been looking for the past three months, and numerous strange objects which I would stumble on whenever the snow starts to melt. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1H4Ul4Xxo
Bones.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaVeHA1yYg
As the years went by, my curiosity about where these bones came from began to grow as I suspected something sinister lurking in the dark forest, waiting to pounce on its victims. Whenever I asked Aunt Inara about where those bones came from, she would just shrug and claim that it was the coyote's meal but I don't believe it.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5oOEfchCP
"Bugsy," Mrs Grey called, snapping me back to reality. "Could you explain to me how do we find the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdeNP5WBrR
I took a deep breath and took a white chalk from the teacher's desk, and wrote the answer. "The formula of the Pythagorean theorem is a² + b²=c² and after we find the initial answer, we have to square root it to get the final answer, which is 10."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLOO5VpZPw
"The answer is correct," Mrs Grey praised. "And can you tell me why is Pythagorean theorem is important?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMSLxiarJZ
"It builds critical thinking," I guessed. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVv98OTPP4
"You're close, Bugsy, but your answer is too general."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeXn8QUEnp
I pouted my lips as I sat down on my desk, flustered. Damn it! I'm supposed to be the smart one here. I feel like an idiot in this class.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwZFNKuim9
"Can anyone explain to me why the Pythagorean theorem is important?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq6sbTQCpy
Lisa raised her hands. "We can use Pythagorean theorem for building something."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC1ggCx51O
"That's good, Lisa," Mrs Grey clapped in an enthusiastic manner. "Can you explain it to me?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8DUFqE4UV
"Let's say you're building a sloped roof. If you know the height of the roof and the length of it cover, you can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the diagonal length of the roof's slope. That way, you could cut properly sized beams to support the roof."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFGD2K1oOn
"Thank you, Lisa," Mrs Grey grinned. "Yes, one of the importance of Pythagorean theorem is to construct a building. Can anyone else explain the importance?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw8G4sj76t
"It's good for navigation," Archie answered. "For example, if you are at sea and navigating to a point that is 300 miles north and 400 miles west, you can use the theorem to find the distance from your ship to that point and calculate how many degrees to the west of north you would need to follow to reach that point." 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKmk07A6Uy
The whole class erupted with applause as Archie held out his arms opened, gleaming. I rolled my eyes at him, only for the bell to ring. Now I feel like a huge idiot in this classroom. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsUmHKrmR4
"We'll continue our lessons next week," said Mrs Grey, hanging her sling bag on her shoulder. "Have a nice weekend."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLUmJsoVwO
We walked out of the school building and ambled on the dirt road, chit-chatting. My hands were in both of my dress pockets, my brows furrowed and my lips curved into a frown. Archie beating me in class is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened in my life. I'm supposed to be smarter than him, not the other way around.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EM4hVRtAw
"You alright, Bugsy?" asked Ferdinand, noticing my sour expression on my face. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY9r5fDrec
"Can't believe I screwed up in math class," I beat myself up. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFFdRnazQz
"You answered the question correctly, Bugsy," Naomi chuckled. "However, you couldn't apply the Pythagorean theorem in real life."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf5CXs1HvM
"Thanks for pointing that out, Naomi," I groaned. "God, if only I wasn't distracted by the stupid bones I found this morning."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5pY7yBGOn
Ferdinand let out a harsh cough, shocked by my statement. "I'm sorry, what?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOFqUjndwh
"When the snow started melting, I ended up finding lots of bones."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLgKTO3WQJ
"Where do they come from?" Naomi questioned me. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAofkuzEwc
"My aunt told me those were the coyote's leftover meal but I doubt it."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe5YBHILt9
"Oh my gosh, another murder mystery."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qyUuu4T4D
"Sounds fun," Ferdinand squealed. "We should do this after lunch."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7Ic3cSja
"I agree," Naomi nodded. "I'll get us some torchlight and a compass."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92eeErdJZK
I sighed and protested. "But you might get yourself kill."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNrUMAXCYv
"Bugsy," Ferdinand gave me a playful punch on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Besides, we've done this numerous times anyways."
I agreed with his statement. We are a team after all, and no one gets left behind, no matter what.
We stepped inside the forest, holding each other's hands for assurance. Surrounded by the enormous pine tree with thinner snowy cushion, the frost that sprouted on the flowers began to fade as a few marigolds bloomed and danced merrily. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrU1uQbn5T
After picking up a trace of bones, we headed north of the woods, hoping to find more answers. As the rays of the sun began to grow dimmer, I suddenly stopped on our track as I felt a chill around me, making my friends bump into me from behind. I opened my legs a little wider to avoid falling on the rocky path. "What's wrong, Bugsy?" Ferdinand gave me a puzzled look. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqqVLFYm39
"I don't know," I shook the head. "I know it sounds strange but I swear to God I'm telling the truth."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvRjcorGML
"Did you see something horrible?" wondered Naomi. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lFFjqxs4z
"I don't even know what's going on."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7pC09wiw8
Then, a luminous glow appeared in front of me, making my eyes squint. "The will-o-the-wisps."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTsr3x4M6K
"Hey there, little fella," he waved his hands. "We're kinda lost and it would be kind of you to lead the way for us."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIssS6VZD0D
In a flash, the wisps paved us a path and urged us to follow them without hesitation. "Looks like our journey begins," said Naomi, adjusting her bag. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReaf6oSxpc
Following the trail of the will-o-the-wisps, all three of us formed a human chain which I led. The surrounding of the forest turned cold as the colour of the trees turned jet black and all the flower beds vanished in front of our eyes. Our site grew foggier as we climbed the rocky hill, filled with cracks and ruined buildings. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhyE6Ol4HJ
As the trail of the wisps stopped, the fog cleared up, revealing an enormous cave. Naomi headed towards the right side of the cave and picked up a coyote's skull, to my disgust. "Does anyone have a camera?" she asked. I took out a small camera from my pocket and took a picture of Naomi holding a coyote's head. "Did you take it?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ6brOAl2r
I nodded. "Please remind me to get the pictures processed at Ms Blyton's."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA8MYjlGiJ
Naomi gave me a thumbs up and switched open her flashlight, signalling us to enter the cave. Taking my first footsteps inside the gloomy cave, my jaws dropped as I saw millions of bats squeaking, covering their eyes as Naomi flashed her light towards them. Ferdinand placed his hands on the brownish stalagmite and asked me to photograph it. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTrqLK0vxK
On the cave's wall, I saw a painting, depicting a group of men and women farming on a ranch with livestock inside around the gate and a cornfield beside them. Naomi shone her flashlight upwards and saw a man cooking another man, leading us to a small transformation of a man morphing into a giant spider.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXwdm4Fkti
"It reminds me of the story my mom told me," Ferdinand stated. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfxjtaJfDt
"What was the story about?" I asked, turning to him.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHY5StLCwW
"There was a man who was lost in the forest, so one day when he was starving, he saw another man, and then he cooked and ate him for dinner."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs0qp1q22I
"Disgusting," Naomi commented. "Then what happens?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3pInjCur7
"For days, fur appeared all over his as his thirst for his own kind grew, making him grow extra legs and extra eyes."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiX1wLbYmw
"So he became a spider?"588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglM2J8TzwO
"Not just any spider," Ferdinand specified. "The man became a crypt spider, a giant, man-eating spider."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlve2pyMfRo
I shivered. "I don't think I want to meet this crypt spider."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPyo3Y1mGT
In a moment, a large shadow loomed over me, revealing a giant, fur-coated spider. Its bloodshot eyes stared menacingly as it drooled blood from its claw-shaped mouth that dripped on the cave's floor. I swallowed a huge lump of saliva as we walked backwards, only to stumble on a stalagmite. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5VIY278ia
The crypt spider shrieked at our faces, and we bolted out of the case, with the arachnid creature tailing us from behind. As we ran down the hill, I felt a sharp pain on the left side of my abdomen as my left leg began to ache, slowing me down. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSvWhgUux0
Out of the blue, the spider pounced on me from behind and I fell on the muddy ground. Tackling the spider's leg with both hands, it pushed itself towards my face and tried to bite me with its long fangs, only to miss several times. As I exerted all of my strength against the spider, one of its holes squirted white liquid on my legs, gluing it together. I attempted to push the cobwebs apart only for the spider to be kicked by Naomi. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS0c3UpfgK
Ferdinand lifted me like a bride and ran, leaving Naomi to fend off the spider with her martial art skills. I watched as she kicked the spider's arm and punched one of its legs, making the spider scream. As she was about to jump on the spider's body, the arachnid creature bit her hand, provoking Naomi's kick on its mouth. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSvcOR1L8X
Holding the hands that were bitten, she soon caught up with us and urged both of us to hurry, only to find ourselves at the edge of the river bank. I panted as I saw the spider landed and cornered us by the river. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJYD5SxBDy
"I think we should jump," I panicked. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVSEX2WO39
"Are you mad?" Ferdinand shouted. "We'll die of hypothermia."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBFYuARHXu
"Well, spiders can climb trees, so we don't have any choice and besides, cold water will kill those spiders anyways."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7mtsHUf4Q
In a flash, we splashed ourselves in the deep, icy river and closed our eyes. Holding our breath, we prayed for the crypt spider to leave while enduring the freezing cold water. 588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZosUj3zKbj
A few minutes passed and I bobbed my head out of the water and sighed in relief as there was no sight of the spider. We climbed out of the riverbank, shivering. Our teeth rattled as we hugged ourselves while walking back home from the forest at dusk, with our bodies lusting for the heat source.588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBEqjB0Vmy
When we reached Ferdinand's farmhouse, we stripped our jacket and lied in front of the fireplace, to Mrs Ong's dismay. She rushed to the kitchen and prepared us warm water, lecturing all of us for being careless. "You know jumping in water during the cold water could kill you," she scolded. "You guys should've known better."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCn6DQmEFT
"It won't happen again, mom," Ferdinand pleaded. "I promise."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMJsZuMUX
As his mother walked upstairs, Naomi lifted the sleeves of her pink shirt and glanced at her wound, wrapping it around it with her handkerchief. "At least we're safe and sound," she assured us. "And that's all it matters."588Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNaTHqN5Jj
