Alex's heart pounded in his chest, each beat thundering in his ears.
He could feel his breath come in shallow gasps, the weight of the creature's gaze pressing down on him.
The massive beast stood in the shadows, its eyes glowing an eerie, unnatural red.
The air itself seemed to crackle with a malevolent energy, thick with the promise of danger.
Alex's legs trembled beneath him, but his body refused to move, locked in place by the terror that surged through him.
The creature's growl rumbled deep in its throat, a sound that sent chills down his spine.
It was closer now, its massive form shifting in the darkness.
Its claws scraped against the earth, leaving deep gouges in the soil as it stepped forward.
Alex's instincts screamed at him to run, to do something—anything—but his feet remained frozen.
What am I supposed to do? Alex thought, his mind racing.
" I can't fight this thing."
"My knife... it's useless. I'm useless".
"This isn't a fight I can win. What if... what if this is the end?"
His hand instinctively went to the small weapon his mother had given him, the short curved knife strapped to his side.
But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be enough.
No amount of blade could stand up to the sheer power of the creature before him, most especially with someone weak as him holding it.
His only hope was to survive long enough to find another way out.
But then, before he could even react, the ground beneath him seemed to shift.
The creature's low growl intensified, the sound vibrating through the very earth.
Alex's heart raced as the beast lunged forward with terrifying speed.
"No!"
Alex's body acted on instinct.
He turned, stumbling backward, desperate to put some distance between himself and the monster.
He didn't even look where he was going, his only thought to get away.
He backpedaled into the ancient tree behind him, the rough bark pressing against his back.
"I have to get away. I can't—"
But before he could process what was happening, his foot caught on something.
He wasn't prepared.
His body lurched backward, and in a heart-stopping moment, he was falling.
There was no time to brace for the impact.
He tumbled into the darkness, the world spinning as he lost all control.
For a moment, everything went black.
When Alex came to, his mind was slow to wake, his senses overloaded with confusion.
His head throbbed as he pushed himself to his feet.
His hands went instinctively to his side, but his weapon—the knife—was gone.
Panic surged in his chest as he searched the ground, but there was no sign of it.
It was like the world had swallowed it whole.
"Where's my knife?"
He thought, his breath quickening.
"No, no, not now… not like this".
"I'm not ready to die".
He looked around.
The air was different now.
The oppressive weight that had been suffocating him was gone.
The oppressive darkness had shifted, and for a moment, Alex thought he might be safe.
But his relief was short-lived.
He was no longer in the forest.
The world around him was unlike anything he had seen before.
It was brighter, more vibrant—alive in ways that didn't make sense.
Tall, ancient trees surrounded him, their trunks so wide they seemed to touch the sky.
The ground was covered with lush greenery, plants he didn't recognize, and a soft light seemed to glow from every corner.
Everything felt alive, pulsing with an energy that made the air feel heavy, yet clean and pure.
What is this place? Alex thought, his heart hammering as he scanned the new landscape.
This isn't the forest anymore... is this real? Is this… another world?
He took a few cautious steps forward, uncertainty clouding his mind.
Did the tree... open? His thoughts raced, but the strange beauty of the place tugged at him.
There was something about this place that felt important, something that felt like he belonged here.
But then, before he could fully grasp his surroundings, the ground beneath him seemed to hum, a low vibration deep in his chest.
Alex froze. It wasn't just the shift of the earth—it was something more.
Something calling out to him.
What is this?
He looked up at the horizon, his eyes drawn to a figure in the distance.
That tree...
At the far end of the vibrant land stood a colossal tree.
It towered over everything else, its roots seeming to stretch deep into the earth, its branches spreading out in every direction, casting an ethereal glow that seemed to beckon to him.
It was majestic, glowing with an almost unnatural light, like it was the heart of this new place.
"That tree... it's different. It's... calling me".
Alex felt a pull deep within him, as though something—someone—was guiding him toward the tree.
He couldn't explain it, but it felt as if the very air around him was vibrating with energy.
The pull grew stronger with each passing second, drawing him forward.
His feet moved against his will, his body no longer listening to his mind.
The force was overwhelming, like it was making decisions for him. I don't have a choice.
I can't... He shook his head, trying to stop himself, but his legs kept moving.
I'm being pulled in...
Step by step, he moved toward the tree, his chest tight with anxiety.
What's waiting for me there? What if it's a trap?
The closer he got, the more he felt the pull, until it became unbearable.
His mind screamed for him to stop.
This could be a mistake.
I could be walking straight into danger. What if—
Before he could finish his thought, a deafening growl tore through the air, shaking the ground beneath him.
Alex froze, the blood draining from his face.
The creature.
The monster from the forest.
It wasn't gone.
It had followed him.
His heart skipped a beat as a shadow loomed behind him.
He spun around, his legs trembling, but it was too late.
The beast was there, closer than before, its red eyes burning with rage.
Its growl reverberated through the very earth beneath his feet.
Alex's body was paralyzed.
He could feel the pull of the tree, but the beast was right there.
There was no escape.
The monster's claws scraped against the ground, and Alex's breath caught in his throat.
This is it.
This is how it ends.
And then, just as he thought he might be torn apart, a strange force surged from the tree.
The light around it grew blinding, and the world seemed to bend.
But the last thing Alex saw before everything went white was the creature's massive form lunging toward him.