"What the hell?! It hasn't even been ten hours since I entered the academy, and here I am… outside the barrier, all thanks to my glorious stupidity!"
Asper, what possessed your brain to land you here?!
I cursed myself inwardly as I tried not to trip over the hidden stones tangled in the grass beneath my feet. My feet that barely touched the ground from how fast I was running.
Why is that creature so fast?! It can't just be the long legs, no way. And yet, in this moment of sheer panic and survival, a part of me genuinely wanted to dissect the thing just to figure out what advantage it had that I didn't.
There's a magical barrier meant to protect the academy from the creatures outside. I didn't know my feet would cross it. I didn't know that one wrong step would throw me straight into this nightmare.
I was just exploring the academy's edge, childish curiosity, nothing more. But now… now I'm running for my life.
The air is cold. The smell is rancid. Something is chasing me on all fours, its speed unnatural. Its footsteps devour the distance between us.
I don't dare to look back. Every part of me is focused on escape, and the dim moonlight, which could vanish behind the clouds at any moment, is the only thing lighting my path.
My heart is pounding, a thunder in my ears. For a second, I felt helpless. But I couldn't give in.
I ran with everything I had, every muscle screaming, every breath sharp. And still, that thing was gaining.
I knew that if itcaught me, there would be no escape. I could hear its heavy footsteps behind me, feel it drawing closer, closer with every heartbeat. Through the tangled trees, I saw my chance: a thick trunk, sturdy branches, my way out.
I held my breath, bracing for the jump. But then...
Something flashed in the air.
Its claws, sharp and fast, lunged toward me. I barely managed to twist to the side, but I felt it. Felt the edge of one claw tear through my jacket sleeve the sharp rip of fabric, felt the claw graze my skin without cutting deep.
I didn't think. I didn't hesitate. I jumped with everything I had.
I grabbed the nearest branch and pulled myself up. My limbs screamed in exhaustion, but I climbed. And it didn't catch me.
Now I was there, hidden in the leaves, out of sight. It stood below, scanning the trees with its black, glassy eyes.
Finally... I could breathe.
I watched in silence. Its skin was slick, pitch-black, almost oily. Its limbs were long and twisted, unnaturally jointed.
Then it stopped. It turned its head slowly, searching.
And then... a sound.
I looked down. My phone. Shit No!
It must've slipped from my pocket earlier, and now it lay glowing in the grass, blaring some stupid alert, drawing the creature's attention like a beacon.
I saw it tilt its head, creeping toward it with cautious steps, unsure what to make of the little blinking object.
This was my chance.
Calmly, I reached for my magical pendant,
shaped like a sword and hanging around my neck and it transformed in my hands into a real blade.
My grip tightened, my eyes locked on his slender neck. One decisive step, a swift fall, a clean strike, and his head would drop before he even realized it.
I leapt.
But… he was faster than I thought.
He moved the moment he sensed danger. I raised my sword to deliver the blow, but he twisted his body in an unnatural way, as if he had predicted the attack.
Still, he wasn't fast enough.
The blade sliced through the air but didn't hit his neck as I intended.
Instead, I severed his entire right arm. Black blood burst out like a fountain, and his scream tore through the forest.
I didn't wait. I didn't think. I didn't even look to see if he would strike back.
I ran.
I ran without thought, without awareness, without direction.
I ran swiftly, leaping between the trees and dodging the sharp rocks and scattered branches.
The sound was fading behind me, and with every step, I felt freedom drawing closer.
After a long stretch of running, the noise grew more distant, and I knew I had made it.
I didn't stop until the air finally filled my lungs again. I was breathing heavily, hands on my knees, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Then… I felt it.
A gaze.
Not from the beast… but from someone else.
Someone was watching me.
I kept running until my legs began to give out, until the air in my lungs burned like embers, until the trees around me became nothing more than fading shadows behind me.
I didn't know if the monster was still chasing me or not, but I didn't stop.
I didn't dare.
Finally, I saw the magical barrier ahead, the line between life and death.
The remnants of moonlight shimmered on its transparent surface, glowing faintly with hidden threads of magic.
I surged toward it, my whole body screaming for rest. And when I crossed it... I felt it.
It was like passing through a wall of warm water. The energy of the barrier echoed in my bones, and the air around me trembled for a moment before settling.
I was safe.
My feet slipped on the grass and I collapsed to my knees, my breath coming in gasps.
My heart still pounded wildly in my chest, refusing to believe I had survived.
I looked behind me…
Through the darkness, I saw the creature standing just beyond the barrier.
Its eye black, deep as an abyss... was fixed on me.
It was angry… but it wasn't alone.
A chill ran down my spine.
Someone else was there. I couldn't see them clearly, but I knew, they were watching.
I swallowed hard and stood up quickly. I couldn't stay here any longer.
I wasn't supposed to.
I turned and ran toward the dorms before my knees could give out again.
When I entered the building, everything was quiet.
It was past midnight, and most of the students were asleep.
I pushed the door open gently, slipping inside.
The faint light coming from the window barely lit the room, but I didn't need it.
I could remember every corner of this room.
I tried to step silently toward my bed, but the floor creaked beneath my feet.
Sia stirred in her bed, and then I heard her sleepy voice:
"Asper?"
I froze.
Damn it.
"Where were you?" she asked, lifting her head slightly.
Her eyes were half-open, but when she saw the state I was in, they widened instantly.
"Asper?! Your clothes! What happened?!"
In a flash, she got out of bed and turned on the small lamp beside her.
The warm orange light revealed the mess I was in, my disheveled hair, my pale face, the torn sleeve of my jacket, and the fear still lingering in my eyes.
I didn't answer right away. I just sat on my bed and took a trembling breath.
She came closer and sat beside me, her hands resting on my shoulders.
"Asper, talk to me. What happened?"
Her voice was worried, but steady.
I swallowed hard, then whispered,
"I went beyond the barrier."
She furrowed her brows, whispering in alarm, "What? How?"
I looked at her and whispered, barely getting the words out:
"There was a monster… and I don't think it was alone."
She didn't say anything for a moment.
She just stared at me, then took a deep breath and said softly,
"Tell me… everything."
And so, I did.
I told her… everything.