A sharp breath escaped his lips as his eyes opened to an endless canopy of green. Towering trees stretched high above, their branches intertwined like the veins of a giant. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the dense foliage, painting patches of gold on the forest floor. The air was warm but rich every breath filled his lungs with a vitality he couldn't explain.
He lay motionless for a moment, the soft ground cushioning his back. The sounds of the jungle filled the air: the chirping of unseen birds, the rustling of leaves, the occasional snap of a twig. Slowly, he sat up, his fingers brushing against the moss beneath him. His body felt... strange. Strong. His skin was smooth, unmarred, and as his gaze drifted down, he noticed how sculpted his muscles appeared, as if carved by an artist's hand.
No clothes.
The realization struck him, but oddly, it didn't stir panic. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He wasn't cold, nor was he afraid. His mind, however, was blank. No name. No memories. Nothing.
"Where... am I?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar to his own ears.
He pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as he adjusted to the sensation of standing. The grass beneath his bare feet was soft and cool, and the sunlight ahead beckoned him like a distant promise. He started walking, his steps hesitant at first but growing steadier with each stride.
The jungle was alive around him, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Not by eyes, but by the very environment itself. The trees seemed to lean closer, their leaves whispering secrets he couldn't decipher.
As he moved, the air grew lighter, and the sunlight became brighter. He reached a small clearing, where the trees gave way to an open sky. The light bathed him in warmth, and for the first time, he paused to truly take in his surroundings.
It was beautiful. Untouched. A world that felt ancient, yet alive in a way he couldn't describe.
He crouched, running his fingers through the blades of grass, trying to ground himself in this reality. But questions pressed at the edges of his mind. Where was he? How did he get here? And why was he so calm when the answers eluded him?
A sound broke through the stillness a low hum, faint but insistent, coming from deeper in the jungle. He turned his head toward it, his muscles tensing instinctively. For the first time, he felt a spark of unease, though it was tempered by a strange certainty in his own strength.
The hum grew louder, resonating in his chest. His curiosity overpowered his hesitation, and he took a step toward the sound, then another. Each movement felt natural, as if his body knew what to do even if his mind didn't.
And as he pushed past the towering trees, the jungle opened into another clearing. This time, it wasn't the light that greeted him but something else entirely.
Something unnatural.