Have you ever heard the voice of God?
Radio static... A strange question, isn't it?
Who in this world has never witnessed the acts of the Holy Spirit?
Neither you, nor I, for that matter. One only needs to step inside a church, and it all begins instantly.
Although… could God and the Holy Spirit be the same entity? And what even is God, anyway?
Ooh… yes, I can already see you shouting "Blasphemy!" here and there. But please, calm down — I'm not saying anything that hasn't already been thought before. So don't be so outraged as to mistake my words for heresy.
Where am I going with this? Well… nowhere, really.
I know that, most of the time, an introduction like this one is supposed to inform the reader, to give them a sense of what's coming next.
But for me, you see, all of that feels quite pointless.
You must understand — this world can be strange, steeped in madness and conflict.
Words that rhyme with "ee" sound the best, I just wanted to point that out.
Alright, I admit, I'm rambling a little. Forgive me, I'm rather nervous.
I've seen worlds, told countless legends… but for once, I— hm, truth be told, I have nothing to say.
Hehehe… Anyway, let's begin.
"Have you ever heard the voice of the heavens?"
The radio was on. Why was that phrase repeating again and again?
Aside from the awful buzzing sound, the only human-like words he could make out were that question — strange, haunting.
And why was that radio sitting on a tree trunk, right in the middle of the forest?
Maybe it didn't really matter.
He took a deep breath. The scent of wet earth was oddly pleasant, and the air here felt cool.
It was pitch black. No, wait — perhaps the darkness had mistaken itself for the night.
Darkness, he thought. He was dark too — though not that dark. Well, maybe a little.
But then again, what man hasn't dreamed of the skirts of his best friend?
Wait, what was he even— ah… there he went again, rambling about things that barely connected.
There were real questions deserving serious thought.
That forest, for instance. Ever since they had entered, night had reigned completely.
Yet he was sure — before getting lost, one of his travel companions had told him the time: noon.
How had noon turned into midnight? Had he hit his head or something?
No… even though it was hard to see, a faint blue glow from the moon filtered through the leaves above.
But that didn't matter much, he thought. He had to find her first — or at least find a way to call for help.
One of his companions had gone insane.
It was his fault, actually, that the group had split up in fear. And after foolishly venturing into the forest, they had all lost sight of one another.
Well, just his luck — the one time he decided to play tourist in his own country, things went straight to hell.
"My precious savings…" he muttered regretfully.
Sitting on a yellowed tree trunk with odd stripes, fiddling with the radio, the dark-skinned man searched for a frequency that didn't sound religious.
But nothing. Just like a few minutes ago. Just like it would be in a few more hours.
Boredom struck him like a wave, and he let out a small yawn.
Instinctively, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone. "Still no signal…"
It had been an hour now — an hour with no outside contact. Most of his apps were closed, leaving only the voice recorder and the gallery.
He sighed and opened the latter, scrolling through pictures of himself and the beautiful lady of his heart.
Radio static — "Ken… Njimon, is that you? Can you hear me?"
What!? What was that? The voice from the radio… it sounded so familiar.
Was that her? He hesitated to respond. Respond?
Could one even reply to a radio without a mic or transmitter?
"Njimon, if you can hear me — get out of the forest! I don't know what you're still doing there, but we found an old German mansion from the colonial era. Try to head out; the mansion is near a lake, the only structure around."
He chuckled softly. Holding the radio in both hands, he stared at it.
It was beautiful, despite its strange scratches.
That voice — it was hers, no doubt! How had she found him? And also…
"Whoever you are, I repeat: the old mansion near the lake…"
Wait, whoever you are? Wasn't she talking to him just now?
Ah well, it didn't matter. He wasn't alone anymore in this strange forest.
Maybe at the mansion, he'd find working instruments, someone to welcome them, food… or even a way home.
It was clear now — he had to go there.
He'd planned to leave the strange device behind, but now he saw it as his savior.
He'd carry it with him to the mansion.
Ah, Lord, wasn't this the so-called voice of the heavens?
His angel had appeared to him through a radio — finally, he knew where she was.
Though he didn't quite know where to go, he began to run straight ahead, as if sure of his path.
His face grew colder. Before seeing her again, he had to return to his usual self — the calm, distant young man who, in his mind, stirred something in her heart.
Otherwise, why would they be best friends?
He slowed down when he saw something on the horizon — a shadow, perhaps.
Midnight's grip seemed to fade, and a bluish light spread across the forest, scattered with faint glimmers — like fireflies, or will-o'-wisps.
Along the way, he took time to steady his emotions, to put on his "daytime personality," as he liked to call it.
The air grew even colder — almost freezing.
He felt a slight nausea, but it passed quickly.
The dark man couldn't afford to look tense over something so trivial. Wouldn't that look like fear?
It didn't matter anyway — she was on his side.
Walking at a normal pace now, he stepped out of the forest.
There it was — the building by the lake, standing alone, bathed in the moon's eerie blue glow.
Its solitude stretched under a vast, heavy shadow.
As he stared at it, a familiar voice called out:
"Njimon? Is that you? Aren't you already at the mansion?"
Huh? That girl — what was she talking about?
And how could he be at the mansion when he'd just stepped out of the forest?
"Oh… it's you, Ketcha? A mansion? I don't really get what you're saying, but I'm glad you're okay," said the shadow, forcing a clearly fake smile.
The girl looked at him warmly — more than friendly, almost tender.
She seemed happy that he cared.
She… she!
As for the shadow, holding that fake smile was starting to tire him.
He had to get to the mansion — his beloved was waiting.
But just as he was about to turn away, other voices reached him — those of his precious travel companions.
Surprised, he turned around to see them emerging from the forest too.
All were as astonished as he was, yet they ran to each other, embracing with relief.
And among all those shadows — those other, less important figures — she was there.
Smiling. Walking with a divine grace — at least, that's how he saw her.
He had already turned his back on Ketcha, who held her tongue in silence.
Wasn't she supposed to be at the mansion?
Hmm… a question for later.
She was here now, and together, they'd head for the mansion.
And so, the once-separated group reunited, each person drawn toward another with the same bright smile — the joy of reunion shining in their eyes.
Such great joy filled their hearts as they greeted one another, exchanging the belongings that some had kept during their sudden separation.
"Thanks, I didn't expect you'd still have those," said some.
"How could I ever have a better friend than you, huh?" answered others.
Questions were asked, though few found answers.
Misunderstandings took root, and doubt lingered nearby.
And somewhere to the north, inside the mansion — black as shadow itself — a faint light flickered to life, revealing the threshold of a door…