Kaelen, Vaylen, and Drayce sprinted through the dark forest, their hearts racing as they leaped from tree to tree. The night was thicker than usual, with shadows creeping around them, making every rustle seem threatening.
Behind them, Azeron, the powerful demon, chased them with a deep, mocking laughter that echoed in the darkness. His presence was overwhelming, causing the ground to tremble with each step he took. They could feel his eyes on them, sensing their every move, and it filled them with dread.
Though Azeron could have easily killed them, he chose not to. Instead, he enjoyed the thrill of the chase, feeding off their fear. The trees' branches scratched at their skin, and the rough ground threatened to trip them. They were sweating and out of breath, but they couldn't stop running.
Azeron's glowing eyes pierced through the dark, and a wicked grin spread across his face as he watched the boys struggle. The tension in the air was thick, and the three of them knew they had to keep going, even as the demon savored every moment of their panic.
Azeron suddenly stopped, something feeling off in the air. It wasn't like him to halt mid-chase; he was always focused on his goals. But tonight, a strange sensation crept over him, pulling at his instincts.
He glanced back at Kaelen, Vaylen, and Drayce, who had finally slowed down. Relief was visible on their faces as they caught their breath. In that moment, they felt safe from the demon's grasp.
With a last look at the boys, Azeron turned and sprinted away, heading toward his dark lair deep in the forest. As he disappeared into the shadows, the tension in the air lifted.
Their hearts were racing, but they were no longer in danger. The silence of the night surrounded them, and they exchanged glances, realizing they had escaped—for now. But they knew they couldn't let their guard down; Azeron might come back.
Azeron was a powerful demon who showed no mercy. With his fiery attacks, he destroyed entire villages, leaving them in ruins and ashes. He burned down homes, and many people lost their lives in the chaos. Among those who survived were those three boys. They were orphans, never knowing their parents, and they were left with nothing—no shelter and no money.
Azeron thought he had killed everyone. However, he was surprised to learn that the three boys managed to escape his wrath. Instead of feeling frustrated, Azeron was excited. Usually, one of his attacks would wipe out everyone in an instant. But this time, it was different. The challenge of finding and catching these boys thrilled him, adding a twist to his usual routine of destruction.
Kaelen and Vaylen gasped for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests. They had narrowly escaped the demon, and if he had decided to attack, they would have turned to ashes in an instant.
But they didn't have time to think about that. The most important thing was that Drayce was missing. Panic gripped them as they looked around the dense woods, searching for any sign of their friend.
"Where is he?" Kaelen asked, his voice trembling. Vaylen's eyes darted through the trees, desperate for a glimpse of Drayce. They had been so focused on fleeing the demon that they hadn't noticed when he had fallen behind.
They couldn't leave him. Drayce was out there, alone in the dark, and the thought sent chills down their spines. They had to find him—fast.
The darkness pressed in, thick and suffocating, but Kaelen couldn't let it consume his fear. His heart raced as he turned to Vaylen, urgency lacing his voice. "Vaylen, let's find him now! We don't have time to waste; we don't know when Azeron might come back and finish what he started."
Adrenaline coursed through Kaelen's veins as he pushed forward, scanning the shadows for any sign of Drayce. The echo of their escape still rang in his ears, the memory of the demon's chilling laughter haunting him. They had managed to escape, but at what cost?
Every instinct screamed at him to hurry. He dashed through the gloom, calling Drayce's name, his voice cracking with desperation. "Drayce! Where are you?"
Panic surged through Kaelen when he finally caught sight of him—crumpled on the ground, surrounded by dark stains that marred the earth beneath him. Blood. So much blood. His breath caught in his throat as he rushed to Drayce's side.
Drayce lay still, his body marred by deep scratches, wounds that were far too brutal for any human to inflict. These marks bore the signature of a monster, a brutal reminder of the horrors they had narrowly escaped. "No, no, no!" Kaelen murmured, kneeling beside him, trembling hands reaching out to check for signs of life.
Vaylen's heart raced at the sound of Kaelen's desperate cries, panic surging through him. He ran through the shadows, each step heavy with dread, until he reached the clearing where Kaelen knelt. The sight that met his eyes froze him in place.
Drayce lay on the ground, still and lifeless, blood pooling around him like a dark omen. Vaylen's breath caught in his throat, disbelief flooding his mind. This couldn't be real. Not Drayce. Not after everything they had faced together.
Silence enveloped him as he stood there, tears spilling down his cheeks. Pain gripped his heart, a raw ache that threatened to tear him apart. Anger surged within him, boiling over like a storm ready to unleash its fury. How could this happen, how could Azeron take drayce from me?
Vaylen clenched his fists, rage igniting in his chest. They had fought so hard to survive, to protect one another, and now, one of them lay dead on the ground. The darkness around him felt suffocating, but Vaylen refused to let it consume him. He would find a way to make Azeron pay for this.