19: The Invisible Voice

“I will get there. I have to. It’s okay…
I think… yeah, I really feel like the distance is shrinking this time.”

Tom told himself as he pressed forward.
His steps were finally taking him closer to the playground area—the one with the giraffe slide.
After walking for about ten minutes, the giraffe’s head, which had looked so small before,
now appeared clearly, growing larger with every step—as if it were welcoming him.

“This park is huge, so there’s no guarantee Rena’s actually there right now, but…”

He muttered, wrapped in a vague sense of unease.
That unease quickly turned into panic.
His instincts had helped him avoid total breakdowns before,
but this time, something told him that charging ahead wouldn’t be enough to solve the problem.
Still, to silence the weakness creeping into his heart, he threw himself into running toward his destination.

＊＊＊

By the time he reached the entrance to the playground, out of breath, another wave of discomfort washed over him.
This place was supposed to be a popular hangout—but now, there wasn’t a single soul in sight.
Normally, it would be filled with children’s laughter and excited voices.
Now, it was coated in a strange, eerie silence.

“No one’s here? That’s impossible…
It’s never this quiet. This has never happened before…”

Tom looked around.
His eyes were scanning for the playground equipment, but more than that, he was struck by the total absence of people.
Then, something odd caught his eye.

“What… is that…? Something transparent… is moving?”

It darted like a dog running at full speed.
It was translucent, its form unclear, but it moved as if it were floating slightly above the ground.
Every now and then, light would reflect off it for a brief instant, revealing its outline for just a split second.

“This is weird… I can’t see it, but… I can see its shadow moving?

What the heck is going on!?”
Tom narrowed his eyes, straining to understand the bizarre phenomenon in front of him.
And then—it happened. A familiar voice sliced through the air.
It was unmistakable, unforgettable.
A voice that gave him comfort and tugged gently at his heart.

“Tom! Is that you, Tom!?”

He gasped and immediately turned toward the sound—but no one was there.
Confusion and hope swirled inside him.
His heart pounded with expectation, and unable to contain his feelings, he shouted with all his might.

“RENA!! Where are you!?”

Before he realized it, his legs were already carrying him toward the giraffe slide.