"Here we are," Ruko suddenly announced after the group had been traveling for most of the morning.
As with the previous day, the sky was a soft mix of pink and orange, making the time appear to be sunset despite the noon sun hanging high in the sky. The grass was yellow and the trees dark gray with moss colored leaves. Len decided that he liked this sunset painting area better than the candy version on the other side of the village.
"We're at the Mad Hatter's already?" Len asked, looking around as if there was something he was supposed to see that he hadn't found yet.
"No, Idiot," Ruko huffed as she placed a hand on her hip. "I meant we're at the entrance to Boro Grove. We can't get to the Mad Hatter's unless we go through there."
"But there's nothing here . . . ," Len said quietly, trailing off with uncertainty.
"That's what the forest wants you to think," Miku said as she walked towards one of the larger trees. "It's here, but we can't see it." With a hand in front of her, Miku slowly walked towards the tree before suddenly being swallowed up by it.
Len was about to exclaim that Miku needed help, but Ruko said before he could open his mouth, "Looks like the body borrower has it figured out." Walking towards the same tree Miku went through, Ruko was about to step through before facing Len and asking, "Are you coming?"
"Y-yeah," Len answered with a stiff nod.
Ruko immediately turned back around and walked into the tree, and Len followed close behind. The two found Miku gazing around the forest, taking in the scenery with wonder and amazement. "Miku," Ruko said cautiously.
"I don't want to stay, if that's what you're thinking," Miku frowned at Ruko's cautious look and Len's worried expression. Did they really have such little faith in her?
"Good," Ruko sounded relieved. "Its always nerve wrecking bringing people here. Some will take one look at this place and forget that they actually plan to leave."
Len walked up to Miku's side and observed the forest with her. The trees were covered in dark green moss and large purple flowers that emitted a purple cloud every half minute. The ground was covered in the greenest grass either of the two had ever seen, and white and yellow flowers bloomed all over. Unlike outside the grove, the sky was a brilliant, natural blue. Slowly reaching out, Miku ran a hand on the bark.
"This has to be the nicest feeling bark I have ever touched," Miku said quietly, as if in a daze. Snapping her hand back and shaking her head furiously, Miku exclaimed, "But I don't want it to become my skin!"
"Then I suggest you don't dwell on all of the forest beauty," Ruko said as she walked past the two, "or inhale the scent coming from the flowers. Whatever you do, for the love of God, do not stop to sniff the purple flowers. I would not be happy if either of you ended up like my Uncle Ted."
Simultaneously, Miku and Len looked back at the tree Miku had touched and saw the face of a man twisted into the tree. The face of the man was knotted up in a way that told the teens the man had realized too late what was happening to him, and his expression was now forever frozen in a silent scream. The only thing the two could think immediately after seeing that was to get out of there before another minute had passed.
"Follow me," Ruko ordered as she began stalking forward. "Don't get separated," she warned. "It won't be easy to fight off the will to stay if you're alone."
Miku and Len nodded as a response. The three walked through the forest, careful to avoid the purple clouds. Len went as far as to cover his nose with his shirt, but Miku continued to stare wide eyed at the trees. If anything, Miku wasn't being careful enough for Len's comfort. She was too . . . comfortable with her surroundings.
"Will be out soon?" Len asked, his tone nervous.
"We're halfway there," Ruko answered. "We made it this far now so no one had better screw it up."
Len had wanted to claim that nothing was going to happen, but Miku's obvious sense of curiosity prevented him from saying that confidently. Miku kept taking in all of the sights, and when she thought no one was looking Miku would run her hand over the tree bark. All it would take was one whiff of the purple clouds and Miku will be a goner Len gulped.
The snapping of a branch in the distance brought everyone to attention. "Oh no," Ruko mumbled. Aloud she yelled, "Run!"
The three of them began to sprint through the forest. Adrenaline pumped through their veins, and their focus sharpened dramatically. Fear kept their legs moving, and Miku knew the legs she was borrowing were going to be sore by the end of everything.
"Run into that tree!" Ruko commanded. No one slowed when they approached the tree, and running through the trunk was how the group reached the exit of the forest. The tree was as solid as the entrance, making the passing through painless.
"What . . . ," Miku doubled over once they were safe and began to pant. "What was that all about?"
"I thought I heard the branches move," Ruko answered. The girl acted as if she weren't tired as she kept herself from breathing too heavily. "If you go a long time without falling for their trick, the trees will use their branches and roots to trip you in an attempt to trap you."
"Does that always happen when you go through there?" Miku asked, her pants not ceasing.
Shaking her head, Ruko answered, "Only when I go in groups." Ruko leaned over as if to look behind Miku and asked, "Hey, where's Blondie?"
Miku instantly snapped her head around. Len was not behind her. "Don't tell me . . . ," Miku was too horrified to finish.
Before he could make it out, Len tripped on a root that came up out of nowhere. He cried out in surprise as he fell over, but unfortunately his outburst was unheard by the girls as they kept running forward and refusing to look back. It was after Len had stood back up that a flower puffed its scented cloud into his face to be taken in by his deep inhale. When the cloud vanished, Len had forgotten who he was and that he had ever planned on leaving.