บท 62: Chapter 62 - Escape into the forest
Kui's breath came in ragged gasps, each step more painful than the last as he pushed through the tight, winding passageway.
The walls pressed in on him, cold and damp, the stone rough beneath his trembling fingertips. Mi Aok's weight hung heavy on his back, making every movement feel like a struggle, but he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not here.
His heartbeat echoed in his ears, almost louder than the silence of the underground tunnel that seemed to stretch on forever.
The air was thick, stifling, and every breath felt like he was inhaling wet, stagnant air. His skin prickled, a mixture of sweat and anxiety sticking to him, and every step felt like an eternity.
The darkness around him wasn't just black—it was suffocating, swallowing up everything. There was no light, no sense of time.
Just the endless, narrow path, winding deeper and deeper.
But Kui kept his fingers tracing the walls, desperate for some familiar sign, something that would guide him out of this nightmare.
His mind raced, thinking of Guilin, thinking of the mer soldiers that might already be hunting them down. The thought of being dragged back into the water, of never feeling solid ground again, was enough to keep him moving, even as his legs screamed for rest.
Then, his fingers brushed against something—a deep circular dent in the stone. Relief surged through him. This was it. The turn.
Kui stumbled to the side, almost losing his grip on Mi Aok, but he held on. He had to. His heart pounded, pushing him forward, until suddenly—light.
It wasn't bright at first. Just a thin beam, slipping through a crack in the ceiling, but it was enough. It pierced the darkness like a knife, guiding him forward. As they moved, more and more light broke through, until finally, the end of the passage opened up ahead of them.
Panting, Kui collapsed onto his knees, letting Mi Aok slip from his back. He pressed his hands into the soft, moss-covered soil, feeling it give beneath his fingers. He just sat there for a moment, digging his hands in deeper, letting the earth ground him. It had been so long—too long—since he had felt anything solid under his feet. The water had its peace, its stillness, but sometimes… sometimes it felt like he was drowning. His half-human body craved this, the earth, the air, even if it hurt him to admit it.
Mi Aok stirred behind him. "You okay?"
Kui didn't answer at first. He was staring back into the dark passageway, the forest before him barely registering. "He… he should have come after us by now. I thought for sure Guilin wouldn't just… let us go." His voice cracked as he spoke, a soft, anxious whisper. "I hope he's safe. I owe him for everything."
For a second, the memories rushed back—Guilin, their captor, yes, but never cruel. He'd kept them alive, cared for them, never once laying a hand on them with ill intent. Kui felt torn, a strange sense of gratitude mixing with the relief of escape. He couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at him.
Mi Aok's voice cut through his thoughts, low and soft. "You don't owe him anything, Kui. I paid him back—with interest."
Kui turned, raising an eyebrow, trying to understand. "That scale you gave him… is it really that valuable?"
Mi Aok gave him a small, almost proud smirk. "More valuable than you think. So stop worrying about him. We've got bigger problems. The mer soldiers will come after us soon. We need to move. This forest… it's perfect for hiding, but not if we linger."
Kui nodded, though his chest still felt heavy. He stood, his legs aching, feet sinking into the damp earth again. His mind was still half in that dark passage, where Guilin had let them go without a word.
But there was no time. Not anymore.
Without another word, Kui dashed into the shadows of the forest, his heart still racing with a mix of fear, guilt, and the faintest hint of something like regret.
Kui ran until the sky turned dark, his legs burning, breath coming in shallow gasps.
The forest stretched endlessly before him, the towering trees blocking out what little moonlight there was. His feet were heavy, sinking into the soft earth with every step.
Finally, when his body could take no more, he stumbled upon a massive tree, its trunk wide enough to hide inside. A hollowed-out hole at its base seemed to call to him.
Kui collapsed into the shelter of the tree, his back pressed against the rough bark as he tried to catch his breath. He gently set Mi Aok down beside him and took a moment to listen to the forest around them—just the soft rustling of leaves, the occasional chirp of distant creatures. Safe for now.
He reached into his clothes and pulled out the small bag Guilin had handed him before their escape. Kui's fingers shook a little as he undid the knot, revealing what was inside—lots of bread and hard cheese. It was more than he'd expected. He hadn't thought Guilin would give them anything, let alone food to help them survive.
The sight of it stirred something in Kui, a quiet ache in his chest. Guilin hadn't been all bad, and that was the worst part.
He tore one of the loaves in half and handed the larger piece to Mi Aok, who sat beside him, silent and tense.
Aok eyed the bread suspiciously, his nose wrinkling. "I don't eat human food," he muttered, crossing his arms like a stubborn child.
Kui blinked and pulled back, suddenly feeling awkward. "Oh… sorry," he mumbled, quickly taking back the offered bread. He took a bite himself, chewing slowly, the rough texture and stale taste filling his mouth. "Is it that you can't digest human food?"
Aok shrugged, still looking unimpressed. "I don't know. Never tried it. We mer folk look down on human food."
Kui raised an eyebrow, curious. "You've really never tried it?"
Aok shook his head, his frown deepening. Kui watched him for a moment, then looked at the bread in his hands. He tore off a small, soft piece from the middle and held it out to Aok, offering it gently.
"Try it. Just a bite. If you can digest it, you should eat more. We don't know how long we're going to be stuck out here, and you'll need your energy."
Aok hesitated, glaring at the small piece of bread like it had personally offended him. But Kui didn't waver, his hand still outstretched, his expression soft and encouraging. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Aok took the bread from him and popped it into his mouth.
At first, his face was a mask of indifference. But then, something shifted. His frown melted away, replaced by wide-eyed surprise. "It's… good?" His voice was filled with disbelief, as if the idea of enjoying human food was an impossible concept.
Kui couldn't help but chuckle softly, relief flooding through him. "Great! Have some more." He tore off more of the soft part of the bread and handed it over, piece by piece, watching as Aok's expression shifted from reluctant to intrigued, then finally to something close to enjoyment. Kui made sure to give him all the softest bits, while he ate the harder, tougher rind himself, chewing thoughtfully.
As they sat in the dark hollow of the tree, Kui couldn't help but feel a strange sense of calm.
The forest around them was vast, unknown, and filled with danger, but here, in this moment, they had a small respite. Aok, despite his pride, was eating human food, and Kui felt a strange sort of satisfaction in that small victory.
It wasn't much, but it felt like a step forward. Away from the water, away from the passage that had almost swallowed them whole.
And maybe, just maybe, it was a step toward something better.
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