Darkness lingered for a few moments after he opened his eyes, heavy and suffocating.
Then came the pain—sharp, unfamiliar, spreading through his body.
His fingers touched the cold, hard ground beneath him.
Everything felt… wrong.
Blinking rapidly, he tried to focus.
Shapes around him were blurred, colors unlike anything he had seen before.
The sky was unfamiliar. The air smelled strange—sharp, metallic, and alive.
"Where… am I?" he whispered.
His voice sounded weak, almost foreign in this strange place.
Slowly, he pushed himself up. Every movement was a struggle, his body as if it didn't belong to him.
The ground was uneven, covered in dark soil, scattered stones, and twisted plants that seemed almost alive.
Nothing felt familiar. Nothing felt safe.
A sudden cold wind swept past him, carrying whispers of sounds he couldn't identify.
He froze.
Something… was out there. Watching.
Then, soft noises in the distance—footsteps? Rustling leaves?
He squinted into the shadows, heart racing.
Figures emerged.
Humanoid, but not human.
Their movements were unnatural, graceful yet threatening.
Their silhouettes stretched in the dim light, strange shapes and forms.
The voices came next—soft, hurried, almost indecipherable.
He couldn't understand the words, but their tone sent shivers down his spine.
Panic surged.
He turned and ran instinctively, stumbling over roots and stones, trying to put distance between himself and the unknown figures.
Every step echoed in the silent forest.
Every heartbeat reminded him that he was alone, lost, and hunted.
Until… he ran straight into something—or someone.
A girl.
Her eyes widened at the sight of him.
For a moment, fear froze her in place.
He didn't understand her language.
She didn't understand his.
And yet… they both knew one thing:
This encounter would change everything.