The bush shook.
Then stilled.
Two shadows stepped out of it.
The second one moved slow.
Breathing hard between each step.
They looked around.
Found themselves deep within the forest.
Underneath the canopy.
The other colors of this world still held—green surviving despite everything around it.
One of them looked up.
White clouds moved overhead.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
Growing stronger.
Ha Joon looked at Eun Byol.
His face shifted.
Slowly.
Moving into something he couldn't stop.
Sadness settling across his features without permission.
His lips moved.
Slow.
Awkward.
A slow mumble began to pour out of his mouth.
She looked at him.
Started to smile.
Small.
Tired.
"Are you okay?"
She looked at him.
"Yes. I am."
He looked at her.
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
At the wound...
At the dried blood...
At the way she was still standing...
Then slowly shook his head.
"No. You're not."
A pause.
"Remember what you were saying back there. That you wanted to go home."
His voice came quiet.
Careful.
"You can go. I want the best for you."
Eun Byol looked at him.
"I don't want to leave you behind."
Her voice was steady.
Certain.
"You'll die if you fight that thing alone. Do you even have a plan?"
Ha Joon smiled.
Small.
To himself.
"Of course I have a plan."
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
At the wound at her shoulder.
At the dried blood on her shirt.
At the way she was still standing despite all of it.
"It's time we go separate ways, Eun Byol."
She was quiet for a moment.
The forest moved around them.
Wind through leaves.
Distant sounds of something massive and terrible.
"So what now?"
Her voice came soft.
Not afraid.
Just asking.
Ha Joon met her eyes.
"I help you go home."