Zack's first conscious thought was that he couldn't breathe.
His chest heaved, but no air filled his lungs. Panic surged as his hands clawed at the ground beneath him, a surface that felt coarse and alive with faint warmth. Every attempt to inhale sent a searing pain through his chest, like fire igniting deep within.
He tried to lift himself, but his body refused. The weight pressing down on him was overwhelming, as if the air itself had turned solid and unyielding. His head throbbed, and his vision blurred, the vibrant greens and blues of the world around him mixing in a haze.
What's happening?
The pain spread, starting in his lungs and radiating outward. His muscles clenched involuntarily as the sensation traveled through his arms, legs, and spine, leaving a trail of burning agony. It felt as though something was invading him—flooding his very being.
Zack's body spasmed, his fingers digging into the dirt. And then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
The pressure lifted, and his next breath, though ragged, came easier. He gasped, his chest heaving as he rolled onto his back, staring up at the towering trees above. Their massive trunks stretched impossibly high, their faintly glowing leaves casting an otherworldly blue light onto the forest floor.
Zack sat up slowly, the soreness in his body fading as he adjusted to the strange environment. He wasn't alone.
"Eric?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
But it wasn't Eric. Josh knelt nearby, clutching his knees and gulping for air. His face was pale, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a look of raw panic.
"Josh," Zack said, dragging himself toward him.
Josh raised a trembling hand, nodding weakly. "I… I'm fine. Just—what the hell was that?"
Before Zack could answer, movement caught his eye. Jess was a few feet away, sprawled on the ground but stirring. Her dark hair was matted to her face, and she looked disoriented but otherwise intact.
"Jess!" Zack called, his voice stronger now.
She groaned in response, turning her head toward him. "Zack? Where are we?"
"I don't know," he said, helping her sit up.
The three of them exchanged bewildered glances, the enormity of their situation sinking in. The last thing Zack remembered was the rift—the bluish light, the pull, the chaos. And now… this.
"Where's Eric? Tara? Mia?" Jess asked, her voice tinged with fear.
Zack scanned the area, but there was no sign of them. Beyond the towering trees was an unfamiliar horizon, broken only by the distant outline of… something massive.
It clicked.
"The ship," Zack said, standing shakily.
The others followed his gaze. The remains of the cruise liner lay scattered across the forest floor, its massive structure twisted and broken. Parts of it jutted out like jagged cliffs, while other sections seemed relatively intact.
"We need to get there," Zack said.
Josh nodded, his voice shaky. "Yeah, before—"
A low, guttural growl cut him off.
Zack turned, his heart racing. Figures moved erratically through the undergrowth, barely visible in the faint glow of the forest. At first, he thought they were passengers. Their clothes matched—torn and soaked—but their movements were wrong.
And then he saw their faces.
Veins beneath their skin pulsed with a faint blue glow, spreading across their bodies like lightning. Their eyes radiated the same eerie hue, cold and lifeless.
"Passengers?" Jess whispered.
"Not anymore," Zack said grimly.
One of the creatures lunged at another figure, its movements jerky and unnatural. The victim's scream was cut short as the attacker tore into them with horrifying ferocity.
"We need to move," Josh said, his voice trembling.
The creatures seemed to notice them all at once. One turned, snarling, and broke into a sprint toward them.
"Run!" Zack shouted, grabbing Jess's arm as they bolted toward the ship.
The remains of the cruise liner loomed closer, its once-pristine hull now battered and scorched. They climbed over jagged debris, navigating the uneven ground as the creatures closed in behind them.
Zack led the way, finding an opening where the hull had split. Inside, the space was dimly lit by faint patches of glowing moss clinging to the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of salt and damp metal.
"This way!" Zack called, pulling them deeper into the wreckage.
The interior was a maze of broken hallways and collapsed ceilings. Some paths were blocked entirely, forcing them to climb over or squeeze through narrow gaps. Despite the destruction, parts of the ship remained eerily familiar—the faded carpeting, the shattered remnants of decorative railings.
They finally stopped in what used to be a lounge, its once-cozy furniture now scattered and torn. Zack leaned against a wall, catching his breath.
Jess looked around, her voice shaking. "Are we safe here?"
"For now," Zack replied, though he wasn't sure he believed it.
The growls outside had faded, but Zack knew better than to assume the danger was gone. The creatures—whatever they were—had already shown they weren't human.
"What the hell happened to them?" Josh asked, breaking the silence.
Zack shook his head. "I don't know. But we need to figure it out—and find the others."
They fell silent, the weight of their situation pressing down on them as heavily as the gravity of this strange new world.