Chapter One

The warm, yet gentle and dazzling, summer sun rays showered Callisto's bedroom through the window glass. A flower vase made from clay lay on the windowsill. A small wooden cabinet next to his bed upholstered with comfy, white bedsheets. A picture frame just above his head, displaying him and his parents when he was a kid with a wide smile on his face. The scent of fresh air and distant songs of birds made a peaceful ambiance, bringing back to his mind the memories of his childhood.

Staying in their hometown in the countryside for a summer vacation after a bunch of schoolwork was such an awesome idea, Callisto thought to himself. He would make this summer unforgettable by exploring the caves and mountains. He would also date pretty girls in town, like he always wanted to do but never had time for when he was in the city.

Callisto was so exhausted last night that he immediately fell asleep after lying on his bed and woke up later than usual. He reached for his smartphone, clicked the power button, and saw that it was already 8:30 in the morning. He stood up, slightly stretched his arms, and exclaimed, "What a wonderful day it is!" Then, he got out of his room and continued inside the dining room, where his parents were preparing the table for breakfast.

The tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the arousing smell of delicious food his parents were cooking reached his nostrils. There were different, freshly picked fruits, a plate of his favorite rectangular loaf bread, and sparkling glasses of red wine on the table cloaked with white satin, making the house finally alive again after being abandoned for so many years.

"Finally awake? So, how's your first day in town, son?" Sebastian asked while putting plates on the table. He was wearing a white apron, covering his dark suit, like a chef in a restaurant or a five-star hotel, perfectly complementing the contour of his brownish hair.

"Cool, Dad. I've slept well to the sounds of nature. This place is truly different compared to the city where we came from. It was so noisy and chaotic there," Callisto replied as he sat down on the wooden dining chair next to the table.

"I'm glad to hear that you like it here, son. So, do you want to go hiking today?" Dorothy asked, placing a mug of Callisto's favorite caffè latte—carved with the Italian phrase Carpe Diem—on the table.

"Exactly. I want to see the view of this town from the peak of that mountain!" Callisto replied, excitement flashing in his brown eyes as he smiled charmingly.

"Just be careful when going out, son. It's dangerous to go hiking alone, especially in the jungle. You might get lost and won't be able to find your way back home. You'll only make your mom worried," Sebastian reminded him.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. I will never get lost in the woods, I promise. Besides, I have a smartphone, so I can make a call anytime," Callisto said confidently.

"And what if you fall from a precipice? There are wild and dangerous animals in the forest, son. You should prioritize your safety above all else." Sebastian stood up, walked to the sink, turned on the faucet, washed his hands, and removed his apron before heading out of the house.

"Why is he like that, Mom?" Callisto complained to his mother. "How can I enjoy our vacation here if he acts like that? He's killing the fun, you know."

"Just try to understand your dad, son. He's getting old, so don't give him more problems, okay?" Dorothy said.

"Okay, but I'll still go to that mountain. No one can stop me," Callisto replied, determined.

Outside the house, where Sebastian went to breathe some fresh air, his eyes sparkled with admiration as he stared at the blue-green mountain from a distance, covered in trees and grass. He wondered what could be lurking around in that forest at night.

Suddenly, an obscure scene started messing with his mind, distorting his vision like a glitch in a movie. Sebastian grasped his head as an expression of agony appeared on his face. The world spun around him, blurring the surroundings as if he were riding a roller coaster, then everything turned black as he fainted.

When Callisto peeked through his bedroom window, he was shocked to see his father lying on the ground in the yard. Suspecting that something had happened, he quickly ran outside and called for help.

"Mother, help! Dad fainted!" Callisto shouted.

From the kitchen, Dorothy was washing the dishes when she heard Callisto shouting for help outside. She rushed out and saw her husband lying on the ground. Immediately, she checked his pulse and was relieved to find his heart still beating. However, she didn’t know what had happened or what could happen next, so she called 911.

"Hello, this is 911. How may I help you?" asked the agent.

The ambulance quickly arrived. The medical personnel put Sebastian on a stretcher and immediately brought him to the nearest hospital along with his worried wife.

As he entered the house, Callisto felt anxious—his mother never told him that his father had an illness. Determined, he used their old car to follow his parents to the hospital, leaving his seven-year-old sister alone in their house.

After a few moments, Callisto arrived at the hospital. He carefully parked the car outside, took the key, and rushed inside. His face was covered in sweat, and his hands were trembling. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

Callisto approached the front desk and anxiously asked a nurse, "Excuse me, my father was just brought here. His name is Sebastian. Can you tell me where his room is?"

The nurse checked the records and replied, "Yes, he’s in Room 56, down the hall on your left."

Callisto rushed toward the room. He halted by the door and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Hearing his parents talking about something, he eavesdropped on their conversation.

"I already told you not to choose this location for our vacation because it would only give you a headache. The doctor said that you must not think about anything bad, or your condition will get worse," Dorothy advised.

"Even now, I'm still confused about those blurry memories. It feels like they’re trying to tell me something I forgot a long time ago." Sebastian held his wife's hand. "Please tell me anything about the past so I can finally understand."

"I will tell you about it, but you must rest first, my dear. Try to have peace of mind," Dorothy replied, as if she were trying to avoid where the conversation was headed.

Sebastian let go of his wife's hand and shook his head slightly, disoriented by everything. He wouldn’t have even known his name or that he had a family if the woman beside him hadn’t told him. But when it came to the past, he knew nothing. He couldn’t even remember where he had first met his wife.

The door creaked as Callisto peeked through it. He saw his mother sitting beside his father. Without hesitation, he stepped inside and sat in the chair next to her.

"Is he just okay?" Callisto asked his mother.

"Don't worry, son; he can't die just because of amnesia," Dorothy replied. "Didn't I tell you to stay home? Why did you leave your sister alone in our house?"

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm just worried about Dad. But because he's just fine, as you've said, I will go back now." Callisto stood up. He was about to leave when his mother stopped him.

"Wait, son." Dorothy walked towards him.

"Yes, Mom?" Callisto was surprised when his mother hugged him so tightly. He felt the kind of warmth only a mother could give.

"Sorry for not telling you about this, son," Dorothy whispered. She suddenly burst into tears. She'd been strong for too long, keeping everything to herself as she had no one to tell them to. "Please don't be mad at me. I don't want to bother you with adults' problems; that's why I didn't tell you."

"Oh, come on, stop overreacting, Mom. I understand why you didn't tell me about Dad's illness. I already noticed it a long time ago, when he drove me to a cemetery instead of school," Callisto replied with a little sarcasm.

"You really are wonderful. I'm glad you're my son." Dorothy gently stroked Callisto's head. She let go of him and wiped the tears from her face, as she didn't want Callisto to see her crying.

"I have to go back now. Ruth might be looking for us already." Callisto kissed his mother's cheeks before hurrying outside the hospital. He got inside the car and drove back home.