novelzi Chapter 143: What is that?
Chapter 143: What is that?
The forest was a world of twisted shadows and tangled branches. The air was thick with damp earth and the faint scent of decay.
Raindrops clung stubbornly to the leaves above, dripping in uneven rhythms that seemed louder than they should have been.
The ground was a slick mess of mud, half-rotted leaves, and broken twigs, making every step treacherous.
Mist slithered through the trees, curling like ghostly fingers around trunks and stones.
The air was cold enough to bite, yet somehow still heavy, pressing down on their tired bodies like a weight they couldn’t shake. Athena’s sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
The forest was eerily quiet, no birds, no insects, only the unsettling sound of distant footsteps, dragging heavily across the earth. Whatever it was, it wasn’t human.
"Climb," Athena whispered, her voice barely audible.
Lisa’s eyes widened, but she obeyed, grabbing the nearest sturdy branch and pulling herself up.
Darren followed, his muscles strained from exhaustion, but he pushed himself upward without complaint.
Marco hesitated, clutching his side, his ribs still ached from his earlier fall, but Athena gave him a firm look, and he forced himself to climb.
Athena moved last, scaling the tree swiftly and silently, her body moving with an ease she didn’t understand but instinctively trusted.
She reached the others, who were huddled closely on the thick branches above.
"Cover yourselves," she instructed quietly. They reached for the dirtproof blankets they had carried from the camp, rough-textured and cold against their skin.
Athena spread hers across her body and face, leaving just enough space for her to see.
"Close your eyes," she told them firmly. "Don’t move, no matter what."
"But..." Lisa started, her voice trembling.
"Don’t," Athena cut her off. "Trust me."
They obeyed, pulling their blankets over their heads and squeezing their eyes shut. Athena, however, kept hers wide open.
The footsteps grew louder, closer, a slow, deliberate pace like something dragging itself forward. A dark figure emerged from the mist.
The creature was massive, its twisted frame towering nearly twice as tall as a man.
Its body was caked in dried mud and streaked with blood, some old, some fresh. Its skin appeared cracked and hardened, like stone scorched by fire.
Crimson eyes glowed fiercely beneath a tangled mess of hair, their sharp gaze scanning the forest floor.
Its chest rose and fell heavily, with a guttural wheeze that seemed to rattle in its throat.
Athena’s heart pounded painfully in her chest. The creature’s enormous hands twitched with each step, fingers tipped with jagged, claw-like nails.
The others didn’t question her. They huddled together beneath their blankets, their bodies stiff with cold.
In the darkness, Athena remained awake, gripping her spear tightly. The faint sound of distant howls drifted through the trees. Wolves. Or something worse.
The next morning brought more misery. Marco’s ankle had swollen overnight, turning an angry shade of purple. He could barely walk, forcing Darren to support him.
The forest seemed to close in tighter as they moved. The trees grew twisted and gnarled, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching for them.
Suddenly, Athena stopped. Her eyes locked on the ground, a series of footprints, fresh and deep in the mud. They weren’t alone.
"Stay quiet," Athena warned, her voice barely above a whisper.
They moved slower now, each step measured and silent. The footprints veered off into the trees, but Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that something, or someone, was watching.
Hours later, they reached the edge of a rocky hill. A faint glow flickered in the distance.
"Do you see that?" Lisa whispered. Your journey continues at novelhall.Côm
Athena narrowed her eyes. "A fire."
"Could it be the crew?" Darren asked hopefully. "There were three crew teams in different locations, hidden from us."
"Or something worse," Athena muttered.
They approached carefully. As they drew closer, the faint scent of cooked meat filled the air. The fire crackled beneath a makeshift tent.
Athena’s heart leapt when she spotted two familiar faces, crew members.
"They’re alive," Darren whispered in relief.
But Athena’s relief was short-lived. Something was wrong. The crew members were pale, their expressions blank as they sat motionless by the fire.
Then, as Athena stepped closer, she realized, they weren’t breathing.
The crew’s bodies had been propped upright, their eyes glassy and unfocused. The smell of cooked meat was stronger now, and Athena knew it wasn’t from an animal.
"Back away," she ordered sharply, her voice low. "Now."
Before they could retreat, footsteps echoed from the trees.
Dark figures emerged, their faces twisted with hunger and madness. The tribe had followed them, and they weren’t finished yet.
"Run!" Athena shouted.
They bolted into the trees, adrenaline surging through their veins. The footsteps followed, heavy and fast.
Athena clenched her teeth. If they wanted to survive, they’d have to fight.