\Chapter 1\

*drip *drip* drip*

The constant sound of water hitting something metallic filled the surrounding area reverberating through and through my ears, my thoughts felt sluggish as if the whole world slowed down to just hear the rhythm of water and metal in making.

My first instinct was to open my eyes but I couldn't, left side of my body felt numb and sensation of being constantly drained overwhelmed all the other senses. After what felt like an eternity in the numbing sensation something gushed through my throat with burning sensation it brought unable to move, I turned to the side and puked. As my thoughts began to clear an excruciating pain hit me with being already in a weekend stature. Unable to bear I let out agonizing cries, never before ever have I felt this kind of pain in my life.

"AAAAAAAAH!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH"

with my pain filled cries echoing throughout the area my throat was burning and dry. Thirst was slowly overtaking the pain I crawled with all the energy i could muster towards my left where the water was dripping before, right beside me, still unable to open my eyes I stick my nose on the ground and by moving my head around in the hopes of finding water. Drool was mixing with the dirt on the ground, the torturous pain is in the back of my mind all that i want now is water.

With dirt all over my face nose finally touched a small puddle, I couldn't control myself like a ravage sticked out my parched tongue and sucked in the puddle. The water was thicker and tasted wierd but I couldn't care any less, without leaving a single drop I slurped the puddle dry it was still not enough but the exhaustion was already catching up arms were already out of my control.

I just want to wake out of this bloody nightmare that's right thinking back the last thing i could remember was, I went uphill on the daily hike and grafted wild lilies like the usual. Thinking back it must be an accident maybe I slipped and fell of the hill if so then smartwatch should have already send a SOS to local authorities, since I'm a bit deep into the woods help will be late and I don't know how long they'll take to find my body even if they come. Maybe they are already here and searching down hill to find me, I don't think I can last much longer though.

I can feel it my vitals are already dropping I'm already half foot in the grave I think I'm going to die today. I never expected myself to be so lousy to slip and fall, even expecting the grizzlies attack I'm prepared with air horn and flash gun. AH! it must be that strange flower, YES that must be it! it smelled strange I should have worn a mask! It must have contained sedative gas, No point in regretting now.

At the moment of relief all the thoughts fill my head and I could only slowly watch myself as my breathing gets slower and slower.

I think I'm going to die today even though I haven't lived that long I have reached my goals I set for myself, my works can save millions of plant life across the world and I don't have much of regrets being a part of this bountiful nature I did my job and now I'm going back to be a part of it again. As a window of relief gave door to all these supressed thoughts, my mind fell into deep slumber.

Dax Greyson was a 27-year-old was a phytologist and philanthropist who was nothing but kind and resourceful to all just like the plants he loved. Growing up with his grandparents in the countryside he was introduced to farming at an early age, he was always sensible and virtuous striving for the goals he set out for himself.

He was even awarded INSA young scientist two years ago on his work on genetically modified parasites that would help plants survive in any hellish environments and increasing their yield.

Even with all the achievements he lived a quiet ascetic life in the woods with his nursery and research, they gave him all the joy he ever wanted from his life. He loved all the small things from making a cup of coffee to cloud gazing in the afternoons, he is the kind of person who will be prepared for all the possibilities he could think of beforehand.

Going on a hike in the woods on every weekend, that was when he came across a peculiar red flower that was radiating a golden hue and the patterns on the flower were something Dax has never seen before. Being a phytologist his first guess was that it might be an extinct species, but the more deeply he studied the flower the more bizarre it was getting.

It almost looked alien and the pattern on the flower seemed to shift according to his breathing, it felt as it was acknowledging him and capable of sensing life form around. There are plenty of plants who are capable of sensing surroundings but this peculiar one is reacting to its surroundings like no other plant, almost loosing his awareness Dax was pulled out his thoughts when the hue radiating the flower was growing brighter and brighter to the point it almost blinded him and that was the last of his memories waking up into a nightmare filled with pain and horror. ***************************************

I don't know how much time has passed since I fell unconscious there was a heavy fowl stench brewing up in the surroundings, it was heavy and unbearable jolting all my senses on high alert.

It smelled like fermented faeces so unbearably gross and repulsive; the smell was moving closer and closer to my side. When it was about few meters from it stopped and the silence filled cave was which still had Dax's cries echoing in the corners had one more voice for the first time.

The voice was deep and bassy, unlike any voice he has ever heard. Breathing out a sigh of relief his rescue is finally here and all the torment he had to endure was paid off. He still can't open his eyes and the left side of his body is completely paralysed. Even though the pain he is enduring is through the roof the new found hope put a smile on his face.

"What are you smiling for you annoying twarp!"

And angry grunt came from the side stench is coming from, confusing Dax. What was more surprising to him wasn't the angry grunt but the words he spoke cause it was language he never knew but understood the meaning perfectly despite not knowing the language, before he could make sense of the current predicament a strong kick came towards his half-dead body sending it flying back meters.

His already tormented body could not fight against it, when he finally hit the ground he was submerged into it. It was a small pond only feet and half deep, as soon as he was submerged into pond a strange power seeped into his body. Water almost felt like silk wrapping around him warm and comforting from the horrible state. His vitals were raising at an astonished pace it almost felt magical. He finally opened his eyes eager to check his condition and surroundings from being so close to death.

As my vision finally returned lying half submerged in the pond the first thing I could see is a refractive ceiling from under water, it's just pitch black.As I try to push myself out of the waters to take breath, by the time my head reached out all the pain in my is gone miraculously. At this point as logic is making no sense I should probably stop using common sense. After waking out of the waters my eyes were still adjusting to the vision I look into the rippling waters, and what I saw left me shaken to my bone.

What I saw was a blurred image of a pale skinny boy, with a bright green hair shiny enough to reflect light right off the strands. He was about 5 years old or so his clothes are all ragged and torn but if one could imagine their previous state they were embroidered and were made of highest quality as his vision is gradually getting better he could outline the face of the boy looked at him from the pond. What first caught his eye were his pupils it self, they were dual pupils with blood red irises. Like petals of lotus they were drawn out and the sharp nose made his face as if it was drawn right out of fictjon, even though he was just a kid the allured majestic aura. Lost in the shock of all the unprecedented line of events he pulled out of his thoughts again by that deep voice shouting at him in a language he still has no clue about but he understood the nonetheless.

" Oye Brat! If your done healing yourself hurry up glue hand unless you want to live with a single hand rest of your life. How stupid can kids really be! By the hand of kesha! Even in my death i can't be at peace" 

"Don't just idly look at me you runt go fetch your hand or do you need my hand or what. Oh my that's a terrible pun.... Hahaha, looks like I'll be the only one laughing hahahaha" 

As deep laughter was echoing throughout the surroundings, Dax froze sweat was pouring out at a speed visable to naked eye. Throughout his life Dax was afraid of only 2 things, one running out of toilet paper and two gosts. Right now standing only a few meters from him is a zombie worried wearing ripped leather Armour and his flesh barely hung on to his bones. Left torso of it is completely devoid of any flesh just with bare bones one can see through it. And the zombies laughter only added more on it, 

*thud*

Out of shear fear and anxiety Dax passed out leaving zombie to laugh more on it.