Empty. Barren. Nothing. I had been walking for what felt like hours, maybe longer. The sun beat down mercilessly, painting the ground a harsh, blinding reddish white.
Dust swirled in lazy, mocking whirls around my feet, scratching my ankles and sticking to my damp skin. Every step sank slightly into the dry, cracked soil, making the journey feel endless.
"Why is it so bright? Ugh… damn it, my head…" I muttered, wiping sweat from my forehead. My body was drenched in sweat—profuse, unnatural sweat that only appeared in certain places: armpits, forehead, palms, and feet. "What the hell… why won't the rest of me sweat? That's… not normal…"
I glanced around, trying to measure distance, trying to tell myself how far I'd come—and how far I'd have to go if I turned back. But there were no landmarks, only the endless dust and heat waves bending the horizon. My mind spun with numbers I couldn't trust, directions I couldn't confirm. Did Sakura point me this way? Did I even remember the path correctly?
Still, I couldn't stop. The city—somewhere, ahead—was all that mattered. My legs ached, my lungs burned, my skin prickled under the relentless sun, and yet I kept moving. Forward. Always forward. Everything else faded—the heat, the dust, the disorientation. "Maybe I should've asked Sakura… for some supplies or something… why didn't I… stupid…"
The sky shimmered, bending like glass under heat. The world looked fake, like a painting melting under the sun. My vision pulsed at the edges—dark, then bright, then dark again
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Every sound seemed amplified—my heartbeat thundering in my ears. "Oh god… too loud… stop pounding…" I muttered between ragged breaths. The world was too bright, too empty. "I'm… I'm just melting… or burning… or—what the hell is happening?" The air felt thick. Hard to breathe. Like I was inhaling heat instead of oxygen.
My legs buckled slightly, and I staggered sideways before catching myself. My fingers tingled faintly, pins-and-needles slow and dull, crawling along my skin. For a moment, I imagined sinking into the ground like a plant—letting myself stay still, be one with the earth, and nap. But no. The thought made me shiver. Night would come, and the cold would bite through me. I wouldn't survive another freezing night after… what happened before. I couldn't.
So I moved. The only way I could: forward. Faster now, pushing my aching legs harder, ignoring the burn in my lungs.
Then, out of nowhere, a low rumble cut through the heat.
Verrmm…
I froze mid-step. "No… no way… that can't be real…" I whispered, my voice shaking. "Someone… someone's out here? Hope flickered—small, fragile—immediately chased by doubt. "No… it's not real… it's just my head…"
It didn't fade. It didn't fall behind. It stayed—steady, patient—matching my speed as if it had decided I wasn't allowed to escape it.
My fingers twitched at my sides, and a strange uneasiness crawled up my spine. I had been out here long enough for my mind to start playing tricks, sure—but this… this didn't feel like that.
It sounded like an engine—but not a normal one. Not the rough, chugging growl of something gas-powered. This was smoother—deeper, almost too clean. Like a steady vibration humming through the air, more felt than heard, the way an electric motor whispers instead of roars.
I forced myself forward again, ignoring it. One step. Then another. The sound followed as i walked , continuing on. Minutes passed. The rumble lingered behind me until a voice called out.
"Need a ride…little missy?"
I turned to see a man in a car. It wasn't like any car I'd seen before. The body of it seemed smooth, almost seamless, and the edges glimmered strangely in the sunlight. No visible seams, no obvious doors… just one strange, continuous shape. My eyes flicked to it, then back to him.
"…"
"Come on, I'm not letting a little girl walk alone out here. Hop in."
"W-who are you?"
"I'm James Lee. And you are…?"
"I don't trust people with two first names, Mr. Lee."
He laughed, the sound oddly sharp against the silence.
"Alright, fair enough. I'll just follow you—make sure you don't drop dead out here before you reach the city."
"City?" I echoed, glancing at him. "How do you know where I'm heading?"
"Because there's nothing out here," he said simply, gesturing ahead as he kept pace beside me. "Not for thirty miles. Except the city."
"Next thirty?!"
"Yep."
I took a deep sigh. "ughhh…I don't care. Please leave me alone unless you have water or—"
"Food?" he finished my sentence for me, holding out a bottle of water and a snack I was unfamiliar with, though it looked sweet enough to eat. My mouth watered, but nothing came out.
"A-alright, but just know I'm doing this for the food, okay!" I said reluctantly, reaching for the door, hesitating for just a split second before pulling it open. For a moment—just a moment—the surface of the car seemed to shift, faint lines forming where there hadn't been any before, like the shape itself was rearranging to let me in.
Then it opened.
I slipped inside quickly, almost clumsily, the heat outside giving way to a strangely cool, controlled air.
The door shut behind me without a sound.
I didn't see it happen, but I was certain the panels disappeared the moment it closed, smoothing over until there was no sign a door had ever been there at all—like the car was so perfectly made it looked completely whole.
The inside of the car, though, was completely different. It was gray and bulky, like some kind of cheap economy vehicle. The seats were plain, the dashboard simple—almost outdated. It clashed with the outside so much that it only made me more curious.
How can something look so expensive and so cheap at the same time…?
Then again… who was I to judge? I used to ride a bike to and from school.
"Um… so those snacks you had?" I asked, glancing over, trying to sound casual despite the tightness in my chest.
Mr. Lee's eyes narrowed slightly. "Name first."
"Oh—right, s-sorry… it's Pondaru."
He studied me for a brief moment before handing me one with a small, almost amused smile. "Strange name."
"Y-yeah… heh." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "I-I get that a lot…"
He let out a quiet chuckle, leaning back slightly in his seat. "So, where are you from, uh… Pondaru?"
My hands trembled slightly as I took the snack, trying to steady them. "The city," I muttered, taking a small bite. "My family's from there… and I'm… going back home to them."
"Home?" he asked, uncertainty flickering in his voice.
"Yeah… my home in the city," I whispered, glancing down at my hands, still wondering why they hadn't stopped shaking yet.
"So you a city girl, eh? How'd you end up out here in the outskirts?" He handed me a bottle of water. "Or I got juice too if want one?."
"Uh… no, it's okay… I'm good with water for now," I said, my voice tight. My stomach knotted as I fumbled with the snack, trying to focus on something simple at the moment.
"Sure, here you go," he said, handing me a bottle of water.
"I ride with a lot of juices and snacks and stuff, hehe," he added casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
I tipped the bottle to my lips and took a careful sip, the cool water sliding down my throat. "Yeah… w-why though? Do you really get that hungry?" I asked instinctively It just seemed… strange. All that food, all those snacks, for just one person. Even as I swallowed, a flicker of unease tickled the back of my mind.
He shrugged, a small, easy gesture. "No… not really. My grandkids are in the city, so it makes the trip back more bearable for them," he said, a soft grin tugging at his lips. "Long drives can be boring for kids, you know? Having a little snack, a juice, something to nibble on… it keeps them occupied, makes the ride a lot easier for everyone."
"Wait… you're a grandpa?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. One of my fingers twisted nervously in my lap as I let the water slip away from my lips. It felt kind of shocking to hear—he didn't look that old. Maybe late thirties, early forties?
"Yep. Born and raised, little missy," he said with a small, proud nod.
"You guys… you breed like rabbits, huh? Hehe—" I cut myself off, covering my mouth with my hand as heat rushed to my cheeks. The words had slipped out before I could stop them, way too bold, way too cheeky.
For a split second, there was silence—
Then he burst out laughing.
"Breed like rabbits?" he repeated, like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Oh man—Pondaru, that's the best thing I've heard all day."
He shook his head, still laughing under his breath. "You just say whatever pops into that head of yours, huh?"
I hesitated.
The way he laughed—it wasn't sharp anymore. It softened his whole face, made him look… different. Lighter.
It suited him.
Before I could second-guess it—
"Breed like rabbits!" I said again, a little brighter this time, watching him carefully, a grin tugging at my lips.
Maybe it was his voice—warm, easy in a way that didn't quite match this place. Or maybe it was because it reminded me of my dad… though my dad was definitely older than him.
Either way, I liked it.
"Hmm… I don't think you look that old. Do you really consider yourself an old man?" I asked, chuckling softly, my laugh spilling out more easily now, light and teasing.
"Sure am," he said, chuckling. "But don't let the skin fool you—my body doesn't work like it used to. If I didn't have my car, I'd probably be home all damn day."
I laughed without thinking, my heart fluttered. "I'd… I'd like to see that… though I bet you eat weird old-people snacks too."
"Ha! Maybe I do… but you like this stuff?" He nodded at the snack in my hand.
"Hey!? You're the one who gave it to me! …But it's… good. Different, but… good." I chewed slowly, trying to ignore the nervous tick in my hands. "I guess… you like taking care of people, huh? Seems like… you've done it a lot."
"What makes you say that, Pondaru?"
"You just seem… prepared. Like, for anything."
"Maybe I am," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Some people need looking after, little missy. Some just wander around until someone notices them."
I swallowed hard, nibbling my lip. "Sounds like… you notice a lot of things… huh." My words came out soft, jittery. "I… I like that, I guess… makes me… feel… safe… I mean… hehe… maybe."
He raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "Safe, huh? I'll take that as a compliment. Though… you shouldn't go around calling strangers safe now, little miss."
"Ss-sorry… guess I'm just a bit tired," I mumbled, rubbing at my eyes. "I've been walking for a while without stopping for anything… heh." My fingers twitched slightly, a weird warmth creeping through them, almost like a soft tingle.
"Wait… you're from the city too, right?" I asked suddenly.
"Yes ma'am."
I hesitated, then swallowed. "So… if I tell you a street name, you could take me there? If it's not too far?"
"Uh… sure. What's the name?"
"East Mollywood Boulevard 625, off Highway 1604."
"1604, huh…" He ran a hand through his hair, thinking. "I don't think that's too far from the city center."
I nodded, trying to follow along, my hands fidgeting at my sides. "Yeah… it's… in the middle… near… out… down… tow—"
Suddenly, the warmth in my fingers spread, moving up my arms and legs, starting in my fingers and toes and crawling up to my head. Everything felt light, sparkly, soft, like the world had been painted in cotton candy colors. My eyelids drooped, but instead of panic, I felt… happy.
Really happy.
He glanced at me, expression unreadable for a moment, then gave a small, reassuring nod. "Take it slow, little missy. Just… ride it out."
"Y-yah… sorry… I don't know what came over me… umm… uh… I was… what was I saying again?"
"You were telling me about the people you live with… your mom, your dad… all that," he said casually, almost like he'd been listening the whole time.
"Oh… right—my bad. Something about… home… my mom… she'd be in my bed when I got home from school, so the bed would always be warm… hehe. And my dad… he was an inventor but couldn't keep a job for the life of him… heh. Um… sorry, was I really telling you about them?"
"Yah… you said something about them, I think," he answered quickly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Uh... okay, umm T-the taxes I remember the...taxes…" I babbled, words tumbling out faster, "they suck! Why am I paying for all these things I hate? But… once I'm done… I can hug my little sister… hold her tight… and say, 'Hey, don't worry! Big brother Pondaru's here!'"
"'Big brother'?" he asked, voice tinged with curiosity, probably wondering what I meant.
"Hmm… hehehe… I'm an older sibling! I may look tiny, but believe it or not—I used to be a really tall person! I was at least… bigger than my height right now times four! Hehehe!
I couldn't stop myself. I giggled uncontrollably, the sound bubbling out like it had been trapped too long, spilling over the car seats, over the steering wheel, over him.
"Hehe… fighting too!" I squeaked, my words tumbling out in soft, high-pitched nonsense. "Juna… loves to fight with me… Mr… space car… I hate fighting with people! Do… do you like marshmallow clouds too? Teehee!"
What the hell was I even saying? The words just kept slipping out of me, tumbling over themselves like they had a mind of their own.
"Heyyy, Mr… do you like them?" I mumbled, voice soft, high, and sing-songy, poking his face lazily, my eyelids drooping and my body swaying like I might topple over any second.
His arm shot out—fast. Fingers clamped around my wrist, tight enough to sting, yanking me in place… but nothing in me reacted. No flinch, no pull—just that same light, bubbling joy.
"Finally," he muttered, frowning—but the harshness in his voice felt distant, almost meaningless.
I brushed my hand along his arm, letting my palm slide over the smooth, firm surface,
"Ooooh…" I murmured, tilting my head, letting my fingers brush along his arm. "Your arm… it's so… different from mine. So strong… and smooth… like it could hold me forever…"
A soft giggle escaped me, almost breathless. "Could you do that for me, Mr…? Could you… take all my pain away?"
I let my fingers trace along his forearm, marveling at how solid and firm it felt beneath my touch, the muscles shifting lightly as he moved. My chest fluttered at the strength it held, and I couldn't help but linger just a little longer.
Every touch of my fingers on his big forearms was playful, but I couldn't deny the spark it sent through me—like a secret little game we were both in, even if I still didn't know it yet.
"Stop moving! Damn it… how long is this shit supposed to take to work?!" Mr. Lee's voice snapped, sharp and impatient, cutting through the haze of my giggles.
"No cussing, Mr. Space Car! Hehehhe," I squeaked, the words bubbling out before I could stop them. "P-please… no meow… I mean… uhh… more…" I said hugging his arm tighter.
A small, terrified part of me knew something was incredibly wrong—but it was buried under a giggle that I couldn't stop. My thoughts stretched lazily, like taffy, slowing down, softening… melting.
"Just pass out already!" the man snapped, his voice sharp and clipped, slicing through the haze.
"Hehe… it's okay, Mr… space car… the bunny likes hats too… right?" I whispered even more nonsense, my words tumbling over themselves. Colors swirled and stretched like ribbons, the hum of the engine turning into a soft lullaby. I tried to blink, tried to focus… but my eyes refused to obey.
"I'm… so tired…" I murmured, my voice soft and high-pitched. "Help… please… I can't see… it's all… blurry… open my eyes for me… hehe…"
A warm, giggly tingle bubbled up through me as my arms flopped to my sides. My head lolled softly, my fingers wiggling uselessly, and every sound felt funny and far away, like music in a dream.
"Everything's… soft… and warm…hehe…"
"Goodnight, little missy," he said, and I tried to answer, but all that came out was a soft, giddy, "Hehe… bye-bye… mr. space car…." The world blurred and swayed. My body felt heavier now, still warm and tingly, but uncontrollable.
"This is no one's fault but yours," he whispered into my ear, his breath brushing my cheek as the hoodie Korai had given me slipped from my back. "If I don't… someone else will. So just stay still and let it happen…"
Air struck my naked chest, and I instinctively rubbed it, trying to chase away the sudden chill—but the heat only pulsed stronger, creeping lower, stirring an urgent, unfamiliar ache. My hands moved on their own, tugging at the soft, nonexistent swell of my chest, desperate to calm the fire coiling inside me. Each pull was a silent attempt to ease the feverish tension, to make the ache stop, even though I knew it couldn't.
"No… under-shirt…or a bra... I bet you knew this was going to happen, you ditzy, dirty little slut."
My eyelids finally sank, a dizzy, happy giggle bubbling up as the world blurred and softened… but even as darkness crept in, my mouth wouldn't stop opening and closing on its own, spilling silly, slurred words: "I… don't… have anything to fill a braaa… I'm… sooo flat… don't… need one… tehehe…"
The last thing I heard was the odd sound of a belt buckle…
And then—nothing.