Chapter 7: The Forest of Paradox (3)

Before he sat down, Victor knew from his vast experience that looks could be deceiving in a situation like this. 

"Let's hope there isn't any danger like a snake or something hidden here," he uttered, carefully scanning the area for any potential threats. He took note of the surrounding trees and listened for any unusual sounds.

Finally feeling satisfied that the meadow was indeed safe, Victor let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping. 

"Alright, I think it's safe enough," he said.

Carefully, Victor lowered himself onto the grass, testing its firmness with his hands before fully settling down. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. The sunlight warmed his skin, and the gentle breeze rustled through the leaves above. Victor then turned his gaze toward a nearby flower and reached out to touch it, its petals soft beneath his fingertips.

"Beautiful," he murmured to himself, a wistful smile playing on his lips as he admired its beauty.

"This is nice," he uttered, a smile spreading across his face after letting go of the flower petals. "A little break from all that walking and exploring I've been doing."

He lay there for a while, enjoying the peace and quiet. The birdsong was a soothing melody, and the rustling of the leaves was a comforting sound. With a soft smile, Victor leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows as he gazed up at the clear blue sky. He felt the warmth of the sun on his face and the gentle breeze ruffling his hair.

Lost in the tranquility of the moment, Victor closed his eyes and took a deep breath before letting out a contented sigh. It felt like all the worries and cares of the world seemed to melt away.

It was only when Victor absentmindedly brushed his fingers against his lips that he realized something. He was smiling...sincerely?

It was a smile, a genuine one, that curved his lips upwards. Not the kind born from cunning schemes or the thrill of the streets, but one that bubbled up from a place deep within. A childish joy he thought he'd long abandoned.

"Huh? Well, would you look at that," Victor chuckled softly, a hint of wonder in his voice.

"I wonder..." His voice, carried away by the wind, whispered, "When was the last time I felt this calm and happy?"

He pondered his past, from the reckless days of youth to the heights of his gangster career. Every moment, every triumph, every fall, flashed before his eyes. But none, not a single one, could match the pure, unadulterated joy he felt now.

"No, no, no...None of those moments couldn't even be compared to this emotion I'm having," he muttered, scratching his head in frustration. He strained his memory, desperately searching for a parallel, a moment of such profound peace.

"Ah, forget it," he sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile. "It would probably come rolling into my head sooner or later."

Staring at the vast expanse of the sky, a realization dawned on him, a funny one. He chuckled, a sound full of irony.

"Wealth, power, respect..." he listed, almost mechanically. "Those were the things I've chased half my entire life and succeeded."

He paused, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "They were supposed to bring fulfillment to me."

"But look at me now, grinning like an idiot in the middle of nowhere." He shook his head, a mix of amusement and disbelief. "I guess I'm really enjoying this."

At that moment, for whatever reason, Victor's mind slowly drifted back to his childhood, to a time when life was truly much simpler, and happiness could be found even in the smallest of things. He even recalled the carefree days of riding his bike down neighborhood streets and the taste of ice cream bought from a street vendor on a hot summer day.

Suddenly, a vivid memory surfaced, surprising him. He remembered watching sunsets from the rooftop of his old apartment building. " 

A smile spread across his face as he closed his eyes and pictured the scene: the rough texture of the rooftop ladder, the cool evening breeze, and the company of his closest friends.

"We would sit there for hours, talking about our dreams and ambitions, watching as the sky turned from blue to a fiery orange before fading into a deep purple," he reminisced. "Those were some of the best times of my life. Just a group of kids, with the whole world ahead of us, believing that anything was possible."

He could almost hear their voices, feel their presence as if they were right there beside him.

"I bet I can jump from this rooftop to that one!"

"Are you stupid!?"

"You'll break your leg and die!"

"No way! I'm the champion jumper!"

"Come on, Andrew, we're not here to do anything stupid, we're here to enjoy the sunset."

"Just ignore them, Sarah. That idiot needs to be taught a lesson sooner or later."

"Hey guys, we'll be best friends forever, right?"

"Forever and ever."

A wave of nostalgia washed over Victor. He missed those carefree days, the simple joys, and the unbreakable bond of friendship. He missed the feeling of endless possibilities, the belief that he could achieve anything.

"We didn't have much, but we had each other," Victor continued, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And that was enough for us at the time."

While he was enjoying the moment, Victor's smile suddenly faded as a shiver of inexplicable feeling immediately crept down his spine. A sensation he couldn't quite shake off.

"What the fuck...." He blurted, feeling as if a pair of eyes from someone or something were boring into his back, watching him and somehow he could feel their gaze prickling on the back of his neck.

Instinctively, Victor's guard went up as he stood up, and simultaneously, his heart began to race. His senses heightened as he scanned his surroundings, eyes darting from tree to tree, bush to bush, and anything his eyes could see.

As far as his eyes could see, there was nothing suspicious in the surroundings, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

"Who's there?! SHOW YOURSELF!!" Victor exclaimed loudly despite his voice tinged with unease. His question hung in the air for a few moments, with only silence greeting him in response aside from the only sound he could hear being the pounding of his own heart in his ears.

He took a cautious step forward, muscles tense, ready to react at the slightest hint of danger. Every nerve in his body screamed alertness, urging him to be vigilant.

Victor carefully scanned the surroundings as he walked, searching for any sign of movement or presence. After a while, he found nothing out of the ordinary. There was no sign of any lurking threat, no shadowy figure watching from the darkness. Nothing at all. It was just him and the stillness of the vast plains.

Reluctantly, Victor forced himself to relax by letting out a big sigh while shaking his head, pushing the unsettling feeling aside in his emotion and chiding himself for his paranoia.

"Oh man, it has been so long since I have been this tense," Victor muttered to himself, trying to shake off the lingering unease and taking a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "The last time this happened was when the boss tried to murder me because of a misunderstanding."

Victor sighed, thinking that it must be his mind playing tricks on him. Unexpectedly, when he had finally calmed down, a disembodied voice, gentle yet distant, broke the silence. 

["Welcome to the forest of paradox."]

Victor froze, his senses heightened once more, eyes widening in astonishment. "Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded, his voice echoing with surprise.

There was no response from the voice, and this caused him to be irritated. "Ah, for goodness sake…"

"OI STUPID! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOW YOURSELF, CAN YOU AT LEAST FREAKING TELL WHERE AM I? WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN THIS FOREST OF PARADOX CRAP!?!" He exclaimed furiously.

["A space between dreams and reality."]

The voice responded cryptically, its words lingering like ripples on a pond after a moment of silence.

"Between dreams and…reality?" Victor muttered, feeling surprised and at the same time more confused at the response. But before he could say anything, the voice continued, "Please follow the directions I'll show you."

Feeling a strange shift in the air, as if it was parting to make way, Victor paused for a moment. With a mix of fear and excitement, he decided to follow the guidance, knowing he had no other choice.

"Let's see where this leads," Victor muttered to himself, stepping into the path carved by the invisible force. The tall grass parted before him, as if nature itself was guiding him.

As he walked deeper, the surroundings transformed in a subtle yet magical way. Colors seemed to brighten with each step, the grass blades becoming more vibrant, and the air felt charged with energy. It was as if the environment itself was adapting to his movements, responding to the energy he was emitting.

Soon, he found himself in a part of the forest where the tall grass had given way to ancient trees. Their branches stretched towards the sky, forming a canopy that cast dappled sunlight on the ground below. Victor stopped and looked around in awe.

"This is incredible," he whispered, his voice echoing through the ancient forest. "I've never seen anything like it."

He carefully surveyed the ancient trees, their gnarled roots twisting and turning like prehistoric serpents. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a mesmerizing play of light and shadow on the forest floor. Each tree seemed to have its own unique character, its own story etched into its bark.

"It's like stepping into a painting," he mused, his eyes scanning the intricate details of the forest. "A living, breathing painting."

He reached out and touched the rough bark of one of the trees, feeling its ancient energy. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest: the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, the gentle hum of the wind. It was a symphony of nature, a harmonious blend of sights and sounds.

As he stood there, lost in the moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility. This was a place where time seemed to slow down, where the worries of the world faded away.

"I could stay here forever," he thought, a smile spreading across his face. When Victor turned, his heart skipped a beat. "Who is that?"

To Be Continued