They stepped into the road at dawn. The sky was gray , not with clouds- but with something heavier. Like the sky itself was holding its breathe . Kaito was third in line , right behind Mai and Ren .
The ten of them walked single file . Boots crunching against gravel that didn't quite sound like stone . The entrance to the hollow road wasn't marked . No sign. No gate. Just a stretch of empty asphalt cutting through a dense forest , the trees warped and hunched like they were watching .
"Everyone stay close ", Mai said , voice low and firm . " Head forward . No matter what happens - don't turn around ".
Kaito's pulse echoed in his ears . His hands were cold , even inside his gloves . Ahead of him , Ren walked silently. He hadn't said a word since last night . Not to Kaito . Not to anyone.
Kaito wanted to break the silence
He didn't .
Not yet .
After the first hour . The forest grew darker. Not like night . Like absence . Like something had eaten the sun from the part of the world .
They passed a broken signpost with no words. Then a shoe. Just one .Then.....a child's backpack , faded and half - buried in the dirt.
Aya and Kenji exchanged a glances. Macro made sure his radio was still working . Just static. Ren didn't even glance at the items . He kept walking, steady like he'd seen it all before.
Maybe he had.
Three hours in , they heard the first sound .
'A whisper' Behind them.
Kaito flinched . He looked at mai.
" Keep moving ", she said quickly . " Don't acknowledge it ".
More whispers followed . Then breathing . Wet footsteps behind them.
But when kaito glanced back . Ren suddenly stopped . Kaito froze before he bumped into him. " What----?"
Ren turned slightly , just enough for kaito to hear .
" If you look back ", he whispered , " I'll leave you behind ", kaito's breathe caught in his throat. he didn't look back . They kept walking .
By mid-day , Leina pointed to something ahead.
A house .
Old , crooked and out of place.
It shouldn't be there . The road was supposed to be empty .But the house stood still, doors open like a mouth . waiting.
" We rest here ", mai said " Fifteen minutes . Don't go far . Don't split up ".
Inside , the air was musty and wrong. The wallpaper peeled like burned skin. Every mirror was shattered . No dust . Like something had just been there.
Kaito sat near the window , still trembling . Across him , Ren leaned against the wall and lit cigarette . The smoke curled upward, glowing faintly in the dim light .
Kaito finally spoke . " Why did you come ? " Ren didn't look at him. Didn't even blink.
" Same reason as you " , he said flatly .
" And what's that ?" Ren's eyes flicked toward him , cold and unreadable.
" To see if we deserve to live ".