Vedant and his family began their day with a morning trip to a serene beach. The cool, quiet breeze was a welcome contrast to the bustling crowds of the afternoon. As far as his eyes could see, the crystal-clear water stretched out, and Vedant was lost in the moment, filled with pure joy.
His sister built a magnificent sandcastle, which he promptly destroyed with a stick, declaring, "I'm the mighty swordsman who will bring peace!" His triumph was short-lived, however, as his father gave him a stern scolding for his actions.
The beach was a long drive from their hotel, and by the time they returned in the evening, they were all exhausted. Despite the day's events—the playful fighting, the crying, and the scolding—it was a vacation well spent. Vedant decided to work on his project, a travelogue he titled "The Beauty of Brazil."
Past 9 p.m., the evening took a turn. His mother suddenly fell ill with a severe stomachache. As her condition worsened, his father and sister had to rush her to the hospital, a journey of over an hour. "I'm taking your sister with me," his father said. "You stay here. It's going to be a while. Eat dinner and work on your project, and don't wander off or get lost in your phone."
Left alone, Vedant's curiosity took over. "What if I explored this place?" he thought. "Maybe I'll find an ancient treasure or a new species of plant or animal." He began to roam the hotel's hallways. Soon, he came across a room with an unusually ornate door that looked like the entrance to a long-lost kingdom. He pushed it open, and a quiet creak echoed through the empty hall.
The room inside was simple, painted a plain green. In the center, a display case held a simple iron katana. When Vedant saw the "Staff Only" sign, he quickly backed out, closing the door and pretending as if nothing had happened. He returned to his room and started playing video games, his favorite hobby.
He was still playing well after midnight when a strange noise from the reception area caught his attention. Driven by his unyielding curiosity, he went to investigate. When he reached the lobby, the sight that greeted him was horrifying. He froze, terrified, as a blood-covered creature—a monster, perhaps?—devoured the receptionist. The strange sounds he'd heard were the monster feeding.
Vedant quickly turned to flee, his heart pounding. The monster saw him, but he was fast enough, driven by a primal need to survive. Was it courage or cowardice that made him run? He sprinted back to his room and locked the door. Peeking out the window, he saw the creature more clearly. It looked just like a tapir, a gentle, common animal found in Brazil that typically feeds on ants. But this one was feasting on human flesh.
Vedant knew he couldn't just run. The hotel was already deep within the forest, so escape wasn't an option. He had to fight. "I'm strong enough to handle this," he told himself. "I'll take the katana for protection and call the rangers."
He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed the local ranger station. "Hello, I'm Ron, a local ranger. How may I assist you?" a calm voice answered.
"H-help... tapirs are killing and eating people!" Vedant stammered, terrified but quick-thinking enough to share his live location. The network was surprisingly good, a small stroke of luck.
"Please hide somewhere and protect yourself. We'll be there shortly," the ranger said.
"Please do," Vedant replied before the call ended.
Taking a deep breath, Vedant opened his door and sprinted toward the room with the katana. He moved cautiously, stepping over bloodstains on the floor outside the room but finding the inside clear. He carefully lifted the glass case and took out the katana. It was a perfect fit for his hands. He tried to slash a nearby table. His first attempt was a clumsy failure—he had only ever seen katanas in movies. But on his second try, he found the right technique, holding the blade straight and swinging with maximum speed. The katana sliced through the wood with surprising ease. "Is this table harder than those monsters?" he wondered aloud.
He left the room to check if anyone else had survived. The other hotel guests seemed to be gone, but the bodies of the staff lay scattered, surrounded by blood. His hands and body trembled with fear, but he pushed onward. As he reached the ground floor, he came face-to-face with one of the monstrous tapirs, and he knew he had no choice but to fight.