David knelt in the dirt, his frail frame shuddering under the weight of exhaustion and pain. A cold gun barrel pressed against his forehead, its metal biting into his skin. The soldier looming over him was tall, clad in a bloodstained uniform, his eyes gleaming with contempt.

David's breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving as if every breath might be his last. He'd always been thin and wiry, the kind of guy who looked like a strong wind could knock him over. Even the harsh training of the military hadn't changed that. He was six feet tall but lacked the muscle or bulk his fellow soldiers boasted. His dark hair was matted to his scalp with sweat and grime, his face pale and gaunt from weeks of captivity. Dark circles hung under his hollow eyes, which now stared up at his captor with a mix of defiance and despair.

The soldier cocked the gun with a cruel smile. "Any last words, runt?"

David tried to swallow, but his throat was dry. He was trembling, every muscle screaming in agony, but he forced himself to look up, meeting the soldier's gaze head-on.

Not like this, he thought bitterly. I can't die like this. Not without knowing what happened to Jacob.

But as he stared into the cold, unfeeling eyes of the man who was about to end his life, his mind flashed back to a night that felt like a lifetime ago.

I should've been there that night. I should've protected her. Instead, I was too busy dreaming of escape—an escape from him. From that house. But dreams can't save you from reality, and reality is brutal.

It was the night before I enlisted. I'd finally made the decision to get out—to leave it all behind and make something of myself. Jacob, my older brother, was already set to enlist too, and we thought joining the military together would be our chance for a new beginning.

But Dad's rage got to her first.

I remember the sound of glass breaking. The thud of a heavy object hitting the floor. Then, her scream. A single, gut-wrenching scream that seemed to echo forever. I bolted from my room, my heart pounding with panic.

By the time I got there, it was too late. Mom was on the floor, blood pooling beneath her head. Her eyes—once so full of life—stared up at the ceiling, unblinking. Empty.

I remember the look on Dad's face—cold, unfeeling. He didn't even glance at me as I stood there, trembling with shock and rage.

"What did you—?" My voice broke, and I took a step back, my mind reeling. "What did you do?!"

"She wouldn't listen," he said flatly, as if that was explanation enough. As if it justified everything. "She wouldn't—"

I didn't let him finish. My fist connected with his jaw, and he staggered back, surprise flashing in his eyes. But he was bigger, stronger. He grabbed me, slammed me against the wall, and I felt something crack in my side. Pain flared, and I gasped, the air knocked out of me.

"Don't you ever raise your hand to me," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can just leave? You think you can just run away and join the army with your brother, huh?"

Tears blurred my vision, but I forced myself to look him in the eye. "I'm not running. I'm—"

"Shut up!" His grip tightened, and I choked, struggling to breathe. "You're not going anywhere, David. Neither of you are."

He let me go, and I collapsed to the floor, clutching my ribs. I glanced at Mom's lifeless body, horror and rage twisting inside me. And then I ran. I didn't stop until I was outside, gulping down the cool night air, the house and everything it represented a dark, suffocating weight in my mind.

That was the night I swore I'd never be helpless again.

But here he was—helpless once more, staring death in the face.

The soldier's grin widened as he saw David's eyes dart, desperation etched into his every feature. He stepped back, the gun still trained on David, and opened his mouth to taunt him again when—

"David!" a voice shouted from somewhere behind the line of soldiers.

David's heart leaped. He knew that voice. "Jacob?" he croaked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Hold on!" Jacob's voice came again, this time closer, filled with panic and urgency.

Before the soldier could react, a shot rang out, and the man standing over David crumpled to the ground, blood spraying the dirt. Chaos erupted. The other soldiers spun around, shouting orders and raising their weapons.

"Jacob?" David called again, struggling against his bindings, adrenaline surging through his veins. "Jacob!"

Then he saw him. Jacob emerged from the shadows, his face set in a grim expression, rifle in hand. "David, I'm here. Get up!"

"I—" David tried to move, but his legs felt like lead. He stumbled forward, falling against his brother's chest.

Jacob wrapped an arm around him, half-carrying, half-dragging him as they made a break for the tree line. Bullets whizzed past them, the air crackling with gunfire. The soldiers shouted, but Jacob didn't slow down, his grip on David unyielding.

"Jacob, wait—" David gasped, his lungs burning. "You—you can't—"

"Shut up!" Jacob growled, his voice strained. "We're getting out of here. I'm not leaving you behind."

But even as he said it, David could hear the desperation in his voice, the fear that threaded through each word. They weren't going to make it. He was too weak, too slow, dragging Jacob down.

And then, as if to confirm his worst fears, a gunshot echoed, and Jacob staggered, a cry of pain escaping his lips.

"Jacob!" David screamed, his heart lurching.

Jacob stumbled, his grip on David faltering. Blood blossomed across his shoulder, and he grimaced, his face contorted in pain. "Damn it," he muttered through gritted teeth, trying to keep moving.

But the soldiers were closing in, their shouts growing louder. David looked back, seeing them fan out, rifles aimed at their backs.

No. No, no, no!

Desperation clawed at him. He couldn't lose Jacob. Not like this. Not after everything.

And then, without thinking, he shoved his brother away, his movements fueled by a surge of adrenaline and determination. "Run!" he yelled, his voice breaking. "Go! Get out of here!"

"What? No!" Jacob tried to reach for him, but David stumbled backward, putting distance between them. "David, what the hell are you—"

"Run, damn it!" David shouted again, turning to face the approaching soldiers. "I'll hold them off. Just go!"

"David!" Jacob's voice cracked with anguish, but David didn't look back.

The soldiers were almost upon him now, their rifles glinting menacingly in the dim light. David took a deep breath, his heart hammering in his chest, and braced himself.

And then, everything went black.

The next thing David knew, he was floating in a void—an endless expanse of darkness that stretched on forever. A faint, shimmering light appeared before him, growing brighter with each passing second. He blinked, disoriented, and tried to move, but his body felt weightless, like he was drifting through space.

"Who—?" he began, but his voice echoed strangely, reverberating in the emptiness.

A figure materialized from the light—tall and ethereal, radiating an otherworldly presence. It was neither male nor female, its form shifting and changing with each blink of his eyes. When it spoke, its voice seemed to resonate within his very soul.

"You have shown courage in the face of certain death, human," it intoned, its voice both soothing and terrifying. "Sacrifice, even when hope was lost."

David stared, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. "Wha—what are you?"

"I am a being beyond your understanding," the figure said simply. "But know this: I have deemed you worthy."

"Worthy of what?" David croaked, his throat dry.

"Of a second chance," the being replied, its light pulsing softly. "A chance to prove your strength and survive. But know that this new world will test you beyond anything you have ever known."

Before David could respond, the light surged forward, enveloping him completely. Pain exploded in every nerve, and he screamed, his voice swallowed by the void.

When the light finally faded, he found himself lying on the ground, the rough texture of soil and grass beneath his fingers. He opened his eyes, squinting against the harsh sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy above.

He was no longer on Earth. He was somewhere else—somewhere alien.

An unfamiliar jungle stretched out around him, filled with towering trees and strange, unearthly sounds. David struggled to his feet, his body trembling.

"What…where am I?" he whispered, his heart pounding.

The world around David swirled with strange colors, his vision struggling to adjust. He lay flat on his back, chest heaving with labored breaths as he took in his surroundings. Above him, the sky was obscured by a thick canopy of interwoven branches, their leaves glowing with an unnatural luminescence. Greens and blues melded together in surreal patterns, casting an otherworldly light over the jungle floor. There was a faint hum in the air, like the whisper of something alive and watchful.

David tried to sit up, but the effort made his muscles scream in protest. He felt as if a massive weight was pressing down on his chest, crushing him into the ground. What the hell? Why is it so hard to move?

He glanced around, blinking sweat out of his eyes. The dense undergrowth seemed to pulse with life, every plant and tree exuding an eerie vibrancy. The grass beneath him was a deep, almost iridescent blue, and massive ferns towered over him, their edges lined with tiny, glittering spores. Everything felt…off. As if reality had shifted, and he was now standing in the middle of some vivid, twisted dream.

Where am I? he thought, his heart racing. Am I still on Earth?

He struggled to his knees, every movement a monumental effort. The gravity here was different—heavier. It bore down on him relentlessly, making it almost impossible to stand. He wavered for a moment, then managed to plant one foot against the ground and push himself up. His legs trembled, threatening to buckle, but he forced himself upright, gasping from the exertion.

David's gaze swept over the jungle once more, trying to make sense of it. The trees, with their bark a pale, unnatural white, loomed like silent sentinels around him, their twisted branches reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers. Tendrils of vines, thicker than his arm, coiled and swayed gently, as if stirred by some unseen breeze.

This…this isn't right, he thought, panic tightening his chest. Am I on an alien planet?

He replayed the last moments before he'd found himself here—the soldier's gun aimed at his head, Jacob's voice shouting for him to run. The blinding light that had swallowed him whole.

Jacob, he thought, a wave of anguish washing over him. Did he make it? Is he alive?

But there was no answer. Just the oppressive silence of the jungle and the distant, haunting calls of creatures that lurked beyond his sight.

Focus, David, he told himself, shaking his head as if to dispel the confusion. You're alive. Somehow. Now figure out how to stay that way.

With a monumental effort, he forced himself to move, stumbling through the thick foliage. The ground was uneven, and every step was a struggle. His legs burned, his muscles straining against the oppressive gravity. He had no idea where he was going—only that he had to keep moving, had to find some sign of food or water.

As he trudged forward, he heard rustling in the bushes ahead and froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Slowly, he pushed aside a fern as tall as he was and peered through the underbrush.

A massive creature, unlike anything he'd ever seen before, was grazing in a small clearing. It was the size of a rhinoceros, its body covered in thick, iridescent scales that shimmered with every movement. Four long, powerful legs supported its bulk, and a pair of twisting horns jutted from its forehead.

David's breath caught in his throat as the beast raised its head, its eyes—large, liquid orbs—sweeping lazily over the clearing. Don't move. Don't even breathe, he thought frantically, his body frozen in place. For a few agonizing moments, the creature sniffed the air, then lowered its head and continued grazing.

Slowly, David backed away, his pulse pounding in his ears. What the hell is that thing? He had no idea if it was hostile, but judging by its size and those razor-sharp claws, he didn't want to find out.

Get out of here, David. Hide. He turned and crept away as quietly as he could, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Each step felt like it might be his last, every sound in the jungle making his heart jump….

A week passed in a haze of fear and desperation.

David barely managed to survive. He was constantly on the move, hiding from creatures that dwarfed anything he'd ever seen on Earth. Every encounter was a gamble with death, and the gravity sapped his strength more with each passing day. Hunger gnawed at his insides, and his mouth was perpetually dry, his body screaming for sustenance.

The first few days were the worst. He'd tried to keep up his strength, but the oppressive weight of this world made even walking feel like running a marathon. The dense jungle seemed to close in on him, the shadows twisting with every glance, every noise sending him into a blind panic.

He'd found nothing edible—every plant looked foreign, alien. He dared not eat the few berries he found, unsure if they were poisonous. And as for the animals…they were either too massive or too dangerous to even consider hunting. He was forced to hide from everything that moved, the constant threat of death haunting his every step.

I need food, he thought desperately, his vision blurring as he pushed through the dense undergrowth. His arms and legs were scraped and bruised from his countless falls, his stomach hollow and aching.

Water, he pleaded silently, his throat so dry it hurt to swallow. Just…a little water.

And then, as if in answer to his prayer, he heard it—a faint, rushing sound, like music to his ears. He froze, his breath catching. Was he imagining it? No. There it was again, clearer now—the unmistakable sound of water.

"Water," he whispered hoarsely, hope flaring inside him. Ignoring the pain, he forced his legs to move, half-stumbling, half-crawling toward the sound. Every muscle in his body protested, but he gritted his teeth, pushing himself onward.

He broke through a line of ferns and stumbled into a small clearing. A narrow stream gurgled softly over rocks, its clear water sparkling in the dappled sunlight. For a moment, David could only stare, disbelief and relief flooding through him.

Without thinking, he dropped to his knees and plunged his hands into the stream, scooping up the water and bringing it to his lips. The first taste was like heaven—cool and refreshing, it washed away the dryness in his mouth, soothing his parched throat.

He drank greedily, gulping down mouthful after mouthful until his stomach ached. He leaned back, gasping, a weak smile tugging at his lips. Maybe my luck's finally turning around, he thought.

But then, a low growl echoed through the clearing.

David's blood turned to ice. Slowly, he turned his head and froze.

A massive creature stood at the edge of the clearing, its eyes locked onto him. It was a wolf—at least, that was the closest comparison his mind could make. But this wolf was nothing like the ones on Earth. It was easily twice the size of a bear, its dark blue fur bristling with energy. Muscles rippled beneath its coat, each movement radiating power. Its claws, each one as long as his forearm, dug into the ground as it took a step forward, lips curling back to reveal long, gleaming fangs.

David's heart hammered in his chest as the creature's eyes narrowed, its gaze burning into him.

No… he thought, his mind racing. No, not now. Please, not now.

The wolf crouched, muscles tensing, and then it lunged.

Time seemed to slow as it barreled toward him, faster than anything he'd ever seen. David stumbled back, his body too weak, too slow to react. I'm going to die, he thought, a sense of hopeless resignation washing over him. I'm really going to die.

But just as the wolf was about to reach him, a thunderous roar shattered the air. Something massive crashed through the trees, a blur of motion that slammed into the wolf with bone-crushing force.

David scrambled back, his eyes widening as the dust settled.

A colossal, twenty-foot-tall ape-like creature stood over the broken body of the wolf. Its fur was a deep, mottled gray, and its massive fists were covered in blood. It bent down, grabbing the wolf's lifeless form with one hand, and with a savage twist, tore it in half.

David watched in horrified fascination as the ape devoured the wolf's flesh, its powerful jaws crunching through bone as if it were nothing. The sheer brutality of it left him speechless.

After a few moments, the ape straightened, its eyes passing over David as if he didn't even exist. Then, with a snort, it turned and lumbered back into the jungle, leaving the mangled remains of the wolf behind.

For a long moment, David didn't move, too stunned to even breathe. The carcass lay a few feet away, its still-warm flesh glistening in the sunlight.

I… I need food, he thought numbly, the primal hunger roaring back to life. He stumbled forward, his hands shaking as he reached out and tore a chunk of meat from the wolf's flank. Blood smeared his fingers, but he didn't care.

He ate

...He ate ravenously, his body instinctively knowing it needed the sustenance to survive. With every bite, a warmth surged through him, filling the hollow pit of hunger that had gnawed at his insides for days. As he tore through the flesh, savoring the rich taste, something strange began to happen.

The moment he swallowed the last mouthful of meat, a powerful wave coursed through his body. It was as if liquid fire ignited his veins, energy sparking in every muscle. The weight of the gravity pressing down on him began to ease, as if the jungle itself acknowledged his need for strength.

David staggered back, blinking in disbelief. His legs felt lighter, and as he flexed his arms, he could feel the sinewy muscles beneath his skin swell and tighten, responding to the surge of power flooding through him. The world around him shifted, colors growing brighter, sounds sharper. He felt alive in a way he had never experienced before, every nerve ending buzzing with energy.

What's happening? he thought, panic mingling with exhilaration. He stood up straighter, and for the first time since he'd arrived in this strange world, he felt…strong. He lifted his arms, testing their newfound power, and a smile broke across his face.

Could it be? David's heart raced with a mix of excitement and disbelief. 

Do I gain the strength of what I eat? The thought echoed in his mind, the implications thrilling and terrifying. If he could become stronger, perhaps he could survive this brutal world. Maybe he could find Jacob.

He flexed his muscles, watching in awe as they rippled beneath his skin, more defined than ever. The burden of gravity felt manageable now, each movement fluid and powerful. He had never been strong; he had always been the frail one, the weak one. But here, in this alien world, that seemed to change.

David took a deep breath, testing his body as he prepared to move. He could feel the energy thrumming within him, ready to be unleashed. He was a predator now, not just prey, and he relished the feeling. But he knew he couldn't linger in the clearing, not after the chaos that had just unfolded.

What did that being that sent me here do to me? he wondered, a mix of curiosity and dread swirling in his gut. He was still grappling with the enormity of his situation—the dark godlike entity that had given him this chance, this power. Why him? What did it mean for his future?

With a newfound determination, he turned and began to explore the dense jungle. Every step was imbued with purpose, the world around him vibrant and alive. As he ventured deeper, he marveled at the sights—the massive flowers that glowed softly in the shadows, the strange, low-pitched calls of creatures hidden among the foliage.

But a nagging thought crept into his mind, a worry that lingered despite the thrill of power. What if I can't control it? The last thing he wanted was to become like the beasts he'd just encountered, to lose himself in the hunger for more strength. He had to stay vigilant, to find a way to balance this new power within him.

He pressed on, his senses heightened, every sound magnified. The jungle was no longer a terrifying expanse; it was now a realm of opportunity. With each passing moment, he felt the urge to explore, to test his limits, to see just how far this new strength could take him.

But even as he embraced his transformation, a part of him clung to the memory of Jacob, the brother he might never see again. The thought propelled him forward, pushing him to uncover the mysteries of this alien world. He could feel it deep within him—this place held answers, and perhaps, just perhaps, he would find a way back home.