As soon as the words left Marko's mouth, an uneasy silence settled over the mountain.
"I… am Grass Man."
The children froze.
No one knew what to do.
Should they run?
Or should they stay?
One by one, they took two slow steps backward.
They were about to take another…
Until they noticed Allen hadn't moved.
"Allen," Mimi asked nervously, "why are you still standing next to him?"
Allen looked at Marko before answering.
"I know he's the Grass Man."
Everyone stared at him.
"I heard the chanting."
"I know that's how we all got here."
He paused.
"But I don't think he's the monster we thought he was."
The children listened carefully.
"He saved my life."
"Not once…"
"But twice."
Allen stepped closer to Marko.
"He's been trapped here just like us."
"We've trusted him this whole time."
"If he wanted to hurt us…"
"…he already could have."
The others slowly lowered their guard.
Allen continued.
"Things are only getting stranger."
"When I was under the police station, I heard the parents talking."
Marko immediately looked up.
"What did they say?"
Allen swallowed.
"They were planning to capture every child."
"So they could go through a door."
Marko's eyes widened.
"Wait…"
"What did you just say?"
"There was a metal door beneath the station," Allen replied.
"I was tied up beside it."
"It was glowing."
For the first time, hope appeared on Marko's face.
"I knew they were hiding it."
He smiled.
"That's the door."
"The one we need."
"The only way home."
He looked around at every child.
"If we're going to escape this place…"
"We have to work together."
No one argued.
Then Mimi quietly raised her hand.
"I have a question."
Everyone looked at her.
"Where are all the pets?"
Marko opened his mouth to answer.
Before he could speak, Allen interrupted.
"Can I explain?"
Marko nodded.
"Go ahead."
Allen took a deep breath.
"There are animals here…"
"But they're different."
"They aren't normal."
"They all have abilities."
"And those abilities…"
He looked toward the forest.
"…might be the key to getting us home."