Morning in the new world was strange and unsettling. Jack awoke on the cold stone floor of the cave, feeling the ache in his muscles from yesterday's battle. He tried to extend his arm but felt weak and shaky. Just recently, he'd been on Earth, safe with his family, and now he was in this strange, hostile place. Each morning he woke reminded him of that.
The cave was quiet, with only the occasional rustling and the soft breathing of his companions. Lina sat, hugging her knees, her eyes red—she had clearly been awake all night. Kyle lay by the wall, staring at the ceiling, looking alert and ready for action. Brian, as usual, sat apart from the others, silent and lost in thought.
Jack rubbed his face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and heavy thoughts. He got up and approached Lina, who flinched slightly at his approach.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, sitting beside her.
"No," she replied, not looking up. "I couldn't sleep. I can't stop thinking about my daughter… What if I never come back? She'll be left all alone. I don't even know how long we'll be here."
Her voice was trembling, filled with fear and pain. Jack knew each of them was facing their own private hell, but he also knew that if they started to give in, they wouldn't make it.
"We'll get out of here," he said firmly, though doubt gnawed at him as well.
Lina stifled a sob and nodded, though her eyes still reflected deep anxiety.
"It's hard to believe. This world… it's different. Scary. I don't know if I can handle it."
Jack put a hand on her shoulder, trying to share a bit of the confidence he himself had so little of.
"You have a reason to go back. And because of that, you can do this, Lina."
As they spoke, Kyle got to his feet and approached them.
"Time's wasting," he said, glancing at them. "We need to move. Find a better place than this hole. I'm sure it's possible to survive here if we act fast."
Jack nodded. He knew Kyle was right. Their lives depended on moving quickly. Staying put was dangerous, and each new encounter with the local wildlife could be their last.
Brian, who hadn't joined the conversation until now, finally spoke up, his voice steady but with a hint of coldness.
"Moving quickly is fine. But let's be honest: not everyone will survive. We have to accept that not everyone will make it."
Lina shot him an angry look.
"What are you saying? We're a team here!"
"A team?" Brian shrugged. "Listen, in this world, everything depends on strength. We've seen what can happen if you make the wrong move. You saw what happened to Matthew. No one's immune to mistakes. We need to be ready for the fact that some of us might not survive."
His words cast an uncomfortable tension over the group. Lina looked as if she might burst into tears, and Kyle clenched his fists but held back, perhaps recognizing that Brian was stating a harsh truth.
Jack knew that, deep down, each of them feared the same. But he also knew that, to survive, they needed to stick together. At least for now.
"We can't think that way," Jack said, staring firmly at Brian. "If we start believing that someone won't make it, then it will become a reality. We need to find a safe place and resources. We won't stand a chance if we don't work together."
Kyle nodded, agreeing.
"Alright, let's find a place that can serve as a base," Jack suggested. "The cave can be a temporary shelter, but we can't stay here long."
The group left the cave early in the morning, with faint light filtering through the dense trees. The forest was filled with strange sounds—the rustle of leaves, the distant babbling of water, and the occasional snap of branches. The world felt alive yet hostile, as though each bush or tree might conceal a new danger.
Jack led the way, stepping cautiously, his gaze constantly shifting from one object to another, searching for anything that might threaten them. Lina walked beside him, occasionally glancing back. Kyle took up the rear, holding a knife at the ready.
"There must be a water source nearby," Jack said, focusing on finding a safe location. "We won't last long without it."
"I heard the sound of water earlier," Kyle confirmed. "There might be a stream nearby."
They moved slowly, surveying their surroundings. The forest was incredibly dense, with trees covered in strange green moss and mildew, and underfoot lay layers of soft soil, carpeted with grass and small roots.
"What do you think this world is?" Lina suddenly asked, her voice quiet, almost frightened. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen."
Jack had wondered about that too. Everything around them seemed foreign, yet in a strange way, it felt part of the natural order of this world. The place was both beautiful and terrifying.
"I don't know," he admitted, glancing around. "But I think we're only seeing a small part of what it has to offer."
After some time, they reached a small stream that calmly trickled among the rocks. The group paused to refill their water supplies and rest briefly. This was perhaps the first time in a long while that each of them could sit quietly and enjoy a moment of peace.
"We need to decide on our next steps," Jack said after a short break. "We can't stay in one place. We need resources and to find a place where we can feel safe."
"Dividing tasks is a good idea," Kyle suggested. "Someone should keep an eye out for possible threats, and someone else should look for food. Maybe I'll scout the area around us."
"I can stay here and look for something edible," Lina suggested, despite her fear. "If we don't find food, we won't last long."
"And I'll handle protecting the camp," Brian said, scanning the area. "I think if someone—or something—wants to attack, I'll spot it first."
While they discussed their plans, Jack suddenly noticed something on the ground—tracks. Large clawed footprints in the mud suggested they weren't alone. Whatever creature left them was big enough to set off his alarm.
"We're not alone," he said quietly, pointing to the tracks.
The group tensed. Lina's face paled, and Kyle tightened his grip on his knife.
"All the more reason to move faster," Jack said. "We can't wait for this thing to come back."
Brian scoffed but didn't argue.
The group continued, even more cautious now, knowing something might be following them. They moved through the forest in tense silence, each step feeling loud to Jack, as if his heavy boots were rhythmically alerting all the hidden predators around. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them, and every rustle heightened his anxiety. The others, too, were on edge, fully aware of the world's looming dangers.
Only a few minutes had passed since Jack spotted the tracks, but it was enough for each of them to feel an increasing sense of threat. The air felt different—thick and heavy, like before a storm. The leaves on the trees were motionless, and even the small forest sounds had gone silent, as if nature itself held its breath, waiting.
"Quiet," Jack whispered, stopping. He raised a hand, signaling the others.
Lina froze, her eyes wide with fear. Brian squinted, looking around. They all listened, but at first, heard nothing. Then, after a few moments, a soft, almost imperceptible sound reached them—a faint rustling, like a breeze passing through the branches, though there was no wind.
And suddenly, something leapt out from behind the nearest bushes.
It resembled a giant insect, with a body that looked like a cross between a predator and a spider. Its carapace was covered in black, oily scales that gleamed in the faint light, and each of its joints seemed built to pierce flesh. It moved on six long limbs ending in sharp, clawed feet, and delicate-looking wings jutted from its back—likely deadly despite their fragile appearance. Its head was elongated, with two enormous, shining eyes that stared at the group like searchlights.
The creature didn't attack right away. It seemed to analyze them, deciding the best way to strike. Its teeth made a soft clicking sound, as if savoring the thought of the battle.
"Damn!" Kyle whispered, clutching his stone so tightly his knuckles turned white. "What is this thing?"
"Run!" Jack shouted, realizing they couldn't handle this creature without serious preparation.
But before they could move, the monster lunged forward with terrifying speed. It leapt at them, swinging its clawed limbs and aiming for Lina, who had frozen in fear. At the last moment, Jack managed to grab her arm and shove her aside. She fell to the ground as the monster missed, its claws crashing into the earth and leaving deep gouges.
"Watch out!" Brian shouted, trying to distract the creature with a rock. He threw it at the beast, but the hit only enraged it. It let out a low, menacing growl, and its attention shifted entirely to Brian.
The creature raised its claws and pounced on him. Brian barely had time to react before it lunged, but at the last second, Kyle gritted his teeth and sprang forward, smashing his stone into the creature's head. The rock struck one of its sensitive areas, and it screeched, recoiling.
"Damn it, Brian, be careful!" Kyle shouted, trying to protect him.
Brian looked shaken, but his face remained tense. He quickly got back on his feet, and now all of them were trapped by the horrifying creature.
"We don't stand a chance," Brian hissed.
Jack knew that fighting this monster would be difficult, but staying put meant certain death. He took a deep breath, trying to focus.
"Kyle, keep it distracted!" Jack shouted. "Lina, keep your distance. We have to attack it one at a time!"
Kyle nodded, throwing another stone to draw the creature's attention. The monster turned to him, ready for another attack. Despite her fear, Lina did as Jack instructed, grabbing several sharp stones from the ground and hurling them at the creature from a safe distance, hoping to slow it down even a little.
Jack focused on where to strike. He noticed a vulnerable spot under the creature's jaw—its skin looked softer there than on the rest of its body.
When the monster turned back to Kyle, Jack rushed forward and plunged his knife under its jaw. The creature screamed, its body trembling in pain, but it didn't give up. It sprang up, swinging its claws, barely missing Jack as he dodged. Blood began to seep from the wound, and the creature grew more aggressive.
"Come on!" Jack yelled, trying to keep his composure. "We can do this!"
Kyle attacked again, trying to keep the monster's focus on him, while Brian struck at its side. His blow wasn't strong, but it was precise enough to cause serious damage. The creature tried to turn, but its movements were slowing.
Finally, Lina, gathering all her strength, threw a rock directly at the monster's head, and at that moment, Jack drove his knife deeper, slicing an artery beneath its jaw. The creature convulsed in agony before finally collapsing to the ground, its body shuddering in its last spasms.
They all stood, breathing heavily, realizing the monster was dead. Jack looked at his companions, feeling the tension slowly dissipate.
"We did it," Jack said, catching his breath, though there was no triumph in his voice. He knew this was only the first of many battles.
"That was… unbelievable," Kyle breathed out, sinking to the ground. "Damn, I thought we were dead."
Lina was still trembling, but she managed a faint smile.
"We did it," she said, her voice still shaking.
Brian, however, looked different. His eyes glinted strangely as he stared unblinking at the dead monster.
"We can get stronger," he said quietly. "All we need to do is kill more of these."
A chill ran down Jack's spine. He knew they had gained strength after defeating the monster, but the way Brian said it… there was something dark in his tone, as if he saw this power as more than a tool.
"Be careful with thoughts like that," Jack warned, looking at Brian intently. "We need to get stronger, but not at any cost."
Brian was silent, his gaze revealing he had no intention of heeding Jack's warning.
And although the battle was over, Jack knew the real danger lay not only in the monsters around them.
After the fight, everyone was exhausted, but an even more troubling sensation stirred in Jack's mind. The strange energy that had enveloped him after killing the first monster began to seep into him again. Jack was breathing heavily, his muscles trembling with tension, yet instead of exhaustion, he felt new strength rising. Inside him, it was as if a wild beast had awakened, thirsting for more power. This feeling started to fill his mind, as if his body was absorbing the energy of the defeated creature.
"Do you feel it?" Kyle whispered, sitting down beside Jack, his eyes wide and excited. "I feel stronger."
"It's strange," Lina said, looking at her hands. "This feeling… it's unnatural."
"This is the new world," Brian said, his voice cold and almost devoid of emotion. "The old rules don't apply here. We kill to get stronger. It's the only way to survive." He looked at the monster's corpse with an expression that saw it as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Jack felt another chill as Brian spoke. His words sounded too comfortable, as if he had already accepted this new reality without question. The power they were gaining was starting to change them, and Brian was the first to realize it—and embrace it.
"We need to be careful," Jack said quietly, looking around at everyone. "This power… it could change us. We can't forget who we are."
Kyle nodded, agreeing, though his face showed a mixture of excitement and fear.
Brian gave him a disdainful glance but didn't argue. His mind was already set on something else—on finding a way to grow stronger in this world.
"We have to keep moving," Jack said firmly. "Let's find a safe place to rest and figure out our next steps."
After dealing with the monster, the group decided not to linger too long in one spot. Jack understood that staying here was far too dangerous. If one creature had found them, others could follow. Fatigue and fear still clung to them, but moving forward was essential to survival.
As they trekked through the forest, they stumbled upon a strange structure—a partially collapsed tower rising above the surrounding trees like a ghost of a long-lost civilization. Jack stopped and looked around. The tower looked deserted, but its thick stone walls and windows, boarded up with wooden planks, could serve as a temporary shelter.
"I think this is the best place we're going to find for now," Jack said, pointing at the tower. "We need a place to rest. This could be a temporary base."
"Looks solid," Kyle said, inspecting the ruins. "If it's clear inside, we can stay here for a while."
They cautiously entered the tower, navigating through partially ruined walls. Inside, it smelled of mildew and dust, but it seemed safe. Jack carefully inspected every corner, finding no traces of other creatures. It was quiet, too quiet, which gave him a sense that something was off.
"Someone's been here before," Lina said softly, running her hand over the wall covered in strange symbols. "What is this?"
Strange carvings covered the tower walls—possibly remnants of an ancient civilization or another race that once lived here. The symbols were old, nearly worn by time, yet there was something eerie about them.
"I don't know," Jack replied, studying the symbols closely. "But it proves we're not the first to be here. Maybe this world was inhabited once. And maybe they knew things about it that we don't."
The group settled inside the tower, trying to recover from the long day. Lina sat with her knees drawn up, staring at the light filtering through cracks in the walls. Kyle searched for materials to reinforce the doors and windows. Brian explored the ruins, as if looking for something valuable or useful.
"Tomorrow we'll start looking for resources," Jack said, addressing the group. "Food, water, materials. We need to set up a base and find a way forward."
Kyle nodded, while Lina remained silent, and Brian merely shrugged.
"We need to get stronger, Jack," Brian said, his voice unsettlingly calm for the situation. "It's the only way to survive in this world. You understand that as well as I do."
"I do," Jack replied, though he felt a tightness in his chest. He knew that strength was necessary, but he worried more and more about what they might lose along the way.