(pov Ki-Moon)
Silence returns.
An empty silence.
I remain motionless for a few seconds, breathless, the metallic smell still clinging to the back of my nostrils. The blood continues to flow, but less rapidly now. The fabric holds even though I can no longer feel my arm.
That will be enough.
For now.
I raise my head and see more clearly; the threads were covered with drops of blood, which made them visible.
Now it's just the forest and me.
A smile slightly stretches my lips.
- …Perfect.
Things are finally starting to get interesting.
I venture deeper into the forest.
Every smell is heavier.
And above all
This slope brought back memories.
I'm stopping.
Look at the ground and notice the traces.
Fresh.
But not only that.
They are… clean, as if on purpose.
I slowly crouch down and almost touch the ground.
No mistakes.
Just straight tracks; nobody would walk that straight unless they were hopping, and even then the tracks aren't deep and there aren't any handprints either.
– …what is he playing?
A breeze passes between the trees, drawing my attention.
The branches above me are vibrating slightly.
It didn't seem natural.
I straighten up.
–...
Silence.
I felt a tingling sensation in the back of my neck
– …and you want me to follow you.
looking around
The path is obvious.
I take one step, then another.
Watch my back and move forward.
The rustling of leaves still followed me.
And these steps lead me very far.
The terrain changed and the vegetation thinned out. The ground became harder, ragged, less natural.
The metal underneath is visible
I finally slow my pace.
Not out of fear.
My eyes scan the surroundings.
A thread.
Two.
Three.
It all started here.
I approach and touch.
– Ouch!
My finger bled immediately, just a slight friction, it's really sharp
I lick the flowing blood.
– …I think we've arrived.
The rustling starts again.
Right.
I turn my head.
Nothing.
On the left.
He keeps shaking it around, first a little, then aggressively.
I don't say anything, but when I turn around and keep walking.
The noise stopped immediately
"We still weren't there," I murmured.
a little suspicious of my choice
But a first obstacle appears.
Brutal.
Massive.
Cold.
I'm stopping.
My eyes glide slowly across the surface.
Impacts.
Brands.
Regular.
I raise my hand.
It touches the crack, searching for a fault line.
– …how do I get through?
A muffled noise resonates in the background.
I don't turn around.
– …you want to lock me up in there?
Silence.
Still this silence.
I look up.
– …no? .
I take a step forward.
The sounds start again, but from afar, very far away in the trees.
Then with another step.
He seemed agitated, ready to uproot a tree.
Instantly.
A blade cuts through the air at the exact spot where my neck was and embeds itself in the wall.
I stop dead in my tracks.
Then I slowly turn my head.
A thread.
Tense.
Invisible was hanging there.
I've been staring at it for a long time.
Then exhale.
– …all this just to kill me, do you think you're strong enough to do it?
And raises his gaze slightly.
–....not enough.
I cut the wire with its blade.
The metallic taste returns stronger in my nostrils.
Time passes, or perhaps it does.
It's hard to say.
Just by looking here, everything is distorted.
– …you don't plan on showing up.
Silence.
- …Really .
turning slowly around myself.
My eyes scan the trees.
And the blue sky.
I see it.
A silhouette, motionless
From a distance.
I'm not moving.
Neither did he.
The wind is passing.
Between us.
I tilt my head slightly.
– …Oh Lee? .
No response.
But it doesn't disappear.
He stays there.
With eyes.
I take a step towards him.
He's still not moving.
A second one.
Still nothing.
A third
– I can get you out-
The ground gives way.
Instantly.
I fall.
But my body reacts even before my thoughts form.
I hold on, grabbing hold of a root,
Below
The trap snaps shut with a sharp click.
I remain suspended above its spikes
When I raise my head
I meet his eyes.
A small primate, standing on its two feet, had the skin on its head torn away, revealing its circuits
Then he smiled and disappeared, stirring the trees in the distance.
– …what is this thing, ouch
I clench my teeth slightly.
With the pain rising again.
I'm going back up how
A silhouette.
Standing.
Overlooked me.
I squint slightly.
And the vit
I smile anyway.
-.... Girl.
Without saying a word, with a simple, quick movement.
With one hand.
She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me out of the trap
"You like putting yourself in danger," the little girl murmured.
There was no emotion on her face.
The drones were returning.
One by one.
Silent.
present.
They observe.
I felt a little rigid