Alaska Madness

“Lara... Kosa!” echoed through the dense woods of Seward as concerned voices rang out, punctuating the stillness.

“Where are you?” they cried, their urgency heightening with each call.

“We need to press on, search deeper,” Chief Atohi of the Native American tribe of Alaska urged, his voice resonating with authority amidst the anxious murmurs.

“But the girls wouldn’t have ventured this far,” Ezno interjected, his tone tinged with worry.

“We shouldn’t proceed any further.”

The tension hung thick in the air as they stood at the precipice of the unknown, torn between hope and fear in their quest to find the missing girls amidst the forbidden mountain.

“How can you be so sure?” Chief Atohi’s anger reverberated through his words, his concern for the missing girls palpable.

“Gaagii told us that yesterday evening the girls left their house to meet their friends in the national park. But according to Lara and Kosa’s friends, they never arrived,” Ezno explained, his voice rising in volume.

“We’ve combed through the entire park, and now we’re standing at the fork leading to Seward’s mountains. None of us want to venture further towards those mountains.”

As Ezno’s words settled among the group, a realization dawned, casting a shadow over their collective resolve.

Chief Atohi surveyed the hesitant expressions on the faces of his tribe and let out a heavy sigh. He realized that none of them would dare to proceed further on this path and put their lives at risk.

Alaska has long been a diverse state of America, where alongside Americans, numerous Native American tribes have thrived in great numbers. Among these tribes were the Alutiiq, who have inhabited the coastal regions of Alaska for generations, preserving their traditions and heritage amidst the rugged wilderness.

The people of the Alutiiq tribe boasted straight, thick, long hair, high cheekbones, wide faces, and light brown-colored skin, setting them apart in appearance from the local Americans and adding to their allure and beauty.

For generations, the Alutiiq people have relied on hunting sea mammals and fishing as their primary means of sustenance. Additionally, they possessed remarkable skills in crafting baskets and kayaks. These kayaks, characterized by their small size and narrow build, were human-powered vessels propelled by long, double-bladed paddles.

Today, many men and women of the Alutiiq tribe assembled to search for the two missing girls of Gaagii. The Chief organized them into three groups to comb through the entirety of Seward, and he led the group tasked with scouring the Kenai Fjords National Park—a place where mountains, ice, and ocean converge with the forests of Seward.

Gaagii had informed the Chief that his daughters and their friends frequented the national park, where they had even built a playhouse in the woods. It was reported that Lara and Kosa had left their home yesterday evening intending to visit the park.

As the search group traversed the entirety of the national park, they arrived at the opposite end where the towering mountains of Seward loomed, blanketed in pristine white snow.

“Ezno is right... we shouldn’t endanger the lives of so many people,” Gaagii conceded in a weakened voice, casting a glance toward the Chief.

“We’ve scoured nearly the entire town and found no sign of the girls. Even the police haven’t had any luck in their search,” Chief Atohi began gently as he approached the grieving Gaagii.

“Do you have any insights that could aid us in finding your daughters? Or do you suspect that someone may have harmed them intentionally?”

Gaagii wiped the tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his black jacket before responding.

“Chief, you know I am a peaceful man and have nothing to do with quarrels and disputes. I only know my daughters came to the national park and they never came back.” Gaagii said, wiping his eyes.

Chief placed his hand on the shoulder of Gaagii to console him, and before he could say anything, one of the members of the hunting party said,

“I’ve already mentioned that yesterday evening, my wife and I were driving back from Anchorage when we spotted Kosa and Lara walking along the Dark Isle Road,” Joweese interjected hurriedly.

“Lara’s friends confirmed that both girls were eager to explore the forbidden mountain. I believe that instead of heading to Central Park yesterday evening, they ventured towards the forbidden mountain.” The revelation hung heavy in the air, stirring a mix of concern and determination among the search party.

The Dark Isle Road wound along the edge of the national park where the members of the search party stood. To the right of the road lay the expanse of the national park, while to the left loomed the imposing peaks of the Seward Mountains. Among these peaks lay a forbidding mountain that had become the stuff of legend in Seward. It was said to be the abode of malevolent spirits, and locals whispered tales of those who dared to set foot upon its slopes, never to return alive. Over the years, numerous bold souls from Alaska had ventured to glimpse these dark entities, but none had returned, their bodies lost to the mountain’s ominous embrace. As the missing individuals were never found, presumed either dead or lost, the people of Alaska gradually ceased their visits to the mountain, deeming it forbidden and shrouded in mystery.

Among the victims of the Forbidden Mountain, the majority were Native Americans who relied on hunting and other traditional means for their livelihoods. Consequently, every chief of the Alutiiq tribe would sternly warn their people to steer clear of the mountain. Despite these warnings, however, every month saw one or two members of the Alutiiq tribe lose their lives to the evil spirits that dwelled on the forbidden mountain.

“Joweese is right... Many times, I’ve caught my girls chatting about the forbidden mountain. If they were seen on the Dark Isle Road yesterday, it’s possible they ventured to see the mountain, only to be ensnared by its vengeful spirits,” Gaagii murmured, his voice barely audible as he sank onto a nearby rock. The realization that his two daughters had been claimed by the evil spirits of the forbidden mountain left him numb. He knew he wouldn’t even have the chance to lay eyes on their lifeless bodies, and the weight of grief threatened to tear his heart apart.

“For decades, we’ve understood that the forbidden mountain is not meant for us, and we must keep our distance from that cursed place. Yet, month after month, we lose one or two young girls to visits to the cursed mountain... I fail to comprehend why some of you would risk your lives out of mere curiosity,” Chief Atohi declared loudly, his voice echoing through the gathering as he stomped his foot on the ground to brush off an insect crawling on his black shoes.

Chief Atohi, a middle-aged man, had been leading his tribe for the past decade, earning a reputation as one of the most loyal and dedicated chiefs in their history. He was sincerely devoted to his people, tirelessly advocating for their well-being and fighting for their rights in the face of oppression.

“Besides the evil spirits, some folks claim that on the backside of the forbidden mountain lie ice caves rumored to hold treasures and fortunes,” Ezno remarked, casting a glance towards the stern visage of Chief Atohi, whose expression grew even more thunderous.

“No one has laid eyes on the treasure of the evil spirits,” Chief grunted, his gaze piercing as he directed it towards the members of the search party.

“But we all know that these spirits are deadly, and they tolerate no trespassers. They claim the lives of anyone daring enough to enter their sanctuary,” he added, his voice heavy with warning.

“In the upcoming tribal meeting, each member must pledge to cease visiting the forbidden mountain and put an end to these senseless killings,” Chief Atohi declared.

Then, with a heavy heart, he continued, “Let’s head back... The day has drawn to a close, and we must reluctantly accept that we may have lost Lara and Kosa forever.” Chief Atohi placed a comforting hand on the shoulder of Gaagii, who wept silently beside him.

“What is this mystery?” A young Native American man, standing a few feet away from Atohi and Gaagii, whispered to himself.

“Every month, we lose one or two girls, and all we do is blame the forbidden mountain. Why aren’t we considering the possibility that there might be something else in Seward hunting Native American women?” he whispered again, his voice filled with concern and skepticism.

“Seward has turned into a killing ground for young girls,” another man murmured.

“The evil spirits of the forbidden mountain have not only claimed the lives of Native Americans but have also taken many other American lives,” Chief Atohi declared loudly.

“Chief, we can’t just sit by idly... We have to confront these evil spirits and put an end to the killings in Seward,” the young man exclaimed, his voice rising.

“Then you must know how to deal with evil spirits?” Chief Atohi retorted, his tone tinged with mockery.

“We have only one way to prevent these killings: to abandon this mountain forever,” Chief Atohi declared firmly, leading the way forward.

The members of the search party fell in line behind the chief, making their way towards the residential area of Seward to return to their homes. Unbeknownst to them, a darkness had descended upon Seward, poised to engulf many. In the depths of the national park woods, a pair of eyes watched intently as the search party departed.