Echoes of Hollow

“Aaahh…” Hilary stretched, extending her arms and legs after finally finishing everything she had been craving to eat.

'But where did Hye go?' she wondered 'We need to leave soon… it won’t do any good for him to ask me to keep our visit a secret if she sees us returning.'

Looking around, she noticed some of those who had entered the forest were now coming back. Their breathing was heavy, and for some reason, in their eyes, she could see not only fear but even more anger.

“You live here, right?” she asked, turning to Eudora. “So, do you know where they came from?”

“…”

“Get along with her,” was what her mother had told her, but… what was she supposed to do now? They had all gone together and left them behind, so doesn’t that mean they aren’t supposed to approach? Shaking her head as if trying to clarify her thoughts, she unknowingly responded to Hilary’s question in the wrong way.

“No…?” Hilary said, interpreting the headshake as a negative answer. “I see…”

Surveying the surroundings, for some reason, Hilary noticed that some people seemed to be leaving. Most were composed of couples, some with children, but the majority of those with children were on their knees, crying, holding their kids. Glancing toward the forest, Hilary jumped from her chair and made a decision.

“Alright… then I guess I’ll have to look for him myself.”

She began walking toward the trees, the same direction the adults had come from earlier. But Eudora, holding her hand, stopped her.

“No… not that way.”

“Huh? Was that Latin? Do you speak Latin? I thought Hye was one of the only weird ones who sought to learn that language these days…” Clearing her throat, Hilary smiled, embarrassed. “No, I mean… sorry, what did you say? I don’t understand that language very well.”

“…They didn’t go that way.”

“Greek…” Surprised by Eudora’s sudden switch between languages, something she didn’t seem to control perfectly, Hilary took a moment to process what she had said. “Ah, I see! Not that way—is that what you’re saying?”

The girl nodded.

“So where…”

Pointing in the right direction, Eudora started guiding her deeper into the forest. Hilary felt the warmth of her hand, something comforting and soft. She couldn’t resist, placing Eudora’s hand against her face.

“Huh…?”

Turning around after feeling the strange shift in touch, Eudora felt her chest warm along with her face. Thanks to her nervousness, the hair on her fingers started to appear. Acting quickly, she hid her hand behind her back and stepped away from Hilary, taking a step backward.

“Sorry, I’m really sorry, I…” she awkwardly smiled and tried to approach again, but without success. The distance didn’t seem to lessen. “… I won’t…”

The bluish glow reached her curly hair, illuminating it. However, coming from the side, it was more than obvious that it couldn’t be moonlight.

Trembling, Hilary collapsed to the ground, petrified by the sight of that enormous glowing blue cloud, which left Eudora confused, not understanding why or what she should do.

“P-Portal!” Hilary screamed, hiding her face between her arms and legs, curling up, her teeth chattering as the trembling didn’t stop.

Watching the scene, Eudora tried to think of what to do. But when blood started running down Hilary’s arm, dripping from her fingers, she grabbed her wrists, only to see the holes being dug into her skin by her own nails.

Eyes wide with fear, Hilary didn’t even seem to notice Eudora in front of her, desperately shaking her arms to break free. With eyes filled with terror and pain, a look so eerily familiar, Eudora couldn’t help but recall the same fearful gaze she saw when looking at the enormous black wolf—her father.

Cradling Hilary in her arms, the girl ran deeper into the forest. The trees passed by like shadows, as did the blurs created by the appearance of one portal after another, some with different colors, from white to green, some purple and even others blue. One thought that Eudora couldn’t escape was the possibility that Hilary might notice the growing fur on parts of her body. However, coming from someone who didn’t even seem capable of seeing her while standing right in front of her, that possibility didn’t seem very likely.

Upon reaching the place where the others were, something seemed different. The silence was heavy, stopping her from running or making any noise. Everyone’s gaze appeared fixed in one direction, guiding her own. Swallowing hard, she saw the black tail swaying above the heads, spreading that dark dust wherever it passed. A sensation so familiar filled her, causing her to sweat and tremble slightly, but also stirring great curiosity.

Carefully making her way through the group, just one more step and she could see the creature in full. Changing the trajectory of her gaze, she opened her eyes wide and started from the tip of the wing, following its incorporeal form to the end of its tail, finishing at its eyes. The deep blue glow shocked her, draining the strength from her legs as she collapsed to her knees with Hilary still in her arms.

The sound of footsteps running toward her was clear, but all she could see was the approach of that terrifying yet strangely beautiful creature… something she couldn’t stop herself from staring at.

“What happened?” Hye asked, suddenly kneeling in front of her. The concern in his words and expressions? Eudora couldn’t see any of that. All she could see was his hand reaching toward them, causing her to shiver, and instinctively, she acted to push him away.

“No!”