I continue to walk down the hallway as it fades darker and darker. Until, when I got halfway down the hall, there was a turn. I turned the corner and saw another door.
Though, the door was open just enough to see a faint, blue light. I placed my hand on the cold stone, pushing the door open to reveal a blinding light. However, it's not long before my eye adjusts to the light and I see what looks similar to what I remember a forest looking like.
"This looks... different", I muttered, the flora here looks... alien, even more than the plants in the room I woke up in.
"...", I stay still as I look around. My mind trails as I step out, the grass softly crunches under my tight black boots.
"Woah...", I look around seeing that the trees are almost as tall as skyscrapers.
Looking through a clearing of leaves above me, I witness strange but beautiful birds fly across the blue sky. However, that's when I also noticed that the sky is slightly a vibrant warm purple that reflects in the soft fluffy white clouds.
"What is this place?", I mumble, my voice filled with awe and wonder.
I continue to wander into the forest along what seems to look like a path. As I walked, I witnessed even more fantastical beings, like a creature that was a mix of a butterfly and a hummingbird.
Also, as I continued, I barely dodged a sleeping creature that looked to be a mix between a snake and something I'd never seen before. Its body is long and it's covered in scales (... or tiny... feathers?) that reflect the light.
Though, that's not even the most surprising thing. As I kept walking, I even witnessed a deer-like creature with seven antlers, each with different kinds of small plants growing on them. Of course, I didn't recognize them.
After a while, the path seemed to be less aligned in trees as a clearing opened up to what looked to be a small camp. Five small to medium sized tents align in a circle. I approached the campfire in the middle and picked up a stick from it.
"It's still warm... But... Not hot to the touch... Huh...", I poke the coals before throwing the stick back into the ash pile.
I then began searching for honestly anything. I find that most are baren with nothing but abandoned trash. Though, there seems to be something in one of the tents that is slightly larger than the rest. There is a backpack, more trash, and a messy sleeping bag.
As my mind trailed and I stared into space, a thought entered my head, "Where's the people who left this?"
"Hm... They must not be back yet...", I mumbled as I exited the tent.
Pondering, I looked around a bit more, however, that's when my stomach growled as I felt a pit in my stomach, "Ah...", My breath shook, "I need to eat..."
"Caution, Subject is hungry.", The cuff beeped, and as it did, I sighed, "This is going to get real annoying isn't it..."
"Ugh....", I groan before walking over to a log next to the ash pile, "Maybe whoever set this camp up will have some food?...", I mumble.
I investigate around the campfire and log seats before (after a long while...) I remember the backpack in the one tent. Quickly I ran back, and to my surprise, I find what looks like an energy bar. However it is a brand I don't recognize, "Wamunch Bar, the only snack you'll need...", I read as I walk back to one of the logs around the campfire.
"Huh... and it's Gwarvu Mushroom flavor!", I sarcastically smile before dropping it, "W-What the fuck is that!?", My voice stutters.
"Ugh... Whatever!" I pick it back up, "I haven't eaten in who knows how long, and right now this is better than nothing!"
I open the Wamunch Bar and begin eating it. It tastes like you deep-fried cardboard and then baked it with chocolate, potato-flavored ice cream, and mushrooms that were marinated in milk. "Ug-hgk!", I gag, "Oh god! This is fucking disgusting!"
However, with a deep breath, I quickly eat the rest and get up. "A-alright..." I swallow something that was coming back up, "Aug..... At least I'm not hungry anymore..." I fall back down, sitting back on the log.
As I sigh, the cuff beeps again, "Caution! The subject consumed strange substances. AA serum activated."
Suddenly I feel a prick on my wrist as a burning feeling returns. "Ugh...." I groan in pain, "Whatever-" Suddenly, the cuff interrupts my complaining, "High Success. The subject has been granted immunity to the negative effect of. 'WAMUCH BAR.'"
"Heh? ..." I sat stunned for a moment. "Well... That's convenient...", I sarcastically laugh. However, I quickly stopped as a wave of tiredness washed over me.
"Caution! A certain effect of AA serum has been neutralized due to high melatonin levels ." I yawn, stretching my arms. "Yep... That makes sense..." I stand up, "I must be tired from all that in that.... What did the note call it?", I yawn as I think back, "eh... Whatever..."
Without even thinking much of it, I begin to walk over the one tent I kept visiting and lie down on the messy sleeping bag. With a deep yawn, I pull the blanket over me.
"The person that owns this doesn't need it, huh?" I try to get comfortable but it is a bit hard to do so with what I'm wearing... And the blood. "... Right... No one's here..."
I stretch again before lying back down. "Welp! Good Night... Hopefully..."
.
.
.
"Huh...?", My eyes slowly open to see the darkness of night out of the tent door. I would expect it since I didn't zip it up, but, that's not what I noticed.
It's too dark to see anything then what's in front of me but I hear the crunching of leaves... or... is it the grass?
"What was that?", I mutter to myself, still a bit tired and woozy.
Though, as my eyes adjust to the darkness I can faintly make out something. I decide to sit up to get a better look as I peer out of the tent.
However, to my surprise, I saw what looks like the faint outline of a large creature on its four legs approaching the campsite. I would've mistaken it for a bear, but it has horns protruding from it's head right where you'd think a forehead would be.
And, I couldn't miss the large wings at it's side, just about as big as itself.
"What the...", I whispered, watching the creature. Though, that's when I realized the creature has noticed me too, and it began making a huffing sound as its breathing became faster.
"Ah-!", My breathing comes to a sharp halt for a moment. "Shhhit...", I quietly panic, quickly grabbing the dagger and the backpack from beside me.
Hoping not to be cornered, I quickly put on the backpack and carefully exited the tent. With the dagger in hand, I watched as the creature stared at me. I could feel that it was waiting for me to make my move.
"Fuck...", I whisper. Though, it wasn't long before the creature lunged towards me after growing impatient.
"Ah!" I shouted, running into the woods.
I heard the creature chasing after me, it's footsteps echoing behind me.
"Huff.... Huh..." I could feel my heart pound. Almost like clockwork, the cuff beeped at the most inappropriate time!, "Caution! The subject has low level stamina and hasn't finished their resting period!"
"Huff..... I fucking know!", I yelled without thinking.
However, in my exhaustion, I tripped and fell. I rolled a bit as the dagger slipped out of my hand.
I quickly tried to get up, but before I knew it, the creatures has pinned me to the ground.
"Ah!" My voice squeaks.
The creature stares down at me, its large wings and furry, thick body hovering over me.
"H-hey!", My voice trembled. Though, it was not long before the creature lowered its face to mine.
With a gulp, I could feel its hot breath.
"Aug...", My heart pounded.
I shut my eyes tight, my hand reaching for the dagger.
However, suddenly the cuff beeped once more, "Caution! High level of stress and fear detected, AA serum activated."
"Huh!?" My eyes open in surprise.
But it was not long before I could feel the prick in my skin and the burning feeling returned.
"Aug-!", My muscles tensed, my fingers clenched around the dagger as I finally reach it.
And with a final exhale, I plunged the dagger into the creatures' eye.
"Grahh!", The creature cried out in pain.
"Y-yes!" My voice was filled with relief.
However it is short lived as it throws down a claw, tearing through my side.
"Ah-!", Pain shot through me.
But before it could strike again, the cuff beeps.
"Subject's body has substained minimum required damage. AA serum's effect is complete."
"What!?-", The cuff interrupted, "Effect: Low level regeneration activated."
I could feel the burning grow in pain but as it did it felt like it was moving from all of my veins to just my wounds.
"Aug-!", Tears formed in the corner of my eyes.
But before I could react I watched as the creature growled as it throws another claw at me, only this time, it is aimed at my face.
"Ah-!" My voice was shaky, and with the last of my strength, I lifted my arm, holding the dagger up.
With a clash, the blade collided with the sharp claw.