Megan pov
The first thing I registered when I came too wasn't the cold, it was the smell, pine and damp cedar. Something that took time to register. The scent almost lulled my fuzzy brain back to sleep before a tug at my arm dragged me back.
And then cold set in. It felt different from usual. Sure the dorm could get cold sometimes but this was a wet kind of cold. The kind that happened during a hot summer and the stubborn blanket refuses to move, no matter how many times you kick at it.
The tug came again, itchy this time as if something was crawling on it. My left hand was already moving before I could give it orders, having annoying roommates does that to a person. I swatted at empty air but atleast the feeling disappeared.
I blinked my eyes open and was quick to regret it. That momentary bright flash brought along with it an aggressive headache.
" …okay," I mumbled, " This is officially my worst morning."
I opened my eyes again, slower this time and was greeted by the wonderful sight of green.
Green above me. Green around me. Tall trees, chaotic fractals of pine and leaves and harsh daylight peeking through the canopy.
" The fuck ….?" My mind supplied.
It took a moment to realise that yes, this is real and not some convoluted dream.
My jersey and hair felt soaked. I tried to sit up slowly as my brain took a minute to boot up, but my right arm felt strangely heavy.
There, a mass of shifting ink black feathers lay perched like it owned the place. The little bird's head turned to my direction and its beady, unblinking eyes stared up at me curiously. We stared at each for what felt like eternity before I gave in and gave it a smile, trying to find a silver lining in whatever this was.
"Hey, would you mind moving little guy? Or chick, I can't tell," I whispered.
I expected it to fly away like any other bird. Instead, it tilted its head staring at me with a clinical curiosity of sorts. It was almost cute. I figured it wanted a cracker or something.
"I got nothing." I said.
Then I tried to move my arm but the bird didn't budge. It instead tightened its grip on my sleeve.
" Okay, its either you move or I'm making you move?"
The bird didn't move at first, it leaned and clamped its beak onto the meat of my arm.
Not with a playful nip. A full‑on, I'm taking this to-go bite.
I didn't scream. Atleast not at first. I just watched in a state of suspended logic and curiosity as it twisted its head with a sharp, mechanical jerk. A hot, electric jolt of agony snapped through my nerves as the bird tore away a ragged strip of my skin.
"Son of a…." I yelped, flailing, and the bird fluttered back.
I scrambled back, my boots slipping on the slick leaves. The bird didn't fly far. It landed on a low-hanging branch three feet away, swallowed the piece of me with a visible gulp, and let out a sharp, indignant squeak.
" You fucking bitch!" I snapped, clutching at my arm. "…you took a piece," I said, staring at it. "You….. Wow. Okay. ..Just.... That's new."
The bird squeaked again, louder this time, as if to say, You're disturbing my meal, human.
" Oh, go fuck yourself," I hissed.
The bird stayed put, ruffling its feathers and chirping again.
"What, you're mad?" I laughed, a little hysterical now. "You're mad your breakfast fought back?"
"Let me tell you something you insignificant piece of – " I paused.
"….And I'm arguing with a bird.
Unbelievable," I muttered, shaking my head. I took a deep breath, forcing my face into a stiff, practiced smile.
Happy thoughts. Think happy thoughts.
I pressed my sleeve against the wound, wincing. It stung, but it wasn't deep. It was still gross though. Very gross.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. The screen was cracked, but it buzzed to life.
No Service.
"Of course, you don't." I muttered. " Perfect just perfect. Lost in the woods, bleeding, and my phone thinks it's on vacation. …Fuck!"
I looked around. To the left, more trees. To the right, an incline of jagged rocks. I stood up slowly, legs wobbling. The world steadied after a second. The bird was still there, watching me like it's waiting for round two.
"Don't," I warned it. "I will eat you back"
It squeaked as if telling me go ahead. I backed away. Not in fear of course.
"Right. Okay. Silver lining," I said, forcing brightness into my voice. "I'm alive. I have my phone. I am not currently being chased by anything with antlers or teeth."
I started walking, my legs heavy and uncoordinated, trying to find a landmark, a trail, or even a discarded granola bar wrapper. My arm throbbed in time with my pulse, but I kept my eyes wide, searching for the "silver lining."
Maybe there was a road just over the ridge?Maybe this was just a very not funny prank?
Maybe Bee is doing this to get back at me? We were planning an outdoor trip for the coming summer. So, maybe I'm getting the first class experience?
Or maybe I'm-
" Nope! Not going that rabbit hole," I mentioned to no one in particular. " Just keep walking Me. One foot in front of the other. You're fine, okay?"
I pushed through a dense thicket of ferns, the wet fronds slapping against my jeans, and suddenly the trees gave way.
I stepped into a wide, silent clearing. There were no roads. No power lines. Just an endless, undulating sea of green stretching toward a horizon that looked far too distant.
The smile on my face felt like it was held up by failing structural steel. I stopped, breathing hard, and whispered, "I might actually be lost."
I stood in the clearing just waiting for something to happen. Anything.
But nothing did.
"…okay," I said, quieter this time, like lowering my volume will somehow make reality less aggressive. "Lost is…temporary. Lost is a state of mind."
A familiar and unwanted voice, bright and relentless, echoed in my head: There's always a positive angle, baby.
"Yes," I muttered. "The positive angle is I haven't been eaten yet."
Then, my phone suddenly buzzed in my hand. I flinched, hard. Almost dropping it.
"…Okay…. Deep breaths" I mentioned while trying to calm my racing heart. The screen light up, bright against the dim green of the forest.
No signal. Still no signal.
But there was a notification. I frowned as opened my phone.
"That's…not how that works," I said slowly.
I didn't open it. Not immediately. I just stared at the icon. The app icon was something I didn't recognize but familiar. Black background. White text. But with what I read next my stomach dropped.
H.E.L.P
With this one word everything came back to me. The stupid movie. Annoying my friend. And this …app?
Could it have?
No
But–
No
How else could you–
" I said, No!" I hissed. " There's no fucking way. It's impossible!"
The phone buzzed again. The notification expanded on its own.
[ Thank you for using H.E.L.P. ]
My throat suddenly felt dry. I started backing up, ready to throw the phone and run. The message continued, typing itself out in real time.
[ We at H.E.L.P appreciate your application and unwillingness to participate, Number 1: Reader.]
Something cold slid down my spine as I saw the text. The air grew heavier almost pressing against my chest.
The text then shifted again:
[ Participant 1 of 7]
The words shifted once more. Then numbers. No names. No pictures. Just numbers 1 to 7. The number one flickered faintly. Then:
[ Status: Active.
We hope you can survive this joyful experience. If you manage to, you may or may not be rewarded.
And finally, PLEASE STAY WITHIN YOUR NARRATIVE. Failure to do so will lead to punishment.]
I stared at the screen for moment longer reading the text. The screen flickered twice. Before returning to darkness.
I stood there, breathing way too fast, staring at my own reflection faintly visible in the glass. Wide eyes. Dirt on my cheek. Hair a mess.
"Okay," I said again after a long moment. "So, kidnapping or a… isekai?"
The edges of my vision felt blurred.
The clearing tilted, just slightly at first, like the world was testing the idea of falling over. The trees stretched too tall, the horizon too far. My breath came quicker, shallower.
" I'm going to be fine right?" I whispered.
My knees didn't agree.
They buckled, just enough to send a jolt of panic through me. I caught myself, barely, one hand bracing against nothing.
"I'm going to be fine," I whispered, though my voice had gone thin and distant, like it was coming from somewhere behind me. "Right?"
I got no answer. Just the hard thumping of my heart trying to jump out my chest.
My legs gave out properly this time.
I hit the ground hard, the impact dull and far away. The damp earth soaked through my clothes instantly, cold biting into my skin but it felt muted now. Everything did.
The trees above me blurred into streaks of green and light.
Then everything went dark.