The light danced through the swaying trees as laughter echoed in the warm breeze. I was chasing Atlas, his red and black hair catching the light in a way that made it seem almost aflame. His crimson eyes sparkled with mischief that masked the perpetual exhaustion they betrayed, framed by puffy, pinkish-red bags that never faded.

“Faster, Melia! You’re too slow!” he taunted, darting ahead, his voice a playful sing-song.

“I’ll get you, Atlas!” I giggled, my tiny legs struggling to match his pace.

Nearby, an older boy with messy brown hair, leaned against a fencepost, watching over us. His eyes followed us like a protective shadow, a faint smile playing on his lips. The village behind him hummed with life, its serene normalcy a stark contrast to what would come. Women hung laundry on lines, the cloth flapping like flags. A distant hammer rang against the wood. Children’s laughter carried on the breeze.

Then the first scream cut through the air—a sound so raw and guttural it froze me mid-step.

“What… what was that?” I asked, my small frame turning toward the source.

Atlas stopped too, his face losing colour. His eyes widened as a shape emerged from the edge of the forest. At first, it seemed like a twisted tree, moving unnaturally, but as it stepped into the clearing, the truth became horrifyingly clear.

A monster.

Its six limbs jutted out at unnatural angles, each spindly but powerful, ending in hooked claws that scraped the ground with a nauseating screech. Its body was bulbous and veined, pulsating as if something was alive within. Its round, gaping maw quivered as rows of jagged teeth twisted and gnashed, glistening with a black, viscous fluid that dripped and hissed as it touched the ground. Its eyes—or what could be eyes—were empty voids, blacker than the deepest shadow.

“Noite?” Atlas called out, his voice trembling.

Noite was no longer leaning against the fencepost. He had closed the distance quickly but just as fast as he moved, his body became rigid, his hand gripping the hilt of a sword at his side.

“Get behind me,” he ordered, his voice low but steady.

More movement in the forest drew our eyes. Shapes—human shapes—stepped into the clearing behind the creature. But these were no normal men, not truly. Their eyes were pits of black, with glowing red rings where irises should have been. Their mouths hung open, slack and unnatural, and a dark, sludge-like fog coiled around them like living shadows. When it reached out to touch the ground, the grass withered, flowers blackened, and even the air seemed to grow colder.

The monster let out a deafening screech, a sound that felt like claws raking against the inside of my skull. I clamped my hands over my ears and screamed, but the sound barely reached my own ears over the rising chaos.

“Noite, what is that!?” Atlas yelled, his voice cracking.

“Run,” Noite commanded. “Take Melia and run. Now!”

“But—” Atlas started.

“RUN!” Noite’s voice cracked like a whip, his expression fierce and unyielding. He drew his sword, the blade gleaming for just a moment before the creature lunged.

Atlas didn’t hesitate after that. He grabbed my hand and yanked me away, his grip almost painful.

“Come on, Melia!”

I stumbled, my feet barely finding the ground before having to force myself forward after him.

“I want my mommy!” I wailed, tears streaming down my face as I tripped and nearly fell.

Atlas didn’t stop, his breath was ragged and panicked.

“We have to hide! If they catch us… they’ll…” His voice trailed off, the unspoken end to his sentence too terrifying to say aloud.

Behind us, the village was descending into chaos. Screams of terror rose above the sound of cracking wood and the wet, gurgling cries of those caught by the black fog. I glanced over my shoulder and saw it—the fog curling around a man’s legs. His skin shriveled and cracked, his body collapsing into ash as his scream was abruptly cut off.

“No!” I screamed, my feet skidding to a halt.

“Don’t look back!” Atlas shouted, tears streaking his face. “Keep going!”

The forest swallowed us, its shadows thick and suffocating. The light barely pierced through the dense canopy, and every step felt like we were being watched. The air grew colder, the silence broken only by the distant screams and the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. I was sobbing now, my chest heaving with fear and exhaustion.

“Atlas, I can’t!” I cried.

“Yes, you can! Just a little further!” He pulled me along, his grip firm despite his own trembling hands.

Then, suddenly, something cold and slimy wrapped around my wrist. I screamed as I was yanked sideways into the darkness. Atlas turned, his red eyes wide with horror.

“Melia!” he shouted, lunging for me, but another shadow moved between us.

Before I could cry out again, something struck the back of my head with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through my skull, and the world spun violently. I fell, the forest floor rushing up to meet me, and as my vision blurred and faded to black, the last sound I heard was Atlas screaming my name.

  ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . ﾟ. ───