Youray said, looking around with his eyes closed: "Looks like you've been trapped here for a long time."
Helmo replied in a soft, bitter voice: "Yes... Nine years ago. I was young then... I don't remember much."
Mihon asked in a quiet tone: "And why didn't you try to escape? Why didn't you leave this forest?"
Helmo sighed, then said, "No way... They imprison most of the people who work in the factories. We're not allowed to leave."
Mihon looked at him and asked, "So... The villagers don't know what's being made there?"
Helmo shook his head: "I don't know exactly, but there are two teams... one works inside the factories, the other outside, in the mountains. They extract something that looks like coal... but it's purple in color. From inside the caves. The ones who work inside, they say they squeeze those stones to extract a substance that no one knows what it is."
Youray asked, "And you? Why don't you work with them?"
Helmo replied seriously, "The agreement our village signed with them states that one person from each household must stay behind to protect the village from wild beasts… but that's just a pretext. I, along with five others, use it as an excuse to explore the forest. We're looking for a way to escape. Every year, everyone returns to the village for one week. No one stays in the factories. We don't know what happens there, but we know that week is different. We use hunting as our cover — we leave quickly and come back before sunset… because someone comes every day to count the villagers, as if we're…"
He fell silent, his eyes sinking into a sorrow as if they'd drowned in unextinguished ashes.
Mihon said calmly, "It seems they leave you no chance to escape."
Helmo replied tensely, "Yeah… I just hope they haven't found out you're here.
Youray replied simply, "They know."
Helmo looked at him, alarmed. "What?!"
Mihon said, "Before we met you… we were being watched."
Helmo grew nervous and spoke quickly, "You're in danger! You need to leave immediately. They might come to arrest you… or something worse might happen."
Mihon smiled calmly and, while looking at the rabbit in his hands, said, "No need to worry. Just relax. I'm hungry now… Do you know how to cook this rabbit?"
Helmo shouted, "Relax? Your lives are in danger! They might force you to work in the factories!"
Mihon lifted his head to the sky and said in a calm voice that resembled a threat, "Even if they didn't come… we were going to them."
Helmo was shocked. "You're going? To the factories? Why?"
Mihon replied with a smile, "To pick some weeds."
Helmo stared at him in disbelief. "What herbs are you talking about, when you're in danger?"
Mihon smiled wider. "We're your guests… Isn't it time you served us a meal?"
Helmo remained silent for a moment, astonished by their calmness, then sighed and said, "Fine… we'll eat this rabbit, but you must leave before it's too late."
Helmo led Mihon and Youray to his home. Despite its simplicity, it was clean and orderly. Three spacious rooms, a staircase leading to the second floor, and a small bathroom near the entrance. In the center stood a table surrounded by old but sturdy chairs. The small windows let in the orange glow of sunset, which reflected on the wooden walls like a quiet fire.
As he opened the back door, Helmo said, "Make yourselves comfortable. I'll prepare the rabbit. I won't be long."
Mihon and Youray sat silently, watching the scene with still eyes. An eerie silence hung over the moment.
Mihon said in a hushed tone: "Looks like we have to intervene... doesn't it?"
Youray replied: "I agree."
Mihon muttered, looking at the opposite wall: "This could get us into things we don't expect... but this village has suffered too much. We're at the beginning of the road... and look at what we've found. How about the rest of the world?"
Youray asked him: "When are we going to move?"
Mihon answered calmly: "Most likely... At night. When they send someone to look for us."
A short time later, Helmo returned with a slight smile on his face, as if the cooking had momentarily forgotten the danger around him. He placed the roasted rabbit on a large plate and sprinkled some mountain herbs on top.
Sitting down, he said: "Here you go."
They ate silently. The food wasn't fancy, but it was warm. The fire was whispering in the fireplace, and the knife was quietly cutting the meat.
Suddenly, Mihon broke the silence. What do you know about the outside world?
A few things.
Well listen carefully.
Mihon explained many things but hid some, but what caught Helmo's attention was when Mihon talked about the rebels and the things they do
Then he asked, "Are you rebels?
Yes, this is our first trip.
Helmo's eyes widened with excitement: "Take me with you!"
Mihon replied quickly and without hesitation: "No."
Helmo asked in shock: "Why?"
"Our path is difficult... you won't endure it," Mihoon said, looking at him seriously
Helmo replied with determination, "I will endure! Just take me!"
Mihon chuckled quietly, then said, "How can you endure something you don't understand? Do you want to die? Are you insane?"
But Helmo didn't back down. "Please…"
At that moment, Youray interjected calmly, "Why not become a rebel in your own way? Perhaps one day we'll meet again in this vast world… But to do that, you must be strong. This world remembers no weaklings."
Helmo didn't like Youray's words—discomfort flickered in his eyes—but he said nothing.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
A weary man stepped inside, holding a sack in his hands. He bore a clear resemblance to Helmo. His face was pale and sweaty, and his clothes were stained with faint purple dust. He stood in place, examining the guests with tired eyes.
Helmo rose and said respectfully, "Father."
Mihon and Youray stood and bowed slightly. "Welcome, sir."
Outside the house, the wind whistled between the trees, and a black cloud crept toward the mountain peaks. In the forest's shadow, glowing eyes appeared… watching the place.
And night had already begun.