The surprise Forny felt when he saw Laura in that strange place was indescribable. His mind, still clouded by confusion, began to clear a little as he recognized the familiar figure of his childhood friend. For a moment, he wondered if it was all a dream, but the cold forest air and the weight of the surroundings anchored him to reality.
Laura, upon hearing her name, turned quickly. Her face was pale, her eyes full of uncertainty. Although the fear was evident, a faint glimmer of relief also appeared as she recognized him. Around him, the fog danced as if it had a life of its own, enveloping the forest in an almost oppressive silence. Everything seemed to be contained in a bubble where even time felt different.
-Laura..." said Forny, his voice trembling as he advanced toward her. This is not a dream. This is real. I still don't understand how we got here, but... we're trapped in this place.
Laura stared at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and bewilderment. Her voice, cracking with tension, barely made it out:
-What... what are we doing here, Forny?
Forny took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He knew he could not show weakness. The atmosphere was weighing on them, and the forest, with its eerie shadows and frigid air, offered no answers.
-I don't know," he replied with a seriousness that contrasted with his inner uncertainty, "but being here is no accident. There has to be a reason.
Laura took a step toward him, her hands clasped in a nervous gesture. Her gaze reflected an internal struggle between desperation and the need to stand her ground.
-What if we can't go back? What will happen to our lives? -Her voice cracked at last, and her eyes searched Forny's face for answers.
Forny looked at her with a mixture of tenderness and concern. He knew he didn't have all the answers, but he could at least offer her some hope.
-I will not allow it. We will get out of here, but first we must understand this place. Adapt.
Laura nodded slowly, although her anxiety was still present. The bond between the two of them was an anchor in the midst of that chaos.
Meanwhile, Mishu and Denek were nearby, immersed in a conversation that Forny and Laura could not hear. But a sudden sound, like branches breaking, caught their attention. The noise came from the heart of the forest, and they both looked up, uneasy.
Denek decided to move forward, and after a few steps, he met Forny and Laura. Without hesitation, he asked:
-And who is she?
Forny and Laura turned to him. Laura, a little nervous, decided to respond.
-I am Laura Izuki, Forny's childhood friend.
Denek arched an eyebrow, intrigued.
-Izuki? Is that Japanese? -he asked curiously.
Laura smiled slightly.
-Yes, my mother is Japanese. That's why the last name. Although... there is more history, but this is not the time for that.
Denek nodded, impressed.
-Forny talked about you a lot," he said with a mischievous grin. From the way he described you, you sound like someone very special.
Laura looked at Forny, who looked away, visibly nervous. Taking advantage of the moment, Laura decided to change the focus of attention.
-How did you get here? -he asked, looking at Denek with interest.
-My name is Denek Reiz, but you can call me Gamer," he said casually. And, well, I fell asleep playing all night. When I woke up, he was already here.
Laura let out a light laugh, starting to relax a bit thanks to Denek's carefree attitude.
Forny suddenly interrupted, frowning.
-Denek, where is Mishu?
Denek looked around, confused.
-He was right behind me.... Damn!
At that moment, Mishu appeared with a calm step, an apple in his mouth. He approached Laura directly, who looked at him in surprise.
-What a cute kitten! -she exclaimed, bending down to pet it.
Mishu put the apple down in his hands and replied in a casual tone:
-Thank you.
Laura jumped in surprise, dropping the apple. Forny and Denek burst out laughing at her reaction.
-Sorry," Forny said with a chuckle, "I forgot to tell you that Mishu talks.
Laura, still amazed, laughed as well.
-This is getting stranger and stranger... but also interesting.
The tension began to dissipate as the group walked toward the forest exit. However, none of them noticed the shadows watching them from a distance. Mayilla and Saiko, hidden among the trees, watched their every move carefully. The arrival of the new players was no coincidence, and the pieces of the game were beginning to move. The forest, which seemed to be asleep, also kept its own secrets.