The characters are walking in circles by returning again and again on their steps because they were unable to free themselves from the invisible roads of the forest.

"Why is it happening?" Alejandro complained, frustrated.

"What's up, Alex?" Lorenzo replied, while walking.

"That we are giving the same route again."

"You're sure?"

Alejandro stopped dry. "Yes, Lorenzo, I'm. Look, there is the rock I drew an hour ago."

Both stopped and observed the rock, which seemed to smile with the face that Alejandro had drawn with chalk. The sunlight was leaked through the leaves of the high heboya red trees and drew capricious shade on the ground. The sound of the wind rockering the branches up in the distance was the only melody that broke silence.

"We have to be careful. We do not want to lose the way or that the road loses us," Lorenzo said, worried.

"How many times have we passed through here?" Alejandro looked around, trying to look for some clue that would not be in circles.

"I think there are three, Alex. This is weird," Lorenzo admitted, adjusting the backpack on his annoying shoulder: as if squeezing the thin layer of meat from his shoulder.

Both walked silent for a while, listening to the soft creak of the leaves under their feet. Alejandro felt more and more disoriented, and Lorenzo didn't see anything sure either.

"Do you remember what the ranger said on the road of the diversion that turned to the forest?" Alejandro broke the silence.

"About invisible paths?" Lorenzo nodded. "Yes, he said the forest could get hooked as an addiction if you didn't pay attention."

"But who puts those damn paths?" Alejandro growled, squeezing his fist.

"He said that they are the memories of the people, that they materialize in roads. If you let yourself be consumed by their tormented thoughts, the forest will guide you along a wrong path."

Alejandro sighed deeply. "What if we don't have the damn compass?"

Lorenzo suddenly stopped. "What did we do with the compass?"

Alejandro felt his pockets. "It must have fallen."

His heart accelerated. Without the compass, they had no idea where they were. The forest, which at the beginning seemed a fun challenge, now looked at them with treacherous eyes.

By Carlos del Puente relatos