UTOPIA ✔

Chapter 3 - Encounter

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Kenji searched around for Enna but couldn't find her. Eric handled the situation as well as he could. He took Charlotte and Ishita away from Michael's body. They were moving to a different location, knowing nothing where they were heading in the dark. Charlotte's health was deteriorating. With less than a month left for her due date, it was too much of a stress on her body. With no sleep and mind filled with anxiety, they were all exhausted.

Eric had no suspicion about the person after him. Kenji didn't say anything. All he murmured was 'Walker! Walker! Walker!' while they made their way through the forest.

'Again that same feeling. Why here of all times? The red is coming back' Kenji thought.

The fog died. The light pierced through the gaps as the sun rose.

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Kenji had left to find something to drink and eat. He hadn't given up on Enna but the possibility of finding her in this dense forest was already looking slim. 'Who is after Eric?' Kenji thought. 'I'll keep quiet about everything for now. He doesn't seem to recognize me and that's better for now. I don't want their mind to give in to this darkness I'm carrying with me' he clenched his fist and punched the tree trunk. 'But could this place be?!' he thought and moved forward.

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'Charlotte, Ishita, here' Eric gave them the little water they had saved. 'Take it and divide this among yourself' he said.

'No' Ishita interrupted. 'She should have it all. She needs it the most.'

'But-'

'No but's Charlotte. Just drink it' Ishita said and handed her the bottle. 'What happened to Michael is sad but we can't lose ourselves here. We have to find Enna. She is still out there somewhere and' she clenched her fists. 'I can't let anything happen to Enna.'

'You're kind Ishita' Charlotte said. 'Do you have any siblings?' she asked.

'I have a younger sister. Her name is Beryl' she answered.

'And your parents?'

'They were on a vacation. I was with Beryl alone for a whole week and then I woke up here the same day my parents went on a vacation.'

'Family is a greatest joy you know. Don't ever let go of them' Charlotte said. 'I left my family to marry my boyfriend but he dumped me as soon as I got pregnant. Don't ever let go of your family, okay?!'

'Yes.'

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Kenji looked around for something consumable. He spotted mushrooms but they were either Cortinarius or Amanita Virosa and Amanita bisporigera, which were the poisonous type. There was no sign of water so he started looking for its substitute. There were ways to get water but that would have taken a while.

He was covered in sweat. The heat was extreme than the last few days and the shade of the trees weren't of much help. He slowed down his pace, took a breather and continued forward with his search. He didn't want to get far ahead without everyone else. He marked arrows with a sharp stone on the tree trunks to remember the path he came from.

After covering some distance, he stopped. He was breathing heavily and decided to take some rest. He sat down with his back on the tree trunk and looked around him. 'Nothing' he gasped. 'It feels as if we are swallowed by this forest and its slowly and painfully digesting us. These scars still sting' he mumbled and fell asleep.