CHAPTER 14: Predator in the Forest

Another roar occurred, this time a little closer.

I heard rustling sounds behind me, at that moment I knew something was definitely on a hunt, and we where it's prey.

"guys you heard that right." I whisperd

Alice and Layla nodded.

"It will be better to start running now." I whisperd again.

We swiftly paced forward, it was difficult to run at full speed as we had to avoid many trees that crowded the entire place making it hard to navigate.

Alice was leading infront, I held Layla's hand and ran alongside her, I was making sure that she wouldn't fall behind.

A violent roared occurred again, this time it was loud and clear as if it was right besides me, I heard more rustling sounds behind me.

Something walking on all four was definitely chasing us.

I had faced many near death situations in the day of the rising, but an unknown monster chasing us made my heart beat like it will leap out of my chest.

Are we going to run all day in this freaking forest?

My body was burning as I sweated like they was no tomorrow.

I glanced at Layla who breathed heavily as sweat dripped down from her face, the further we ran, the more her pace decreased.

"Don't give up yet, keep going." I encouraged her while panting hard.

"Don't let go okay." her voice was Barely a whisper.

We ran for a while before Alice stopped, as we got near she raised a hand for us not to proceed. We came to a stop at the edge of the slope, they were no trees, only leaves covered the whole area all the way down.

We threw our backpacks first and watched them rolling all the way down. I held Layla's hand on my right side and Alice's on my left, we nodded to each other and cautiously walked slowly.

The leaves made it hard to descend, they was was no grip, making it easy to slide down any moment.

I don't want to be sent rolling down so I watched my step carefully.

"AHHP."

Layla yelped as her foot slipped, I tried to pull her but I ended up going along with her.

I also dragged alice to the fall, as I slid down my head was facing downward.

I felt a stinging pain as my shoulders hit something and I changed course, my body started rolling down like a ball. My eyes were shut tight, I felt like everything around me was engaged in an endless spin.

I landed on a flat surface and finally came to a stop.

I blinked countless times trying to clear my hazy eyes, I got up spilting the dirt in my mouth and tried to pat the dust out of my clothes.

(cough) "You can get off me now." Layla growled while Alice was laying on top of her

The two got up and fixed themselves up.

"Are you guys okay?"

"Yah I'm gud just a few bruises." Layla replied

"One of my favourite dress is ruined." Alice complained.

"We shouldn't waste time let's go."

We picked our backpacks. Just as we where about to go I saw a figure at the top, the beast let out a loud terrific roar that made my blood freeze.

I guess we are taking our leave early then.

This part of the forest wasn't thick, we easily managed to move while able to see ahead. After we caught our breath we then started to increase pace.

I heard Heavy footsteps sprinting behind us.

That thing was still on the chase.

It wasn't even a minute we started running but I could feel that the thing that was chasing us was only separated by a couple of metres.

"Let's drop our bags!" I yelled

I loosened my backpack belts, as I threw it away I felt the same sensation I felt when the cannibal was about to attack.

I pushed Layla out of the way and ducked down. It flew above my head and slid stopping with it's claws gripping the ground tight.

I stared eye to eye with the creature infront of me, black fur, and grey eyes, one of the cat family, it was without a doubt a black panther.

Alice who was on my far left side surprisingly stood with an unemotional expression as if she wasn't intimidated.

They is no way all of us are going to survive.

Yet, I can't give up!

I guess they is only one option left...

"Run!"

I yelled while I dashed infront of Alice and headed to the direction on her left that was east. The beast picked up my movements and swiftly trailed me, I didn't even manage to run more than a few metres, the panther already leaped and tackled me to the ground.

It's jaw opened wide and it revealed it's long white razor sharp teeth, I used both my hands to hold it's neck so it does not devour me right on the spot.

It's strength is not something to joke about.

"AGGGHHHH!!!!"

I let out a pained scream as I felt it's teeth sink. It ripped me open with it's incisors between my neck and the shoulder.

Blood oozed out of my neck.

"Kean!!!" Alice and Layla yelled my name in sync.

"Let him go!!" Alice yelled, her expression completely changed, she was filled with rage and pain never felt before.

She felt like her heart was being stabbed countless times as she saw the animal sinking it's teeth in his neck, many emotions ran through her mind.

Alice's hair floated and her eyes gleamed purple. She felt strength surge in her body and felt like she could do anything, she was filled with so much blood lust, her mind wanted to completely rip apart the creature infront.

"I said let my brother go!!!" Alice yell sent into the panther.

The creature was pushed by an unknown force as it flew and slammed on the tree.

The animal growled in pain, it stood it's ground and charged towards Alice.

Alice raised her hand and the creature was lifted in the air, it struggled trying to free it's self. She gritted her teeth and applied more force twisting the creatures neck until it snapped.

'What's going on? How did Alice even do that.' Layla asked herself in shock.

She was left in daze, at first she thought her brain was playing mind games but what she was seeing was real. Kean was the priority so she rushed to him and tried not to focus on her.

Layla felt her heart crumble when she gazed at him, she applied pressure on his neck with tearful eyes.

His body become weaker by the second, his vision started to become hazy. he felt like all his strength was being drained every passing second.

Alice hastily kneeled on his left side, she took his hand and caressed her cheek with it while tears where streaming down her face.

"This is all my fault." Alice muttered.

"It's not your fault.(cough)please take Layla and go they is nothing that can be done now." He whisperd.

All his senses where fading away. He couldn't even hear them anymore while they where next to him.

Kean blinked while his eyes were slightly closing as if death was calling him, his breathing became shallow.

"Kean! Kean! please don't leave me like this, open your eyes." Layla screamed, she felt like he was slipping out of her grasp.

In a land far away, a place where no leaving thing can enter or leave. At the far north a mountain stood tall, In the depths of the frozen mountain a blade seemed to be trapped inside a glacier. It shook vigorously while radiating with immense heat that created large cracks in the ice as it melted.

It was dark everywhere until I sighted a vibrant white door, I immediately started walking towards it, as I was about to step inside a deep husky authoritative voice stopped me.

"Where do you think you are going young man."

I stopped and turned around at the intimidating voice.

"I don't know."

I could only see gleaming red eyes pearcing at me in the dark, something about it's presence made my head dizzy.

"Don't worry she will save you in time." The voice echoed in my head.

Alice cried silently, her heart was completely shattered, as she stared at her dying brother.

"We didn't survive this long so you could leave us like this, I won't give up, I will save you no matter what." Layla cried out loud as her eyes flickered between gold and her natural green colour.

Her hope of saving Kean magically revived, she felt calm and comfort in her heart, all her worries whisked away. She felt convinced that everything will be okay

Layla's eyes shone bright gold as her whole body evoked in a golden glow. The bright energy in her body travelled to both her hands.

She stared at her hands in shock, finding it hard to believe the unnatural changes in her body.