Sam's vision blurred as the monstrous fist sent him careening through the air. His body hit the ground with a force that rattled his bones, but before he could even register the pain, he saw the portal ahead of him swirl violently and pull Sara, Masha, and Alan into its vortex. The last thing he saw before the portal closed was their shocked faces disappearing into the swirling darkness.
"Great… just great," Sam groaned, pulling himself up from the ground. The once vibrant and glowing portal was now a faint memory, leaving him alone on a desolate, unfamiliar landscape. He brushed the dirt off his clothes and checked to make sure nothing was broken. "Note to self: don't get hit by a giant monster before jumping into a portal."
As he took in his surroundings, Sam noticed that the environment had completely changed. The dark, oppressive atmosphere of the bridge was gone, replaced by a blindingly bright landscape of endless white sand. The White Desert stretched out in every direction, the horizon shimmering under the pale light of the sky.
"Well, this is new," Sam muttered, squinting against the glare. "Where the heck did I end up?"
With no obvious path to follow, Sam picked a direction and started walking, his mind racing with thoughts of his friends. He had to find them, but with the vastness of the Void and no clear way to navigate, that seemed like a monumental task.
As he trudged through the sand, his thoughts were interrupted by a faint noise. He stopped, tilting his head to listen. It was distant, but unmistakable—a scream, high-pitched and filled with terror.
Sam's heart leapt into his throat. "That can't be good." He took off at a sprint, the white sand shifting under his feet as he followed the sound.
He crested a small dune and spotted the source of the scream: a girl around his age was being chased by a large, dog-like beast with sharp fangs and an ugly snarl. The creature had her cornered against a rocky outcrop, its growls low and menacing as it prepared to strike.
"Not on my watch!" Sam shouted, drawing his sword as he launched himself into the fray.
With a dramatic flip—because why not show off a little—Sam sailed through the air, his sword glinting in the light. He landed gracefully between the girl and the beast, his sword slicing cleanly through the creature's neck in one fluid motion. The beast's head thudded to the ground, followed by its body collapsing into the sand.
The girl stared at Sam with wide eyes, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink as she realized her savior was not only skilled but also incredibly handsome. Sam turned to her, flashing a charming smile that only added to her flustered state.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle as he sheathed his sword with a flourish.
The girl nodded, still too stunned to speak. After a few moments, she found her voice. "Y-Yes... I think so." Her voice was soft, almost timid. She glanced down at the fallen beast, then back at Sam. "Thank you... for saving me."
Sam offered a small smile. "You're welcome. But what are you doing out here alone? This desert doesn't seem like a safe place to wander."
The girl hesitated, as if weighing whether or not to trust him. But something in Sam's demeanor seemed to put her at ease, and she finally spoke. "I was separated from my group... I was trying to find them, but then that thing attacked me."
Sam's brow furrowed. "Your group? There are others here?"
She nodded. "Yes, we were on our way back to our camp... It's not far from here. You should come with me. The others will want to thank you for helping me."
Sam hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, lead the way."
The girl smiled, a little more at ease now. "I'm Lyla, by the way."
"Sam," he replied, offering her a nod of acknowledgment.
Lyla led the way through the White Desert, and Sam followed close behind, his mind racing with questions. Who was this girl? What was this camp she spoke of? And most importantly, had Sara, Masha, and Alan been taken to the city she mentioned earlier?
As they walked, the silence between them was occasionally broken by the sound of the wind or the crunch of sand beneath their feet. After a while, Lyla spoke again, her tone curious.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, glancing back at Sam.
Sam shook his head. "No, I'm not. I'm here on a mission... to stop the Shade Society."
Lyla's expression darkened at the mention of the Shade Society. "The Shade Society... they're the reason so many of us suffer. They come to the city, terrorizing the people, hunting down anyone they suspect of using magic."
Sam nodded, understanding the hatred in her voice. "I know. That's why I'm here. To put an end to their tyranny."
Lyla's eyes softened as she looked at him. "Thank you, Sam. You have no idea how much that means to us."
They continued walking in silence until they reached a small, hidden camp nestled between a series of rocky outcrops. The camp was modest, with a few tents and a central fire pit, but it was clear that the people here were survivors, hardened by the harsh environment of the Void.
As they entered the camp, several people turned to look at them, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity. A middle-aged man with a stern face and a weary demeanor stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he saw Lyla.
"Lyla! You're safe!" he exclaimed, relief evident in his voice.
Lyla smiled. "Yes, thanks to Sam. He saved me from a beast out in the desert."
The man turned to Sam, his expression softening slightly. "You have our gratitude, Sam. It's not often we see someone so willing to help a stranger in these parts."
Sam shrugged modestly. "Just doing what anyone would."
The man nodded appreciatively. "Still, we owe you. Please, come and sit by the fire. We have much to discuss."
As they gathered around the fire, Sam couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with these people. They were survivors, just like him, and they shared a common enemy in the Shade Society.
The man introduced himself as Roran, the leader of the camp. As they talked, Sam learned more about the city Lyla had mentioned.
"If your friends went through the portal," Roran said, "they're most likely in the city. It's far from here, though—too far to reach on foot. The only way to get there is by using a teleporter."
Sam frowned. "A teleporter? How do I get to one?"
Lyla spoke up. "There's a camp of soldiers from the city nearby. Each captain of a camp carries a key that can create a teleporter. If we can get that key, we can create our own portal to the city."
Sam's determination flared up again. "Alright, then that's our plan. We'll head to the camp and get that key."
Roran looked at him seriously. "It's not going to be easy. The soldiers are strong, and they won't just hand over the key."
Sam grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Who said anything about asking nicely?"
The group shared a laugh, though there was an underlying tension. They knew the risks, but they also knew that Sam was their best chance of reaching the city and reuniting with his friends.
As they made plans for the next day, Sam couldn't help but think of Sara, Masha, and Alan. He hoped they were safe, wherever they were. But for now, he had a mission to focus on, and he wasn't about to back down.
With the fire crackling softly in the background, Sam settled in for the night, his mind already turning to the challenge that awaited them at the soldiers' camp. Tomorrow, they would retrieve the teleporter key, and with it, their chance to reunite with his friends and continue their fight against the Shade Society.