"Adrian!"
A voice called out from behind him, but Adrian didn't dare slow down. Clutching Vermi tightly in his arms, he ran faster, putting more distance between himself and Elena. "Vermi, I swear you're never going for a walk again!" he hissed, his feet pounding against the ground. He didn't have time to look back.
Vermi meowed, and Adrian hushed him, but the cat's meow grew louder. Before they knew it, something snatched them up, sending a chill through Adrian's skin. He clutched Vermi tighter, not wanting to lose him. Glancing down, he saw Elena getting smaller and smaller as they were lifted higher and higher.
At least I'm away from her, he thought with a sigh. But then, they were thrown into the air, and Adrian screamed along with Vermi before everything went black.
When Adrian slowly woke up, his right arm throbbed painfully. He slipped back into unconsciousness, only to wake again to the cold bite of the air. His eyes fluttered open, revealing a snowy forest around him. His breath came out in visible puffs, and his right arm throbbed with an intense pain.
Looking at his arm, he saw nothing at first. Then, he noticed a vine-like engraving wrapped around his frail wrist like a tattoo. "What?" he muttered, bewildered. He looked down in his arms and then his lap, searching frantically. "Vermi?" he called out, but the cat was nowhere to be seen.
Panic surged through him as he stood up, ignoring the throbbing pain in his arm. "Vermi!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the silent forest. The snow crunched under his feet as he began to search, his eyes scanning the white expanse for any sign of his beloved cat.
His mind raced with questions. What had snatched them? Where was Vermi? And what was this place? The forest was eerily silent, the only sound his own breathing and the crunch of snow underfoot. The teal light was gone, replaced by the cold, stark reality of the snow-covered trees.
Adrian's heart pounded as he moved forward, his senses on high alert. He couldn't lose Vermi. Not here, not now. His eyes caught movement ahead, and he sprinted towards it, hoping against hope that it was Vermi. But when he got closer, he saw it was just a snow-covered bush swaying in the wind.
Frustration and fear bubbled up inside him. He didn't know where he was or what had happened...
"Vermi!" Adrian called repeatedly, his voice growing hoarse with desperation. He scanned the snowy landscape, his heart pounding. Then, he heard it—a faint meow from his right. He turned, his eyes locking onto a shadowy figure standing by the trees, clutching Vermi.
Adrian squinted, trying to make out the figure. It wore an intricate, patterned robe, enveloped by a cloud of dark, wispy tendrils that seemed to emanate from within. The stark contrast between the sharp lines of the ornate floral design on the robe and the ghostly apparition surrounding the figure was unsettling. The dramatic chiaroscuro lighting cast an ominous atmosphere over the scene.
The figure seemed to exist in a state of simultaneous presence and absence, tangible yet ephemeral, as if suspended in a liminal space between realms. And it had Vermi in its arms.
Something snapped inside Adrian. Fear was not an option. He saw only his beloved cat in the arms of this supernatural entity, and rage surged through him.
Without a second thought, Adrian sprinted toward the figure. In one swift motion, he leaped and spun, his right foot connecting solidly with the figure. He felt a tangible resistance, confirming he had hit his mark. The force of the kick sent him sliding on the snow, but he quickly regained his balance, snatching Vermi from the figure's grasp.
Adrian ran, his feet pounding through the snow. He glanced back, but the figure remained where it was, shrouded in its eerie aura. He didn't dare slow down, clutching Vermi tightly to his chest. The cat meowed softly, pressing against him.
He didn't stop until he was far from the figure, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked down at Vermi, who seemed unscathed but bewildered. Adrian sank to his knees, the adrenaline wearing off and the reality of what had just happened sinking in.
He glanced back the way he had come, half-expecting the figure to be following him. But there was nothing but snow and trees. "What was that?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing. He had no answers, only questions. But for now, he was just grateful to have Vermi back in his arms.
"We need to get out of here," Adrian whispered, hugging Vermi closer. He stood up, scanning the snowy forest for any sign of a way out. The teal light was gone, replaced by the cold, stark reality of the snow-covered trees.
As he walked, his mind kept replaying the encounter. What was that figure? Why did it have Vermi? And what was this strange place he had been transported to?
Adrian trudged through the snow, his breath visible in the frigid air. His mind was a whirl of confusion and determination. He had to find a way out of this eerie forest and get back to the safety of Evergreen Manor.
As he walked, he noticed the teal light was faintly pulsing beneath the snow with each step he took. It seemed to guide him, though he couldn't shake the feeling it was also watching him. Vermi nestled in his arms, purring softly, oblivious to the danger they were in.
Suddenly, the forest around him seemed to darken. The snow turned an inky black, and the trees twisted into grotesque shapes. The air grew heavy, pressing down on him. Adrian's steps faltered, but he forced himself to keep moving.
Then, he saw it—another figure emerging from the shadows. This one was different, cloaked in flowing robes of pure white, contrasting starkly with the darkness around it. Its face was hidden by a hood, and it moved with an eerie grace, almost gliding over the snow.
Adrian's heart pounded. He wasn't sure if this figure was friend or foe, but he couldn't risk it. He turned to run, but the figure moved faster than he could have anticipated, appearing directly in his path. It raised a hand, and the snow beneath Adrian's feet exploded in a shower of icy shards, throwing him to the ground.
Adrian scrambled to his feet, Vermi still clutched tightly in his arms. The figure approached, and he saw its face—pale and serene, with eyes that glowed a soft, ethereal blue.
"Adrian," the figure spoke, its voice echoing in the still air. "You are not meant to be here."
"No kidding," Adrian muttered, backing away slowly. He glanced around, looking for any escape route. The trees seemed to close in around them, the darkness pressing in.
The figure stepped closer, its glowing eyes fixed on Adrian. "You must leave this place before it's too late."
"Yeah, working on it," Adrian said, his voice tense. He took a deep breath, then turned and sprinted into the trees. He heard the figure call out, but he didn't look back. He just ran, his legs burning and his heart pounding in his chest.
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly before him, the trees blurring together. The teal light pulsed more rapidly now, almost guiding his steps. Adrian followed it, hoping it would lead him to safety.
Suddenly, he burst into a clearing. The snow here was untouched, pristine and white. In the center of the clearing stood a large, ancient tree, its branches reaching up to the sky like twisted fingers. The teal light pulsed from the base of the tree, illuminating the area with an otherworldly glow.
Adrian approached the tree cautiously, Vermi still in his arms. As he got closer, he saw something carved into the trunk—runes that seemed to pulse with the same teal light.
"Is this it?" Adrian wondered aloud. He reached out to touch the runes, and the moment his fingers made contact, a surge of energy coursed through him. The ground beneath him shook, and the air crackled with power.
The runes began to glow brighter, and a portal slowly formed at the base of the tree. Adrian could see a glimpse of Evergreen Manor through the swirling light. He didn't hesitate. Clutching Vermi tightly, he stepped into the portal.
The world around him twisted and blurred, and for a moment, he felt like he was being torn apart. Then, with a final flash of teal light, he stumbled out onto the familiar grounds of Evergreen Manor.
He fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Vermi wriggled out of his arms and nuzzled his face, purring loudly. Adrian looked around, half-expecting to see the white-robed figure or the shadowy apparition. But there was nothing—just the quiet, comforting presence of his home.
He stood up slowly, his legs shaking. "What the hell just happened?" he muttered, looking down at the vine tattoo on his wrist. He had no answers, only more questions.