The forest was quiet.
Not the comforting kind of quiet.
Not the peaceful silence of birds resting after sunset.
This silence felt...
Wrong.
Kai slowly walked between towering trees, brushing aside vines that had claimed the ancient path long ago.
"...Andre's probably going crazy right now."
He chuckled to himself.
"If he's alive, he'll find me eventually."
That thought alone eased his mind.
Andre always found him.
No matter how ridiculous the situation.
No matter how impossible it seemed.
Kai continued walking.
He had no destination.
No map.
No road.
Just trees.
Endless trees.
"..."
Then—
He stopped.
"...Huh?"
Something felt...
Different.
Not a sound.
Not a smell.
Not even an instinct.
It was simply...
A feeling.
Like someone lightly tugging at the back of his shirt.
He looked around.
Nothing.
Only trees.
"...Guess I'll try this way."
He turned left.
The feeling remained.
One step.
Two.
Three.
As he walked, the strange sensation became slightly stronger.
Not painful.
Not urgent.
Simply...
Persistent.
As if something wanted him to keep going.
Kai frowned.
"This is either the dumbest decision I've ever made..."
"...or the best."
He followed it.