Raw Footage: Day Four

The camera flickered on at the sight of a blue cold hill. It got a nice view of its topside, a lush patch of land filled with all kinds of flora. It was still dawn and there was no sun rising from the horizon yet. And despite the early period, there were already crowds of young women gathered on top of the hill. They were quietly chanting some sort of prayer, all in unison. They were wearing white ceremonial robes, a stark contrast to the soft lighting that the blue hill they were standing on projected. The screen turned to look at Enna, who was standing beside the camera the entire time. Like the other women, she was also wearing a white robe. She, however, was not praying alongside them. She instead looked bored, like she doesn't want to be there.

"Why did we have to continue the interview here?" John asked. His voice sounded groggy, clearly he just woke up a couple moments ago.

"Just bear with me on this one," Enna said without looking at the camera. "I want you to keep me company until the women here are done chanting."

John let out a yawn before he could reply. "If you say so."

"Thanks for showing up though. I hated doing the dawn prayers. I'm so glad that I won't be doing them anymore because you know…"

Once more, there was a brief moment of silence.

"It's just a joke!" Enna laughed as she looked at the camera. "I'm the one dying here but you look sadder than me!" All the women near Enna quickly shushed her for interrupting the serene moment that they were building for quite some time now.

"Oops." Enna said as she scratched the back of her head.

"It'd be best if we keep quiet for now."

"Yes, yes." Enna agreed.

After the dawn prayers were done. All the women who participated in the ceremony descended towards the beach for breakfast. There were rows of tables that were filled to the brim with food just waiting for them. Some were so eager to have their first meal of the day that they skipped walking and opted to rush down the tables instead. As Enna and John arrived at the beach, the camera caught sight of the food that was being served to the participants.

The tables were filled with freshly cooked rice and assorted grilled seafood that were placed down on banana leaves. They emanated a rather appetizing scent, perfect for those who just woke up with an empty stomach. The women spared no time digging in. Everyone was enjoying their meal while having an idle chat here and there. It was a festive sight, a refreshing change of pace from the somber praying just moments before.

"Where are all the men?" John asked Enna. "I feel a bit out of place here."

"They left after preparing breakfast," Enna answered before shoving down a sizable portion of food in her mouth. "The dawn prayers are for young women only, Heartfire's future tributes."

"And I'm an exception because…"

"Because you're with me, simple as that."

"Of course."

Enna grabbed a thermos from the table and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Eat up. All the fish here are freshly caught. Ooh!" She pointed a finger at a large grilled fish that was barely touched yet. "Pick that! My father and brothers caught that one!"

The camera panned on the same beach that the women from earlier had breakfast on, except it was now evening. The tables from earlier were no longer there, instead they were replaced with rows of torches that softly illuminate the beach with a warm orange glow. Unlike from hours ago which was filled with merry chatting women, the beach was now mostly empty this time aside from the typical couple that took a leisurely stroll at night. The place was quieter too, with the only sounds breaking the silence being the sounds of the waves and nightly breeze. A figure of a picnic table at the corner of the screen caught John's attention. He walked towards it and took a seat.

"Sorry I'm late!" The screen turned to look at the source of the voice. It was Enna, she was carrying a cloth bag stuffed with plastic containers.

"What took you so long?" John asked.

"I kinda slept in." Enna flashed an apologetic smile. "It's still four in the afternoon, right?"

"It's already six."

Enna laughed at John's reply. "I know. I'm just kidding." She placed her bag on top of the picnic table and sat at the seat adjacent to him.

"Let's proceed with the interview." John said. "I don't want to be late for tonight's feast."

"Oh, I already brought our share here." Enna said as she opened her bag and unloaded all the contents inside on the table. "I took as much roast pig as I can carry. You liked its crispy skin, right?" She opened a plastic box and revealed what was inside, nothing but chopped strips of sizzling roasted pig skin. "This right here is filled with nothing but pig skin!"

"You didn't have to go through such trouble for me. But still, thanks."

"Don't mention it." Enna said. "It's the least I could do for being late anyway."

"Speaking of being late, we should start the interview now."

"Oh sure, sure." Enna paused before continuing. "Can I eat during the interview?"

"I don't see why not."

"Nice!" Enna said as she opened the remaining plastic containers and began to dig in.

"So how did you feel upon knowing that you're this decade's tribute?"

Once the question registered inside her head, Enna instantly stared at the camera with a dumbfounded look. She was halfway done from chewing her food when John sprung the question at her, which gave her a squirrel-like appearance with those stuffed cheeks of hers. She made the silent but also awkward gesture of gulping down her food as she continued to stare at the camera.

"Sorry." John apologised. "I shouldn't have started with a question that heavy."

"No, it's fine. I can answer it." Enna reassured him. "I was sad when I heard about it, of course. Sad and scared. Sad that I won't get to live as an old lady like I wanted to, and scared of whatever happens after I die."

"Does your religion have an established afterlife of some sort?"

"For the tributes, there's one. Legend has it that all sacrificed tributes are living inside the volcano, sitting with Kelayo at his table of gold in the banquet of eternity. As for Hearfire's common citizen however, their souls will be laid on top of a table made of stone. Then one of the Kelayo's servants of fire will open up their chests with a knife and rip their hearts out. If their heart glows bright, they're allowed to join the banquet, but if their heart is darker than the night, then the servants will turn their souls into appetizers for Kelayo to feast on."

"That sounds painful."

Enna folded her arms in contemplation. "I don't believe in it though."

"You don't believe in it?"

"I think it's nonsense."

"But you said you were scared of it just now."

"Oh I'm scared, just not with that." Enna quickly answered. "The thing that scares me the most when I die is not that mumbo jumbo legend, but the cold dark nothingness that death itself brings. I'll be all alone, in a completely black place, no one to talk to, can't tell what day it is, imprisoned in a sea of total darkness….forever and ever."

"I have to admit, that does sound scary."

"I know right?" Enna said as she took another helping of her dinner.

"Let's uh, move on to the next question."

Enna hummed in agreement as she stuffed her cheeks with food once more.

"Has the thought of running away ever crossed your mind?"

Enna immediately gulped her food down to answer the question. "No. Why would I think of something like that when the lives of many are at stake?" A sly smirk formed on her face. "But if it were you though, do you want me to run away?" She rested her face on the back of her hands, eagerly awaiting John's answer.

"I-uh…" John was a bit taken aback by Enna's question. "Why are you asking me that?"

Enna's smirk grew wider. "I just want to know your thoughts about this entire matter, that's all."

"I-I see."

"So do you want me to run away?"

"I really don't want to answer that."

"Oh come on." Enna leaned in closer. "It will be just for the two us." She whispered the last part to make it sound more intimate.

John let out a drawn-out sigh before he could reply. "Morally? No. Personally?" There was a pregnant pause before he could continue.

"Yes."

"Aww." Enna's sly smirk was replaced with one of sincerity. "You do care for me."

"Don't tell anyone I said that. Ever."

"I'll take it to the grave." It took a while before Enna realized what she just said. But when she did, her eyes went wide and her face made an expression like a bell has suddenly rung inside her head. She then erupted into laughter.

"Oh God." John said, all the while snorting. "I'm such a terrible person for laughing at that." His words may have said one thing but his actions spoke another. He was trying his best not to laugh at Enna's impromptu joke, but he was failing spectacularly.

"You're loosening up." Enna said, her smile never fading. "I like that."

John cleared his throat in a half-baked attempt to ease out the building tension. "Next question…"

Enna let out a loud audible groan. "I'm so full!" She patted her belly with both hands to emphasize her point. I need a walk after that meal. Let's continue the interview as we take a stroll at the beach!

The camera panned its view back at the beach. The scenery was still quite the same save for the fact that it got dark now than it was several minutes ago. The sun was almost gone from the horizon but some of its light still lingered on the clouds at the far end. The salty night breeze caressed the skins of those outside with its cool tender touch. The flames from the rows of torches danced around it too. They looked like tiny fiery women dancing atop a slender stage made of bamboo. It was a hypnotizing sight, no wonder why moths have developed a fascination for their destructive beauty.

As the camera continued to scan the beach, several couples could be seen within the vicinity. Some of them were just taking a casual stroll, while those that kept out of the torches' light were probably up to something indecent. Those people can't be blamed of course, the atmosphere that this place created was bound to set the tone for situations like that.

"I think it's getting late." John said as he read the mood clearly and decided to bail out before things could escalate to the wrong direction. "We should continue the interview tomorrow."

"Oh, okay." Enna said, disappointment apparent in her tone.

John immediately packed up whatever few things he brought in that picnic table and rushed off, but not without looking back at Enna first.

"Thank you for the food."