MEMELAND

The sun dipped lower as the conversation came to an end.

Golden light filtered through the window, casting long shadows across Lee's house.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Kai sat quietly, staring into his half-empty cup.

Lee stared at the letter.

The same thought seemed to occupy both of them.

Something had killed Elrick.

And whatever it was, it was still somewhere inside the forest.

Eventually Lee folded the letter and carefully tucked it into a drawer.

"I'll keep this safe for now."

Kai nodded.

"Tomorrow I'll figure out how to get it to Akshay."

"You know the king personally?"

Lee scratched the back of his head.

"Kinda."

"Kinda?"

"It's complicated."

Kai was beginning to suspect that everything in this world was complicated.

Before he could ask further questions, a knock sounded at the door.

Three quick knocks.

Lee stood.

"Come in."

The door opened.

A woman entered carrying a basket of vegetables.

She appeared relieved when she saw Lee.

"There you are."

Lee smiled.

"Need something?"

The woman sighed.

"It's the livestock again."

The smile disappeared.

"What happened?"

"They won't settle down."

Kai quietly listened.

The woman continued.

"The cows keep trying to break the fence."

"The chickens refuse to stay in their coop."

"My husband hasn't slept properly in three nights."

Lee frowned.

"Maybe wolves?"

The woman immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Then what?"

"I don't know."

Her voice lowered.

"But something keeps watching from the treeline."

Silence.

The atmosphere in the room shifted.

The woman glanced toward the window.

Toward the forest.

"I know how that sounds."

Lee forced a smile.

"It's probably nothing."

"You always say that."

"Because most things are nothing."

She didn't seem convinced.

After a few more minutes of conversation, she left.

The door closed behind her.

Kai looked at Lee.

"You don't believe it's wolves."

Lee sighed.

"No."

"Because of Elrick?"

Lee nodded.

"Because of Elrick."

The room fell quiet again.

Then Lee suddenly stood.

"Well."

Kai looked up.

"Well what?"

"No point worrying about it tonight."

Lee stretched.

"You should get some fresh air."

Kai blinked.

"What?"

"You've been sitting inside all day."

"I woke up in a forest."

"Exactly."

Lee pointed toward the door.

"Go explore the village."

Kai considered arguing.

Instead, he stood.

A walk sounded preferable to sitting around thinking about dead messengers and mysterious monsters.

Villagers moved through the streets carrying lanterns.

Children played near the well.

Several merchants packed away their goods for the day.

For the first time since waking up, Kai allowed himself to relax.

Just a little.

The village wasn't large.

Perhaps fifty houses in total.

Everyone seemed to know everyone else.

A strange feeling stirred within him.

Jealousy.

Not because of the buildings.

Not because of the village.

Because of the people.

They belonged somewhere.

He didn't.

Kai stopped near the village well.

Children ran past him laughing.

One nearly crashed into his leg.

The girl stopped abruptly.

She couldn't have been older than ten.

Brown hair.

Bright eyes.

A basket hung from her shoulder.

She looked up at him.

Then frowned.

"You're weird."

Kai blinked.

That was certainly an introduction.

The girl pointed at his clothes.

"Why do you dress like that?"

Kai looked down.

Fair point.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I woke up like this."

The girl stared.

Then burst out laughing.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

A boy around her age appeared behind her.

"Mom says you're the stranger."

Kai nodded.

"I guess."

The boy tilted his head.

"Are you a knight?"

"No."

"A mercenary?"

"No."

"A criminal?"

Kai paused.

"Hopefully not."

The girl laughed again.

"You're definitely weird."

Kai sighed.

The children seemed determined to make that observation.

The boy stepped closer.

"I'm Ethan."

The girl puffed out her chest proudly.

"And I'm Lily."

Kai nodded.

"Kai."

The children exchanged glances.

"Just Kai?"

Kai groaned.

"Please don't start."

They laughed.

For a brief moment, he found himself smiling.

The feeling surprised him.

The children continued asking questions.

Most of which Kai couldn't answer.

Where was he from?

No idea.

How old was he?

No idea.

Did he have a family?

No idea.

Eventually even the children realized something was wrong.

Lily's expression softened slightly.

"That sucks."

Kai blinked.

"What?"

"Not remembering."

The words caught him off guard.

For a moment he didn't know how to respond.

Before he could answer, a woman called from down the road.

"Lily! Ethan!"

The children immediately looked toward the voice.

"Coming!"

Lily turned back toward Kai.

"We're gathering herbs tomorrow."

Ethan nodded.

"Near the forest."

Kai frowned.

"The forest?"

"Just the edge."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"We're not stupid."

Kai wasn't entirely convinced.

The two children waved goodbye and ran off.

Their laughter echoed through the village.

Then gradually faded.

Kai watched them disappear.

A strange feeling settled in his chest.

One he couldn't explain.

Lanterns illuminated the streets.

Families returned to their homes.

The village became quieter.

Kai eventually returned to Lee's house.

The smell of food greeted him immediately.

Lee looked up from the stove.

"Enjoy the tour?"

Kai nodded.

"Met some children."

Lee groaned.

"Lily and Ethan?"

"How did you know?"

"Because they harass every stranger that comes through here."

Kai laughed softly.

The two shared dinner.

Simple food.

Bread.

Soup.

Vegetables.

Yet after waking up with nothing, it felt like a feast.

For a brief moment, things felt normal.

Safe.

Peaceful.

Then a scream shattered the night.

The bowl slipped from Kai's hand.

It hit the floor.

The scream came again.

Outside.

Desperate.

Panicked.

Lee was already on his feet.

The two rushed outside.

Villagers emerged from their homes carrying lanterns.

A woman stumbled into the center of the road.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Please!"

Her voice cracked.

"Please help!"

Kai immediately recognized her.

Lily's mother.

The crowd gathered around her.

Lee stepped forward.

"What happened?"

The woman struggled to speak.

"My daughter..."

Her voice broke.

"She hasn't come home."

Silence.

The crowd froze.

Another woman stepped forward.

Pale.

Terrified.

"So has Ethan."

A cold feeling spread through Kai's body.

The villagers exchanged worried looks.

Lee's expression darkened.

"When did they leave?"

"This afternoon."

"They went gathering herbs."

The words hit Kai immediately.

The forest.

Several villagers began speaking at once.

The atmosphere shifted from concern to fear.

Lee slowly clenched his fists.

"This is bad."

Kai saw it immediately.

The look in Lee's eyes.

The same look he had when discussing Elrick.

The same look he had when hearing about the livestock.

He already knew.

Whatever killed Elrick might have found the children.

The mothers were crying now.

The villagers stood helplessly.

Nobody wanted to say it.

Nobody wanted to go into the forest after dark.

Kai looked toward the treeline.

The darkness beyond seemed deeper than before.

Watching.

Waiting.

Then he stepped forward.

"I'll go."

The village fell silent.

Every eye turned toward him.

Lee stared.

"Kai."

"Someone has to."

The words left his mouth before he fully thought them through.

Maybe it was foolish.

Maybe it was dangerous.

But he couldn't stand there doing nothing.

Not after meeting those children.

Not after hearing their laughter.

The mothers looked at him as though he were their last hope.

Lee cursed under his breath.

Then disappeared inside his house.

Moments later he returned carrying something metal.

A worn knuckleduster.

He held it out.

Kai looked at it.

"What's this?"

"A lucky charm."

"It doesn't look lucky."

"It isn't."

Kai accepted it anyway.

The metal felt surprisingly heavy.

Lee placed a hand on his shoulder.

For the first time since meeting him, his voice was completely serious.

"Be careful."

Kai nodded.

Then turned toward the forest.

Toward the darkness.

Toward whatever waited within.

And without another word, he stepped beyond the village lights.