Luke couldn't lie any further and now everyone was found out because someone threw something at the window of the house last night, plus when Luke let slip when he said it. Now Luke can only be patient with all the nagging and anger from Ben.
Ben shouted, "You naughty brat! Don't you think how dangerous it is out there in the middle of the night?! What if that person last night was indeed lurking outside our house, waiting to attack you or anyone in this house?! You are really stupid! I should have put a padlock on your room so you wouldn't run away at night just to get drunk. I even just drank a can of beer..."
"I didn't mean to get drunk, Ben. My intention was just to party, I told you," Luke answered softly so as not to arouse the emotions of these two seniors in the morning. But that doesn't help much.
"Are you playing cricket at the party?! Party of course means drunkenness!"
"Yes, I play cricket! Just ask the Judges!" Luke said exasperatedly.
"...and for daring to bring up the name of the Judges..."
"I did go with him. With Lee too."
"...if you are wrong, then you should admit your mistake without bringing up someone else's name!"
"Whatever."
Luke rolled his eyes and chose to leave earlier today. His ears could no longer bear to listen to the scolding. Not to mention Ulfa who also, very tall, complained a lot. His features were as calm as those of an oak tree, this time more like the pitiful leaves of a willow tree. Luke felt uncomfortable. He wanted to reply to old Ben's yelling but couldn't bear to because Ulfa's expression looked somber. So, Luke just went to school. Dashing like lightning and kicking the first pebble I saw with disgust. When Luke was on the pedestrian walkway in front of the house, Luke suddenly remembered someone 'damn' who threw a glass window at his house last night. It's true that the glass didn't break, but because of that Ben realized that Luke wasn't at home and because of that prankster Luke was caught.
Luke turned the steps toward the side of the house. It was just a vacant lot belonging to the Truman family, owners of a cherry farm not more than a hundred yards west of the Bright's house. This vacant lot is not that big and is directly adjacent to the Bright family's fence. But if one walks straight to the Southwest, well, that's where one will find a small path leading into the woods bordered by a wire fence with a warning sign. Even so, it's a shame, the warning sign isn't very effective in driving away the kids who are pretentious and curious about what's in there.
So in essence, Luke to the empty land. It's literally next door to a wooden plank fence Ben put up a few years ago to fortify the house. But looking around, I think Ben is a bit of an idiot. I don't know maybe it's because of his old illness or because his energy isn't as strong as it used to be; Luke has to admit that this fence sucks. Apart from the fence which only limited it from the right side to the back forming the letter 'L', the height of the wooden planks was different and not higher than his chest-Luke was indeed 5 feet 2 inches tall-different thicknesses, and there were lots of holes in them. -here, indicating that often animals such as badgers or foxes or wild dogs scratch it through. So it's no wonder that this prankster-whoever he is-will easily hit the window of the Bright family's house.
But, here it is. There is something odd when Luke pays close attention. Actually this was not intentional when Luke scoffed in annoyance and looked down at the ground beneath his feet. There were footprints that hit the wet grass and carried a different soil color from the surroundings. This was odd, because what he saw wasn't human footprints, not someone, but something. It would be easier if it was a footprint of a quadruped-whether it was a dog, a cow, a lizard, or whatever-it was fine; But no. It really belongs to something with two legs. Luke didn't understand what these tracks were because of the unorthodox shape.
The shape is a bit like the sole of the foot at the heel, then there is a kind of crescent-shaped arch which is then connected in a maple leaf-like manner at the end accompanied by five deep and smallest depressions. There were only a pair of footprints and they seemed to have stood straight facing the television room in the Bright family's house. If that's not too weird then here it is; that the trail is only a one-way route. Luke wasn't sure what was going through his mind, but he decided to follow the direction of the trail and he discovered two facts;
First, the trail didn't lead to the forest, but came from there.
Second, the last step is exactly where it is on the side of the fence.
The conclusion is where did the owner of this strange trail after throwing something into the window of our house? There's no way the owner of the trail just flew away? Or maybe the trail owner jumped a considerable distance? A kind of kangaroo? Luke couldn't be sure now that he was on that path. The path leads to the forest. His prediction was correct that the trail came from there and did not stop at the fence, but really came from deep in the forest. As if the owner of this leg jumped over the wire fence and ignored the warning sign.
Now here comes Luke. In front of the forest guardrail and looking through the wire. A forest that looked like an ordinary forest growing on the outskirts of town, with towering and sparse trees. It's not as scary as described, nor is it as gloomy as described. Luke could still see the sunlight spreading nicely there. But somehow the local government advised not to go in there. Ulfa said, it was so that some habitats remained safe in the forest. Only, now, after seeing the footprints, Luke felt a little doubtful. What's more, he remembered Valentina Miller's story-ah, why did Luke remember that guy anyway-about an empty barn in the woods. Luke had never been there and had no intention of going there, but knew of its existence. Dozens of years ago, a paper factory had stopped operating and besides leaving behind ruins, it also left a storage warehouse in the forest. But, still, that didn't answer Luke's question about the footprints.
Luke was still standing in the same place. Observes without being sure of what he can observe. Almost forgot about school and Ben Bright's scolding this morning. Until he arrived where he was startled by the sound of someone screaming in the distance of the forest, followed by a strong wind blowing from the forest towards him. Flying leaves in circles. Making Luke's hair flutter which reflexively made one hand in front of his face, blocking the dust that was carried by the wind. Then, at that moment, Luke smelled a distinctive scent accompanied by a familiar voice.
"Luke? You haven't left yet?"
Luke turned and found Rei Suzurao smiling. Luke felt relieved, but at the same time Luke was also curious; how did Rei know that Luke was here?
***