1 Prologue

Do you believe in destiny? A thing they called… your predestined future?

"Mommy mommy look! Look mommy look! There's Mr. Rabbit! He had white fur around his body, a monocle on his right eye, and he always looks at the time! Look mommy, there he is!" the little girl yelped as she insisted her mother on the front seat to glance over at the ballet dancer dressed in rabbit fur and stockings below just across the street.

"Oh, wow! He pretty sure looks like a rabbit sweetie." Her mom agreed.

"He sure is. But it's weird; he doesn't wear any pants momma. Isn't old people supposed to wear pants?" the little girl added.

"Umm… yes. But this one is an exception sweet pea." Her mother tried to explain.

"An exception momma? You mean like when daddy sleeps with you at night?" she innocently described.

"(Snorts and repressed a laugh) Well, that's a good one sweetie." The little girl's father praised her while he drives the car.

"James!" her mom scolded her dad.

"Oops, sorry, my bad Anna, but it's a good observation. How 'bout a high five sweetie," he turned to his daughter and made a high-five with her. "Alright, well you're growing good skipper."

"Tsk!" her mom signals her dad.

"What?"

"Come on, you tell her." His wife insisted.

"(Looks at his wife and glances at the front mirror) Sweetie, you see… there are other occasions where you wear your pants and you don't. Like the one you just saw recently." The little girl's father briefly explained.

"Like on what occasions daddy?"

"Well… you might unwear it on special occasions…"

"Like on my birthday?" she immediately guessed.

"NO!" her mom and dad suddenly opposed in chorus.

"No? But birthdays are special occasions, momma…"

"Yes sweetie but no. You're not taking off your pants on your birthday and neither on anyone's birthday, ok? It's just that… that rabbit is a… is a…" her mother is trying to find the right term.

"A dopey," her husband backed her up.

"Yes, that rabbit is a dopey, honey." Her mom finished.

"Like Doopey the foolish dwarf?"

"Yes, like Doopey the foolish dwarf."

The father began to whistle the dwarves' musical piece and imitated Doopey's hilarious actions to entertain his curious daughter. He crossed his eyes and foolishly bangs his head sideward.

"(Giggles) oh, stop it! You're ridiculous, daddy!" she was embarrassed to see her foolish dad.

--Everyone laughed—

Do you believe that no matter how many good things have happened a bad thing always comes back?

--Phone ringing—

"Yup, that's my call. Ok, where's the phone? Umm… hon, can you find it for me please?" her dad asked her mom.

"Sure, just wait a minute, hmm…" her mom started to rummage over the car's compartment, "that's weird, I'm sure I put it in here."

"Maybe you forgot, try finding it somewhere." Her husband instructed.

"I'm trying…" she continues to search.

While her mom and dad is busy searching for the phone, the little girl continues to play with her adult-sized locket that was given to her on her sixth birthday by her parents. The locket is entangled over her neck, resting unto her lap, and fidgeting it with her thumb. It was round, gold-plated, adorned with beautiful engraved carvings, a clock embedded on the center, roman numerals were encrypted, and celestial gemstones are encircled on each number.

She opened her locket and suddenly a lullaby tune escaped from the trinket. And therein is a picture of her parents cuddling her as a baby. She was smiling gracefully and her mom and dad seems to be the happiest parents there is. There were nine gems surrounding the image and each represented every planet in the solar system. And on the other side, lies a constellation of a cat with a hat.

--Phone continues ringing—

"Ugh! Where is it!?" her mom complained.

"Come on honey, it might be really important." Her husband pleased.

"Ok, ok, I'm on it James. Tsk. Just where is that phone?"

--Phone continues ringing—

Do you believe that for whatever reason there is, this is all destined to happen?

"Mommy, Daddy! Look! It's the Red Queen!!!" the little girl screamed while she pointed her finger above.

--Gasped—

BEEP!!! BEEP!!!

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHED!!!

--Thud—

The car was toppled down, her vision was blurred, and her parents were unconscious. Blood dripped down from her forehead and the locket hanged downward upon her neck. It swung slowly across her face and she began to hear the distinct beating of the clock.

The seconds raced to twelve and at the struck of mid, the locket stopped and the clock halted. She then saw her parents next to her, torn and upside down. They were drenched in blood and probably lifeless now. So, with the left ounce of strength remaining, she reached out her hands, and called out to them. But unfortunately, no response was given.

"Mom… Dad… (Sniffs) Mom! (Cries) Dad! (Sobs) Wake up, please! Somebody… anybody… please! (Whimpers)"

PLEASE…

--Sirens approaching—

Destiny or not, there is one thing for sure. Misery, pain, and death are at everyone's doorstep. It does not discriminate and it only eliminates. It is a thief and it took everything away we have ever loved and cared about. There is only a matter of chances and Time confines it. But who makes the future? Is it us or is it Destiny? So, do you believe in Destiny, because… I don't believe it does… it is a myth.

***************

12 Years Later

The night went deep, the moon is crescent, and the stars are livelier than ever. In the hidden glade of the forest, a silent pond rest at the midst of the shadows. In there, a huge tree was rooted at the core of it. It was dark, lifeless, and dreary. Not long and thousands of fireflies began to flock its way to the boorish tree. And the scenery then became vibrant and so the crickets rejoiced.

And on the crooked pathway, a stowaway photojournalist tries to find his way back. He lost track of his companions and he could not contact them, also his phone has no reception. His nuisance triggered and was about to lose his mind. Having no choice, he decided to follow the unknown path which only God knows where it leads to.

"Damn it!" he cussed and kicked a stone.

It was pitch black and cold that evening. And all he can hear is the whistling breeze blowing. He anxiously sat on a log and took out a pack of cigarette. He searched for his lighter, but he couldn't seem to find it.

"Tsk. Just where the f*ck is that f*cking lighter."

--Wolves howled—

The howl started to multiply and it scared him even more. He was so nervous that when he sensed a rustle in the bush, he began to jerk out and drop his cigarettes. To his dismay, he started to kneel down on the ground and look for it. But the rustle continued and he froze.

So instinctively, he gripped tightly of his tripod to ready for the attack. The shudder in the shrub grows even wildly and suddenly a squirrel appeared. He let out a deep relief and he shooed the animal.

"Sh*t, I almost peed my pants (sniffs)."

He looks again for his cigarette stick and finally held a piece of it. He then found his lighter and sat back on the log. The wind is mischievous within that area but this did not thwart him from lighting up his cigarette. The tip burned and finally he relaxed his thoughts. However not long and a huge canine came by and barked at him.

ARF! ARF! ARF!

"(Slowly turns back) nice doggie…" he tried to tame the dog.

--Continues barking—

The man was about to pick up his tripod when unexpectedly a bright light spotted him. It shined right at his eyes and he tried to shield it with his hands. There are indistinct chatter and a couple of individuals where coming right at his way. He looks closely at them and recognized that his rescue has finally arrived.

"John! You still alive, buddy?" the man called out to him.

"F*ck you Matt, turn off the lights, idiot. You're hurting my eyes." He rudely replied.

"(Laughs) serves you right, prick!"

ARF! ARF! ARF!

"(Whistles) com'ere boy," Matt called at his dog. "(Smooch) (Laughs) good boy." the dog calmed down and settled with his master.

"John! Where the hell did you run off to?" a woman suddenly rushed at John and caressed his face anxiously.

"I'm fine Judy, I just lost track of our team." He reasoned.

"Oh, am I seeing this again? 'cause I'mma throw up if you do. Man, I think I'm feeling it." Matt pried on them.

"Oh, shut up Matt." Judy shushed Matt as she continues to check on John.

"Woah, easy ranger. I'm just joking, ok. And trust me, I am not opposing to your secret love affair, swear it. But, I don't know about John, Judy.Well, just look at him." Matt replied.

"What?! You brought a cigarette again!?" Judy noticed John cheating on his health recovery.

"Oh come on Judy, it's just a stick," John excused.

"A stick or two, doesn't make a difference John. You're doctor said that." Judy pressed him.

"I don't care, this is my habit." He replied as he throws the cigarette on the ground.

"(Sighs) get up man." Matt helped John to stand up.

While John was brushing off the dirt from his pants, Judy leaves him and takes out her walkie talkie radio to communicatewith their other companions.

--Radio on--

"Roger, this is Judy over." Judy contacted.

"Judy, we've found a shrine you've got to see this, over."

"Roger that Hamada, over," Judy finished.

John, Judy, and Matt went back to their camp site and asked for their companions' location. They were given direct instructions and shortly they've reunited again. In there, they've finally found the shrine that they've been looking for and started to explore it. It was very dark and all that they brought that evening is a few numbers of flashlights.

"Hamada, Tamako, what you've got?" Judy asked their Japanese companions.

"Sorry Judy, we thought there really is something in this ancient shrine." Hamada replied.

"Yeah and it's very disappointing, because this shrine is just another sacred temple left by another group of Shinto priestesses," Tamako added.

"You see those talismans? It was still theirs." Hamada justified.

"(Sighs) then I guess we won't be getting any good stories in here," Judy backed down.

"No, I think there is a story in here, Judy. I mean come to think of it, what do you think we've been finding another abandoned shrines after another? Don't you think it's strange that nobody ever comes back to the mountain again?" Matt opened up an idea.

"Well, they must have transferred to the villages Matt." Tamako interjected.

"And why do you think is that, Tamako?" Judy followed a curious question at her.

"I don't know, maybe they have already learned and adapted to changes, I guess," she continued.

"But isn't Shinto priestesses supposed to be one with the nature? I mean like, that's what they do, right? Or am I misinformed?" Matt added.

"That's it! You're a genius Matt; I think I get your point. And maybe, there really is a story in here, Judy." Hamada supported Matt.

"Yeah," Matt agreed.

"Umm… guys! You're seeing this too right?" John called out to them as he pointed his fingers above.

Everyone stopped at discussing and together they looked at the sky. There they see a falling meteor approaching the surface. It was so fast and it seems to crash right exactly where they stand. It was almost near, when John immediately pushed all of his companions into the cliff and all of them rolled down from the mountain. The meteor struck and it caused a massive destruction in the area.

They banged on a tree and others on the rock and they stopped rolling. Each of them earned their scars and bruises and slowly recovered from their misfortune. Matt helped Tamako and Judy on the spot, and Hamada helped himself up. However, suddenly, John ran back to the site without even waiting for his companions.

"Wait, John!" Matt called out to him.

"Don't worry, I'll come back." John assured him as he ran quickly up the hill.

Hurting as what he felt right now, not long and he saw the destructive trace of the meteor. The trees within that area were burned and the ground caved in. He continues to follow the tracks and finally led to where the meteor has crashed. He looked around and saw the surrounding soil within the perimeter depressed like a caldera of a volcano.

It was clouded with hot steam gas and it was gradually clearing off. By and by John's companions likewise arrived. They went near John but John was motionless and silent. He was even serious than he was before. Matt tried to draw his attention by patting him on the shoulders. Yet John didn't react like he usually did. They find this strange and so they also looked at where John is staring at. The gas finally cleared off and there they behold the meteor.

At last it landed…