Riddles: Embraced by Retribution (part3)

Chapter 3: "The Haunting Forest"

We had cracked the first riddle, only to discover that it was just a small part of a larger puzzle lying ahead.

The door swung open and out emerged a grotesque creature, contorted and malformed as if it had been trapped inside the room for an eternity and was now relieved to be free.

With a cracking sound, the creature released a breathy huff, its breath forming a visible steam-like vapor. Its presence, locked away for an unknown duration, startled all who laid eyes upon it as it finally found freedom.

The creature, a nightmarish entity, embodies an abhorrent presence.

However, amidst its terrifying nature, there is a peculiar beauty that captivates. With its wings gracefully folded behind its back, the monstrous form possessed an inexplicable allure, captivating and unsettling all at once.

A collective stillness gripped the room as all eyes fixated on the creature. With its bared fangs and eyes ablaze in a fiery red-gold hue, it emitted a menacing snarl, freezing everyone in their tracks.

As if awakening from a trance, the people swiftly turned and fled, their panicked screams piercing the air. The creature, now unbound, stood as a formidable force, seemingly unstoppable in its path.

No escape remained, except for the message hovering above us. It taunted us with a chilling reminder: "Where will you flee? Solve the riddle, for your very life, depends on it."

I couldn't help but feel that the mastermind behind this dreadful place was mocking us at that very moment.

The creature suddenly stood upright, its eyes unexpectedly closing. I couldn't help but wonder if it was waiting for something to happen.

The small porcelain bird in my hand emitted a gentle glow, and to my surprise, the text began to appear on its surface.

'In a dark and spooky forest, a bird lurks silently taking flights. It's been there for days, hidden among the trees and underbrush, watching, listening, and waiting.

It knows every sound, every movement. It's Patient. And it's ready to pounce at night. But why is this bird hiding? The answer, my friend, is watching and waiting with you.'

The answer is quite simple to guess; it's an owl. However, the riddle isn't about identifying the bird itself but rather understanding why it chooses to hide.

“Why do owls hide? Is it to ensure they catch their prey before it escapes, or is it because they fear being caught themselves?”

As soon as I uttered my guess, the surroundings around us transformed in an instant, transporting us to a lush forest setting.

"Perhaps it's suggesting that we should adopt the traits of an owl, either by hunting down that creature or by hiding from it," I voiced my thoughts, although uncertain. The others in the group fixated their gazes on me, displaying a mix of confusion and apprehension.

Realizing the need for clarity, I proceeded to explain the details of the next riddle to them.

"Still think that riddles are stupid and I'm the killer?" I asked them somewhat upset.

The woman with a tattered gown shook her head, while the man beside her scratched his head in frustration. The rest of the group, seemingly tired of the discussion, showed no interest in further debate.

"So...we have to kill that thing? Owls don't hunt monsters like that!" Dylan spoke in exasperation.

"But we aren't owls and neither that monster is going to treat us like one. We just have to act like a natural predator and find a way to kill It." Elena who seemed to regain her mentality spoke to the people. "Isn't that right?" she turned to me and so did everyone else.

That gave me an unpleasant feeling, their gazes filled with distrust, disgust, and discomfort. "I told you what I guessed; your survival isn't my responsibility." I turned my gaze away from them in annoyance.

"We understand that, we just need some guidance. As you can see, many of us don't even know what is going on and why this is all happening at all." Elena pleaded.

"You expect me to know? I'm the same as you, I woke up in this strange place and now I'm stuck with a bunch of idiots." I said the last few words under my breath so that they wouldn't be able to hear it.

"What did you say, you punk." The man who had argued with me a while ago seemed to have been triggered again by a bunch of nonsense that I uttered, ‘How weak…’ I thought.

"Shh be quiet," The woman standing behind him quickly silenced him as they all heard the sound of rustling bushes nearby.

Everyone stood frozen, complete silence surrounding us, their eyes wide with terror, as a person was snatched away in an instant. The creature appeared out of nowhere, seizing its prey and disappearing into the darkness before we could react.

The echoes of the person's screams faded into the distance, followed by a sudden, bone-crunching sound that sent shivers down our spines.

He was devoured.

On the other hand, we found ourselves defenseless and without any means of protection. Forget hunting WE are the ones that need hiding. But where could we seek refuge?

With a sudden gust of wind, another woman was snatched away, her cries echoing through the air before fading into silence. The urgency of the situation was apparent. Action needed to be taken. No, I needed to take action.

A creeping feeling inside me urged me to run, to flee from this perilous situation. In these situations, the first instinct is to “Run…NOW” I screamed for others to move as well.

I swiftly turned away from the group and sprinted with all my might. The sounds of slashing and crushing, mixed with agonizing screams, echoed behind me.

In a moment of bravery, I stole a glance back, and the horrific sight that met my eyes would haunt my nightmares, assuming I survived this ordeal.

The creature savagely seized its prey, tearing them apart with an insidious grin etched on its face. It relished in the act, slowly savoring the blood of its victims. This was its lair, and we were merely helpless prey, trapped in its deadly game.

‘Stupid, why would you look back!’ I scolded myself.

Chills ran down my spine as I leaped across the small lake, desperate to reach the other side. The darkness of night was descending upon us, obscuring our vision and making it difficult to see anything with human eyes.

How is that creature so fast? I mentally cursed at that when it dawned upon me, 'When owls are hunting, they will perch on a branch or in a tree, waiting to swoop down on their unsuspecting prey. Owls are very silent flyers, and they use this to their advantage when hunting.'

As I raced forward, my mind raced alongside, contemplating the riddle incessantly. ‘So that creature is truly the 'owl'... But how can I stop it? Should I hide and wait for the morning or try to kill it? Neither option seems feasible, so the only way forward is to solve the riddle, right?’ The words echoed in my thoughts as I pushed myself harder, determined to find the solution amidst the chaos.

'It's watching and waiting with me? What could “It” be?'

Exhausted and gasping for breath, I fixated my gaze on the surrounding trees, realizing the urgency of avoiding them at all costs. Regret washed over me as I acknowledged my mistake. "Damnit... I should have followed that river! I need to go back," I muttered to myself, pushing through the fatigue and retracing my steps, determined to correct my course.

An eerie silence engulfed the surroundings as I reached the river's edge. Its steady flow seemed endless, and the trees lining its banks stood at a safe distance of at least 10 feet apart. The tranquility of the scene belied the lurking danger that waited in the darkness.

I regulated my breath, relieved that I hadn't ventured too far from the river. The path ahead was undeniably perilous, requiring caution and calculated movements.

A shiver ran down my spine as an eerie presence enveloped me. I scanned the distant trees, but they stood silently, revealing no source of the unsettling feeling. With only faint moonlight outside the forest, my visibility was compromised, leaving me at a distinct disadvantage.

With cautious steps, I pressed forward, my hopes pinned on the belief that the creature had not pursued me. I maintained a steady pace, striving to stay as quiet as possible, all while making my way toward the gentle flow of the river ahead.

As the night grew darker and the air chilled, my breath became visible in the moonlight. Drawing nearer to the end of the river, a sound reached my ears. It was not a menacing noise, but rather the comforting rushes and gurgles of water flowing freely.

Arriving at the waterfall, a shiver ran through my body as I stood amidst the cold, mist-filled air. Water droplets danced and collided with the rugged stones, creating a symphony of splashes and crashes.

Amidst the roaring waterfall, a cold puff escaped my lips as I felt a sudden impact, knocking me off balance, "You! Why are you still alive?" It was the same woman, the one who engaged in arguments and accused me.

Her presence surprised me, as I couldn't hear her footsteps amidst the deafening noise of the cascading water. The inability to clearly perceive approaching sounds posed a problem.

"So are you, I ran away as others were busy dying. Didn't you do the same?" I said cold words as icy as my breath.

In reality, people aren't foolish enough to risk their lives for strangers. They aren't as heroic as the stories make them out to be.

"You heartless jerk." She hissed before continuing, “How do we get out of this?" She gripped the collar of my gown, her breath trembling. I couldn't help but notice the increased number of cuts and bruises on her.

But before we could come to any conclusion, a man's agonized hiss echoed behind us.

My eyes widened as I turned to see him, his abdomen torn open, revealing the gruesome sight beneath. Blood gushed out, staining his clothes and the ground around him. The horror of the scene froze us in place, unable to comprehend the brutality of the situation.

He was smiling crookedly, "Hahaha If I'm going to die… then you won’t live either!" the man seemingly tried to launch himself onto the woman who had been his side all this time.

A deafening screech pierced through the air, originating from deep within the forest. The sound sent chills down our spines, filling the surrounding silence with an eerie sense of dread.

The trees rustled violently, branches snapping and twigs crackling under the weight of something massive. Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed through the woods as an unknown entity landed amidst the dense foliage. Time seemed to stand still for a brief moment as if the entire world held its breath in anticipation of what would come next.

Even though owls can't sniff out their prey or smell blood they have a keen eye on the movements of their prey and will chase them to the end of hell.

Panic gripped my chest as realization dawned upon me. The creature had found its way to us, brought forth by the man's ill-fated presence. I scanned my surroundings frantically, my heart pounding in my ears.

Desperation surged through my veins as I realized I had nothing to defend myself with. Fear crept up my spine, threatening to paralyze me in the face of impending danger.

A glimmer of hope sparked within me as I noticed the porcelain bird in my hand, its soft glow intensifying. It seemed to be reacting to the imminent danger, emitting a radiant shimmer that caught my attention. Could it hold the key to our survival? I clutched it tightly, feeling a surge of energy and determination coursing through me.

Throughout the relentless sprint, I held onto it tightly, never once letting it slip from my grasp. My hands, now red and bruised, bore the marks of my desperate determination.

The pain mingled with the biting cold that consumed my body, becoming an indistinguishable sensation of anguish. But I endured, refusing to let go.

Could it hold the key to our survival?

I looked at it and I remembered,

'The answer is watching and waiting with you.'

In a sudden revelation, it dawned on me that the solution wasn't about us hiding or fighting back. Instead, we needed to compel that creature to hide, retreat and cease its pursuit.

And then it clicked—the answer lay in the nature of owls. They startle at bright light.

The creature descended silently, closing in on its previous target. It snatched his legs with its beak-like mouth. However, the man, fueled by his stubbornness, clung desperately to bushes and then to the stalks of trees, forcing the creature to unleash a cacophony of yells and screams, attempting to frighten him into releasing his grip.

With a forceful tug, the creature compelled him to let go, growing weary of their struggle. In a sudden, violent motion, it lifted his body, tearing him apart at the waist with a sickening snap.

As the creature savored its gruesome meal, its eyes locked onto us, a wicked gleam in its gaze. We were now trapped in its terrifying space with no escape in sight.

It had found a new source of entertainment, and we were its next target.

With the creature lurking between the trees and the river, we found ourselves exposed and vulnerable. Its claws were ready to strike, and we had nowhere to hide from its imminent attack.

Venturing out into the open was a risky decision, but remaining within the confines of the forest offered no better outcome. Whether we stayed hidden or exposed ourselves, the fate of being devoured by the creature seemed inevitable.

As the creature crouched down, preparing to pounce, a sense of panic consumed the woman beside me.

In her desperation, sinister envy and hatred filled the woman's voice.

She shouted at me with a mix of despair and resentment, "You have survived before, you will live again, but I won't! You always find a way out while others are left to perish!" With those spiteful words, she forcefully pushed me over the edge of the waterfall, sentencing me to an uncertain fate.

In a strange turn of events, as the woman's envious words echoed in the air, the creature unexpectedly turned its attention away from her and focused on me. It swiftly lunged towards me as I plummeted towards my potential demise, its claws reaching out to snatch me from the air.

The creature's sudden change in target left me bewildered and filled with a mix of fear and curiosity.

As I descended rapidly, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. It seemed fate had brought me back to a similar situation, but this time, the stakes were even higher.

Instead of a peaceful landing in the water, I was hurtling towards a terrifying fate, accompanied by a relentless monster closing in on me with lethal intent. The rush of wind filled my ears as I braced myself for the imminent clash between my fragile existence and the impending danger.

Gripping the porcelain bird tightly, I mustered every ounce of courage and faith. With closed eyes, I extended my hand towards the approaching creature, guided by an inexplicable intuition.

In an instant, the bird made contact with the creature's outstretched finger, unleashing a brilliant burst of radiant light that engulfed the surroundings.

As the blinding light enveloped everything, my senses were overwhelmed, and I teetered on the edge of consciousness. In those fleeting moments, a surreal sight unfolded before me.

Through the haze of fading awareness, I caught a glimpse of a magnificent rainbow arching gracefully over the cascading waterfall, casting vibrant hues across the misty air.

It was a breathtaking spectacle, a fleeting beauty amidst the chaos, etching itself into my mind before darkness claimed me.

Big splash!

The woman who had miraculously survived let out a bitter laugh, convinced that the creature had followed me over the edge. However, her triumphant moment was short-lived, as a blinding white light engulfed her surroundings, leaving her disoriented and bewildered.

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, she found herself back where it all began, standing amidst the familiar surroundings, yet filled with a profound sense of unease.

Once again, standing in the same white expanse, surrounded by the presence of five doors.

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