"At the evening," he asked while chewing on his food.
"Yeah! At the evening," I said, lifting my head just enough to glance at him.
"Ok..!"
Good.
At evening.
I don't know why I was this excited.
It was just a forest.
Just trees. Just silence. Just… nothing special.
But something about it—something behind the house—kept pulling at me since morning. Like it was calling me without making a sound.
Not loud.
Not forceful.
Just… there.
And I listened.
Of course I did.
By the time we stepped outside, the sky had already started softening into orange. The light stretched across everything, making even the ordinary look warmer… calmer.
The forest stood there quietly, like it always had.
Still.
Unmoving.
But today…
…it felt different.
Not in a way I could explain.
Just enough to notice.
"Don't do anything stupid," Kevin said, already holding his camera up.
I smirked. "You mean don't do your kind of stupid?"
Click.
He ignored me.
Typical.
For a second, I glanced at him—focused, distant, like the world only existed through his lens.
Then my eyes drifted back to the forest.
And that feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
And then they started roaming around back and forth.
Not really going anywhere.
Just… moving.
Sometimes ahead, sometimes circling back, stepping over dry leaves that crunched softly under our feet. The ground felt uneven, roots rising like veins beneath the soil.
I drifted from one thing to another without thinking—pausing at a rock, then a tree, then something shining faintly in the grass.
Kevin stayed a little behind, or sometimes to the side, never too far.
Click.
Click.
The sound of his camera followed us more than his voice did.
It felt quiet.
But not empty.
Like the forest wasn't silent—
just choosing not to speak.
And then I collected some beautifully but dangerous-looking flowers.
Bright.
Unnatural.
Their colors stood out too much against the green, like they didn't belong here. The petals looked soft… almost glowing in the fading light, but the edges—too sharp, too perfect.
Still—
I picked them anyway.
"Those don't look safe," Kevin said from behind, not even lowering his camera.
"Relax," I muttered. "They're just flowers."
Click.
And then he said something—completely out of nowhere—
"Pick more. If you die, I'll finally get some peace."
I blinked.
"What?"
He shrugged, still pointing his camera at me. "Think about it. Tragic death in a mysterious forest… I'll get famous."
I stared at him for a second—
And then—
"Hahahahaha—!"
I burst out laughing, bending forward slightly, almost dropping the flowers in my hand.
"You're insane—"
"At least I'll be famous."
"That's your concern? Not me dying?"
"You'll be useful for once."
"Hahahahaha—!"
I couldn't stop laughing.
Kevin let out a quiet laugh too, trying to hold it in, but failed.
For a moment…
Everything felt light.
The forest didn't feel strange.
Didn't feel heavy.
Just… quiet.
And then we roamed around, enjoying the greenery… the fresh air.
It felt different deeper inside.
Cooler.
Cleaner.
Each breath felt lighter, like something invisible had been washed away. The scent of damp soil and leaves lingered in the air, quiet but comforting.
I brushed my fingers against passing branches, leaves grazing my skin as I walked without any real direction.
Kevin followed nearby, occasionally stopping—
Click.
Click.
For a while…
We didn't say anything.
And strangely—
It wasn't awkward.
It just… felt right.
Then—
I stopped.
"Wait."
Kevin didn't respond immediately. Another—
Click.
Then, "What?"
I frowned slightly, looking around.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
I didn't answer.
Because I wasn't sure.
It wasn't a sound.
Not exactly.
More like…
Something brushing past the air.
Soft.
Faint.
Like leaves moving—
But there was no wind.
I looked up.
The branches above were still.
Completely still.
"…Weird," I muttered.
Kevin finally lowered his camera, glancing around. "You're imagining things."
"Yeah… maybe."
But even as I said it—
That feeling crept back.
The same one from before.
Like something had just…
noticed us.
I started walking again.
But slower this time.
And for the first time since we entered—
The forest didn't feel just beautiful.
It felt… aware.
Kevin suddenly stopped walking.
I didn't notice at first.
I took a few more steps ahead before realizing the sound of his camera had disappeared.
No clicks.
No footsteps.
Nothing.
I turned back.
"Kevin?"
He was standing still, staring at something.
Not at me.
Not at the ground.
Somewhere… past me.
"What?" I asked, frowning slightly.
He didn't answer.
For a second, I thought he was joking.
But his expression—
It wasn't playful.
"Kevin."
Still nothing.
A strange uneasiness settled in my chest.
I followed his gaze slowly—
Turning my head just enough to see what he was looking at.
At first—
Nothing.
Just trees.
Shadows.
Silence.
Then…
I noticed it.
A small patch of light on the ground.
Soft.
Golden.
But the sun—
It wasn't in that direction.
"…Do you see that?" Kevin finally spoke, his voice lower than before.
I didn't answer immediately.
Because I did.
And I didn't like it.
It wasn't just light.
It felt like something… placed there.
Without thinking, I took a step closer.
The air shifted slightly.
Cooler.
Heavier.
And for a brief second—
The light flickered.
Like it had noticed me too.
For a second, we just stood there.
Quiet again.
But this time—
It wasn't the same kind of quiet.
I glanced at Kevin.
He still looked serious.
Too serious.
"…You're not joking, right?" I asked, a little unsure now.
He didn't answer immediately.
Just kept looking around like something was actually wrong.
My brows pulled together slightly.
"Kevin?"
A pause.
Then—
He suddenly let out a breath—
And started laughing.
"Hahahahaha—!"
I blinked.
"What—?"
He bent slightly, laughing harder. "You...you should've seen your face—!"
I just stared at him.
Processing.
Then—
"Oh wow."
"Hahahaha—! Y...you.. were actually ...ge..getting worried!"
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head.
"You're sooo annoying."
"At least I'm entertaining."
I looked away, still a little embarrassed… but smiling.
For a moment, that strange feeling faded again.
Like it was never there in the first place.
After that, we just kept roaming.
No direction.
No plan.
Just walking wherever the path—or lack of it—took us.
The forest slowly grew quieter again, the earlier laughter fading into the background. Kevin went back to clicking pictures, like nothing had happened.
Click.
Click.
Time passed.
Or at least… it felt like it did.
The light started changing.
Not suddenly.
Just slowly dimming, the orange sky fading into something deeper… colder. Shadows stretched longer between the trees, blending into each other.
I didn't really notice at first.
I was too busy looking around, picking things up, getting distracted by every little detail.
"K, look at this—"
I turned slightly—
And stopped.
No response.
"…Kev?"
I looked around.
Left.
Right.
Behind me.
Nothing.
A small pause.
I frowned.
"He was just here…"
Instinctively, I reached for my phone—
And then remembered.
"…Great."
Kevin had it.
Of course he did.
I exhaled softly, running a hand through my hair.
"Nice."
For a moment, I just stood there.
Alone.
The forest didn't feel the same anymore.
Not because it changed—
But because I noticed it.
Too quiet.
Too still.
I took a step forward.
"Kev!...K!"
No reply.
"Kev...you idiot!"
My voice echoed slightly… then disappeared into the trees.
No reply.
Then I started searching for him.
"Kev…?"
No answer.
The forest had changed.
It was darker now.
Not completely black—just enough moonlight slipping through the branches to make things visible… but not clear. Shadows stretched and twisted, making everything look unfamiliar.
"Idiot, where are you…" I muttered, pushing past low branches.
Leaves brushed against my arms. Bushes rustled softly as I moved through them, the sound louder than it should've been in the silence.
I kept walking.
Faster now.
Looking around.
Listening.
Nothing.
"Kev!"
My voice didn't go far. It just… faded.
I moved around the bushes, trying to get a better view—
And then—
My foot slipped.
For a split second—
Nothing.
Then—
Cold.
My body dropped straight into the pond, the icy water hitting me all at once. It knocked the breath out of me, sending a sharp shock through my chest.
"—haah!"
I struggled instantly, hands pushing against the water, trying to get up. The surface rippled wildly as I forced myself forward, dragging my body out with shaky movements.
The cold clung to me.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
I sat there for a second, breathing hard, water dripping from my clothes.
"…Great."
The cold clung to me.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Yeah… it was already cold.
And now the water made it even colder.
It seeped into everything—my clothes, my skin—making every movement feel heavier. My fingers felt stiff, slightly numb as I pushed myself up.
I let out a slow breath, trying to steady it.
"…Great."
I rubbed my arms quickly, trying to get some warmth back.
"Idiot… where even are you…"
The night felt quieter now.
Too quiet.
And standing there—soaked, cold, alone—
That uneasy feeling returned.
A little stronger this time.
The night was too dark.
I couldn't see the pond anymore.
I moved carefully—
Or at least… I thought I did.
"Idiot… where are you…"
Another step—
And suddenly—
My foot slipped again.
"—What the—!"
Cold.
Again.
But this time—
It was deeper.
My body dropped straight down, the water pulling me in before I could react. I tried to push up—tried to find ground—
There was none.
"—haah—!"
I struggled.
Harder.
Kicking, reaching, trying to grab anything—
But my hands met nothing but water.
The cold wrapped tighter around me.
My movements slowed.
Breathing turned uneven.
"Kev—!"
The word barely came out.
I tried again.
Failed.
My body felt heavy.
Too heavy.
For a moment—
A dangerous thought crossed my mind.
This is bad.
I kept struggling—
But it wasn't working.
And slowly—
That fight started fading.
Then—
Something pulled.
A sharp tug at my collar.
My eyes snapped open wider.
It wasn't the water.
Something had grabbed me.
No—
Not a hand.
It felt like…
Teeth.
A grip on my cloth—tight, firm—pulling upward, dragging me toward the surface.
I didn't understand it.
Didn't see it.
But it was there.
And it was trying…
To pull me out.
When I finally got up—
My body didn't feel like mine anymore.
Heavy.
Breathing uneven.
I didn't open my eyes.
Not immediately.
I just stayed there…
Trying to steady myself.
Trying to understand if I was even… out.
My chest rose and fell slowly.
Cold air hitting my wet skin.
Alive.
After a while—
I forced my eyes open.
And froze.
For a second—
My mind didn't process it.
It just… stared.
Then—
It hit.
Right in front of me—
Shiny grey eyes.
Cold.
Still.
A wolf.
Black-grey fur, dark and thick, its body large—bigger than I expected. Its gaze locked onto mine without moving.
And it wasn't alone.
More shapes shifted behind it.
Silent.
Watching.
A pack.
My breath caught.
My body went still.
Shock.
Fear.
Confusion.
Curiosity.
Everything hit at once.
"What…"
The word barely left my lips.
They didn't move.
Didn't attack.
Didn't even growl.
They just stood there.
Looking at me.
Like they already knew me.
I didn't move.
I couldn't.
I was sitting there—
legs laid out on the cold ground, hands pressed slightly behind me for support, my whole body still shaking from the water.
And right in front of me—
That wolf.
Closer than it should've been.
Close enough that I could see the faint rise and fall of its chest.
Close enough to notice how still it was.
Those eyes—
Shiny grey.
Cold.
But not empty.
They were locked onto mine.
I swallowed.
My throat felt dry despite everything.
"…You…"
My voice came out weak.
Useless.
It didn't react.
Didn't growl.
Didn't move forward.
Just watched.
Something about it felt wrong.
Not dangerous—
Just… aware.
Behind it, the rest of the pack stood in silence.
No shifting.
No sound.
Like they were waiting.
For a second—
I forgot to be scared.
Because it didn't feel like I was about to be attacked.
It felt like—
I was being looked at.
Judged.
The wolf in front of me took a step.
Slow.
Controlled.
My body tensed instantly.
But it didn't come closer.
Instead—
It turned.
Just like that.
And started walking away.
The others followed.
One by one.
I blinked.
"…What?"
They didn't even look back.
A few steps ahead—
The first wolf paused.
Then slightly turned its head.
Not fully.
Just enough.
As if—
Checking.
If I was coming.
I stayed there for a second.
Still trying to process everything.
Then I pushed myself up slowly.
My legs felt weak.
But I stood anyway.
"…This is insane."
And yet—
I took a step forward.
Following them.
The bigger wolf moved ahead—
And the rest followed.
Now that I looked properly—
It wasn't just a random pack.
Two smaller wolves stayed close to the sides, their movements light but alert.
A female—calm, steady—walked just behind the leader.
And two older ones followed at the back, slower… but watchful.
All of them—
Grey.
With hints of black running through their fur, catching the faint moonlight.
Their eyes—
Shiny.
Different.
Black.
Blue.
Grey.
Each one reflecting something I couldn't understand.
I stood there for a second.
Just watching them.
Trying to process why none of this felt… normal.
Then the bigger wolf slowed.
Just a little.
Not stopping—
Just enough.
As if adjusting…
For me.
I didn't even think.
Didn't question it.
My feet moved on their own.
The forest felt different now.
Not empty.
Not silent.
But alive.
And for some reason—
I wasn't lost anymore.
I followed them.
Step by step.
The ground felt uneven beneath my feet, but I didn't stop.
Didn't question it.
For some reason—
I felt… steady.
And then—
A memory slipped in.
Kevin's voice.
Casual.
Annoying as always.
"Don't panic if you get lost."
I let out a faint breath.
"You… would find the way."
My lips curved slightly.
"…Idiot."
I looked ahead again—
At the wolves.
Moving without hesitation.
Without doubt.
And for the first time since I got separated—
I didn't feel lost anymore.
I followed them for what felt like a while.
Maybe less than half an hour.
Maybe more.
Time didn't feel the same anymore.
Then—
The bigger wolf slowed.
And stopped.
The rest of the pack halted with it.
Silent.
Still.
My steps slowed too…
Until I stopped a few feet away.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then the bigger wolf turned.
And walked toward me.
My breath caught slightly.
But I didn't step back.
It came closer.
Closer than before.
And then—
It stopped right in front of me.
Those eyes met mine again.
Shiny grey.
Deep.
But this time—
It wasn't cold.
There was no challenge in that gaze.
No threat.
Just… something else.
Something calm.
Something steady.
Something that felt almost like—
Respect.
Warmth.
I stood there.
Completely still.
Confused.
Trying to understand what I was even looking at.
Then—
Slowly—
The wolf lowered its head.
Not in weakness.
Not in fear.
But like a gesture.
Deliberate.
Clear.
Behind it—
One by one—
The pack did the same.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…What…?"
I didn't move.
Didn't react.
Couldn't.
Because none of this made sense.
After a moment—
The wolf raised its head again.
Gave me one last look.
And turned.
The pack followed.
Just like before.
Walking away.
Disappearing slowly into the dark forest.
Until—
There was nothing left.
Just silence.
I stood there.
Still.
"…What was that…"
No answer.
Only the night.
And me.
Confused.
Not knowing what to do next.