Human?

Kenan could hear the familiar slithering sound from a short distance away. As much as he wished he could bury himself under the ground, the sound was drawing closer, faster than before. Worse, it was coming from all sides with unbelievable speed.

The fiends could wrap themselves around trees like snakes, but they were rooted to the ground. Escaping by running would only ensure his demise. What an irony—running seemed so instinctual, yet it was the surest way to get caught.

Instead, Kenan chose the next best option. Scanning the area, he spotted the tallest tree within his line of sight. Without hesitation, he began climbing, his hands and feet working frantically until he was high enough to catch sight of the slithering stems in the dark.

Reaching a sturdy branch, Kenan let out a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The height he had climbed to was life-threatening, but not as life-threatening as the nightmare prowling below.

Finally, he saw it—similar to the first Blood Bloom he had encountered, but twice the size.

The creature sprawled beneath the tree like a grotesque serpent. Its twisted, serpentine stem writhed unnervingly, and crimson sap glistened on thorn-like protrusions. Drops of the sap dripped to the ground, leaving scorched patches of burnt grass in their wake. The dark, veined petals of the bloom curled outward, releasing a sweet-scented mist that clung to the air like a sickly perfume. Except from its abnormal size, its features were shrouded in pure darkness.

The bloom's mere presence seemed to corrupt the world around it, darkening the air and suffocating the life of the forest. Its massive stem, thicker than an adult man's waist, coiled into the earth, anchoring it like a vile parasite.

Slithering tendrils swept the forest floor, feeling, searching...

From his perch, Kenan froze in terror as the tendrils crept closer to his tree. The distance from the ground was supposed to be his means of escape, however it could be the perfect trap if he was discovered.

The Blood Bloom lingered near the tree, its tendrils brushing the bark. Kenan's breath caught in his throat. Hours passed in a haze of terror, each moment stretching into eternity. His heart nearly stopped every time the creature's tendrils loitered too long at the base of the tree.

Eventually, the fiend retreated, disappearing into the shadows. A cold wind swept through the canopy, causing Kenan to shiver violently. His hoodie was already riddled with burns from the acidic saliva of the smaller blooms, leaving him exposed. His teeth gnashed against each other involuntarily, and he clamped a hand over his mouth to silence the sound.

As he looked around, the faint light filtering through the foliage revealed his surroundings. The forest stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of shadowy black trees. No moon hung in the sky, yet there was light—an enigmatic glow whose source eluded him.

Kenan climbed down cautiously, resuming his trek through the forest. All he needed was to find a gate and get back home. Simple in theory, impossible in practice. He had set out on this journey with a sense of purpose, and now, survival felt like the an unachievable goal.

The forest was eerily silent. No rustling leaves, no chirping insects. Just an oppressive stillness that gnawed at his nerves. The trees, blackened and lifeless, seemed to lean closer, as though conspiring against him.

After what felt like hours, a shimmering silver lake came into view. The stagnant water glistened, despite the absence of light. Steam rose from its surface, hinting at warmth. The sight was almost serene, a rare oasis in this nightmarish place.

But as Kenan stepped closer, a familiar unease settled over him. The silver hue reminded him of something—something that wasn't particularly a fond memoir.

He picked up a small rock and tossed it into the lake, alongside a bunch of leaves. The bundle hovered on the surface for a moment before sinking. As it descended, the rock dissolved, vanishing before his eyes.

"A lake of acidic liquid. How convenient," Kenan muttered with a bitter chuckle, shaking his head at the absurdity. He gulped down his saliva as his thirst was already satiated by this newly-found knowledge.

As he turned to leave, a sizzling sound reached his ears. Pain followed—a sharp, burning sensation on his shoulder. A drop of acidic saliva had landed on him, burning a hole through his clothes.

Swatting at the spot to cool the sting, Kenan slowly looked up. A large, pulsating cocoon hung overhead, swaying ominously in the branches.

The cocoon was composed of twisted vines, their dark, mottled colors unsettling to the senses. The vines pulsed faintly, as if alive, and rotted patches leaked a purplish hue. New growths emerged from the decay, writhing like grotesque worms.

What an irony, he thought, his pulse quickening. A birthing place for the very creatures that are hunting me.

The cocoon seemed inert, its slow pulsations almost hypnotic. But Kenan knew better than to trust appearances. If this is a nursery, he mused grimly, then what's the mother like?

A rustling sound behind him snapped him back to reality. He turned too late—a small Blood Bloom lunged at him but fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Its severed maw twitched, the stem now detached.

"W-who are you?"

The voice startled Kenan, sharp and human. He turned to find a boy pointing a sword at him, the blade trembling in shaky hands.

"I should be asking you that," Kenan replied evenly, eyeing the boy's glossy black hair, wide glasses, and shorter stature. "You're the one pointing a weapon at me."

"I'm h-human," the boy stammered, lowering the sword slightly as he adjusted his glasses with his shoulder.

Kenan studied him for a moment, recognition dawning. "I know you. You're the bleeding kid from the registration office."

The boy's face flushed red. "H-how do you know for sure? I wasn't the only one bleeding!" His voice quivered as he struggled to feign arrogance.

Kenan shrugged nonchalantly, glancing around to ensure no fiends were nearby.

After a long pause, the boy finally lowered his sword completely. "Well, only Blood Blooms exist in this part of the Dark Lands, anyway."

"Thanks for the reminder," Kenan muttered under his breath. The only human I meet in this forsaken place is the most unprepared one.

"Any others?" Kenan asked aloud.

The boy glanced nervously at the cocoon-like structure. "I don't know. I only saw a bunch of dead Blood Blooms on my way here."

"I mean humans," Kenan clarified. "Have you met anyone else?"

"Oh! No, I haven't met anybody else yet."

Kenan exhaled deeply. So much for a reunion of survivors.

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