Lush trees cast intricate shadows in the lingering glow of the sunset, accentuating Martin's steady strides.
He had been walking for several hours and, by his rough estimate, he should be close to getting out of this wilderness.
Just then, a faint sobbing broke the silence of the wilderness.
Martin crouched down alertly, adopting an extremely professional posture, then slowly approached the source of the crying with soft steps.
In the bushes, a little girl in a white dress was squatting there, staring at Martin, her small body trembling, repeatedly imploring him to go back.
"Why do you want me to go back?"
The girl's appearance was too abrupt, her skin almost transparently white in the twilight, making her look particularly eerie.
Martin stopped in his tracks, aware that no child would be in such a remote and dangerous wilderness without reason.
"Are you lost? Where are your family?" Martin tried to ask in the calmest voice.
