In the village there was an unwritten rule.

Do not enter the forest after dark. Not because there were guards. Not because it was forbidden. Just... no one did it. Because everyone had heard stories. Lights between the trees. Strange noises during the early morning. Animals disappearing.

And older people saying things like:

"If you hear someone calling you from the forest... don't answer."

Guest always believed that they were invented stories. To a certain extent. Because there was something uncomfortable about living so close. His house was practically on the edge of the town.

And behind it...

There was only the forest.

From the window of his room you could see the trees. Too many trees. During the day it was normal. At night...

Guest tried not to look too much. It was raining that night. Not strong. Just enough to make everything quiet.

He looked at his cell phone again. 11:48 PM. Nothing. Not even messages. Not even calls. Nothing from Soobin. And that was weird.

Because Soobin usually sent messages for anything.

“Look at this cat.”

"I think I saw a beautiful cloud."

“I'm hungry.”

But he had been missing since the afternoon.

Guest sighed.

Guest put his cell phone away and looked up.

There it was. At the end of the street. Walking slowly. Very slowly. Guest frowned.

It was Soobin.

But... something was wrong. He ran towards him. His clothes were covered with dirt. There were leaves stuck on his sleeves. Hands full of mudge. He seemed exhausted.

As if he had walked for hours.

"Where were you!?" he asked when he arrived.

Soobin slowly looked up.

And that's when Guest felt something strange.

Because yes.

It was Soobin. His face. His voice. His hair. Everything seemed the same. But there was something strange. Something difficult to explain. His look. It looked different. More empty. Quieter.

As if something had changed and I still didn't know how to hide it.

Guest felt an immediate discomfort.

A strange feeling.

Like when you see something familiar...

But it doesn't feel completely familiar anymore.

Soobin blinked.

He looked around confused.

Then he saw him again.

—...

He kept silent.

He looked at his own hands full of dirt.

As if he was barely noticing them.

Then he slowly turned his head.

Looking straight into the dark forest behind the houses.

His expression changed just a little.

Confusion.

Nerves.

Something else.

—...I don't remember.

Guest frowned.

"Don't you remember what?"

Soobin kept looking at the trees.

The rain was falling silently around.

—...How I got there.

For a second.

Just a second.

Guest would swear that Soobin's eyes reflected something strange under the street light.

Something that made his skin bristle.

And behind them...

The forest remained completely silent.