Consumption

The person who arrived was Jesse, whom neither of us trusted.

When he peered into the pit, looking down at us from above, I felt my face flush. Kirk and I exchanged glances, and a hint of embarrassment flashed between us.

"Why did you still end up on this side? This path doesn't lead out of the forest." Jesse raised his head and glanced toward the center of the forest.

Kirk and I leaned against the pit wall, and with each word he spoke, it felt like a mockery piercing into our hearts. But at the moment, only he could lead us out. I didn't know how the investigation by my shadow guards was going, and there had been no news for several days.

"Sir, can you rescue us?" I pleaded with Jesse. There was nothing inside the pit, and if we didn't get out now, we might end up starving in here, not to mention potential dangers as night fell.

"Wait for me to get some tools."