Nathan's head throbbed with the symphony of a beating heart, each pulse sending waves of pain through his skull. A low groan escaped him as he dangled at the edge of consciousness, his mind flooded with images of chaos and destruction. His face contorted into almost every possible look of distress—cold sweat beading on his brow, tracing its path down his face like silent tears of unease.
"Nate!" a muffled voice called out, echoing and sounding far away. "Nate, wake up! Please!" The voice soothed the chaos inside his mind, but it wasn't enough to bring him back.
"Damn it, let me do it! We can't wait for him to wake up any longer!" another voice complained, less comforting but very familiar.
Nathan's head jolted to the side with a loud clap—his eyes flying wide open from a sizzling pain on the side of his cheek.
"Ouch, son of a... ugh!!" Nathan growled, grasping a bright red spot that clung to his cheek—his eyes quickly darting over to Andrew, who hid his hands behind his back and gazed off into the distance as if he had nothing to do with it.
"Oh my gosh! Thank God you're okay!" Sindy exclaimed, throwing her hands around him for a suffocating hug.
"Sindy, please… I need… air!" he begged, patting her back desperately.
"Sorry about that! I got a little excited…" She said, pulling away reluctantly.
"Dude, you were out for over three hours! We thought you were never going to wake up!" Andrew exclaimed.
Nathan comforted his bruised cheek. "Three hours? What happened?"
"We're just as lost as you are. All I know is I woke up in this creepy forest beside you and Sindy without a clue as to how we got here."
"Creepy forest..?" Nathan asked, slowly taking notice of his surroundings.
The night sky hung above their heads, decorated with stars and an ominous full moon. An army of naked trees stood around them, their branches bent and crooked like skeletal sentinels. A thick white mist clung to the air, snaking around jagged rocks and crooked trunks. Bits of white rocks that strangely resembled shards of broken bones complemented the aura of the horror fest tenfold.
"Where the hell are we?" Nathan dreaded, quickly climbing to his feet.
Sindy sneezed cutely, the musty air tickling her nose. "I can only imagine that this has something to do with the strange weather from earlier. The last thing I remember is being struck by lightning before we all woke up here."
"I might not be the smartest guy around, but I agree with Princess," Andrew teased. "In any case, we need to find a way out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
"That's something we can agree on. Nate, can you walk?" Sindy inquired, gently taking his hand with concern.
"Yeah, I can. My head's a little fuzzy, but I can manage."
Shortly after, the three friends huddled together, fending off the cold, tingling air as they marched through the spooky forest. Nathan's hatred for his jacket transformed into a blissful appreciation for its warmth. It kept him much snugger, even causing Sindy and Andrew to cling to him like children.
However, Sindy clung to his arm far tighter than Andrew. Nathan could feel her worried gaze creeping up his neck every few seconds.
"Sindy, I'm not going to disappear," Nathan said reassuringly. "You don't need to watch me like a hawk."
"After what happened earlier, I'm not taking any chances with you. You're the source of whatever is going on here. I'm not letting you out of my sight," Sindy argued, tightening her hold on his arm.
Sigh…"Fair enough…"
The trio marched on with very little chatter for another ten minutes. Every step they took felt like they were marching straight into hell. A bitter loneliness encased them—their only companions being the dozens of trees stretching their crooked branches to greet them.
"Man, I think I'd wet my pants if something were to jump out at us," Andrew said with a nervous laugh.
"Shut up, Andrew! This forest already gives me the creeps! I don't need you putting more horrors in my head!" Sindy argued, her eyes darting around frantically for any signs of danger.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a snapping branch just a few feet ahead in the pitch-black darkness. An army of goosebumps rippled over their bodies, rooting them in place.
"I'm so done with being the star of some ridiculous horror movie!" Sindy muttered, fighting the urge to take a few steps back for a frantic escape.
"Cut it out, Andrew," Nathan scolded, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "This isn't the time for one of your pranks. You're scaring Sindy."
To Nathan's horror, Andrew shook his head in denial—his face contorted in panic. "I think this is the part where a cute little bunny jumps out from the bushes or something, right?"
Suddenly, a massive shape emerged from the shadows—a wolf-like creature towering over five meters tall. Its fur was a deep, inky black, absorbing the faint light around it like a void. Two glowing red eyes burned through the endless darkness, peering at them with predatory intensity. Its paws, each the size of a human torso, ended in claws sharp enough to carve through carbon steel. The air grew heavy, charged with an almost tangible rage that rattled their souls with apprehension.
The beast lifted its head toward the moon, releasing a sharp, ear-splitting howl—its breath crystallizing in the biting cold.
Scared witless by the beast, Sindy let out a blood-curdling scream almost loud enough to compete with the beast's howl.
"You've got to be shitting me!" Andrew shouted, his voice cracking with anxiety. "What the hell is that thing?!"
"RUN!!" Nathan shouted, not wanting to wait and see if Sindy's scream provoked the beast.
The trio sprang into action, fear fueling them to move faster than any professional athlete. They dashed through the forest, dodging trees, rocks, and fallen logs like a scene from a deadly parkour game. The icy air pressed against their faces while the wind whistled in their ears.
The beast chased after them at terrifying speeds—its hungry growls suffocating the sound of their panicking footsteps. It shattered rocks and uprooted trees like weeds with its massive figure as it closed the distance between them.
Just as it seemed things couldn't get any worse, Sindy mistimed her jump and stubbed her foot against a fallen tree. It swept her feet from beneath her before she tumbled into the dirt with a mighty thump. She scrambled to regain her footing, kicking against dirt and bones, but it was too late. The beast got to her in seconds, its shadow looming over her like the shadow of death. Its mouth widened, showcasing razor-sharp teeth, each promising a brutal end.
"Sindy!!" Nathan yelled in horror, running back towards her without a thought for his safety. He grabbed a small branch from the ground and charged at the massive beast, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Nate, you're not Superman! Don't do it, you idiot!" Andrew warned, quivering from afar.
Luckily for Sindy, the beast decided to defend itself against Nathan. It lunged at him, snapping its massive jaws open like an endless death pit. Nathan threw his arm forward just before it could swallow him whole. With some luck, he managed to lodge the branch inside its mouth, stopping its jaws from closing inches before it took his head—the scent of its putrid breath pushing against his face.
Sadly, this only provoked the beast more. With its rage boiling over, it tackled Nathan to the ground with the edge of its jaw before shaking the branch free from its mouth.
"Shit!" Nathan gasped, scrambling to get away. But before he could even crawl a few inches, an agonizing pain shot through his ankle. "GAH!!" he screamed, looking back into the glaring, blood-red eyes of the beast. Its jaws snapped shut around his ankle with bone-crushing force, the crushing grip sending another wave of torment through him.
As if this wasn't enough, the beast lifted its head, Nathan's foot still stuck between its blood-stained teeth. With a ferocious throw, it tossed him violently into the side of a nearby tree, which crumbled upon impact, littering the air with dust and debris.
Pain crippled Nathan's body leaving him unable to fight back. He gasped with ragged breath, twisting his face in all different forms of agony. Flaming with rage, the beast went in for the kill. Nathan gazed helplessly into the jaws of death—his ankle far too damaged to make a speedy escape.
Fortunately, a rock crashed into the beast's skull with an echoing thud. It yelped like an overgrown puppy, shaking its head aggressively. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Andrew, who had a nervous grin drawn across his face.
"Oh, come on! Nathan doesn't taste good! I'm only saving you from tasting something so horrible!" Andrew bargained as if the beast understood English. "That doesn't mean you should attack me, of course! I know I'm a snack, but please control yourself!!"
The beast lunged at Andrew with terrifying ferocity. Panic gripped him, turning his limbs to lead. His legs quivered uncontrollably before buckling, sending him crashing onto the ground in a helpless heap.
"Shit! Looks like this is it for me! I hope I poison your ass when you eat me, you damned mutt!" he shouted, cowering in fear right before the beast reached him.
Sindy rushed to his aid, but she had twisted her ankle, turning every step into anguish. The terror that held her hostage only made it harder for her legs to respond.
"No!! Andrew!!" Nathan cried out with desperation, forcing himself onto his torn, bleeding ankle—pain rippling through his leg. He wished for it all to be a nightmare that would soon be over, but he couldn't allow himself to buckle under despair. He refused to sit idly by and watch his best friend be torn apart.
Emotions dictated his actions, and adrenaline seeped through his veins like a powerful drug. "Hey, you oversized mongrel! Come get me!" Without hesitation, he snapped a sturdy branch from a fallen tree, gripping it tightly as if it were a lifeline—his makeshift weapon ready for battle.
The beast redirected its blood-infested gaze toward Nathan, its focus sharpening as it sensed a threatening aura radiating from him. It launched one final attack, snarling with blood-covered teeth.
A violent shiver coursed through Nathan's spine, his body teetering on the brink of collapse under the weight of his anxiety. Cold sweat traced jagged paths down his face as his heart hammered against his ribcage like a war drum. Failure wasn't an option. This was his final chance—another mistake would be his last. With a deep, steadying breath, he forced his trembling limbs to obey, tightening his grip on his weapon. He steeled his resolve to end it with a single, decisive strike.
His determination ignited a powerful black flaming aura, covering his arm and fueling him with immense power. As the beast lunged into range, its jaws snapped shut with a thunderous clap, aiming to crush his skull.
"RAHH!" Nathan roared, dodging beneath its deadly maw with a burst of speed. He swung the power-infused branch, driving it into the beast's throat with a sickening crack followed by its guttural cry. The impact unleashed a powerful shockwave that tore through the air, kicking up splintered bones and debris as the beast hurtled backward, crashing violently through five towering trees.
Nathan collapsed to his knees, his exhaustion quickly kicking in. He gasped for air as he watched the beast's body slowly turn to dust before disappearing with the gentle breeze. He growled in anguish, his arm stinging like a thousand wasps—a suspected side effect of the strange power he mustered.
"Nate, are you okay?!" Sindy asked worriedly, limping to his side with Andrew's aid.
"I'm fine," he gasped, barely hanging onto the realm of consciousness. "What about you two? Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"I hurt my ankle, but that's nothing compared to you! Worry about yourself for once! Just look at you!" Sindy snapped, her voice trembling with concern. "And what was that strange power you used? Was that even safe? You look like you're about to pass out!"
"I… I don't know what that was."
"Man, this day just keeps getting crazier," Andrew added with a bothered sigh. "We need to get you treated, but we're stuck in this damn forest!"
Nathan gave a dim laugh. "Nah, things could be worse. We're alive, and that's the most important thing. It's just my ankle, back, and my arm that hurt. I'm mostly just exhausted if I'm to ignore the blood loss."
"You hurt your back too?!" Andrew exclaimed dramatically. "Nate, a man's back is his best friend! If you don't have your back, then in action, you'll lack! And trust me, Sindy needs your action!"
Sindy's face burned red with embarrassment, and before she could think, she slapped Andrew, the sting of her hand cutting him off mid-sentence. "Andrew, ugh! Sometimes I wish you had an off button!"
"Ouch… Even if it's true?"
"Just shut up!"
Just then, a series of stealthy footsteps crackled behind them. The trio quickly turned themselves around—anxiety swiftly reintroducing itself.
"Aw shit! Here we go again!" Andrew trembled.
As they watched in horror, they expected another giant creature to pounce on them at any moment. But to their surprise, two figures stepped into view. The first was a nineteen-year-old girl with flowing lavender hair that shimmered in the dim light, her sparkling purple eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity.
Standing beside her was a man who appeared to be just a year older. His complexion was a rich, deep brown, a stark contrast to his silvery-grey eyes, which gleamed like stars in the night sky. His physique was even taller and muscular than Andrew's, and his hair was neatly shaved into a sharp, high-taper fade, adding to his striking presence.
They wore uniforms with strange logos referring to an organization called 'Assassins Agency.'
"People?" Asked the female stranger in surprise—her gorgeous purple eyes beaming with curiosity. "What are you doing in the Dark Forest? Don't you know just how dangerous this place is!? This place is a Spawn Point for Demon Beasts!"
"One of them seems to be injured, Amanda," said the man beside her, kneeling to inspect Nathan's injuries. "They need help."
Hope presented itself, bringing forth a deep sensation of relief for the trio.
"We're saved! And by a hottie, too!!" Andrew exclaimed, mesmerized by the female stranger.
"Wait," Sindy interrupted—a hint of worry laced in her trembling voice. "Not to be a buzzkill, but I'm on edge after all the strange events today. First, there was a freak storm. Then we got struck by lightning, woke up in some strange forest, and were almost killed by a mutant wolf. And now, two strangers appear out of nowhere, claiming they can help us? Calling this weird doesn't even begin to cover it. Calling this weird doesn't even begin to cover it. How do we know we can trust you?"
"Well, firstly, you guys speak English, so that makes things easier," the female stranger began. "However, that does sound like a crazy story, but I assure you we're friendly. See, look here!" she said, pointing to the logo on her uniform.
"I'm not sure how that's supposed to prove anything, but if you ask me, the term 'assassins' doesn't sound very friendly."
"Sindy, we need all the help we can get right now," Nathan encouraged, grabbing her shoulder reassuringly. "Not to mention, we need to figure out where we are. I know it's a little hard to trust two strangers who just walked up to us in the middle of a strange forest, but it seems like our best bet."
Sindy wanted to argue, but she couldn't deny that they desperately needed help.
Taking their strange story into consideration, the two strangers stepped back to discuss something privately among themselves. Their discussion lasted for a few seconds before they came back over.
"Okay!" The female stranger began with a friendly smile. "So… it's a little strange that you don't know who we are. The fact that you don't recognize our organization's logo either means you're not from around here or you've got some pretty serious amnesia. Either way, it's… odd, to say the least." She paused, her tone softening. "But I promise you, we're one hundred percent on your side!"
"My name's Leo," the man said warmly, gesturing toward his companion. "My beautiful teammate here is called Amanda. We would love to explain everything to you, but it would be best to get you back to HQ where it's safe first. The Dark Forest isn't exactly a place you want to linger—it's unpredictable."
"That's fine by me," Nathan replied without hesitation.
"Before we head out, let me patch up your injuries," Amanda offered kindly. "I don't have advanced training, but I know enough first aid to help for now."