Web of Lost Memories

They walked for hours, weaving through the dense forest. The golden sunlight had begun to dim, giving way to streaks of orange and purple in the sky.

Lucas was exhausted. His legs ached, his stomach was still rumbling, and the so-called "magic world" was turning out to be way less fun than he'd imagined.

Elara led the way, her steps silent as if she had walked this path a hundred times before. He, on the other hand, kept tripping over tree roots and muttering curses under his breath.

Then, just as he was about to ask if they could stop for the night—

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

Lucas froze. A second later, Elara shoved him hard, knocking him into the dirt.

Thwip!

Something flew past where his head had been a second ago—an arrow. It embedded itself into a tree trunk with a soft thunk.

His pulse skyrocketed. "What the—?!"

Elara grabbed him by the collar and yanked him to his feet. "Run!"

Lucas didn't need to be told twice.

They sprinted through the forest, dodging trees and leaping over fallen branches. More arrows whizzed past them, barely missing. Whoever was shooting wasn't just trying to scare them—they were aiming to kill.

Lucas glanced back, catching a glimpse of figures moving in the shadows—fast and silent, like predators closing in on their prey.

His heart pounded. "Who are they?!"

"Elven hunters," Elara hissed. "And we just walked straight into their territory."

Elves? Lucas barely had time to process that before an arrow grazed his arm, a sharp sting bursting through his skin.

"AH! Okay, okay, I get it! They don't like trespassers!"

Elara grabbed his wrist, dragging him toward a thick wall of trees. "We have to lose them in the mist valley—"

Before she could finish, the ground beneath them suddenly disappeared.

Lucas barely had time to shout before they were falling.

The world spun around him. He crashed into a slope, rolling down through vines and dirt before finally landing with a loud thud on a cold, rocky surface.

His head throbbed. His limbs ached. He groaned, forcing himself to sit up.

Then he froze.

They had fallen into a massive underground ruin.

Tall stone pillars loomed over them, cracked and covered in glowing blue runes. The air was thick with an eerie mist, swirling like ghosts in the dim light.

Elara groaned beside him, rubbing her temple. "Great."

Lucas coughed, wincing as he touched his arm. "Please tell me this isn't a dungeon."

A deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows.

A chill ran down his spine.

Elara sighed, reaching for her dagger. "I could tell you that."

Another growl—closer this time.

She stood up, eyes sharp. "But I'd be lying."

Lucas turned slowly—just in time to see glowing red eyes emerge from the darkness.

Something was watching them.

And it was hungry.