"Cross the forest: I just have to walk, not think about anything else." He ventured into the tall trees; little by little, the leaves and shrubs obscured the view of the valley. He had never been so far; that forest was completely unknown. Large rocks and old trunks kept him from moving straight ahead; he had to take detours. The mountain ridges still hadn't disappeared. The terrain was uneven, causing the trees to block his path; he was forced to follow natural trails.
"Walk, just walk; don't think about anything else." He stopped when he saw a big pinecone on one of the trees. The sound of the leaves resembled Mahia's laughter. He felt a profound emptiness deep in his chest, a bottomless hole. He stood still for a couple of minutes. That blood-covered dress came to his mind. Everything she was, her entire being, died crushed in an instant. An entire world destroyed by the palm of a monster.
—Stop right there! Don't move! —Someone shouted behind him; the voice was peculiarly shrill, like a squirrel's screech. —If you move, I'll shoot! —Vanrra remained still, head lowered. —Raise your hands, damn cattle! Are you listening to me?! —Vanrra let out a giggle; he put his hands over his mouth. —Stop moving! If you keep moving, I'll kill you! —He began to sob; he fell to his knees. —Get up, damn beast!
—What are you waiting for?! —He turned around. —Don't just stand there… —The girl was pointing a gun at him; her fear was palpable. She was tall and slender. She had long black hair, with large, beautiful eyes that pierced his soul, like two lovely diamonds. Her uniform was a long, grayish-white military coat; it seemed to shine.
—Stop! Don't get up! Turn around! —She fired at a tree; the shot stunned him. The girl wore a bracelet on her left arm; it had an upside-down blue triangle embroidered on it. The uniform had blue details on the chest and a purple belt. —Move, and I'll kill you!
The only thing that distracted Vanrra from his sadness was that voice; it made him smile a little. That small happiness gave him the strength to stand up. —You're not listening! —She fired again. —Stay still, demon!
He turned slowly toward her. —Why don't you just kill me already?
—I'll kill you, animal! I'll kill you if you don't stay still!
—I don't know what you're waiting for. —She fired a third shot, this time at his feet.
—Why don't you react?! You want die?! Cattle!
—You'd be doing me a big favor; I'm... waiting. —He took a step toward her.
—Hey! Stop! —She aimed at his head. —I'll blow your head off! —Her hands were shaking. Vanrra stared at her.
—What are you waiting for? An order? Come on... shoot me!
She moved her hand at the last moment before pulling the trigger; the bullet grazed Vanrra's head, leaving him deaf for a few moments. She quickly moved to a nearby tree and vomited. Leaned against the trunk, suffering a panic attack, sobbing silently. Vanrra also collapsed, agitated. They both stayed like that for a few seconds.
As soon as Vanrra moved a muscle, the woman aimed at him again. —Don't move! Stay right there! —She was short of breath.
—Why didn't you kill me?
—I don't know.
—Are you lost too?
She wiped away her tears. —Lost?
—You don't seem to be from around here. You got lost in this forest; that's why you didn't kill me. You need me to help you get out.
—I don't need the help of a beast like you; you're a liar.
—Then shoot me, or you'll get scared again. —She fired to his side.
She pointed at him again. —You don't scare me! I want to kill you! You disgust me! I hate you, I hate you so much!
—I hate myself too, more than you can imagine. —The girl lowered her gun, confused and thirsty. She was intrigued by Vanrra, she analyzed him. —What makes you hate me? —Leaning against a tree, she stared at him silently. They spent a long time looking at each other. Where had he seen her before? "I remember those eyes; they are unmistakable. I can't remember; perhaps that's why she hates me." —Hi... what is your name?
—…
—Are you okay?
—That's none of your business.
He tried to stand up. —If you don't tell me where you entered the forest, we'll never get out. —She pointed at him again. Vanrra showed his hands, took a canteen from his backpack, and stood up. —Do you want some?
She regained her composure. —Don't talk to me! You're going to do everything as I say.
—Tell me. —She slowly approached him; Vanrra handed her the canteen. The girl drank like a thirsty animal. —Good?
—Do you know how to get out?
—I'm heading southwest; that's where the exit is. —Vanrra pointed in the direction; the girl immediately walked that way.
—From what I've heard, this forest is very dangerous. I doubt a woman like you could cross it safely; I'm surprised someone as delicate as you made it this far.
—I'm not delicate. —She fix her hair. —Because I'm listening to you, you lying beast; you're trying to control my mind. Damn Cattle.
He tried to approach her. —Lying beast? What do you mean?
—Stay away from me! I'm the one with the weapon! —Vanrra didn't flinch. He was trying to make sense of the forest's interior. —Why are you turning your back on me? I'm talking to you, animal! —He held back his laughter. —What are you laughing at?! What do you find funny?!
—Your voice: you sound like a squirrel.
—You're dressed like a damn vagrant, you thing.
—Is that the best you've got?
The leaves rustled. —What was that? You hear it, thing?! —She aimed in all directions; the leaves were moving in the wind.
—Are you scared?
—Shut up!
—This place is full of wolves and bears, you know? Dozens of people disappear every year, little women like you.
—Really?! Human-eating wolves and bears?!
—That's not the worst; once I saw a beast the size of one of these rocks. It had horns, a tail, wings, chicken legs, and a black mane. Claws like knives, it spat blood and jumped several meters. It didn't have pupils; its eyes were completely white.
She said, terrified. —How long ago was that?
—About six or seven years ago.
The woman walked backward slowly until she bumped into Vanrra. —Don't touch me! —The weapon was slipping from her hands. —Why are you so calm?! You should be alert! You're a man!
—Alert for what?
—Of the bear and of me. You should be terrified of me; you're too trusting. Put up a little resistance.
—You don't scare me; on the contrary, I feel calm, as if I already knew you.
—What are you saying, thing? Are you trying to manipulate me?!
—You're very weird.
—Weird, me?
—I think it's this way... By the way, my name's Vanrra. What's your name?
—It's none of your business; keep walking, thing.
—So, what do you want me to call you? —She didn't answer; they kept walking among the trees. They watched every step; she stayed a few meters behind, ready to fire her gun. —A little faster, thing.
—I hope you'd stop being so rude. Your act doesn't fool anyone; you're nothing more than a scared girl.
—Shut up, animal!
—You're not going to shoot me.
She challenged him. —How do you know?
—Your eyes tell me everything. —They both heard a noise. The girl pointed her gun at the bushes. Before she could shoot, a dozen hooded figures emerged from the large leaves. They seized them both, threw them to the ground, and covered their heads with a sack. The girl kicked and screamed; it was the last thing he heard before he was knocked unconscious by a heavy blow.