As that green leaf drifted through the air…
Alone.
It moved without direction—
as if the wind wasn't guiding it,
but watching it.
Until it finally landed—
on something.
A hand.
Human.
Soft.
Delicate.
Too clean.
Like it didn't belong to someone who had suffered.
His fingers twitched.
A slow breath entered his lungs.
Then another.
Calm.
Too calm.
His eyes moved slightly beneath closed lids.
As if waking up…
was something his body remembered—
but not his mind.
Slowly, he pushed himself up.
He tried to stand—
but failed.
So he sat.
In front of him…
a sunrise.
Golden light spilling over a hill.
At the top—
a single tree.
Standing alone.
No sound of birds.
No insects.
No wind brushing through leaves.
Just light.
Too quiet.
His eyes wandered.
No panic.
No thoughts.
Just looking.
The place around him was… clean.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Not like the place he died in.
He placed a hand on his knee and stood up slowly.
Then walked.
Step by step.
The first thing he did—
was touch the tree.
His fingers rested against the bark.
Rough.
Real.
He didn't move for a moment.
"…warm…"
He didn't know why he said that.
But it felt…
important.
He circled around it.
Carefully.
Checking.
Looking for something hidden.
Nothing.
He pinched himself.
"…Did I die?"
No answer.
Everything felt too real.
Too perfect.
Even if such a place existed before…
his life was never worth reaching it.
So he sat again.
Just to feel it.
Just a little longer.
After some time—
he stood.
Cracked his body slightly.
A small sound escaped his joints.
Then he spoke.
"Hm… I never thought I'd feel my body like this again…"
"…not at death's door."
Even without wounds—
he could still feel it.
That pain.
Like it never left.
He looked at his hands.
They trembled.
Just remembering.
"I don't want to feel that again."
He decided to go down the hill.
But before that—
he looked at the tree again.
Then climbed it.
There were fruits.
Strange ones.
They looked like they were made of mud.
Dry on the outside.
Heavy.
He stared at them.
"…Should I eat this?"
A pause.
Then a quiet laugh.
"After everything I ate…"
"…this looks normal."
He picked one.
Held it in his hand.
Slowly—
he brought it closer to his mouth.
A thought crossed his mind.
What if it's poison?
Another thought replaced it.
A fruit…
Something he never thought
he would eat again.
"If I die after this…"
"…it's worth it."
He took a bite.
And froze.
A tear fell.
"…delicious…"
Sweet.
But also sour.
Balanced.
Juice filled his mouth.
Sliding down his dry throat.
Even if it wasn't water—
it felt like life.
For a moment—
he wasn't here.
He was somewhere else.
Somewhere softer.
Warmer.
Then—
it disappeared.
He could've devoured it.
But he didn't.
He ate slowly.
Very slowly.
Because this moment—
was too precious to waste.
When he finished—
he looked around.
More fruits.
Everywhere.
But one was enough.
His stomach felt full.
Heavy.
Like it finally had something real inside.
Not emptiness.
He broke a stick.
Just in case.
Then climbed down.
Still wearing his old clothes.
"…So heaven doesn't give clothes."
A faint smile appeared.
"Not like I mind."
He started walking down.
Step by step.
The wind grew stronger.
Pressing against his body.
Each step became heavier.
The air felt different.
Not gentle anymore.
Something—
was wrong.
Then—
he saw them.
Trees.
Massive ones.
So large—
the tree he came from
looked like a child beside them.
Then—
a sound.
Rustling.
From the grass.
His heart reacted first.
Something is alive.
Hope.
For a second—
hope.
But what he saw—
killed it instantly.
A creature.
Like a mole.
Three times his size.
Tearing apart another being.
A worm-like creature.
Its insides spilling out.
The sound—
wet.
Heavy.
Flesh tearing.
Bones shifting.
It wasn't just eating.
It was opening it.
Like it knew exactly
where to tear.
MC froze.
Then dropped.
Hiding under leaves.
His breath—
gone.
His heart—
too loud.
"Don't see me…"
"Don't see me…"
Not a prayer.
A command.
To himself.
His body shook uncontrollably.
"…this… isn't heaven…"
Just moments ago—
he believed it was.
Now—
he knew.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
As night approached—
the creature stopped.
After eating the insides—
it left.
Just like that.
MC waited.
Then slowly—
moved the leaves.
Just enough to see.
It was gone.
He stood up.
His legs trembling.
Still in shock.
He punched his own leg.
"Stand up… dammit…"
Another hit.
"Not now…"
He forced himself to move.
Breathing deeply.
Then turned back—
towards the tree.
But before leaving—
he glanced once more…
at the torn body.
"…what a waste…"
Night fell.
A crimson moon rose slowly in the sky—
like a bloody eye watching everything below.
And with it—
something else.
A shadow.
In the sky.
Huge.
Unclear.
Wrong.
He couldn't see it clearly—
but he could feel it.
Fear.
Real fear.
It moved.
Not like a creature.
Like something that didn't belong there.
His spine froze.
Cold sweat ran down his body.
He swallowed.
Then looked away.
Too scared to even stare.
He forgot hunger.
Forgot everything.
He turned.
Lay down.
Closed his eyes.
And finally—
he got his answer.
"…This isn't heaven."
A pause.
Long enough to understand.
"…This is hell."