Andrea kept her course without thinking too much into it as she got deeper into the forest losing track of her steps. The vegetation, though not as dense as the jungle, created a labyrinth of greenery, obscuring her sight beyond a couple feet, making her path uncertain. The air grew heavier, laden with moisture that clung to her skin like a clammy embrace.
With each step, strange and disconcerting sounds echoed around her. They weren't merely animal calls; they were eerie, unfamiliar, and unearthly. The rustle of leaves and occasional distant snaps of twigs seemed amplified, making her acutely aware of her solitude in this untamed domain.
Grotesque scenes played over and over in her head, in her whole career as an OIJ agent, she had never witnessed such disturbing scenes like the ones that happened moments before. It was a sinister slideshow that haunted her every thought, making her question her own sanity. Her mind was so busy that she didn't notice that she was walking off the path, moving away in uncertainty.
Soon, she realized and her movements became more cautious, almost measured, as though each step could take her life suddenly. The fear that coiled in her chest felt like a tangible presence, her breath heavier with each stick that she stepped on as the clicking sound echoed across the foliage.
Suddenly, the forest gave way to an open field, an expanse of grassland shrouded in a light mist. In the distance, seven majestic creatures the size of a rhinoceros grazed peacefully. They were brown with yellow stripes that transitioned into white spots beneath. Their frills, tall and colorful, adorned their heads with an eye-catching display of vibrant hues, ending in striking orange spikes, and a huge orange-and-red horn at the tip of the nose.
Despite the serenity of this sight, a sense of foreboding tightened Andrea's chest. She observed the creatures cautiously, trying not to draw their attention. The atmosphere was heavy with humidity, the sun's heat making the air thick and stifling as it heated the soil.
Andrea walked cautiously but stopped when a sudden rumble called her attention. Seconds after, a loud noise alarmed the Styracosaurus who looked around, displaying their frills and horns as they shook their heads, snorting in defense against anything that threatened them. Andrea's heart pounded in sync with the thundering feet as the animals began to panic.
From the bushes, a Metriacanthosaurus emerged surprising the group of Styracosaurus with a loud roar that resonated across the field.
Soon, the herd turned around, running towards Andrea's hiding spot. Her instincts screamed to run, but her limbs froze, locked in a terrified paralysis. She turned to run, but her body didn't respond quickly enough. The grotesque scenes from the Visitors Center replayed nonstop in her head, followed by her own life that flashed before her eyes. A tear came off her left eye as she tried to run, but her body stayed paralyzed. Before she could react, a two-feet long horn impaled her, piercing through her chest. She screamed as the agonizing pain jolted her into action, grabbing the horn that sticked through her left breast. She desperately tried free herself from the sharp horn that skewered her, but her efforts only worsened the injury. The harsh movement of the charging animal deepened the wound as blood pooled in her lungs.
The animal shook its head, trying to get Andrea off. She screamed again as she tried to get free from the Styracosaurus' horn, but her attempts were in vain, the perforation widened, staining the animal's beak in a bright red hue. She spat blood, and her eyes were filled in tears.
The chaos continued. The herd sprinted into the forest navigating through the thick foliage effortlessly. Andrea struggled as her strength faded away. She felt a burning pain that spread across her thorax, sending waves of dizziness. The blood was suffocating her. Her vision blurred as she tried to cling to consciousness. The animals roared, sending a rumbling noise across the jungle.
Soon, the herd stopped by a river. The Styracosaurus, now desperate for some water, leaned forward, releasing her. She fell in the water that soon turned red. A crimson cloud diffused around her. All those moments of peace in her life came to her mind, the days she'd stay home to help her mother clean, the times when she visited nursing homes to attend senior citizens. She lived a life that could never be replaced. No one could ever take her place. Her eyes closed slowly as her consciousness faded, giving her last breath. The world around her faded into a deep silence, and she exhaled for the last time.
The current moved her lifeless body for thirty meters before a fallen log stopped it. There she stayed until someone could find her remains.