Chapter 2

The boy stood rooted in place, his eyes darting across the rolling fields of green. There was no sign of the bathroom door, no trace of the walls that had once surrounded him. Only the endless grass and the sound of the warm breeze brushing against it.

It was real. This wasn't a prank, wasn't a dream. His pulse thudded heavily in his ears.

He turned in a slow circle, scanning the horizon for anything familiar, but there was nothing. Just valleys and distant mountains. A vast emptiness that seemed to mock his confusion.

"Think," he muttered under his breath, clutching his phone tighter. The flashlight beam wavered over the grass, now pointless in the bright daylight. His mind raced. Where was this? How had he gotten here?

But no answers came. Only the deafening silence of isolation.

Panic clawed at the edges of his thoughts. He couldn't stay here, wherever here was. He needed to move, to figure out how to get back. But the more he stared at the empty landscape, the clearer it became—there was no going back.

Not without help.

The boy swallowed hard and started walking. His sneakers crunched softly against the dry earth beneath the grass, the sound somehow comforting in the absence of anything else. Every step felt heavy, his mind running through a hundred scenarios, none of them good.

"Why did I walk through that door?" The question lingered, hanging in the air like a bitter aftertaste.

Minutes passed, or maybe hours—time had become meaningless in this strange place. The sun hung high in the sky, its heat oppressive, and yet there was no sign of life. No birds, no insects, no signs of human existence.

Then, in the distance, something caught his eye. A break in the monotony.

A cluster of trees stood at the edge of a shallow valley, their leaves a striking blue hue that shimmered like water under the sunlight. They looked out of place, almost unreal, but they were the only landmark in sight.

Relief and apprehension mixed in his chest as he made his way toward the trees. He didn't know what he would find there, but it was better than standing still.

As he drew closer, he noticed the faint sound of running water—a stream, perhaps, cutting through the valley floor. The sight of it filled him with a small spark of hope. At least water meant he wouldn't die of thirst.

But something else lingered in the back of his mind, a quiet unease he couldn't shake.

What if he wasn't alone here?

Would it be better or worse if he wasn't alone?

The thought lingered as he trudged toward the blue-tinged trees, the sound of a stream growing clearer with each step. Part of him wanted to believe someone else might be here—a guide, a helper, someone who knew how to fix this. But another part, the more logical side, knew better. If there was anyone else in this strange place, chances were they wouldn't be friendly.

Still, the silence around him felt suffocating. Each step seemed louder than the last, every crunch of grass underfoot a reminder of how utterly alone he was—or might not be.

The stream came into view, winding lazily through the valley. It wasn't much, but it was something real. Something familiar. He knelt down by the water, the cool air around it a welcome relief. Cupping his hands, he drank deeply, letting the icy liquid soothe his dry throat.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone. The flashlight was still on, the faint beam barely visible under the daylight. He frowned. How long had it been on? Hours, maybe? The battery indicator flashed red.

"Great," he muttered, stuffing it back into his pocket.

Something caught his eye near the stream's edge—clusters of vibrant blue mushrooms growing between the rocks. They looked almost artificial, their smooth, glowing caps giving off an otherworldly hue.

Hunger gnawed at his stomach, a reminder of how long it had been since his last meal. He hesitated, staring at the mushrooms. Eating random things in a place like this seemed like a bad idea. But what choice did he have?

The boy plucked a small one from the ground, its surface cold and slightly damp. He popped it into his mouth, wincing at the bitter taste, but quickly grabbed another. The second one went down easier, followed by a third. Each bite sent a strange warmth through his body, dulling the edges of his fear.

The world around him began to shift, the colors deepening, the air shimmering with a faint haze. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but the sensation only grew stronger. The trees bent at odd angles, their pale trunks twisting as if they were alive. The stream's gentle murmur distorted into an unsettling hum, a low vibration that rattled his teeth.

Then, from the corner of his eye, a shadow moved.

It wasn't subtle. The figure stood at the forest's edge, its shape barely human, its limbs too long, its head slightly tilted, as though studying him. The air around it wavered like heat rising off asphalt, yet the figure itself was cold, blacker than the deepest night.

The boy's chest tightened, his breaths shallow and rapid. His legs felt like lead, rooted to the ground as the shadow figure took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Then it vanished.

He gasped, his head whipping around. The figure reappeared, closer now, emerging from the shadow of a nearby tree. His heart thundered in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears.

"Stay away!" he yelled, but his voice cracked, swallowed by the unnatural silence that had fallen over the forest.

The figure dissolved again, melting into the darkness like smoke. It reemerged from another shadow, even closer, its head still cocked at that unnatural angle.

Panic surged, overriding the paralysis that gripped him. He turned and ran, his feet pounding against the soft earth, lungs burning as he pushed himself forward. The world blurred around him, the trees whipping by in streaks of white and blue.

But the figure followed.

It didn't run—it didn't need to. It leaped from shadow to shadow, flickering in and out of existence, always just behind him. The boy could feel its presence, a cold pressure pressing against the back of his neck, growing heavier with each passing second.

He didn't dare look back. He didn't want to see how close it was.

The ground beneath his feet shifted, the soft grass giving way to rocky terrain. He stumbled but managed to catch himself, his eyes darting frantically for somewhere—anywhere—to hide.

Up ahead, a dark maw of a cave yawned open, its jagged entrance half-hidden behind a cluster of boulders. Without thinking, he sprinted toward it, his legs screaming in protest.

The boy dove inside, the sudden chill of the cave enveloping him like a shroud. He pressed his back against the damp stone wall, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The only sound was the blood pounding in his ears and the faint drip of water echoing from deeper within the cave.

For a moment, he thought he'd lost it.

Then the shadows at the cave's entrance began to move.

The figure appeared just beyond the threshold, its form blending seamlessly with the darkness. It didn't enter but stood there, watching, its presence filling the narrow space like a suffocating fog.

The boy clamped a hand over his mouth, biting down on the urge to scream. The figure remained still for what felt like an eternity before it slowly dissolved, its form bleeding back into the shadows outside.

He didn't move. He didn't dare breathe too loudly. The oppressive silence hung thick in the air, broken only by the distant, rhythmic drip of water.

Had it gone? Was it truly gone?

The boy stayed crouched against the wall, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. The cave's cold seeped through his clothes, but the icy fear inside him was far worse. He tried to focus on the rhythmic drip of water echoing from the depths—it was steady, almost calming—but the stillness felt like a trap.

It's still out there, he thought. Watching. Waiting.

Every shadow seemed alive now, stretching unnaturally along the cave walls. His mind conjured images of the figure melting out of the darkness again, its eyeless face inches from his own. He shook his head, forcing the thought away.

"Not a fan of the dark, huh?"

The boy froze, his eyes darting around the cavern. The voice was calm, even friendly, but it sent chills down his spine.

"Relax, kid," the voice continued, its tone light but tired. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Couldn't even if I wanted to, honestly."

"Who—" the boy's voice cracked, and he swallowed hard. "Who's there?"

A faint chuckle echoed through the cave. "Just someone who's been stuck in here far too long. Follow the sound of my voice. I won't bite."

The boy hesitated, every instinct screaming at him to stay put. But the voice didn't sound threatening. If anything, it carried a strange warmth, like someone trying to put him at ease.

Taking slow, cautious steps, he moved deeper into the cave. His hand brushed against the rough wall for guidance, the cold stone grounding him as his heart raced.

"Closer," the voice encouraged. "Almost there."

Finally, the boy rounded a bend and saw him—a man sitting against the wall, his wrists bound by thick, rusted chains. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but what little the boy could see revealed a faint, crooked smile.

"See? Harmless." The man raised his hands slightly, the chains clinking softly. "Well, mostly."

The boy stared, unsure of what to say. His eyes darted to the chains, then back to the man's face. "Why are you…?"

"Locked up? Long story," the man said, leaning his head back against the wall. "Let's just say the locals aren't too fond of me borrowing things without asking."

"Stealing, you mean."

The man shrugged. "Depends on your perspective."

Silence hung between them for a moment before the man spoke again. "Name's Silas, by the way. And you are…?"

The boy hesitated. "I…" He wasn't sure if he should give his name, but after a moment, he relented. "It's… Nick."

"Nick," Silas repeated, as if testing the sound of it. "Well, Nick, what's a kid like you doing in a place like this? Don't tell me you just stumbled in here by accident."

Nick glanced back the way he came, his hands trembling slightly. "There was… something outside. I ran, and—"

"Something?" Silas's tone grew sharper, his posture straightening. "What kind of something?"

"I don't know!" Nick said, his voice rising. "It looked like a person, but it wasn't. It was… wrong."

Silas let out a low whistle. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. Most wouldn't have made it this far."

Nick frowned. "You're not… scared?"

"Oh, I'm plenty scared," Silas said with a wry smile. "But being scared doesn't do much when you're chained to a wall. Now, if you're willing to lend a hand…"

Nick's eyes narrowed. "Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't," Silas admitted. "But if you don't, you'll be stuck here just like me. And trust me, this cave? Not a great place to set up camp."

Nick considered this, his gaze flicking to the chains again. The man had a point, but something about him felt… off. Still, he couldn't shake the sense that they were both trapped, both running from something.

With a deep breath, Nick took a step closer. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

Silas chuckled. "You don't. But if I wanted to hurt you, I'd be doing a pretty bad job of it right now." He rattled the chains for emphasis.

After a long pause, Nick nodded. "Fine. But if you try anything…"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Silas said, his grin widening. "Now, let's get these chains off, shall we?"

Nick knelt cautiously, examining the rusted links. As he worked, Silas leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"You've got no idea what you've walked into, do you, kid?"

Nick didn't answer, but the chill running down his spine told him everything he needed to know.

Nick worked in silence, his fingers fumbling with the rusty chains, the cold metal rough against his skin. His mind churned with questions he couldn't keep bottled up any longer.

"What's a human doing here?" he asked, glancing up at Silas. "This place doesn't feel… Earth-like."

Silas chuckled, leaning his head back against the wall. "Funny you should ask. You'd be surprised how many planets have humans—or at least something close enough."

Nick frowned. "You're saying there are more?"

"Hah! More? Let me put it this way: I've only been to three planets, and guess what? All three had human-like creatures." Silas tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Hat-trick. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

Nick's stomach tightened. "You're saying you're from Earth, but you've been to other planets?"

"Born and raised," Silas said, a wistful note creeping into his voice. "But yeah, Earth's in the rear-view mirror now. Got curious one day, ran into some… interesting tech, and the rest is history."

Nick's grip on the chains faltered. "Tech like… robots?"

Silas's smile widened. "Smart kid. Yeah, ran into one of those things. Stumbled on it completely by accident. I was out scavenging—just a routine day—when I saw it skulking around. Strange thing, too. Looked like it didn't belong, just like me."

"So you followed it?"

"Wouldn't you?" Silas shrugged. "Thing had this… portal tech, like a gateway to somewhere else. I was curious, so I followed it through. Ended up here first, but the robot didn't stick around. It flew off through another portal, and I wasn't about to let it out of my sight."

Nick's eyes widened. "You… held onto it?"

"Sure did," Silas said, grinning like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Figured if it was hopping planets, I'd get a free ride. Turns out, that wasn't my smartest move. The second planet? Not exactly a warm welcome. Stayed a few days, tried to lay low, but eventually, the locals caught me. Guess they weren't keen on uninvited guests."

Nick glanced around the cave. "And they sent you back here?"

"Something like that." Silas sighed, rattling the chains again. "Didn't think I'd end up locked in a cave, though. Not exactly the adventure I signed up for."

Nick narrowed his eyes. "Why would you follow a robot like that? Weren't you scared?"

Silas raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "Aren't you asking the right questions now? I mean, don't tell me you weren't scared when you walked through that portal yourself."

Nick stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. He didn't answer immediately, but the truth gnawed at him. Of course, he was scared. Terrified, even. But the curiosity, the compulsion to follow, had been stronger. And now, here he was, in a cave, surrounded by things that made no sense.

Finally, Nick spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "I didn't really think about it. I just… went." He swallowed, hating how unsure his words sounded. "I guess that was stupid."

Silas chuckled, the sound echoing in the cave like a low rumble. "Stupid, huh? Sure. But isn't that just how it goes? Sometimes you get so caught up in what's happening, you don't even stop to wonder if you're making a mistake. We've all been there."

Nick stayed silent for a moment, mulling over the odd comfort in Silas's words. Maybe it was true. Maybe the real mistake wasn't walking through the portal, but the fact that he hadn't even hesitated.

"So… what do we do now?" Nick finally asked, his voice betraying a mix of frustration and fear.

Silas's grin returned, wide and knowing. "First, you get these chains off me." He jerked his hands, rattling the chains once again. "Then we figure out how to get out of this cave. Sound like a plan?"

Nick hesitated. The story Silas had told him was wild, insane even, but if it was true, it meant there was far more at play here than Nick could have imagined. He needed answers. He needed to find out what this place really was.

"Yeah, I guess so," Nick said, voice steadier than he felt.

He reached for the chains again, determined now to move forward, to find out just how deep this strange world went. If Silas's story had any truth to it, then Nick had just scratched the surface. And there was no turning back.