Chapter 5: A Monster’s Plaything

Chapter 5: A Monster's Plaything

Pain. That was my reality now.

One second, I was sprinting for my life. The next? I was soaring through the air like a human ragdoll.

I hit the ground hard, tumbling like a sack of potatoes before slamming into an ancient pillar. My lungs refused to cooperate as I lay there wheezing, trying to suck in air. That thing just yeeted me across the room like I weighed nothing.

The monster let out a deep, guttural laugh. Oh, great. It had a sense of humor.

"Gah… Could you… maybe not?" I groaned, peeling myself off the stone. My ribs felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to them, and I was fairly certain my arm was bruised beyond repair. Lucky me.

The massive six-eyed beast tilted its oversized head, almost as if it were mocking me. Its glowing eyes pulsed with amusement as it stomped forward, each step sending vibrations through the cavern.

"Right. Okay. So… running clearly isn't working." I muttered. "Maybe if I just—"

Before I could even finish my thought, the monster backhanded me with one of its massive claws.

I saw stars.

My body went airborne again before I skidded across the floor like a skipping rock. Every nerve in my body screamed in protest, but I barely had time to register the pain before the beast was right in front of me again.

"Oh, come on! I just got over here!" I wheezed, trying to scramble away. But it was too fast.

The creature pinned me down with one massive claw, its immense weight pressing me into the ground. I flailed, gasping as I tried to push it off, but I might as well have been trying to move a mountain.

It lowered its enormous head until we were face to face.

I swallowed hard. I did not like where this was going.

The beast sniffed me. A low, rumbling sound vibrated through its chest. Was it… amused? Oh great. It didn't just want to kill me. It wanted to play with me.

"Listen, big guy," I said, forcing a smile despite the crushing weight on my chest. "I know I look like a fun toy, but I assure you, I am very breakable. And I'd rather not find out how squishy I actually am."

It grunted. Then, without warning, it lifted its claw… and flicked me.

Yes. Flicked me.

I flew across the chamber again, landing face-first in a pile of rubble. My pride? Shattered. My body? Also shattered.

"Okay," I wheezed into the dirt. "I hate this place. I really, really hate this place."

The monster chuckled. Actually chuckled.

I groaned, slowly pushing myself up. Everything hurt. My arms, my legs, my dignity—it was all in ruins.

"Right. If I survive this, I am never, EVER getting cocky again," I grumbled.

The beast let out another rumbling growl and stomped towards me.

And just like that, my survival instincts took over.

"NOPE! I'M OUT!" I screamed, scrambling to my feet and bolting in the opposite direction.

The monster let out a delighted roar as it chased me down again.

I was going to die here, wasn't I?