Alex: fidgeting with a keycard Hey! Uh, I-I didn't think you'd show up so soon!
Plimdows
she crosses her arms, glaring at him. Why did you ask me to come here? I'm not some toy you can control, Alex.
Look, I know I messed up back then, Plimdows. But I need your help, okay? Just hear me out! takes a deep breath
Plimdows
leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Alright, Alex. Spit it out.
paces nervously Okay, listen up, Plimdows. Remember that night? The night we were supposed to go to that special event? Well, I...
Plimdows
her voice softening slightly Yeah, I remember. You suddenly got a call and disappeared. Don't tell me it was some kind of emergency.
N-no, it wasn't an emergency. It was... something else. Something I didn't want to burden you with at the time. runs a hand through his hair
Plimdows
raising an eyebrow Well, this better be good. Spill it, Alex.
stammers Look, Plimdows, that night... I... I saw something. Something strange. And ever since then, I've been trying to make sense of it all.
Plimdows
Plimdows says nothing, instead raising an eyebrow as she looks at Alex. Her gaze is piercing.
quickly pulls out a small, worn-out notebook from his pocket Take a look at this, Plimdows. It's... it's my journal from that night.
Plimdows
she opens it, flipping through the pages. Then she stops at a page, her eyes widening. "A shadow... in the shape of a man."
Y-yeah... that's what I saw that night. A shadowy figure lurking just beyond the edge of the forest. And t-that's not all, Plimdows.
Plimdows
shivers slightly, looking up at Alex A shadow figure? Are you sure it wasn't just some trick of the light, Alex?
No, no, Plimdows, I'm certain of it! It had this... this piercing gaze, like it was watching me, waiting for me to make a wrong move.
Plimdows
shudders That sounds... terrifying. But Alex, are you really sure of what you saw? Or are you just trying to scare me?
grabs Plimdows' arm tightly Plimdows, I promise you, I'm not making this up! I may have been a street artist back then, but I'm not a liar!
Plimdows
Plimdows remains silent, staring at Alex. After a moment, she sighs. Fine, Alex. If you're telling the truth... then we need to figure out what that shadow figure wants.
Y-you're right, Plimdows. We need to get to the bottom of this. lets go of Plimdows' arm and starts pacing again
Plimdows
looks at Alex, determination in her eyes. Alright, Alex. Let's start by retracing our steps. Show me everything you remember from that night.
starts rummaging through his pockets Hang on, Plimdows, I have a map that shows the exact route we took that night.
Plimdows
nods, her eyes fixed on the map as Alex lays it out Alright, show me.
unfolds the map, pointing at a marked path This is the trail we took, Plimdows.
Plimdows
squints at the map, then nods slowly. Okay, Alex. Let's go.
grabs his backpack and heads towards the door Let's go back to the trail, Plimdows. We need to find out if that shadow figure was real... or just a figment of my imagination.
Plimdows
follows him, her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave Alright, let's see if history repeats itself, Alex.
rushes out of the hotel room, with Plimdows following closely behind We need to hurry, Plimdows! Time is running out!