Mimosa Pudica: The Death Trail by CYNTHIA ROOSYE MARAMIS at Inkitt

Chapter 1: The Death Trail

Adam, Ethan, Drake and Amora want the same sensation as other climbers who climb Green Hill. The climbers call it Mount Shy Princess. They want to see Esperanza's hut and feel the eerie atmosphere around it.

These high school students had been walking for forty-five minutes to the hut since morning. The soreness in their legs began to force them to stop, their thirst and rumbling stomachs finally made them stop to fill their water bottles on the stream.

“The beauty of this hill is that the atmosphere is very green, and the water here is crystal clear,” Adam said.

“Yes, it’s like we’re climbing tropical forests in Asian countries,” said Amora.

“Let’s rest for 20 minutes, and eat some of these cheesedogs.” Ethan said.

“No! We will lose the thrill if we get sleepy from eating too much.” Drake replied.

“Let’s breathe for 10 minutes while enjoying this mountain mineral water, guys.” Amora said.

“Yes, we need to breathe this oxygen while enjoying this spring water like Ponce De Leon!” Adam added.

“I’m going to use my privilege to eat my cheesedog on this singing mountain, okay!” Ethan said while pressing his belly.

“Okay Ethan! Use your privilege and make your stomach stop growling, I can’t stand your singing belly!” Drake said.

After 20 minutes, these young people continued their journey towards Esperanza’s hut. An hour later, they found a pit filled with fire.

“Hey, we have got some hikers coming up here, it’s a Dakota fire hole. I hope we bring Salmon,” said Adam.

“I hope we bring beef to grill the burger patties!” Ethan said.

“Guys, let’s take a photo of this fire pit,” Drake said.

“That’s illegal! It’s another group’s artwork!” Amora replied.

"No problem, royalties belong to Očhéthi Šakówiŋ," Drake said.

"Who?" asked Ethan

"Očhéthi Šakówiŋ," Drake answered, repeating the name.

"The Native American tribe, Ethan!" Adam explained.

"Still, we did not dig the hole!" Amora said

“Who cares!” “I’ll just mention it in the description: ‘by another group’,” Drake said.

After the group took photos near the Dakota fire hole, they continued their journey. Within an hour, they faintly heard a flute. The voice came from far away.

“Oh my! Esperanza is here, we are so lucky guys!” Drake said.

“She must be very beautiful,” said Amora.

“Ethan, you haven’t had a girlfriend since you were born. Maybe she’ll keep you on the hill,” Drake said.

“Guys, there was a YouTuber who said that if we hear her musical instruments, the conditions in the hill are good. So you are right Drake, we are lucky,” Adam said.

“You mean she signaled the climbers?” Drake asked.

“Something like that!” Adam answered.

“Open your eyes guys, we are in the wilderness with the goddess who gave the sign,” Ethan said.

“You sound very romantic, Ethan!” said Amora.

“Our Casablanca!” Drake teased Ethan.

“That’s Casanova, not Casablanca!” Amora said.

Suddenly the wind howled, these city kids were confused about where the sound came from, it sounded quite close to their presence. The wind howled in the trees three or four times and was followed by rain.

"Guys, let's camp here until the rain stops. It's 10.30am, we still have time." Adam said.

The boys set up the tent, the girl clean around the tent. They took out the stove and made coffee. After drinking coffee, Ethan fell asleep while the others enjoyed the heavy rain. They just looked at the rain outside the tent, enjoyed the sound of the rain, remained silent and continued sipping their coffee. In an hour they fell asleep.

Hearing the sound of a flute from afar, the teenagers woke up. They packed their things and took down the tent.

"It's 3 pm now, guys, let's continue our journey." Adam said.

“We'll be at Esperanza's hut in 40 minutes.” He added.

After 30 minutes of walking, the air felt colder. Mimosa pudica plants can be seen scattered everywhere. This plant is the only plant that exists except for large trees. They look so green in spring with beautiful pink and purplish flower buds. Now Esperanza's hut can be seen from half a kilometer away. Suddenly, the teenagers started choking.

"Adam, I can't breathe!" Drake said panicked.

"Adam, my back is cramping, I can't explain it, it felt funny." Ethan said while touching his spine.

"Adam, I can't breathe properly!" said Amora.

"Me too, my hands are cramping." Adam answered.

Suddenly they saw all the Mimosa Pudica plants folded inwards, the movement started from behind them towards the hut.

A girl came running out of the hut towards them, she shouted, "YOU ALL COME HERE! RUUUUUUN!!!"

These young people ran towards the girl who also ran trying to reach them. All the flutes sounded around them. The flutes are warning signs around the Mimosa Pudica plantation area. When they almost reached each other, something invisible collided. BANG!!

"Let's go to my shack!" “It's only half a kilometer away.” the girl said.

They ran towards the hut while seeing the movement of the folded Mimosa Pudica also moving towards the hut.

When they reached the girl's hut, the girl clapped her hands and the lights came on.

"Are you Esperanza?" asked Amora.

"Yes, I am! I am a forest ranger.” said Esperanza.

“So, you are not a goddess? I mean shy princess?” asked Ethan.

"No! I'm not a goddess and I'm not a princess. Asian climbers call my plants the shy princess. That's how Green Hill got the nickname Mount Shy Princess, from Asian climbers." Esperanza explained.

"Uhm, my name is Adam, this is Ethan, this is Amora and Drake." "Thank you for saving us Esperanza!" Adam said.

"Don't say that, it's my job." Esperanza said.

"Thank you Esperanza, by the way, may I use your toilet?" Amora asked.

"You are free to use the toilet there and I only have one guest room for female climbers. You guys just stay here until tomorrow, no need to set up a tent." said Esperanza.

"Thank you very much, don't worry we can sleep here on the floor, Amora can use that room."Ethan said.

"Good, let me prepare dinner for you guys!" said Esperanza.

“Esperanza, what's with the Touch-me-not folding plant?” I felt their movements were quite extreme. “I've never seen these plants fold simultaneously in an area this large,” Drake asked

“It's five past five, look out the window. The folded plants have reopened, look! They have a name, Mimosa Pudica." Esperanza said.

"Keep watching guys! This might be the last attraction of the day!" said Esperanza.

Suddenly the flute sounded again. These teenagers saw from the window the same thing they experienced this afternoon. Mimosa Pudica folded simultaneously towards them. They were stunned.

Meanwhile they were amazed to witness the extreme movement of plants in the Mimosa Pudica plantation, Esperanza brewed Mimosa Pudica Tea for them, and took 5 boiled quails that had been cleaned, to roast on the barbeque outside.

"Come on, guys, go to the terrace over here!" Esperanza takes the teens to the other side of the hut. They followed her and went out another door. Esperanza put the quails on the barbecue pit and continued to marinate the quails.

Once again, the town's children were stunned. As they exited through another door onto the terrace, they saw a different landscape.

"What a view! The sunset?" Ethan said.

"OMG, is that the village behind this hill?" asked Amora.

"Yes, that's my village!" Esperanza answered.

“Esperanza, your hut looks like a cozy cottage from this side, it's amazing! Drake said as he walked down the terrace steps following Esperanza to the barbecue area to get a better look at the terrace.

"Yes, I consider this side the front and the Mimosa Pudica plantation over there is the back of my hut." Esperanza answered.

"I told you, our trip this time will be very special," said Adam, who chose to sit nicely on the terrace bench.

"As special as my quail? Come on guys, choose your own quail. Enjoy your quail with your Mimosa Pudica tea. I'll get inside and fry you some potatoes! I'll just use my air fryer." Esperanza is happy to entertain the young climbers.

“WOW, thank you so much!” said Adam and Drake while approaching the quails followed by Ethan and Amora.

"This is my baby, thank you!" Ethan picked up a slightly larger quail.

"Let me take a photo of this Mimosa Pudica tea and my quail for my Instagram!" Amora said.

"Oh yeah, I'll take a photo of us on this terrace for my Facebook," said Drake.

"I will take photos of this luxurious culinary delight for my Pinterest and X" Adam said.

"Yes, please take more pictures and WhatsApp me Amora," said Ethan.

Within 10 minutes, Esperanza came out with fries. These young people enjoyed their dinner with a local girl who happened to be the forest guard on the only hill owned by the villagers. Esperanza's friendliness made them quickly forget the danger they had been through.

"I've finished eating, can I burn marshmallows at the barbecue?" asked Ethan.

"As you wish, Ethan!" “If you're still hungry, you can bake sweet potatoes! I put a lot of sweet potatoes next to the stone oven there for the climbers,” Esperanza answered.

"Esperanza, do you plan to go to college or serve in your village?" Adam asked.

"I am homeschooled. I haven't finished high school yet. I plan to get a degree online. I like the forest." "By the way, I have internet here. You can use my WiFi." Esperanza said.

"How did you get this job?" Drake asked.

"Don't mind him, he likes adventure, he wants your job." Amora said.

"The villagers voted for me!" "The track you were on is dangerous. The villagers almost name it The Death Trail. All climbers have to go through a dangerous path first to reach me, then a safer path. Tomorrow I will show it to you. You guys try to get enough rest tonight for your journey tomorrow." Esperanza said.

Morning dew covers the magical Mimosa Pudica plantation. The hut looked scary from afar but it was warm inside. The four teenagers and a young ranger who were sleeping soundly were awaken by the sound of an alarm that sounded like a flute. The four city kids ran to the windows to see the extreme movements of the Mimosa Pudica.

"What makes them like that, Esperanza?" Drake asked.

"Vibration and electricity!" Esperanza answered.

"But, from where?" Adam asked.

"I'll show you later. Let's have breakfast first, then we'll walk to the top of the hill, only 15 minutes from here." Esperanza answered.

After eating a breakfast of sweet potatoes, french fries and omelettes with her new friends, Esperanza prepared 4 Mimosa Pudica tea bags as souvenirs. She even wrote about the health benefits of the plant.

"You make us feel very special Esperanza!" said Amora.

"Yes, you are too kind and moreover you are beautiful! Thank you for everything!" Ethan said.

"Wow, I've known this guy since he was a toddler. I've never seen him talk so bluntly to a girl, he's right, you're amazing Esperanza, you're really the princess of the hill, but not shy, actually, cool!" Drake said.

"I think you really mean to be the guardian of this hill, thanks again for saving our lives, Esperanza!" Adam said.

"You all are special!" "By the power of the Almighty, the four of you arrived at my shack safely. Now my job is to show you a safer way home through my village." said Esperanza.

The young climbers packed their things and walked towards the top of the hill with the young ranger. After 15 minutes of walking, they reached the top. Esperanza takes them to the garage and she opens the wooden gate to reveal the real adventure ride. 6 ATV vehicles parked in the garage.

"HOHOHO! Christmas came early this year! What have I done to deserve this thrill, thank you sweet Jesus!" Drake said excitedly.

"Are we going to ride this ATV to the village?" Adam asked excitedly.

"We will drive these vehicles only on top of this hill to show you around." Esperanza answered.

"Oh, that's already a blessing, Amora please take my good angle with this electric blue baby here!" Ethan said

"Okay Ethan, pose now!" said Amora.

"Alright guys, shall we?" Esperanza invited the teenagers to choose their vehicle.

"After you, Mademoiselle!" Drake teased Esperanza.

When each of them was ready with their ATVs, the young ranger took them to a hill point where they could see what was happening on the side where they first started their journey.

"Guys, we park here! Let's walk to that side!" said Esperanza.

"You see the power plants there and the gold mining there? They are the source of electricity and vibrations, including booms from explosions originating from gold mining."Esperanza explained.

"How do they harm climbers?" Adam asked.

"This village gets electricity from a power plant, while gold mining first came here and became a top priority and contributed to the economy of my village. So this hill acts like a shield for my large village. So whatever they do in the mine causes vibrations, impacts, and with the power plant, all of that has an impact on the human body walking around that side of the hill. There are those who are less fortunate, and there are those who are lucky enough to reach my shack, a safe haven surrounded by my sensitive plants, Mimosa Pudica." Esperanza explained.

"We were having difficulty breathing like we were suffocating when you shouted for us to run, what could cause something like that?" Drake asked.

"You have been electrocuted without realizing it." Esperanza answered.

"That's not the only danger on that side!" "Electricity impacts any creature on this hill." Esperanza said.

"Creature?" asked Amora.

"Indians call them mountain spirits, Asians call them jinns, I just call them evil spirits." Esperanza answered.

"What effect does electricity have on the evil spirits?" Adam asked.

"Giving them more power to touch us!" Esperanza answered.

"We almost died!" Drake said with his funny expression of worry.

"Get me off this hill, bro!" Ethan said panicked.

"Don't worry guys, the vibrations and electrical effects ended 200 meters from my shack. That's why I planted Mimosa Pudica 1 kilometer around my shack. My plants can also detect the spirits." Esperanza said.

"What about this side of the hill? Are there creatures?" asked Amora.

"You will return home via this side directly to my village. This side is safer even for preschoolers. You can enjoy looking at the trees, picking fruits and flowers along the road, meeting vegetable farmers, hunting quail." Esperanza replied.

"I believe you!" Ethan said.

"I advise you to walk separately if you believe me. This will give you a safe adventure experience. It only takes 2 hours to reach the vegetable plantations down there and you can all meet at the rest area. The only rule is never go back. Just walk straight into the village and enjoy the views. Sometimes you can say hello to me if you find CCTV. Are you ready for this?" Esperanza asked.

"I'm ready!" Drake said.

“I am positively ready!" Adam said.

"Me too!" Amora said.

"I believe you, so, I'm ready!" Ethan said.

"Ethan, you'll start here, here's your map, when you get to Downey's carrot and tomato farm, they'll cook you lunch." Esperanza said.

"Amora, this is your route, end your adventure at Martha's honey farm. She will give you additional souvenirs." Esperanza said.

"Adam, you will start here, here is your map. You will see many goats at the end of your journey." Esperanza said.

"Drake, here's your map. You'll get a new pair of slippers when you arrive at Jack's The Milkman's Farm." Esperanza said.