*chirp* *chirp*
"Uhh.... fuck "
Why does my entire body feel like it's falling apart? Did I sleep too late? I knew the answer to that already, as I couldn't even open my eyes properly. It felt like my head was between two hydraulic presses or something.
Now that I think about it, did I leave my windows open? Why is there such a strong breeze? There's no way that an old air conditioner can make such a strong breeze. I mean, probably, considering the intervals between these breezes. It's like an old man peeing and he can't squeeze the last batch out.
I tried to sit down, but it seemed like my body wanted to sleep more. But before my consciousness started to fade, I realized what I was doing.
Oversleeping in the morning of a weekday was a recipe for disaster. Moreover, didn't I have a shoot today?
The fear of the sudden thought of being late to work was not limited to ordinary people. Even the most successful people have that fear. There was a reason why they were successful in the first place.
I mean, as they say. " Old habits die hard..."
Or something like that.
...
Anyway, I decided to force my eyes open. I struggled for a bit as it got so bright. Did I leave my lights on? No, I was writing all night with no lights on. It's probably not something to be proud of, but we have a more pressing matter at hand. I want to know if I should call the priest or not. Or were my blinds open? That could be more dangerous. I can't bear to leak my location after all.
My eyes finally managed to adjust, but as I looked for my phone in the bedside drawer, all I saw was the hard dirt ground filled with stone and dried plantation.
I was suddenly in the middle of nowhere. To be precise, in the midst of an entire forest. Towering trees surrounded me and nested up top were the birds chirping, which echoed throughout the wide forest.
Ah... fuck.
The confusion starts to hit me. Then fear shrouds my mind. I had a sudden thought in my mind: what if I got kidnapped? With my job, this was a possibility.
But why would they just leave me in the middle of the forest? This was quite odd if that was the case. And wouldn't I be surrounded by these alleged kidnappers? I mean, I can just run away, after all. But before I did so, I had to make sure that there were no kidnappers in the area. I might have gotten shot if they had just gone off to do something for a bit. After all, it's better to stay safe than sorry.
I also didn't know where I was in the hell. So, getting lost in the middle of an unknown forest was not something I wanted. I look around, keeping myself to the ground to at least somehow get a general idea of where to run and to look for some kidnappers without making any sudden movement.
I think it's also morning considering the position of the sun. So I lucked out on that part, I could at least check the vicinity without being pressured to find a home for the night.
"Ah, I'm so hungry," I say with a calm voice. Not too loud, but enough for the people who are close to hear me. I didn't want to escape and get shot, but I also didn't want to call those who were close enough for me to escape.
Waiting for a response, I tighten my nerves to see if worse has come to worse.
...
...
...
No one seems to respond. I didn't know if this was good or bad as my worry only increased. Confusion mixed with worry starts to flood my mind. Does that mean they just weren't close? Or am I really alone in this unknown forest?
I slowly stand up without making a racket. After that, I clean off the dirt on my clothes as I scan the surroundings more. My clothes were the same, but they somehow felt a little too loose.
I didn't pay attention any longer as I just wanted to get the hell out of there. I'd rather live a little longer than die here.
When I fully stand up, I feel a little short and small. I might just be dazed due to the current circumstances and my decision to stay up late last night, but it still bothered me somehow.
Anyhow, I'm not wasting any more time. I slowly walked away from the spot where I was standing. And when no one stopped me, I slightly quickened the pace. When I felt like I was far enough, I started running.
I was not sure if this was the best decision, as this was a forest after all. I might get lost and all, but some people are more wicked than nature. I'd rather gamble with nature than with some weirdos who take someone in the middle of a forest while they're asleep.
I ran and ran and only stopped when I felt like it.
* Pant *
Ugh
I sit down on the ground, chasing after air. I was tired and my entire body felt like shit. I was dizzy and my throat was dry. As much as I would have loved to relax for a second, I was thirsty like hell.
But thankfully, it seems like I've found where all my luck has gone. I could hear water flowing somewhere. It might not be the best to drink, but it's my best bet.
I slowly walked to the source of water, and a creek stood there flowing down across the forest. I was hesitating on whether I should drink it or not. It might relieve my thirst, but my life might end here depending on if it's clean or not.
I reach out my hands to the water as I form it into a bowl. I approached the creek slowly, and as I was about to scoop the water, I saw my reflection.
...
Why do I look like this?
My face is still the same, but not only was my hair so long that it reached my neck, but my entire physique also seemed to have shrunk. Those years of going to the gym seem to have vanished into thin air. Already confused by the entire situation, this discovery didn't help me whatsoever.
" Grrr.."
As I look at the water in shock, I hear what seems to be a grunt escaping from the shrubs behind me.
My nerves start to tense as I hear that soft grumbling behind me.
Is it a lion?
That was the first thing I thought. Why? Why not?! I'm in the middle of a forest for all I know. I can't bear to underestimate what this thing has for me.
A lion or a small, harmless animal, I could only hope for the best.
I didn't want it to pounce on me suddenly by turning my head abruptly, so I continued to kneel. I scooped some water with my hands. I then looked at the gap between my legs to see the current situation.
There I saw, stepping out of the shrub, were two small-sized humans, with sharp ears resembling those of an elf and a green skin tone. They look incredibly terrifying, not only because of their sharp teeth and peculiar looks, but also because of the wooden clubs they have in their hands.
A Goblin?
Every single person knows what a goblin looks like. They're probably the most common fantasy creature used in every story.
"Nice cosplay, dude..."I say in a firm tone. I was scared and confused, but I didn't want to show that. I had my guard up, thinking if these guys were the perpetrators or not. Them being cosplayers was the only rational thought I had. But the fact that these guys are in the middle of the forest is convincing me that they are not innocent midgets cosplaying as goblins in the middle of nowhere.
" Grrr "
All I received was the usual grumbling they made as they looked at me with caution. Why do they look scared? Weren't they the ones who had a club in their hands?
" Listen man, I'm not here for anything stupid, alright? " I raised both my arms. I slowly stood up without alerting them. Cosplay or not, I didn't want to bother with these guys. They seem to be sick in the head or something.
" Grr! "
Instead of a soft grumble, they shouted at me as they held their clubs in my direction. It seems like they didn't like me standing up at all.
As I look at this situation confused and alert, a certain line from the 1st and only chapter of my fanfiction seems to have entered my mind.
" Mon's arrival at his new world seems to have some guests to greet him. Goblins erupted from the shrubs as he drank from the creek. The - "
I have more serious matters at hand. I can't be bothered to reminisce about useless things right now. I tried to remove the repeating sentence in my head as I looked at the goblins standing there, but the coincidence was too big for me to completely forget.
I look at the goblins and their eyes look worried and their expressions threatened.
But that doesn't concern me any longer.
" Look a Hunter! " I pointed behind them, trying to grab their attention. Cosplayers or not, they seem to be too immersed in their roles, so I tried the dumbest thing I could do, by bluffing what was supposed to be their natural predators.
I did so, and the goblins jumped because of my sudden movement, but thanks to my acting skills of looking scared and afraid, I managed to convince them. They all turned around to look for this alleged hunter, and at that exact second, I ran along the creek as I couldn't cross it safely, and as for behind... there was a goblin problem in that area.
" Shkkkk! "
They scream behind me. I didn't look back. I just continued running without taking a break.
Thud
Then suddenly, there was a loud thud. Could a goblin make a thud that loud? I still continued running without turning my head. My curiosity and fear wanted to check what was happening behind me.
" SHKKK "
The goblins exclaimed, followed by the sounds of branches breaking. The sounds were getting farther and farther away, but my cautiousness wanted to keep on running... no, I had to continue running, but these sounds were not helping as my curiosity got the best of me. I stopped running to check what had just happened. These sounds were too loud for a small goblin cosplayer to make.
Did the military arrive?
Well, at least that's what I hoped for...
Looking at the situation behind me, I finally get why that line from the fan fiction kept on repeating in my head.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
" Mon's arrival at his new world seems to have some guests to greet him. Goblins erupted from the shrubs as he drank from the creek. The goblins, on the other hand, were more terrified than he was as they questioned the man drinking from the creek. But it seems like that was not the thing they should be worried about. Behind them stood a giant monster. He slowly steps out of the forest as his physique gets exposed by the brilliance of the sun. With the body of a gorilla and the head of a crow, he uproots an entire tree as he stares at the goblins in hunger."
...
As much as I found my situation strange. Who would have thought that this would happen? I tried to keep my rationality, but rational is the last word you can use to explain what has just happened. The goblins weren't fooled by my acting skills; it was because there was a Shrieker, a beast unique to the White Heron, standing behind them.
As I stand there looking at the skirmish between the two fantasy creatures, knowing that it's impossible to return to my normal life, I can't help but feel excited.