Content Warning: This chapter contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing or triggering; it includes topics like nudity. Reader’s discretion is advised.

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A strong wind blew past, and something touched my face. I gasped as I woke up lying on the ground, leaves and dirt stuck on my naked being. Something soft floated down and landed at my perky bosoms, and only then did I realize that something was covering my eyes. Chills ran down through my spine as stories of kidnappings and abductions flashed through my mind. I tried to sit up, but my body was sore; the kind of soreness someone feels after overworking their body.

I calmed myself down, breathed three times, and slowly reached for the thick blindfold to undo the knot. My trembling, weak hands were of no use, however, and only then did I realize how little energy I had. I was weak, vulnerable, helpless, and alone in this quiet, desolate abyss. I shook tremendously and waited for at least a percentage of my strength to come back. I gulped as I tried to wet my dry lips with my saliva; sadly, my tongue was also dry. I was famished and dehydrated. 

‘How long was I unconscious? Where am I, and who brought me here? Where are the perpetrators? Are they nearby? Do they know that I’m awake now? What will they do to me?’

Countless questions ran through my mind as I let time pass. After a while, I carefully and slowly sat up and felt my surroundings. I puffed as quietly as I could, afraid to alert anyone nearby. When I felt that everything was alright, I stood up and leaned on the tree that I was under, leaving me feeling drained. 

A sudden, blazing light appeared the moment I touched the trunk of the tree. Albeit blindfolded, the light passed through the thick cloth and blinded my eyes. I squinted but to no avail, my eyes teared up as they burned. I raised my palm to cover my eyes when I looked for the source of light but froze. Although my eyes were still covered, I could see. I could see the light coming from the trunk; my heart thumped loudly as I watched it form an eye. My legs wobbled as my body slumped on the ground. Scared, I scrambled away as the eye looked at me with malice — enjoying my squirming. The tall tree grew even taller and became sturdier as it stared back at me. I felt weak, like a specimen under a microscope and I could feel how much the tree loved seeing my small, naked, vulnerable frame.

Without breaking eye contact, I forced myself up. I had no idea why, but I knew I needed to get out of here. So, I ran. But then, I bumped into another tree — not as big as the former but still as scary. It also glowed like the other, but it didn’t form an eye. Instead, it played my life at full speed. I saw everything play out, the blindfold seemingly useless. Confused and bewildered, I ran. 

I ran as fast as I could, not stopping even though my feet bled. Every time I stumbled, the voices of people I knew filled the eerie place. Everything I touched glowed and played a clip of my life. The trees were chasing me without moving; they were after me and I had no idea why. All I knew was they were laughing at me and that they were loving this show of me growing slowly more insane. I stumbled and tripped. The ground swirled, and a mouth emerged from below. I jolted and sprinted away. I ran fast, parting whatever was obstructing my escape — branches slapped my face back and cut my body.

Sharp stabs tugged at my lungs, and I was getting out of breath. My breaths became sharp and frantic; tears filled my wide reddened eyes. My ears rang as I heard the loud pounding of my heart, beating in sync with the thumping of my feet on the ground. Everything started to blur as I ran for my life; my lungs strained, my thoughts swirling. I just could not take it anymore. Tired and exhausted, the multitude of thoughts of giving up and succumbing to whatever was after me started to pop in my head.

“Just give up, you can't escape,” it said.

Broken and bruised, black and blue, I started to believe the monster that was eating away my mentality and draining my will to escape this forsaken, man-eating place. Then a warm, welcoming light showed itself from afar. It was still far away, but it gave me hope nonetheless. 

I smiled like a fool and sprinted into the unknown.