I froze for a while trying to process the event just now.

I then stood up and looked for the others.
Then there i get a glimpse of Lei and Zhara together and Crystal who pretty much almost fainted for running really fast.

As i look for Charlotte. I hear a soft, stammered voice behind the branch.
"Here..."

As i follow the the voice i reach the root of the branch and...

"Charlotte!" i exclaimed with worry and rushed to her. She was leaning against the tall tree beside the branch. Her dark brown hair was up against the tree's wood.
A large thorn was through her stomach. She began coughing up blood from her mouth and tried to cover it with her palm.

I start to panic completely not knowing what to do.
"Don't worry." i said frantically.

As I looked up I saw a large hole from the monsters paw closing slowly. As if it was healing by itself. I groaned loudly thinking how to remove the thorn. but it was impossible, the tip of the thorn was on her stomach through the tree she's leaning on. If they're able to remove the thorn she would bleed to death. 

I sat beside Charlotte trembling. I held her hand and gripped it tight.
"Its okay... We'll think of something." my voice starts to tremble.

The blood was slowly dripping on the grass.

As i hear footsteps, Zhara and Lei starts to approach us.
Zhara shreiked.
"Charlotte! What happened?" Lei asked and sat next to me trying to comfort her.
Zhara stood there in shock while looking at Charlotte's large wound.

"Am I going to leave too soon?" Charlotte whispered.

"No your not!" Zhara and Lei said in unison.
Charlotte continues to gag out the blood from her throat.

She then smiles weakly.
"At least I get to leave this horrible dream first..." She said jokingly. Lei smiled with sadness, knowing they can't save her.

"Don't worry..." Lei eyes began to be teary. 

"make sure to wear our bracelets okay?" She sniffed. Charlotte nodded.

"See you in the morning..." her voice starts to soften as her monolid eyes stood still. Her arm dropped.

I felt the tears drop on my cheek.
As it continues to flow I stood up seeing Zhara shaking Charlotte's body harshly while sobbing completely, thinking she would still wake up.
"Wake up!" She yelled.

Lei gazed down as she felt a horrible pain beneath her chest. She began screaming madly while punching off the ground beside Charlotte.

As i stood still. I remembered Crystal.
 my eyes widened as we heard a familiar scream and ran towards the other side of the branch.

"Cris?" i called in a normal tone.
"Crystal!?" i called again but yelled this time.

"I'm right here." Crystal voice said behind me. I looked back noticing another familiar thorn inserted onto a tree next to her. She approaches me calmly.
"The nail of the Slender monster man tried to kill me." she informed.

"Wait are you crying? Why are you being emotional?" she said confusedly. I wiped my tears off my cheek with my wrist. "Charlotte." i stutter.

"What about her?"
"She's gone." I ended.

"what? Really?" she walked around the branch to check her out.
"Oh gosh..." Crystal whispered.

I followed her and noticed that Charlotte's corpse was fading away into thin air.

"No... No!" Lei shrieked as Charlotte's body dissolves, she hugged her tight one last time as she completely disappears.
she began to sob loudly with anger. After a while she starts to get tired of and sat weakly on the tree Charlotte's died on. our eyes met.

"I swear. We will get out of here, and I'll kill that Tia girl." She said as she glares at me deeply. Zhara looked at her hopelessly. can they really kill her? They don't even know what Tia can do. but the least thing they know is she's controlling the game.

She looked serious about what she said. She flooded herself with anger. She stood up finally and pointed out the branch where the monster was still hanging on.

We all looked at the direction she pointed and saw the monster fades away, as it fades completely, there was a bag inside the monster chest. i walked towards it and reached for the things since i was the tallest among us.

My hand reaches the bag and pulled it down. i passed it to Zhara and she opened it quickly. she stares at it for a second. Crystal and Lei walks to us to check what's in the bag.

"What's i the bag?" Crystal questioned.

"Oh sorry." Zhara showed us the bag. it had a gun, knife, water and a gold circle pendant with a tall tree on it.

"Aren't there any food or something?" Crystal asked. we all shock our heads. "Alright."

As i looked at the tree with Charlotte's blood and noticed the berries she collected. i picked it up and raised it, taking their attention. 

"What are you doing? Volunteering as tribute?" Crystal joked but none of us laughed. i smile at her with sarcasm.

"What i meant is we have food here." I explained and walked towards back to them.

"Gosh i knew what you meant. you guys can't even take a joke."

"Well Charlotte just died so... i don't blame you for not laughing." Crystal continued.

"You-" Lei restrained her anger. She doesn't want to be blinded by anger after loosing her best friend.

"Okay... Okay sorry." Crystal raised both of her arms surrendering.

"How about we put some flowers in the tree?" I asked.
"Charlotte would surely love that would she?" I requested.
"Sure." Lei nodded and picked up some tiny yellow flower lying near the other trees. We began to place it gracefully into the tree.
"Goodbye Charlotte, see you in the morning too." Zhara greeted.

As we finished giving our goodbyes to her, we started to get ready to leave.

"What do you think this is this for?" Zhara asked she took out the golden pendant from the bag.

"I don't know... But in some scenarios like this. It can most likely be a key to something." I said.

"Yeah she's probably right. Just because of those fantasy books that she reads, she wouldn't be this smart." Crystal scoffed.

She wasn't wrong. I love fantasy stories. I used to fantasize a lot of stuff when I was little. My mom used to say I create lots of things through drawings. I started reading when I was 9. Then I started making unrealistic scenarios making my mom think that I'm a creative and imaginative kid. Some girls called me a freak for day dreaming in class before. But when I met Crystal. She appreciated all of things I do. She loved hearing the stories I make up everyday when we hangout. Even helped me draw our my fantasy worlds. I'm thankful of having her in the first place.

"Great I hope those ideas of yours would actually be useful in this game." she answered. It felt a little like a mockery but I didn't mind.

I gave her an appreciated smile. But ignored me.

As we pack the things back into the bag we sensed a familiar smell.

I looked behind me as I hear a cracking and popping sounds.

"Sh*t." I said.
The others looked at the direction where fire starts to spread quickly into the woods.

"Well I guess there's more running." Zhara said calmly.

I faced towards the front again and started running as fast as I can. We ran really fast in unison into the never ending woods.

***

Thank you for reading Death Outside Our Universe!

I'm sorry if there are some flaws in the story. (Grammar, spelling, etc.)

I will release chapter 5 soon!