Oh Hunter My Hunter

Amias looked around, confused. He was in a massive labyrinth, its surface so smooth he nearly slipped just trying to stand. Everywhere he turned, he saw his own reflection. The walls had the polished texture of marble, but he was inside a tree, wasn't he? It had the same porcelain-like sheen so yeah. But how was there light in here? He had expected darkness, yet illumination seemed to come from nowhere. It was perplexing, but more pressing was the absence of his second party member.

"Tobi?" he called out, but his voice only bounced back at him, swallowed by the endless reflections.

Stupid maze, he thought before sighing

Every passageway looked the same. He couldn't run, not without risking a nasty fall, so he shuffled carefully through the maze. Frustration gnawed at him. He had no idea where he was, and the repetition of his surroundings made him feel like he was going in circles.

Whoever invented this, fuck you, Amias thought and grit his teeth in annoyance and frustration

What if he was trapped here forever?

"No. No. Stop thinking like that. Stupid trees. I hate trees so much," he told himself and took a deep breath, shaking off the doubt before forcing himself forward again.

Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes to hours. The mind trick the tree had played on him earlier had faded, but now he was simply lost. Still, Amias refused to die here. Survival was in his very nature; he was human, and he had reasons to keep going, false hope or not. He had a girl who might like him. and Tobi, his somewhat friend; he didn't really know the guy but even so, he would cling to that like a lifeline.

So he continued, step by step, weaving through the endless, mirrored corridors. They were strangely spacious, which made him wonder if anything lived here. The place felt unnatural. It was too precise, too smooth, and too deliberate.

Pausing at one of the reflective surfaces, he finally got a good look at himself. His clothes were a mess. His white shirt had some name brand; he couldn't even see since it was stained with dirt and grass; its fabric was torn near his chest and scorched near his abdomen. His black jeans, which had seemed like a good idea before, now clung uncomfortably to him. God, I wish I wore sweatpants, he thought. he looked at his face, which was rough with stubble, exhaustion evident in his eyes.

Great. The world just had to end now, huh?

Sighing, he sat down for a brief respite. His stomach growled, a cruel reminder of how long it had been since he'd eaten. Where could he even find food? Was there still a city standing somewhere out there, or had everything been consumed by the monsters and strange plant life like this one?

Truthfully, he didn't even know the full extent of the myriad of creatures in this world now. The ones he had seen always fled at the mere sight of Tobi, who harboured a god. Just who was that guy, anyway? He didn't seem like a bad person, but he was definitely special. Still, he had saved Amias a few times now so he wouldn't question it.

With a groan, Amias stood and pushed forward.

Then he noticed something.

The walls had changed.

Instead of the smooth, porcelain-like surface, they were now a light metallic grey. The shift was subtle, but undeniable. Was he getting deeper inside the tree? If so, maybe he was actually making progress.

A grin broke across his face. He would've jumped for joy if not for the slick floor beneath him.

With renewed determination, he pressed on, following the shifting walls until he reached the heart of the labyrinth. There, he found something unexpected.

A spiral staircase.

It stretched up at least five stories, each step glistening in the strange light. There were no railings, nothing to catch him if he slipped. His breath hitched at the sight of it.

"Fuck you," he muttered annoyed and sighed before looking up in thought

So then this whole place really is man-made, huh?

The design was too intricate, too deliberate. There wasn't a single imperfection. But who or what had built it? Was this the work of gods?

No answers. Not yet. The only way to find out was to keep climbing.

Gritting his teeth, Amias began his ascent, using both his hands and feet for stability. Each step was a battle against gravity and the slick surface, but he forced himself forward, one agonizing movement at a time.

"That stupid fruit better be worth it," he muttered under his breath.

Halfway up, a sound made him freeze.

A snarl.

His body shuddered involuntarily. He snapped his head up but there was nothing.

Was he going insane?

Or... had it come from below?

Dread coiled in his gut. He clenched his teeth and pushed himself to move faster, refusing to glance back. The tension in his muscles doubled. Every step felt like a gamble.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the top and collapsed onto the floor, panting.

Nothing had followed him.

Relief flooded him, and he let out a breathless chuckle. "Guess it was just my mind playing tricks."

He stretched his arms out, staring up at the high ceiling. A single drop of liquid fell onto his chest.

He blinked.

Frowning, he sat up and touched the wet spot on his shirt. Where had that come from? There were no cracks above him, no openings.

Then the pressure hit him.

It was like two vice-like grips slammed down on his chest. Sharp claws dug into his skin, pinning him in place. His breath hitched as something shimmered into view above him.

A snarling maw.

Vicious teeth glistened in the dim light. A low growl rumbled through the air.

White fur.

Pure blue eyes.

A wolf.

Amias swallowed hard. He had wandered into its territory.

Wolves live in trees now, huh?, he thought angrily as his hate for trees grew.

He stared up at the creature, heart pounding, praying for a miracle.