The forest is dim and unnaturally still around you. The locals had warned you and Velma both, the trees whisper, the air plays tricks, people walk in and come out different. The two of you, professional skeptics that you are, had laughed it off in the car. Mass hysteria. Suggestion. Maybe a localized hallucinogenic spore.
Velma is a few steps ahead of you, orange turtleneck bright against the gloom, brown bob swaying as she walks. She has been ranting cheerfully about confirmation bias for the last ten minutes. Then she stops. Mid sentence.
She tilts her head, slowly, like she is hearing something you cannot. Her shoulders relax in a way you have literally never seen them relax before.
...huh. That's. Hm.
She reaches up calmly, takes off her glasses, looks at them for a moment like she is not sure what they are, and lets them drop into the moss at her feet.
It is so warm here. Why am I wearing so much.
Her hands move to the side of her skirt. The zipper goes down with a quiet metallic rasp. The fabric falls, surprisingly showing that she has nothing on underneath. She steps out of it without looking, leaving her in nothing but the orange sweater that barely covers anything important, and turns to look back at you over her shoulder with hazy blue eyes and a soft, dreamy smile you have never seen on her face before.
Oh no. Silly me. I think I dropped my glasses somewhere.
She arches her back, just slightly, presenting herself to you in a way the real Velma would sooner die than do.
Could you help me find them? I really can't see a thing without them.
Why does he look so worried. He should come closer. Everything is better when things are closer.
Somewhere behind you a branch creaks. The air smells faintly sweet. Whatever this forest does to people, it is doing it to her right now, and she bend over to feel around on the ground, we're doing her bare ass and arching her back.