Doubt
I woke up before my hosts did and I exited the cabin. It was dawn and I had finally been able to look around. The chickens ran around the yard and around the outdoor kitchen. More like a firepit that was covered and sheltered from the rain. Made sense so the house would not burn down if the kitchen caught on fire.
I was trying hard to see if I could see a motorbike or a small scooter. They must have had some form of transportation and must be able to communicate with the outside world. They should, or I assumed they should have had a child or some family that may or may not check in on this old couple from time to time. But there was nothing. No evidence of a regularly traveled path except for one. But this path was going deeper into the forest rather than to someplace safe. I had begun questioning myself over the whole ghost and entity situation. Maybe Steve and I fell, hit our heads, or fell down in a valley and all this crap was not real. Was I losing my mind?
As I was questioning my sanity, the old man emerged from the hut and said, “Seve” I shook my head and he repeated himself a few times. “Seve, Seve, Seve.” Ah Steve I called back to him and then he waved at me. Oh shit, we’re going to look for Steve. I forgot all about looking for transportation when I spotted an old bicycle leaning against a tree. I was too busy following Putu to pay much attention. As I followed Putu, he stepped back into the cabin and pulled out the trumpet.
Damn it, this shit was real, the trumpet is real then this is real and that was real and all of that was real. I was hoping it had been a dream, but no. Putu swung the trumpet around his back with the strap on his shoulders. Off we went down the only path that knew existed.
I didn’t care, I was happy to have been away from the cabin and taking a few steps in search of Steve.
Zsolt Zsemba 