Jack screamed as the bear's fangs sank into his shoulder, searing pain jolting through his body. However, before the beast could bite down any further, its damaged jaw quivered in agony. The bear winced, a deep growl rumbling from its throat, its grip faltering. With a frustrated snarl, it released him.
Jack didn't hesitate.
The moment he was free, he turned and bolted in the opposite direction, adrenaline overriding the pain that pulsed through his shoulder. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body screaming in protest, but he forced himself forward. He had to escape.
The mist, thick and suffocating, twisted around him like a living thing, obscuring everything beyond a few feet. His heart pounded violently in his chest.
Then—a flicker of movement.
Jack's enhanced hearing picked up the faintest rustle within the mist—too close.
Instinct screamed at him. Dodge!
Jack threw himself down, barely avoiding the Mist Bear's sudden reappearance. The beast lunged from the fog, jaws snapping shut just above his head, missing him by mere inches.
Rolling back onto his feet, Jack clenched his fists, forcing himself to think through the pain and exhaustion. His body was running on fumes, but there was one thing he could use.
The lightning.
Purple sparks flickered at his fingertips. He hesitated—summoning it recklessly would drain him dry, leaving him vulnerable. But if he controlled it…
He focused. Just a burst.
Electricity surged through his legs as he activated the lightning for a brief second—just enough to propel himself forward.
His body shot through the mist like a bolt of violet light, putting distance between him and the bear.
Jack's eyes widened.
I can use it like this.
The Mist Bear snarled behind him, undeterred, its glowing red eyes piercing through the fog. Jack sensed its approach again, the heavy weight of its presence bearing down on him.
Another burst—a sharp crackle of purple lightning arcing from his feet.
He propelled himself forward once more, widening the gap.
The bear pursued, relentless, its massive frame thundering through the forest. But every time Jack felt its presence closing in, he released another controlled burst of lightning, surging forward in short, powerful sprints.
A Temporary Refuge
The mist began to thin, the oppressive fog gradually receding as Jack pressed forward. His breath was ragged, his limbs heavy. The Mist Bear was no longer chasing him—it had either given up or chosen to retreat.
Jack wasn't sure why, but he wasn't about to question his luck.
His body, however, was at its limit. His internal energy had dwindled to a mere flicker—a single drop left in a dried-up reservoir. He could feel it, faint and fragile, barely sustaining him.
Jack halted, forcing himself to steady his breathing. A sharp, throbbing pain radiated from his shoulder—it was dislocated. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed his arm and, with a swift motion, snapped it back into place.
A choked groan escaped his lips as a fresh wave of pain surged through him, but there was no time to dwell on it.
If he continued any further, he might collapse completely. And in this unforgiving forest, that was as good as death.
I need to find shelter.
His gaze swept the area, his enhanced senses sharpening despite his exhaustion. Then—he spotted it.
A cave nestled between jagged rocks, partially obscured by the remaining mist.
Jack remained still, listening intently. His heightened hearing scanned for movement, for any signs of lurking beasts within.
Silence.
No growls. No shifting presence. Nothing but the distant rustling of leaves.
It was empty.
Without wasting another second, Jack staggered toward the cave, his body screaming in protest. He entered cautiously, his eyes adjusting to the dim interior. The space was barren—no signs of life, no remnants of past inhabitants.
Safe. At least for now.
Jack exhaled in relief and turned to the entrance. He spotted a large, heavy stone nearby and, with the last of his strength, dragged it over, sealing off the entrance as best as he could.
It wouldn't stop a determined predator, but it would buy him time.
Time to rest.
Leaning against the cave wall, Jack slid down onto the cold, rough ground. His body ached, his wounds pulsed with pain, and exhaustion threatened to pull him into unconsciousness.
'It has been a long day'… he thought, his vision growing hazy.
When the sun rises, the mist will clear completely—and maybe, just maybe, he'll have a chance to make it out alive.
As Jack collapsed onto the cold, rocky ground, his body finally succumbed to exhaustion. Every muscle ached, his wounds throbbed, and his eyelids felt like they weighed a ton.
But just as his consciousness began to fade, the ground beneath him suddenly gave way.
With a startled gasp, Jack's eyes snapped open as he felt himself plunging downward. His limbs flailed, trying to grab onto something—anything—but the smooth walls of the pit offered no grip.
The rush of air filled his ears as he tumbled into the unknown.
Then—splash!
He hit water, the cold shock jolting him awake for a brief moment before he began to sink into the depths.
Jack struggled to swim toward the surface, but his body refused to obey. He had no energy left, not even enough to lift his limbs. The water consumed him, pulling him deeper.
Then, a sudden realization struck him—
'i can breathe' Jack's wild panic eased as he realized that, somehow, the water wasn't suffocating him. Instead, a strange warmth seeped into his battered body, calming his pain, soothing his exhaustion.
'its peaceful ' jack thought as his heavy eyelids began to close again ,the tension in his muscles unraveled, his consciousness drifting like a leaf in the current, his mind slipping deeper into a peaceful abyss.
Jack slept.