Chapter 4

The boy's consciousness flickered back into existence, and he convulsed in terror, his body wracked with the memories of blood loss, suffocation, and the searing agony of being burned alive.

"AHHHH!" he coughed, bile rising in his throat as he fought the urge to vomit.

"I never should have come here! Why? Why?" he cried out, pounding his fists against the unforgiving ground, tears streaming down his face in a torrent of despair.

With a sudden surge of desperation, the boy rose to his feet and screamed into the cavernous darkness, "Why am I not waking up? HELP!"

Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave, draining him of energy until he collapsed to the ground, his body drenched in the cool embrace of the cave's flowing water, his face drained of color, and his spirit shattered by the relentless onslaught of his nightmarish ordeal.

the sound of the approaching monster echoed through the cave, jolting the boy back to alertness, he cursed under his breath, his mind racing for a plan to defend himself.

"Duck, shit!" he muttered, scanning his surroundings for anything he could use as a weapon against the looming threat.

With a surge of determination, he sprang into action, gathering as much luminous moss as he could find and hastily fashioning it into a makeshift trap, piling it in one spot in hopes of luring the creature into his ambush.

"If those weren't dreams, then I've died from that monster twice," he grimaced, the memory of his previous encounters with the creature haunting his thoughts.

"Return by death," he mumbled to himself, a grim acknowledgment of the grim reality he faced. With his makeshift trap set and his resolve steeled, the boy braced himself for the inevitable confrontation with the monster that lurked in the shadows of the cave.

the monster prowled, checking its territory, the boy waited behind his trap, heart pounding in anticipation. With a sudden burst of courage, he shouted at the top of his lungs, catching the creature's attention and causing it to charge towards him.

"IM HERE! YOU SON OF A BITCH!" he bellowed, a defiant smirk curling his lips as he taunted the approaching beast.

But his triumph turned to frustration as he fumbled with his lighter, unable to ignite it despite his frantic efforts. "FUCK!" he cursed, his hands trembling with adrenaline and fear.

As the monster drew closer, emitting eerie human-like sounds, the boy realized its chilling intent—to mimic its prey. With desperation gripping him, he hurled the lighter at the pile of moss, igniting a blazing inferno that engulfed the creature in a fiery hell.

The monster writhed and screamed as it burned, its twisted form contorting in agony until it finally fell, consumed by the flames.

With tears of relief streaming down his face, the boy sank to his knees, his body shaking with the weight of his ordeal. "FINALLY!" he whispered, a mix of exhaustion and triumph in his voice as he gazed at the smoldering remains of his tormentor.

As the monster surged towards him, flames raging and its grotesque form melting away, the boy's instincts kicked in. With a quick realization of the danger, he bolted in the opposite direction, his slim physique powered by pure adrenaline rather than any physical conditioning.

Gasping for air, he scrambled up a rocky outcrop within the cave, his heart pounding in his chest as he faced down the relentless pursuit of the creature. "You!" he yelled, defiance burning in his eyes as he prepared to make his stand.

The monster, fueled by its determination to destroy him, continued its relentless charge, its blue blood oozing from its wounds as it let out agonized screams.

Undeterred, the boy grabbed nearby rocks and hurled them at the approaching monster, his voice raw with desperation as he shouted, "JUST DIE ALREADY!"

After what felt like an eternity of struggle, the monster finally collapsed to the ground, lifeless and defeated. As the dust settled, an orb materialized and floated towards the boy, its appearance surprising him.

Instinctively, he attempted to block it, but to his relief, nothing happened as it entered his body. Breathing heavily, the boy sank to his knees, the adrenaline slowly fading as he processed the surreal events that had just unfolded before him.

Exhausted and bewildered, the boy slumped against the cool cave wall, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he tried to make sense of the mysterious orb that had entered his body. "What was that orb? Why did it enter my body? I hope it wasn't some sort of poison... But if it was, why am I still alive?" he mused, his mind racing with unanswered questions.

With a weary sigh, he pushed himself upright and began the arduous journey upwards, determined to put as much distance between himself and the nightmare he had just endured. "I don't care about any of this as long as I'm alive and that fucker is dead," he muttered, his resolve unwavering despite his exhaustion.

After what felt like an eternity of tireless walking, he finally emerged from the cave's oppressive darkness into the welcoming embrace of the outside world. "I will never go back to that place," he vowed, relief flooding through him as he took in the familiar sights and sounds of the world beyond the cave's confines.

But even as he reveled in his newfound freedom, a nagging thought tugged at the corners of his mind. "Why the hell am I not tired?" he wondered aloud, his brow furrowing with confusion. "I've never exercised... Never mind that, as long as I'm out," he concluded, pushing aside his concerns for the moment and focusing on the simple joy of being alive.

As the boy gazed out of the cave entrance at the vast expanse of forest before him, a sense of wonder and awe washed over him. The towering trees stretched endlessly into the distance, their canopies casting dappled shadows across the forest floor, while thick clusters of bushes obscured his view of what lay beyond.

Suddenly, a tinkling sound caught his attention, drawing his gaze to the left where he spotted a peculiar sight—a yellow star shining brightly and floating above the ground. Intrigued, the boy felt a surge of curiosity as he cautiously approached the glowing object, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger.

As he drew closer, he reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the warm, ethereal glow of the star. Mesmerized by its beauty and inexplicable presence.

To be continued ;)