"Damn it, what are those things?" Aldir muttered, still trying to make sense of his surroundings. Moments ago, he had been walking with Maya on their way back from university when the accident happened. Now, unfamiliar memories filled his mind, and he found himself in a place that made no sense—a dense, dark forest. The only thing visible was the shadowy gloom, the wind's eerie whisper, and a starry sky bathed in the blue glow of moonlight. He tried to calm his racing heart when, suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees. At first, it was distant, but soon, the sound multiplied, growing closer and more menacing."Is that a wolf?" he murmured, panic rising. His adrenaline surged, making his skin flush with heat. Sweat drenched his shirt as his legs trembled beneath him. He could feel his pulse pounding in his temples, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps.The growls intensified, and the underbrush rustled violently, as though something large was barreling through it. Aldir's eyes widened in horror as he caught sight of them, wolves. And not just one, but an entire pack, their forms slinking between the trees, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight."What the..." Aldir's voice trailed off as the wolves charged toward him. Without thinking, he bolted. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, weaving erratically through the trees, trying to lose them in the dense forest. But every time he glanced back, they were still there, relentless in their pursuit."How... how are they so fast?" he panted, his breath ragged, his body screaming for air. "And why are they so... huge?"These weren't ordinary wolves. Even a normal wolf was terrifying enough, but these creatures were massive, easily the size of a grown human. Aldir's heart raced as fear clawed at his chest. The world had gone mad.Aldir ran with all the strength he could muster, his feet pounding the earth as the pack of wolves closed in. He could hear their snarls growing louder, the sound of paws crashing through the underbrush. His legs burned, his chest heaved, and every breath felt like fire, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. He was running for his life, even though his lungs screamed for air, even though his vision blurred with exhaustion.The eerie silence of the forest was long gone, replaced by the chaos of thudding footsteps, rustling leaves, and the frantic rhythm of his heart. He could feel the wolves gaining on him, their presence an oppressive weight that bore down on him from all sides.I'm not backing down, he thought, gritting his teeth, pushing his body harder than ever before. But deep down, he knew it was a losing battle. His strength was fading. His breath was ragged, each inhale more painful than the last. He couldn't keep this up much longer.Then, it happened. His foot caught on a tree root, and before he could react, he was tumbling to the ground. Pain exploded through his body as he crashed into the forest floor, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Dazed, he tried to get back up, but his legs refused to obey. Every muscle screamed in protest.He glanced over his shoulder, his heart pounding in his ears. The wolves were nearly upon him, their eyes glowing like ghostly lanterns in the dark. Aldir's mind screamed at him to move, to fight, to do something. But his body betrayed by exhaustion and fear, wouldn't listen.He crawled backward, dragging himself through the dirt as panic set in. His limbs felt like lead, and no matter how much he willed himself to stand, his body wouldn't respond. He could feel the hot breath of the wolves, their growls filling the air, growing closer by the second.Don't back down, his mind whispered, trying to ignite a spark of resistance within him. But his body had already given in. He could do nothing but crawl, his hands clawing at the dirt in desperation, while the wolves prepared to strike.Aldir's eyes locked onto the wolves in front of him, their glowing red eyes and low, menacing growls filling him with a chilling certainty, this was it. His end was staring him in the face, jaws wide open, ready to strike. The world around him seemed to blur as his mind began to race.Flashes of his life came rushing back to him, each memory more vivid than the last. He saw the day he first entered high school, the overwhelming nerves and excitement. He heard his mother's voice, sharp but filled with love, scolding him for his careless mistakes. He remembered the endless nights spent studying, the weight of exams hanging over him, the smell of books he buried his head in. And then, as clear as day, he saw Maya's smile—the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, the warmth in her voice that always brought him peace.Why now? he thought. Why were these moments flooding his mind when he was so close to the end? His heart ached with regret, and the tears began to fall, slowly at first, then in a torrent he couldn't control. Despair washed over him like a tidal wave. It was in that moment, as the wolves closed in, that he truly gave up.The tears streamed down his cheeks, blurring his vision. He cried harder than he had ever cried before, his chest heaving with each sob. There was no point in fighting anymore. His body was broken, his will shattered. All the fear, all the panic, everything dissolved into pure, raw desperation.The wolves seemed to pause, their growls shifting into something more like irritation. His cries annoyed them, their heads twitching as if disturbed by the sound. But it didn't matter anymore. Aldir could see it in their eyes. They were toying with him, and the pack leader stepped forward, ready to finish what they had started.He stared ahead, tears still streaming down his face, as the largest wolf bared its teeth, preparing to strike. The pack moved as one, their deadly forms circling, jaws wide open, closing in on him. Aldir's chest tightened, his heart pounding with the final realization, there was no escape. There was no more hope. He was cornered, and this was the end.This is the end, a dark thought crept into his mind, but even as it did, Aldir couldn't help but fight it. He wasn't ready to die. Not here. Not like this.