In a burst of rage, he struck the tree with his claws. The sharp metal sank deep into the wood, piercing slightly through the opposite side of the trunk. For a moment, he stood there, breathing heavily, savoring the satisfying resistance. Then he yanked the claws back, leaving large holes in the ancient bark.
Frustration spread across Ranjir's face as he stared at the holes for a while. Then, muttering angrily, he began walking again.
"Come out already."
On the other side of the tree, Aryan was pressed tightly against the rough bark. He had his hand over his mouth to muffle his breathing, while his other hand trembled as it gripped the sword. The razor-sharp edge of his pursuer's claw had missed his hair by a breath.
Had the man struck even slightly lower… Aryan's life would've ended right there—pinned to the wood like prey. His heart pounded furiously as he fought to remain still, feeling the weight of death looming just inches away while the sound of the man's footsteps faded into the depths of the jungle.
As Ranjir moved on, Aryan dared to peek out from behind the ancient tree. He scanned the dense foliage and shadows, but Ranjir was nowhere in sight. Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Aryan took a cautious step back. Every muscle in his body was tense, his movements slow and deliberate, taking care not to make even the faintest rustle beneath his feet.
'I can't keep running forever. I need to find a way out of this jungle, away from him.'
Moving as quietly as he could, Aryan began making my way in what he hoped was the opposite direction from Ranjir. The jungle seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, but there had to be something—a clearing, a path, anything that might offer sanctuary or escape.
Aryan had barely taken a dozen steps when something echoed though the trees.
The snap of a branch underfoot his own foot.
"Found you!" Ranjir's voice erupted from somewhere behind him, filled with savage joy.
'Oops'
Without a second thought, Aryan turned and bolted—racing through the trees, his pulse pounding in his ears. Branches scraped against his arms, and as he pushed through the thick forest, it felt like the ground was shifting beneath him. Behind him, Ranjir was closing in fast, claws gleaming in the dim light. He lunged forward, nearly grazing Aryan's back.
On instinct, Aryan swung his sword over his shoulder. The sharp clang of metal rang out as the blade deflected Ranjir's claw just in time. The impact sent Aryan stumbling, but he quickly regained his balance, adrenaline surging through his veins, fueling his steps.
What saved him next was his natural agility. Darting through tight clusters of trees, he leapt over thick roots and slipped beneath hanging branches with practiced ease. His movements weren't flawless, but each quick step bought him another precious second.
Behind him, Ranjir barreled through the forest with brute strength, tearing through bushes and slashing down vines in his path. But his raw power couldn't match Aryan's nimbleness. Aryan turned sharply, leapt into a narrow passage between the trees, and glanced back—just long enough to see the frustration furrowing Ranjir's brow.
Then came the opportunity—and Aryan seized it.
He vaulted over a fallen tree, clearing a small gap that widened the distance between them. He ran faster, fear and determination blending into one blinding rush.
Then, through the oppressive canopy ahead, Aryan saw something that made his heart leap.
'The light'
Real light, not the filtered green glow that pervaded the jungle floor, but the warm, golden glow of evening light streaming through what looked like an opening in the dense foliage.
He crashed toward it with renewed desperation, branches snapping under his feet as he fought his way through the undergrowth. The golden light grew brighter, and with it came a sound that made him pause for just a moment—the distant rumble of rushing water, growing louder with each step.
'River?'
The undergrowth suddenly gave way, and Aryan burst through the opening like a man emerging from a nightmare. He stumbled forward, then stopped dead, his breath catching in his throat.
He stood on a small hill. Before him stretched a vista so vast and beautiful it seemed impossible—endless green canopy rolling away into the distance like a living ocean, broken only by the towering spires of snow-capped mountains that rose against the evening sky, their peaks painted in shades of gold and amber by the setting sun.
To his right, at some distance, a massive waterfall cascaded down a sheer cliff face, its roar now clearly audible in the cool air. The water caught the dying light like liquid fire, creating prismatic displays in the mist that rose from its base.
But it was what lay below that made Aryan's stomach lurch. The hill dropping down sharply, disappearing into a thick blanket of fog that obscured whatever lay at the bottom. The mist rolled and shifted like a living thing, but no matter how he strained his eyes, he couldn't see through it.
The sound of crashing undergrowth behind him made Aryan's heart sink. He'd barely had a moment to process the breathtaking vista before him when Ranjir's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Quit beautiful, isn't it?" Ranjir emerged from the jungle opening, his claws glinting in the golden light. Despite the chase, his breathing was steady, controlled—like a predator that had finally cornered its prey.
"Almost makes you forget we're in hell."
Aryan tightened his grip on his sword, taking a careful step back toward the cliff's edge. The fog below swirled ominously, and he could feel the cool breeze pulling at his clothes. "Stay back, Ranjir. I'm warning you—there's nowhere left to run."
"Exactly my point." Ranjir's smile was cold, calculating. He began to circle slowly, like a shark sensing blood in the water. "No more running, no more hiding. Just you, me, and the truth."
"This doesn't have to happen," Aryan pleaded, his voice carrying a desperate edge. "We don't have to be slaves to those voices. We can work together—find the others, figure out what's really going on here. There has to be a reason we're all here, some purpose beyond just... this."
Ranjir's laugh was harsh, bitter. "Listen to yourself. Still clinging to hope like a drowning man clinging to driftwood." His eyes narrowed with contempt. "You're naive, Aryan. Willfully ignorant. Whoever brought us here—whatever brought us here—wants only one thing: entertainment. They want to watch us tear each other apart like animals in an arena."
"We're not animals," Aryan shot back, his voice rising with conviction.
"We're human beings. It's human nature to adapt, to survive through cooperation, not just violence. We can figure this out if we work together."
The word 'human' seemed to strike Ranjir like a physical blow. His face contorted with rage, and for a moment, the mask of cold calculation slipped entirely.
"Human? are you fucking with me?" he snarled.
"You want to talk about human nature? Humans have slaughtered millions to satisfy their egos, their greed, their petty tribal hatreds. They've turned entire continents into graveyards and called it progress? They'll destroy anything and anyone to get what they want—and they never, ever back down from a fight."
For a moment, Aryan saw a speck of sorrow in his eyes which Ranjir immediately suppressed.
He took another step closer, and Aryan could see the madness burning in his eyes—not the wild, chaotic madness of insanity, but the cold, purposeful madness of someone who had looked into the abyss and decided to embrace it.
"No one is coming to save you, Aryan," Ranjir continued, his voice dropping to a whisper that somehow carried more menace than any shout. "Everyone here was sent with one purpose—to kill or be killed. That's the only rule that matters. The only rule that's ever mattered."
Aryan felt the ground shifting slightly under his feet—loose stones skittering over the cliff's edge and disappearing into the fog below. He was running out of space, out of time, out of options. But he couldn't give up. Not yet.
"What if that's exactly what they want?"
For a moment Ranjir's steps stopped.Seeing maybe this can work, His voice gained strength as the idea formed.
"What if the hidden forces behind this are counting on us to follow their script? What if there are other ways to fight back—ways that don't involve becoming monsters? What if we could—"
"What if, what if, what the fuck if!" Ranjir exploded, his composure finally cracking completely.
"What if the sky falls? What if the dead rise? What if the curse descends? What if unicorns come prancing through that jungle to save us all?" His voice dripped with venom.
"You sound like a child making wishes on shooting stars."
He raised his claws, the metal catching the last rays of sunlight like drops of liquid fire. "I'm tired of your pathetic philosophizing. You want to cling to your humanity? Fine. Die human. Die noble. Die stupid." His voice became almost gentle, which somehow made it infinitely more terrifying.
"I'm giving you one last chance, Aryan. One final mercy. Kneel down, close your eyes, and I'll make it quick. Peaceful. No more pain, no more fear, no more impossible choices."