He slowly opened his eyes; the light nearly blinded him. He closed his eyes again. —Vanrra? Are you back already? Vanrra! —He opened his eyes fully. — How are you? —Hiram was sitting next to a half-extinguished campfire. Around them were several backpacks filled with supplies. They were among the trees, not very deep into the forest. —Can you hear me? Can you see me?
Vanrra was lying on a sleeping bag. —Where are we?… Doc, why aren't we at your house? —His pupils adjusted to the light. Finally, he remembered; he sat up suddenly. —What time is it?! The wedding! Doc! We're going to be late! We have to get back to the village quickly!
He opened a can of food. His gaze was distant, visibly upset. His hands were trembling slightly, covered with large black gloves. —The wedding? We can't go anymore.
He put his hands on his head. —Is it already too late?! How long did I sleep? Esaú and Devi are going to want to kill me. The patriarch will kick me out of his house; I'll have to sleep in one of the stables again.
—No, Vanrra, there's no point in going back now.
—Why are you so discouraged? Arriving a little late isn't so bad. Today is a special day; my friends are getting married. I don't want to disappoint them.
—They're no longer with us. They're dead—Esaú, Devi, everyone from the village. We were the only survivors. —Vanrra froze; it was hard for him to stay upright. Hiram stared at him, watching his every move. —You can sit; you don't have to stand there. —Vanrra obeyed like a puppet. His gaze was lost in the small sparks of the campfire. There was a long, uncomfortable silence between them.
He said quietly, —So it wasn't a nightmare.
—Sadly. —Hiram seemed to feel the same way; he looked at his food with disgust. —I know how you feel, what's in your head. Above all, you must stay calm and steady. Don't let it control you. You're not alone; as long as you're with me, you'll be safe. It's not your fault…
He was still terrified. —That monster… Did you see it?
—…
—The white giant. Did you see it?
—Yes
—What was it?
—I have no idea.
—That thing… Was it a titan?
—Is that what you call them down here?
The horror was visible in his eyes. —It breathed fire; it crushed people as if they were worms. It destroyed houses as if they were made of paper. It tore Esaú apart without even touching him; it made him burst like a tomato.
—Calm down and breathe, don't… don't get angry.
He had a deep rage building inside him; his fear hadn't yet faded. —That monster… It destroyed the plaza, crushed everyone. It killed Esaú. It wanted to grab me; it was going to crush me like an ant. It… Devi…
—Don't think about that; you gain nothing by crying.
—I gain nothing! Are you stupid?! Everyone is dead, and you tell me to calm down!
—What else can you do? I know how you feel right now.
—You didn't lose anything! I didn't see you in the village! You must have stayed hidden in your mountain, watching that monster kill everyone. Why aren't you in the village right now, looking for survivors? How do you know everyone is dead?
—It's a very dangerous place; going back is an unnecessary risk. We won't put ourselves in danger just on a whim.
—A whim?! Are you a psychopath?! You saw a monster destroy the village, kill people… Is that your best answer? Why didn't you save anyone else?
—It's all I could do. Do you think I have nothing to lose? Everything I've done is to get back to my home; it's all I want. —His hands were trembling; his whole body was shaking. —What's done is done. I can't change the past. I don't control what happens in this world; I'm just a pawn. —He looked into the forest, as if searching for something among the trees. Vanrra was still in shock. Hiram stood up and put out the campfire with his boot. He walked over to Vanrra and handed him his can of food. —Here, eat, it will calm you down.
He looked at the can in amazement; he was starving. He ate until he finished it. Hiram moved away a bit and lowered his gaze. He sighed with pain and sadness, muttering incomprehensible words. Vanrra said to him, —I want to go to the village, I have to…
He didn't let him continue. —No, you don't have to go.
—I need to see if there are any remains and give them a proper burial.
—We won't go back there; there's nothing left. We should get out of here right now, before it gets worse.
—Worse? Is it not over yet?
Hiram approached the boy. —Those titans are all over this region; they're destroying everything in their path.
—How do you know?
—This wasn't the only village attacked; all night long, those roars could be heard; I saw other columns of smoke. I suppose they were from the other villages.
—Do you know why those things attack us? Why did they destroy the village? What are they? —Hiram got lost in thought. —Why did they kill Devi, Esaú, the patriarch… they crushed them as if they were nothing? What did we do?
—I'd like to know, too. Just keep going; don't torment yourself. There's nothing we can do to change what happened. Don't carry a guilt that isn't yours. —A great roar echoed through the valley, shaking the treetops. The roar of an infernal beast, the metallic screech of a predator. —Do you hear that? We have to get out of here now if we don't want to end up like your friends.
—Get out of here to where?
Hiram quickly packed up all the equipment. He handed him a compass. —It doesn't matter now; you need to take this backpack and head southwest, through the forest, without stopping. —He put the backpack in his arms. Vanrra was still in shock.
—I have to…? Aren't you coming with me?
—You have to go ahead. I have to go back to my house. I'll collect a few things of great value. They'll be useful to us later. I promise I'll catch up with you. Just go through the forest; don't stop for anything in the world. Don't look back.
Nerves ran down his back; it was getting harder and harder to breathe. —Doc. What's happening? Today was supposed to be a normal day; I should be with them right now, with the whole village. But now… What will become of me? Why am I alive?
—You'll forget about it, like you always do. Don't think about it, focus on crossing the forest. When you reach the other side, we'll talk about it. To be sad, you have to stay alive first. Do you promise me? —Vanrra nodded. Hiram went in the opposite direction.
"Cross the forest: I just have to walk, not think about anything else." He ventured into the tall trees; little by little, the leaves and shrubs obscured the view of the valley. He had never been so far; that forest was completely unknown. Large rocks and old trunks kept him from moving straight ahead; he had to take detours. The mountain ridges still hadn't disappeared; the terrain was uneven, causing the trees to block his path; he was forced to follow natural trails.
"Walk, just walk, don't think about anything else." He stopped when he saw a big pine nut on one of the trees. The sound of the leaves resembled Devi's laughter. He felt a great emptiness deep in his chest, a bottomless hole. He stood still for a couple of minutes. That blood-covered dress came to his mind. Everything she was, her entire being, died crushed in an instant. An entire world destroyed by the palm of a monster.
—Stop right there! Don't move! —someone shouted behind him; the voice was peculiarly shrill, like a squirrel's screech. —If you move, I'll shoot! —Vanrra remained still, head lowered. —Raise your hands! Damn cattle! Are you listening to me?! —Vanrra let out a giggle; he put his hands over his mouth. —Stop moving! If you keep moving, I'll kill you! —He began to sob; he fell to his knees. —Get up, damn beast!
—What are you waiting for?! —He turned around. —Don't just stand there… —The girl was pointing a gun at him; her fear was palpable. She was tall and slender. She had long black hair, with large, beautiful eyes that pierced his soul, like two lovely diamonds. Her uniform was a long, grayish-white military coat; it seemed to shine.
—Stop! Don't get up! Turn around! —She fired at a tree; the shot stunned him. The girl wore a bracelet on her left arm; it had an upside-down blue triangle embroidered on it. The uniform had blue details on the chest and a purple belt. —Move, and I'll kill you!
The only thing that distracted Vanrra from his sadness was that voice; it made him smile a little. That small happiness gave him the strength to stand up. —You're not listening! —She fired again. —Stay still, demon!
He turned slowly toward her. —Why don't you just kill me already?
—I'll kill you, animal! I'll kill you if you don't stay still!
—I don't know what you're waiting for. —She fired a third shot, this time at his feet.
—Why don't you react?! Do you want to die?! Cattle!
—You'd be doing me a big favor; I'm waiting. —He took a step toward her.
—Hey! Stop! —She aimed at his head. —I'll blow your head off! —Her hands were shaking. Vanrra stared at her.
—What are you waiting for? An order? Come on, shoot me!
She moved her hand at the last moment before pulling the trigger; the bullet grazed Vanrra's head, leaving him deaf for a few moments. She quickly moved to a nearby tree and vomited. She leaned against the trunk, suffering a panic attack, sobbing silently. Vanrra also collapsed, agitated. They both stayed like that for a few seconds.
As soon as Vanrra moved a muscle, the woman aimed at him again. —Don't move! Stay right there! —She was short of breath.
—Why didn't you kill me?
—I don't know.
—Are you lost too?
She wiped away her tears. —Lost?
—You don't seem to be from around here. You got lost in this forest; that's why you didn't kill me. You need me to help you get out.
—I don't need the help of a beast like you; you're a liar.
—Then shoot me or you'll get scared again. —She fired to his side.
She pointed at him again. —You don't scare me! I want to kill you! You disgust me! I hate you, I hate you so much!
—I hate myself too, more than you can imagine. —The girl lowered her gun, a bit confused, panting with thirst. She looked at Vanrra with curiosity, analyzing him. —Why do you hate me? —She stared at him in silence, leaning against a tree. They looked at each other for a long time. Where has he seen her before? I remember those eyes; they're unmistakable. I don't remember; maybe that's why she hates me. —Hey, what's your name?
—…
—Are you okay?
—That's none of your business.
He tried to stand up. —If you don't tell me where you entered the forest, we'll never get out. —She pointed at him again. Vanrra showed his hands, took a canteen from his backpack and stood up. —Do you want some?
She regained her composure. —Don't talk to me! You're going to do as I say.
—Then tell me. —She slowly approached him; Vanrra handed her the canteen. The girl drank like a thirsty animal. —Ready?
—Do you know how to get out?
—I'm heading southwest; that's where the exit is. —Vanrra pointed in the direction; the girl immediately walked that way.
—From what I've heard, this forest is very dangerous. I doubt a woman like you could cross it safely; I'm surprised someone as delicate as you made it this far.
—I'm not delicate. —She fixed her hair. —Because I'm listening to you, you're a lying beast, you're trying to control my mind. Cattle.
He tried to approach her. —Lying beast? What do you mean?
—Stay away from me! I'm the one with the weapon! —Vanrra didn't flinch. He was trying to make sense of the forest's interior. —Why are you turning your back on me? I'm talking to you, animal! —He held back his laughter. —What are you laughing at?! What do you find funny?!
—Your voice: you sound like a squirrel.
—You're dressed like a damn vagrant, you thing.
—Is that the best you've got?
The leaves rustled. —What was that? Did you hear it, thing?! —She pointed in all directions; the leaves were moving in the wind.
—Are you scared?
—Shut up!
—This place is full of wolves and bears, you know? Dozens of people disappear every year, little women like you.
—Really?! Human-eating wolves and bears?!
—That's not the worst, once I saw a beast the size of one of these rocks. It had horns, a tail, wings, chicken legs, and a black mane. Claws like knives, it spat blood and jumped several meters. It didn't have pupils; its eyes were completely white.
She said, terrified: —How long ago was that?
—About seven years ago.
The woman walked backward slowly until she bumped into Vanrra. —Don't touch me! —The weapon was slipping from her hands. —Why are you so calm?! You should be alert! You're a man!
—Alert for what?
—Of the bear and of me. You should be terrified of me; you're too trusting.
—You don't scare me; on the contrary, I feel calm, as if I already knew you.
—What are you saying, thing? Are you trying to manipulate me?!
—You're very weird.
—Weird, me?
—I think it's this way. By the way, my name's Vanrra. What's your name?
—It's none of your business; keep walking, thing.
—Then what do you want me to call you? —She didn't answer; they kept walking among the trees. They watched every step; she stayed a few meters behind, ready to fire her weapon. —A little faster, thing.
—I hope you'd stop being so rude. Your act doesn't fool anyone; you're nothing more than a scared girl.
—Shut up, animal!
—You're not going to shoot me.
She challenged him. —How do you know?
—Your eyes tell me everything. —They both heard a noise. The girl pointed her weapon at the bushes. Before she could shoot, a dozen hooded figures emerged from the large leaves. They seized them both, threw them to the ground, and covered their heads with a sack. The girl kicked and screamed; it was the last thing he heard before he was knocked unconscious by a heavy blow.
He woke up outdoors. The smell of campfires reached him. Dozens of them rose throughout the small clearing; all the trees had been cut down in a wide circular perimeter. A tall watchtower stood near the center. Dozens of tents were scattered around: a somewhat improvised camp. Vanrra was tied by the hands to a stake; they had left him only with his clothes and had gagged him.
A crowd of men moved about the camp; they were in a great hurry. They carried large bags and boxes. They all wore leather clothes and caps; they were hunters. They carried rifles and shotguns. One of them approached him. His age showed; he was robust and had a large beard; he wore a fur cap. —Looks like you've woken up. —He removed the gag. —Can I ask who you are?
He said quickly, —My name is Vanrra, I come from the northeast, from Gamini.
—What are you doing so far from home? Were you attacked too?
He shuddered. —Did that monster make it all the way here?
—We located it to the north.
—Why did you attack me?
—Precaution. Everyone here is very nervous; they don't trust anyone. Lucky for you, you're from around here. —He crouched down to untie him. —You can rest a bit; we're safe here. I doubt that thing can get through the big trees.
—Of course it can! We have to hide in the woods; out here we're exposed.
—You think so? We already faced that thing in open ground; it's impossible to fight on that terrain.
He had a glimmer of hope. —You faced it? How?
—Gunpowder. We set a trap for it when it tried to enter the woods; we blew up a barrel of gunpowder in its face. We blew off one of its two big horns. It screamed, like a thousand demons; I still can't believe a beast like that exists.
—Horns? What are you talking about? That giant didn't have horns.
—What are you saying?
—I'm very sure the giant that attacked my village didn't have horns. What was the giant you encountered?
He approached him threateningly. —I don't have time for you anymore; stop bothering me and go take care of your friend.
—Friend?
He pointed to a tent. —The weirdo who came with you attacked several of our men. We had to put her in a cage; she hadn't stopped screaming and cursing. She doesn't seem to be from these lands.
—Where are my things?
—In the main store, ask for them.
—Thank you. —Vanrra walked among the cut logs; barricades and sandbags were distributed across the clearing. The hunters aimed at their bolt weapons directly at the forest, alert to any movement. He headed to the cabin located right in the center. It was surrounded by piles of boxes and even more tents. "Horns? Is there more than one giant? That's what the doc meant when he said this wasn't over yet."
A loud roar came from the forest, accompanied by shotgun blasts. The tops of the tall trees swayed as if in a great storm. Flocks of birds flew out of the woods. All the men immediately moved toward the source of the noise, waiting with their rifles for any movement. Vanrra watched from a distance.
The ground rumbled. Suddenly, one of the hunters in the tower fired; everyone else followed. A rain of lead lashed the forest; they fired for just under a minute. The roars of that thing gradually faded. When it was over, everyone remained on alert for several agonizing minutes.
Next to Vanrra were the camp's women and men with sniper rifles. One of them approached and handed him binoculars. —Kid, help us if you can spot anything. —The forest seemed empty; the large trunks and leaves made it hard to see inside. He looked up at the treetops; he saw how some of them moved slightly, in a pattern. —Do you think it's the monster? —It's just the wind. —They think it might have moved to another part of the perimeter; I doubt it's still on the same side. —Maybe you're right.
Vanrra looked in another direction; he was petrified when he saw that demon. Among the darkness of the giant trees, he saw two small eyes like torches of blue fire. That thing was as tall as the trees; tall like an oak, it watched them silently.
It was a thin humanoid with a narrow abdomen. Its long arms reached down to its knees. Its hands were disproportionately large; it seemed to wear large bracelets made of a very strange stone. Its whole body was covered with that material, from its waist to its shoulders, chest, legs, and knees. Like a walking wall. Rusty stone. Its skin was dark; it had a kind of fur.
All the men were petrified with fear; those beacons of light instilled an instinctive panic. One of the men fired; immediately, the beast emerged from the trees. Its legs were like heavy rocks. Its face was completely smooth except for a wheel-shaped mouth; it had a large stone horn on the left side of its head.
The hunters fired all their weapons; the beast didn't react in the slightest. With its large hands, it ripped a couple of trees from the ground and stripped them completely. It broke them in half and took a throwing stance. It swung its heavy right arm and hurled the pieces of wood at the tower. The logs shattered it like shrapnel; the tower collapsed immediately. The debris fell onto the barrels of gunpowder, spilling it everywhere.
The monster let out a high-pitched shriek; everyone covered their ears; it stomped the ground with its enormous feet; they were like solid blocks of stone. Stumps shot out in all directions, mutilating and tearing apart dozens of men. The beast approached one of them; its steps made the earth tremble, its arms swayed. It tore the man from the ground and brought him to its mouth. The man screamed in desperation, unable to move because of his broken leg. The beast devoured him while the rest watched in shock. There was a rain of blood, a blasphemous festival that stained the earth.
A large group of men snapped out of their trance and tried to run toward the forest; the demon shrieked again; everyone fell to the ground. The demon hurled another batch of stumps at them, mutilating them all. Many did nothing but scream and cry, unable to move because of the monster's inexplicable aura. There were no words to explain the terror the beast created, a deep feeling that made them act in ways they couldn't even understand. The beast began to chase people to devour them. Whenever someone tried to leave the clearing, the monster stomped the ground again, launching more stumps to mutilate those fleeing.
Vanrra remained frozen, just like everyone around him, who wept before their inevitable fate. They seemed like sheep before a butcher, docile in the face of death. —What is that thing?! —The monster came closer and closer. Vanrra could picture himself devoured by that demon, dead like the rest of his friends; all he could think about was fear.
A shrill voice snapped him out of his trance; it came from near the tower's wreckage. —Help! Someone! —A woman cried desperately. That moment of clarity allowed Vanrra to move and run toward the forest.
The beast noticed; before it could let out its shriek, a group of men shot it in the eyes. The monster turned toward them. An injured hunter was near a barrel of gunpowder, which caught the monster's attention. The demon grabbed him along with the barrel and brought them to its mouth; the fuse lit too soon. The barrel exploded in its hand; the beast screamed like thousands of demons at once—voices of men, women, and children in unison, all at the same time. Amid the agony and pain, there were also laughs and taunts. Vanrra dropped to the ground.
The explosion had knocked the stone blocks off its wrists; the flesh inside was a pale color, like milky fluid. The rest of its skin started turning that color; the wound began to expel that liquid, splashing everything around. As soon as it came into contact with the light, the liquid started to change color, like a rainbow in water.
The beast moved erratically, dragging everything in its path. The hunters still standing got up; some began moving more barrels of gunpowder. —Careful! —The beast kicked one of the groups; the barrel exploded, barely cracking the massive stone block of its foot.
Vanrra got up; in front of him was the forest. Before entering, he heard that voice in his head again. —Help! Mitra! Where are you? —Vanrra couldn't run away; not again, he felt a great anchor in his chest. —Again? Why am I so stupid? —Vanrra went toward the voice. He ran through the chaos. He could see how the colossus had turned almost completely white; it looked like a great whitish beacon. It had left a great trail of that liquid throughout the camp. Its shrieks grew ever more incomprehensible, as if thousands of children were crying at once. It devoured the few remaining men one by one.
Vanrra reached the tents, next to the rubble; screams could be heard from beneath them. With a sharpened stick, he managed to cut the fabric. The girl was hyperventilating. She was surprised to see him arrive. —Vanrra! You have to get me out of here! —The steel cage had a big padlock. —What's happening?!
—Shut up! —Vanrra found a shovel nearby; with it, he struck the lock with all his might; he barely scratched it.
—Hurry up! Don't you have any strength?! —Vanrra hit it again and again; he tried in different positions. The girl was left open-mouthed when she saw the monster, which had fallen to the ground; its light had become so intense it was almost blinding. Vanrra turned to look at it; the monster noticed and began to drag itself toward them, like a hungry lion.
Vanrra looked away from that harmful light; he managed to see the reflection of a rifle barrel. He took a couple of bullets from the ground, loaded them, and shot at the padlock. The girl threw herself at him.
—We have to go! —The woman was in shock, completely terrified. Vanrra grabbed her hand to run away. The colossus lunged at the rubble; they barely managed to get out unharmed. They ran as fast as they could.
Before the beast could get up, the gunpowder among the rubble exploded. That milky liquid covered almost the entire clearing. The monster let out a final roar; they didn't look back. The beast's cries turned into thousands of moans and high-pitched laughs.
They both entered the forest and ran for several minutes. They climbed down a couple of rocks until they crossed a small stream. They were exhausted. They found a perfect place to rest, right beside the little river; they hurried to drink. They lay down on the ground; the surroundings seemed calm.
After quenching her thirst, the girl looked at Vanrra intently; she was about to cry. She threw herself to hug him; she was still in deep panic, trembling with fear. The eyes and the moans of that abomination were still burned into her memory. They were both still very exhausted. After catching her breath, the girl let go of him instinctively, somewhat embarrassed. —Why did you come back for me?
Panting from exhaustion —I don't know.
—Thank you. —She looked at the nature around her, with the soothing sound of the stream. —Sofia… my name is Sofia.
—Sofia, how are you?
—…
He washed his face. —Do you know what that thing was? It looked… like nothing I've ever seen. I hope it's dead. That thing, that monster... eat... —He vomited, remembering the scene, the blood trickling down the rock, and the screams of the poor wretches
Sofia also felt nauseous remembering the beast. —What will we do now?
He was still exhausted. —Now what?
—Do you know where to go? Did you take anything from the camp?!
—I only have this. —He took a couple of bullets out of his pockets. Sofia disassembled the bullets with a stone, and with their gunpowder they made a fire for a campfire.
They heard the crash of thunder; in broad daylight, the forest rumbled. It seemed to come from far away. They heard the roar of that beast one last time; its very existence was a mockery of nature. After that, the forest calmed down. They waited until dusk. She asked him, —Do you think there are more monsters like that in the forest?
—I don't know; I know nothing. I lied to you; I've never set foot in this forest. I hope there aren't more things like that. —They both sat by the fire, alone in the darkness.
—Do you also feel this is somehow familiar?
—A little, but I feel like someone is missing.
—I have that feeling too. —Vanrra handed her some berries. —Do you want some? So you're not so hungry. —Sofia took them very carefully, examining them in amazement, as if it were the first time she'd seen a diamond.
—Will they hurt me?
—Of course not, they're delicious. —Sofia ate them. She liked them, but not as much as she had imagined. —They're not dangerous unless they're blue; those are poisonous. The good thing is I gave you red ones.
—You gave me blue ones.
—Liar, they were red; I saw them in the firelight… —Sofia put her hands to her throat and tried to spit them out. She ran to the stream and desperately rinsed her mouth. Vanrra couldn't stop laughing.
—Why are you laughing?! I'm going to die!
—Of course not, it was a joke. You look really ridiculous.
—It's not funny!
—You're the funny one: your face, your voice.
—You think my face is funny?!
—No, it's just that… you seem kind of friendly to me. Without your weapon, you're just a normal girl.
—Damn cattle, don't make fun of me!
—When will you stop being so rude? People stay away from you if you insult them all the time; you're lucky we're in a forest and I literally can't run away.
—…
—Am I bothering you?
—….
—Didn't you like the joke?
—…
—Sofia…
She answered immediately: —Don't talk to me.
—Did the joke bother you? I'm sorry, I just wanted to see… how gullible you were.
—It's my fault for trusting savages like you. You're all liars.
—Then why have you trusted me?
—I don't know, maybe I'm a fool. A danm idiot. —She shed a few tears.
—I don't think so; I've met a lot of really stupid people. You're not like them; you just trust me a lot.
—Someone like you knows absolutely nothing.
—You and I are the same, at the mercy of monsters. Neither of us has the slightest idea what's going on.
They both stared at the fire, facing each other. She said to him, —Vanrra, why are you in this forest? You say you've never been here before.
—What am I doing here? Isn't it obvious? I'm running away from a monster.
—The horned beast?
—No, a much worse one. Another giant, a very different one. A titan.
She looked at him intently with her big eyes. —A titan? What was that titan like?
—That bastard, how could I forget him. He… he… he destroyed my village. He killed everyone I cared about. —He clenched his fists tightly. —He destroyed everything in my life, left me alive to bear this damn pain. Why am I still alive? I should be dead.
—I should be dead too. I should have been crushed by the monster. You saved me; that's why I'm alive. Thanks to whom are you still alive?
That scene came to his mind, when he was face to face with the titan. Was it going to crush me? What happened right after? How did I survive? Why didn't it kill me? —I'm not sure. —Some footsteps caught both their attention; they got up at once. From the darkness came a familiar silhouette. —Doc! You're okay!
He was carrying a backpack and holding another large bag in one hand. Dressed in a white shirt, pants, and a khaki vest. He wore big boots, a belt, and a bandolier. He dropped the large bag at his feet. —I see you have company.
He went to hug him. —Doc! You have no idea what I saw. I got to a camp in the middle of the forest. It was attacked by a huge monster, a giant with horns. It killed everyone there, devoured them… it ate people. —Hiram stepped away from him and walked toward Sofia; he questioned her with his gaze. She seemed embarrassed. —She's Sofia, Doc. I found her in the forest; she was also running away from the monster... She doesn't talk much.
He crouched in front of her. —Sofia? —She nodded. —I'm Hiram, Hiram Abiff. You don't belong to this land?
She was surprised by the question. —No.
Hiram reached out his hand for a greeting; Sofia responded shyly. Hiram gave her a firm handshake. Sofia was left frozen, not knowing how to respond. —You…?
—What's wrong, Doc? What did you do to her?
He let go of her. —Nothing's wrong; let her rest; she's very pale. She just wants to calm down. Don't bother her. —He sat by the campfire. He took a canteen out of his backpack and handed it to Vanrra; he drank half of it.
—What is this? It doesn't feel like water.
—It's not just water; it'll help you recover. —Vanrra offered the drink to Sofia. Hiram was slightly annoyed. —It's for you; it's too strong for a woman. Finish it.
—But she…
Sofia said. —No thanks.
Vanrra approached Hiram. He asked in a low voice, —Do you know where she might be from?
—From a strange place. I don't know of anywhere on Earth where they wear clothes like that.
—Do you know everyone in the world?
—I can make an idea.
—Doc, what's in those backpacks?
—Useful things, better clothes. Change out of those rags when you can.
Vanrra started to feel a bit sleepy. —What did you see on your way, Doc? Did you run into one of those giants?
—No, I only heard those things roar. If I was shaken, I can't imagine what you must have felt.
—The monster killed more than thirty hunters; it devoured them; that thing wasn't an animal. Its eyes were blue, like torches. Aside from the fact that it was a monster, there was something very strange about it, something that shouldn't even be able to exist. Its blood was white; it changed color constantly. Its roar: it's impossible for an animal to roar like that; it sounded like the voices of thousands of people, children.
—Maybe fear made you imagine some things.
—No! I know what I experienced; Sofia lived it too. That thing appeared right after yesterday's titan. Could they be related?
—I'd like to know.
Vanrra yawned. —What do you think, Sofia? What's your theory?
—I… —She looked at Hiram. —I have no idea what it is. I don't know anything. I wish I knew… what's happening, where I am. What did I get myself into? —She looked up at the sky. —I just want to go home.
Hiram replied. —We both want to; no one wants to be here, but unfortunately we're trapped with those monsters.
—What do you think that monster is, Doc?
—The one with the horn?
—The titan.
Hiram looked at the fire. —What do I think it is? I don't think it's a monster; it's something different. I'm not sure both are related. Anyway, we have very little information. Maybe they're something we ourselves have called into being.
Vanrra fell asleep in the middle of the speech. His eyes closed peacefully. He was terribly exhausted. Hiram covered him with a blanket. Before falling into deep sleep, he heard that squirrel voice. Some unintelligible words.