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I kept running, my lungs burning, my legs screaming for mercy. The forest around me suddenly fell silent, and the absence of sound felt wrong—like the world was holding its breath.
I stumbled to a stop, pressing myself against a cluster of thick bushes. My chest heaved, each breath ragged and wet. The wind seemed to vanish, leaving only a heavy, unnatural stillness.
Then I heard it—footsteps. Slow. Deliberate. Behind me.
My heart hammered so hard I was sure the hounds—or whatever it was—could hear it.
The sound faded. For a fleeting moment, I thought I was alone.
then–
A hand grabbed my shoulder.
"Jean! What are you doing here? Come on!"
Fila. My sister.
Relief mixed with panic as she grabbed my wrist, dragging me forward before I could protest. Branches tore at my skin, thorns snagging my clothes, but we ran anyway, every step echoing in the oppressive silence.
Then I heard it—hounds. Their barking pierced the quiet like a knife, growing louder, sharper, closer.
"Don't look back, Jean! Keep running!" Fila shouted.
We sprinted until the path abruptly ended.
A dead end.
My chest sank.
Fila shoved me behind her. The cliff edge dropped sharply to the river below. My stomach twisted as I pressed myself against her back.
The hounds circled us, black shapes moving with terrifying precision, inching closer with each breath.
Fila's eyes glowed faintly—Ken's energy thrumming through her, alive and dangerous.
She pointed a finger towards the hounds and.
The earth cracked and trembled. Jagged stone spikes burst violently from the ground, piercing the nearest hounds.
Their snarls turned into sharp, cut-off screams as they collapsed. The air smelled of ozone and burnt earth.
I felt a tremor of relief. Fila was holding them off—using Ken
Maybe… maybe we were safe.
Then, a low, guttural growl tore through the forest, shaking the air.
A massive hound emerged. Its eyes burned with pure malice. Its skin was black as molten magma, streaked with cracks glowing like veins of fire. Its tail blazed, flickering like a living torch.
The beast bared jagged teeth, each fang glinting in the morning light, fury radiating as if it were avenging every hound we'd slain.
Fila's body tensed. She raised her hands, channeling Ken's energy. A wave of jagged spikes and surging force shot toward the giant beast—but its magma-hard hide barely flinched.
Ken's energy roared through her like a storm, pushing at its limits, but even this creature was strong enough to resist.
The giant hound lashed its flaming tail.
Magma spattered across the ground, searing the earth around us.
"Jean!" Fila screamed, grabbing me as the cliff crumbled beneath our feet.
We tumbled into the air, stones and smoke whirling around us. I clutched her tightly, my heart hammering in terror, as the roar of the hound echoed above.
We hit the river below, the icy water slamming against our bodies. Cold bit into me like knives, but Fila's arms wrapped around me, shielding me from the current as it dragged us downstream.
The hound's growls faded, replaced by the relentless rush of water. Silence settled over the river, broken only by our ragged breaths.
I glanced at my sister. Her eyes blazed with determination—and fear. She had poured herself into Ken's energy to protect me, and I knew how dangerous that was.
We weren't safe. But we were alive.
The water slammed into me like a thousand needles. Panic clawed at me—I couldn't swim.
And then I saw it. Blood. The river was red, thick and glistening in the sunlight. My chest tightened in horror.
It wasn't mine.
Before I could even process it, darkness took me.
I woke to pale morning light.
The riverbank cradled me, grass damp beneath my bruised and battered body.
Fila… she was gone.
No footprints, no sign, nothing but the whispers of the wind and the gentle roar of the river.
Pain shot through my leg. My body screamed as I tried to move, forcing me upright.
Every movement reminded me how fragile I was—wounded, broken, alone.
A stick lay nearby. I grabbed it, using it to balance as I limped forward. Each step sent waves of pain through my leg, but I forced myself on.
The forest pressed in around me, shadows twisting in the sunlight. Every snapping twig or rustling leaf made my heart leap.
My wounds burned, my body ached, but I couldn't stop. Not yet.
Danger lingered. Always.
After what felt like hours, I stumbled out of the forest. Relief surged—until I saw the pond glinting in sunlight.
Desperate, I rushed forward, trembling, hands aching as I leaned over the water.
Then I froze. My reflection stared back at me. Bloodied. Broken. Wounded.
A shiver ran down my spine as footsteps echoed behind me.
My heart leapt, every nerve screaming to move—but my body betrayed me.
Before I could turn, darkness swallowed me.
To be continued
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