After walking for another hour, we were finally about to arrive at the mountain village, where my grandparents’ house was located.

But reaching here wasn’t that easy; the path was blocked by bushes, and walking through cost us a lot of energy. There were many insect bite marks all over my body; luckily, I wasn’t feeling as much aching as Emi.

Turning to Emi, her hands were covered in tiny red patches, while her feet were in an even worse situation. She was rubbing her hands while following behind me; her frustration was clearly visible in her eyes. She had brought insect repellent specially for this situation, and it worked like a magnet to attract more of these insects towards her.

"Why are there so many plants here?" She complained while walking down a narrow mountain path, which was made by the villagers, but now it was covered in plants and bushes.

"Maybe, they got lazy and stopped clearing the path," I replied, walking forward.

The houses here are located at the edges of the mountains, with the population being as high as 30 to 40 people, staying in these old houses, which are in constant danger of avalanches.

"How could people even live here? There is no signal or electricity." She continued complaining while staring at her phone battery. Though she brought a portable solar power bank with her. But these trees here are too tall to let any sunlight land on the ground.

I still didn’t know why she was even coming with me. I got the reason to keep her with me, but she didn’t know her reason to follow me. Moreover, these were my grandparents, not hers.

As I was wondering how long we had to walk for, I finally saw my grandparents’ house. Despite going through the previous storm, it was still standing fine, just the old banana tree beside our house had fallen off, and the orange tree too. Luckily, nothing fell on the house.

Seeing this place, I felt a little good about it. As I walked forward, I felt refreshed and familiarity to this place, for the first time. In the past, I have come here with my mom, but I never really liked this place, without internet or electricity.

I ran through the narrow rocky path, but when I was passing through the orange tree, I paused and picked up some oranges, stuffing them in my bag. I knew there gonna be a lot of work for me inside. Since my grandparents are ill, Emi and I had to look after them, instead of Mom. All the work will fall on my head.

"What are you doing?" Emi’s hesitant voice in my ears. When I turned to her, she stood there with a swollen, red face.

"Picking up oranges, shouldn’t you help too?" I replied, but her next words made me pause in my action.

"When did you start liking oranges?"

Her words were partially true; come to think of it, I don’t really enjoy having oranges. But I do drink orange juice... yeah, I drink orange juice, that’s why I am picking them up.

Hearing my reply, she helped me stuff all these oranges into a bag. Before we knocked on the door.

"Grandma..."

Knock~ knock!

I knocked on the door a few times while calling them out in consideration of their poor hearing.

We waited for a little while for the door to open. When the door opened, I saw an old lady who looked similar to my mother, just an extra-aged version of her. She was wearing the old-fashioned glasses as she squinted her eyes at us.

"Hello, Grandma, it’s been years since we met." Emi stepped forward, giving the old lady a sweet smile with her monkey-like red face.

"Are you Emi?" She asked, touching her swollen face with her wrinkled hands. I stood in silence beside them. Watching as my grandmother gave a hug to her fake granddaughter while ignoring their grandson.

Cough~ Cough~

"Ricky, you are also here." She also pulled me in, hugging both of us together.

We exchanged a few pleasantries at the doorstep, as she asked us about our parents, if they were well, and other meaningless stuff. Emi and I listened while occasionally answering. We followed her into the old house.

Inside, the floor was made up of quite old wood, creating a strange noise with every step we took. We came in front of a small room, Grandma pushed open the door, and there was my grandfather bathing in the sunlight that was coming from the broken window.

When he heard the noise of the door being opened, he turned his neck to look at us; his face was still the same as it was a few years ago, old and ugly.

"Ricky, Emi..." he whispered in a low voice.

"Grandpa," Emi quickly went to him, giving a soft hug. While I stayed out of this drama, all I wanted was sleep after waking up for the entire night.

"Grandma, I need to take a nap. Till then, let Emi help you out." I said, walking into the empty room in which I used to sleep in the past, whenever I came here.

"Ricky..." My Grandmother’s voice came from behind, but by then I had already opened the door.

And the next instant, a black shadow lunged straight at my face.

"Ahhh~"

I felt the sharp pain all over my face. I quickly grabbed this thing and threw it on the ground with all my strength.

"Screech~"

I heard it roar, and when I got a better look at it, it turned out to be a small black monkey. I was ready to teach this motherfu*ker a lesson, but it instantly hid behind my grandmother.

"What happened?" Emi came out to check after hearing my scream. She quickly came up to me when she saw those sharp marks on my face, the blood dripping from them. As my entire face burned with pain.