The forest welcomed them back.
It swallowed Chi-Long, Ha Joon, and Eun Byol whole, the trees closing around them like a door shutting behind.
Their footsteps sang with the forest.
Part of its rhythm now.
Familiar.
From somewhere far ahead, other sounds entered the song slowly.
Wrong sounds.
Heavy sounds.
As they moved closer.
Chi-Long stopped.
Looked at Ha Joon and Eun Byol.
"Continue walking. Don't stop."
Her voice was still.
Flat.
Absolute.
They moved forward without answering.
Without looking back.
One foot in front of the other.
The sounds of war grew stronger with each step.
The forest shook around them.
Faint at first.
Then more.
The ground trembling beneath their feet.
Eun Byol held her breath.
Her weapon tight in her grip.
Knuckles pale.
Ha Joon looked at her.
Slow.
Deliberate.
He nodded.
One small movement.
Hold.
She turned to look back.
Found nothing behind them.
Just the forest.
Just trees.
Just shadow.
Chi-Long was gone.
Eun Byol faced forward again.
Breath still held.
Grip still tight.
The war sounds growing louder now.
The trees shaking harder.
And ahead of them—
Whatever waite.
Your thoughts on this chapter alone