READY OR NOT - Landoscar

6 - Here I Come

Lando drifted into a familiar, hazy realm as the last remnants of consciousness faded away, the edges of reality blurring into a velvety darkness. The air felt thick and sweet, wrapped in a soft, gentle warmth that cradled him like a cocoon. He opened his eyes, expecting the enveloping gloom of the forest, but he found himself standing in a tranquil clearing bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The trees stood tall and watchful, their branches swaying gently, whispering secrets to one another in the night.

Yet something felt different tonight—an unsettling absence, a vacuum of energy that pulled at him like a missing piece of a puzzle. He turned slowly, scanning the area, a quiet dread building in his chest. "Pia?" he whispered to the night, testing the name that had slipped through the man's lips like a sacred incantation.

There was no response, just the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Lando frowned, his heart beating slightly faster as he stepped deeper into the clearing, each footfall echoing in the silence. The moon hung high, casting a silver sheen over everything, illuminating the forest with an ethereal light that felt both comforting and disquieting. The shadows danced along the ground, elongating and shifting in the pale glow, creating a surreal landscape that felt alive.

He looked up at the tree where Pia had sat the last time, the strong branches stretching upward like arms reaching for the sky. "Are you up there?" he called, a mix of hope and trepidation threading through his voice. "I don't see you."

But the tree remained silent, its leaves rustling softly as if mocking his search. Panic gripped him, coiling around his chest like a vice. What if he never found Pia again? The thought sent a shiver through him, and he turned, glancing around the clearing, desperately searching for a sign, a flicker of movement that might lead him back to the mysterious figure.

And then, just as the heaviness of despair began to settle in, he heard it—a soft voice, sweet and soothing, drifting through the air like a warm breeze. "Pia," it murmured, a single word carried on the wind. Lando's heart leapt, but before he could react, a shadow materialised behind him.

He whipped around, his breath hitching in his throat, instinctively raising his hands in front of him. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, pressing his palm against his chest as he jumped back, startled. "You scared me!"

Standing there, silhouetted against the moonlight, was Pia. The figure was just as Lando remembered—mysterious and ethereal, his features defined by the soft luminescence of the moon, creating an almost otherworldly aura around him. Lando couldn't help but notice how the light played off Pia's sharp jawline and the gentle curve of his lips, the way his muddy brown hair shimmered with silver highlights in the dark.

Pia's eyes, those captivating caramel orbs, locked onto Lando's with an intensity that sent a rush of warmth through him, dispelling the chill of fear that had threatened to settle. His expression was calm, his demeanour serene, as if he were an anchor amidst the storm of Lando's swirling emotions.

"Pia," Lando repeated, allowing the name to linger in the air. It felt strangely intimate, almost sacred, as though they shared a connection deeper than mere words. He took a step closer, a sense of curiosity bubbling within him. "Is that your name?"

Pia nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. The soft, steady rhythm of his presence felt like a balm to Lando's frayed nerves. Despite the initial fright, an inexplicable sense of comfort enveloped him, wrapping around him like a warm blanket.

But then, a sense of confusion washed over him. "Why did you scare me?" he asked, his voice tinged with playful exasperation. "You really shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"

Pia's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief, but he remained silent, the laughter in his expression clear as he shook his head. The silence felt heavy with meaning, and Lando found himself drawn to it, the unsaid words hanging in the air like a delicate thread, weaving a deeper understanding between them.