When Jack received the World Cup trophy, he whispered, "This is for you, my love." Suddenly, a heart attack struck him down. As he lay on the ground, his mind raced with thoughts of where he might end up—either the cursed forest or the blessed forest. He calmed himself, hoping for the blessed forest to meet his wife. Instead, he found himself in a dark, eerie court, where a grand chair made of skulls stood at the center, occupied by a terrifying man with horns.
**Scene: Jack's Arrival in the Dark Palace**
Jack awoke in a place unlike any he had ever seen. The air was thick with an ominous chill, and the surroundings were cloaked in shadow. Before him stood a vast, dark palace. Its towering walls seemed to pulse with a sinister energy. As Jack entered, he was met with a sight that made his heart race with fear. In the center of the grand hall, a massive throne made entirely of skulls and bones loomed ominously. Sitting on it was a terrifying figure—a man with horns protruding from his forehead, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Surrounding him were others, equally frightening, seated on smaller thrones, each made of the same grisly materials.
The horned man leaned forward, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You are here because you entered the forest when you were alive."
Jack's mind raced. "What? That... that wasn't a dream?"
One of the figures on the left, a gaunt man with hollow cheeks, answered, "No, it was no dream. You came here because of the intense emotions you felt—emotions so powerful they opened the door to the forest."
Jack in confusion . "What intense emotions? How did I even get here?"
The gaunt man continued, "When humans experience overwhelming desire and loss, their sorrow can reach a point of such intensity that it becomes a gateway. When they sleep, their dreams are no longer just dreams—they become portals to the forest. But crossing into the forest in this way is a crime in our realm. We send those who do so to the Empty Void, the third side of the forest. There, nothing exists but you, forever."
The horned man on the large throne interrupted, a sinister smile forming on his lips. "It's been 500 years since someone has been sent to the void. It seems you are... different in this age of deceit. I'll give you a chance."
The words hung in the air as Jack's fate remained uncertain. The scene ended, leaving the outcome of his judgment a mystery.