I told myself it couldn't be real and just walked in the direction I had come from. But after an hour of walking, I still couldn't find an exit, which was strange since I had just entered through there.
I marked a tree by scratching it with my nails to see if I was looping. After walking for a while, I saw the same marked tree again.
I shouted to the sky,
"Solmerra, do you know anything?"
"You should have listened to me. You entered the domain of one of the strongest monsters in the world, the Mimic. Its forest has never been escaped by anyone. It enjoys killing its prey by taking the shape of what they fear the most, and then it devours them. I can't help you here, I cannot leave my domain. But I'll try to find a way out anyway. You should search as well."
"Okay, I just have to find an exit."
Was it just me, or did I hear something moving behind me?
I ran in the opposite direction, afraid it might be the Mimic. I wandered around for hours, but my heart dropped when I noticed the sun was setting.
I kept walking until I saw a silhouette in the distance. My heart sank. Even from far away, I recognized it. It was Yui.
I couldn't move. I felt a pull toward her. I started walking.
Suddenly, someone grabbed me and pulled me down.
"Stay quiet. Do you have a death wish or something?" a girl whispered.
I heard Yui, or something that looked like Yui walk away.
"Come with me," the girl said.
She led me to an underground bunker.
Once inside, she asked,
"Who are you, and why did you enter the forest?"
"My name is Yuki Aoba. I entered because I saw someone I knew."
When she stepped into the light, I saw that she wasn't human. She had fox ears and a tail.
So this world really does have demi-humans.
"You've survived much longer than most," she said. "Most people die within an hour. That was a close call."
I asked her name and what she knew about the forest.
"My name is Lyra. As for the forest, I don't know much, even though I've been stuck here for six years. I've tried escaping so many times." she muttered.
"Anyway, I've figured out that the monster likes to play with its prey before killing them. But for some reason, it has never attacked me here."
She told me to go to sleep. I lay down on the dirt bench and eventually fell asleep.
I had the same nightmare again. The movie date with Yui. Her face changed, but this time I heard something before dying:
"Die so I can rule."
I woke up, breathing heavily.
This time, Lyra noticed.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied.
We left the bunker to search for food. Somehow, there was still wildlife in the forest. It felt less terrifying during the day, but there was still a constant pressure, like something was watching us.
We managed to hunt a deer, and I had to carry it back to the bunker.
On the way, I asked her why she had entered the forest.
"I saw my father," she answered.
I asked what she would do if she ever escaped.
"I don't know. Both of my parents are dead."
I offered my condolences, but she brushed it off.
"That's enough grieving. Let's get back and eat."
By the time we returned, it was already night. Finding food had taken much longer than expected.
Just before reaching the bunker, I felt something behind me.
I turned around.
Everything slowed down.
My head was cut off.
I heard Lyra scream.
In my final moment, I whispered,
"Run."
Then…
I was back where I had been before.
I felt the presence again.
"Duck!" I shouted, pulling Lyra down as I dropped as well.
A sharp pain shot through my head instantly.
I looked up.
Standing there, was the person who had executed me.
My breathing became shallow. My body trembled with fear.
Then he spoke.
"Interesting. The apostle of the banished goddess in my forest. I'll let you live for tonight. Give my regards to Solmerra. Your fear will make you all the more delicious."
He walked away, laughing.
Even though I was shaking, I went to Lyra.
"Are you okay?"
"We need to get back to the bunker," I said.
"I can't escape, it's impossible. He'll get me." she muttered.
"Get a hold of yourself, Lyra!" I shouted.
"If we don't move now, he might come back."
"I have no choice."
I lifted her onto my back and carried her to the bunker.
I laid her down so she could rest.
Then I thought about what the monster had said.
Did it know Solmerra?
"Solmerra, do you know that monster? And what did he mean by calling you a banished goddess?"
"I think it's time I explain," she said.
"I've been sealed in the void for 200 years. The other gods didn't agree with what I was trying to do, so they imprisoned me. People call me the banished goddess or even the devil goddess. Some monsters and people with strong senses can feel my presence within you."
She continued,
"The visions you experience are called Fractured Echo. It's the power granted to my apostle, the ability to see possible futures."
"That's a lot to take in," I said.
At that moment, Lyra stirred and looked at me.
"Who are you talking to?" she asked.