Into the Depths

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting streaks of golden light that danced across the forest floor. The rabbit-like creature darted ahead, hopping at full speed, its movements erratic and unpredictable.

Ezra followed closely, his breath coming in short bursts as he struggled to keep up. His boots crunched against the scattered leaves, and he winced, trying to tread more lightly.

The rest of the monsters had vanished into the shadows of the forest, leaving an eerie stillness in their wake. Only the faint rustling of leaves and the soft thumps of the rabbit's hurried hops broke the silence. Ezra's eyes remained locked on the small creature as he wove through the towering trees, trying to stay close without drawing attention to himself.

"Damn, you're fast for something that small," Ezra muttered under his breath, his lips curving into a faint smirk despite the strain of the chase.

Ezra's sharp eyes caught a peculiar pattern in the rabbit's movements. It wasn't just darting ahead aimlessly—it was deliberately sticking to the shadows, leaping from one dark patch to the next, avoiding the sunlight entirely.

Each time the rabbit came close to a sliver of light breaking through the canopy, it hesitated, twitching its long ears nervously before darting back into the safety of the darkness.

The shadows, however, were shrinking. With each passing moment, the sun climbed higher, its rays piercing through the forest in ever-widening beams. Ezra frowned as he realized what was happening. The creature's frantic pace wasn't just about urgency—it was desperation.

"So, you don't like the light, huh?" Ezra murmured, his voice low as he observed its behavior. He slowed his steps, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. The sun was relentless, and soon, the creature would have nowhere left to hide.

The creature skidded to a halt in front of what appeared to be a cave. Ezra squinted, his sharp lavender eyes scanning the area.

The entrance was almost invisible, hidden beneath a thick curtain of trees and vines that blended seamlessly with the forest. If he hadn't been following the rabbit, he would have walked right past it without ever noticing.

The rabbit hesitated at the edge of the shrinking shadow it stood in, its glowing red eyes darting nervously toward the sunlit ground leading to the cave. The patch of darkness beneath it was growing smaller by the second, the sunlight creeping ever closer as the morning rays filtered through the canopy above.

Ezra crouched low behind a nearby bush, careful to keep himself hidden as he observed. There was no shadow between the rabbit and the cave entrance now, just a glaring stretch of bright, unrelenting sunlight. The creature's erratic movements became even more frantic, its long ears twitching as if it could feel the light closing in on it. It was trapped. 

' Got you now you little demon '

The last thing Ezra expected was for the rabbit to make a desperate move. Without hesitation, the small creature hopped straight into the sunlight. Ezra's lavender eyes widened in shock as the sun's rays struck the rabbit's mottled skin, instantly scorching it. Smoke rose from its flesh, the acrid scent of burning fur filling the air.

The rabbit screeched, a shrill and guttural sound that sent a chill down Ezra's spine. Its movements grew frantic as it darted forward, its small frame trembling violently with every painful step. The sunlight seared patches of its fur and exposed flesh, but the creature pressed on, driven by some unseen force.

Ezra could only watch, frozen in place, as the rabbit finally reached the shaded entrance of the cave. It collapsed just inside the darkness, its charred body twitching weakly before going still. The echoes of its agonized screeches lingered in the air, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

"What the hell…" Ezra whispered under his breath, his heart pounding. 

Curiosity gnawed at Ezra, its pull stronger than the doubt and uncertainty whispering in the back of his mind. His lavender eyes flicked between the dark cave entrance and the charred remains of the rabbit sprawled behind him, its lifeless form still faintly smoldering in the fading sunlight.

He clenched his fists, the tension building in his chest. "This is stupid," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the quiet rustle of leaves in the breeze. Yet, despite his better judgment, his feet moved forward, carrying him to the threshold of the cave.

The air grew cooler as he reached the entrance, the shadows stretching long and dark around him. He hesitated, one hand gripping the rough bark of a tree as if it could anchor him to safety. For a fleeting moment, doubt surged, whispering for him to turn back, to leave this mystery unsolved.

He turned his head, casting one last glance at the half-burnt corpse of the rabbit. Its contorted form seemed to mock him, a grim reminder of the dangers he was willingly stepping into. Ezra's lips pressed into a thin line.

"Fuck it," he said under his breath, the words sharp and final.

With a deep breath, he stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the cave. The cool darkness swallowed him whole, the sunlight behind him fading into nothingness. His footsteps echoed faintly on the stone floor as he moved deeper, the shadows growing thicker with every step.