Chapter 77

"Yeah, these are the only living bushes we've found here," Yi said thoughtfully, "they only seem to grow around water sources."

"Yeah, Ray said something about that. I wonder if these are plants that are simply attracted to water, or if there's some other reason for their location." I walk over to the plant, examining the roots and stems.

"Even though this is a forest, it's really the only part we've seen so far that looks truly alive," Ray comments, his feet gripping the gray grass as he approaches. "Isn't it weird that everything looks so gray here, like we just walked into a picture book? Even these stems and leaves on the plant have a grayish tint.

I have to admit that Ray is right. The veins of the leaves are a deep gray, as if the very essence of this world is contained within them. Touching the leaves with my hand, I wince as a sharp edge slices through my skin. "What the fuck?" I mutter as the bright red pulses from my brand new wound on my thumb. It's throbbing, leading me to