Chapter 04 : Inescapable Net

**Chapter 04: Inescapable Forest**

Jack walked the familiar path to the forest, his steps heavy with exhaustion and dread. He knew this path well—too well. It was the same path he had taken when he first arrived in Emag Village, and now, it was the path he would take to leave. The forest loomed ahead, its dark canopy stretching endlessly, as if daring him to enter.

*'Time to leave,'* Jack thought, his mind racing. *'I can't stay here anymore. Not after what happened. Not after what I've become.'*

The Dance Forest was unnaturally quiet, as if it were holding its breath. Even the usual rustle of leaves or the distant call of birds was absent. Jack had spent years navigating this forest, tracking animals by their droppings, surviving its challenges. But now, it felt different—alive, almost sentient. The trees seemed to watch him, their gnarled branches twisting like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig under his boots.

*'The forest is toying with me,'* Jack realized, a shiver running down his spine. *'It knows I'm here. It knows I'm trying to leave.'*

Time was slipping away. The crimson moon of the Abyss would soon rise, casting its bloody light over the land and plunging the world into darkness. Jack quickened his pace, his eyes scanning the forest for a safe place to rest. He knew he wouldn't sleep—not truly. The voices would see to that. But he needed shelter, somewhere to hide from the horrors that came with the night.

Finally, he found it—a cave, partially hidden by a tangle of vines and roots. The entrance was narrow, but it would do. Jack lit a torch and stepped inside, the flickering light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The cave was cold and damp, the air heavy with the scent of earth and decay. He moved to the far edge of the cave, where the darkness was deepest, and sat down, leaning against the rough stone wall.

*'Just a few hours,'* he told himself, closing his eyes. *'Just a few hours until sunrise.'*

But as soon as the crimson moon rose, the voices came. They were louder tonight, more insistent, as if they knew he was trying to escape.

"Jack," a deep voice growled, so close that Jack could feel its breath on his face. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. *'Don't react. Don't give them what they want.'*

"Why do you want to leave us?" the voice continued, its tone mocking. "After everything we've done for you?"

Jack remained silent, his hands clenched into fists. He could feel the presence of the creature now, its cold, oppressive energy filling the cave. The torchlight flickered, casting grotesque shadows that danced on the walls.

"Do you think we'd let you leave our home?" another voice chimed in, this one higher-pitched, almost playful. It was different from the others—new. Jack's stomach churned. *'They're multiplying. They're getting stronger.'*

"We gave you a home," the second voice continued, its tone shifting to something more sinister. "We welcomed you. And this is how you repay us?"

Suddenly, Jack felt a cold, bony hand grip his leg. He gasped, his eyes flying open, but he saw nothing—only darkness. The hand tightened its grip, and before he could react, he was yanked off the ground and slammed against the cave wall. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and he coughed, blood spraying from his lips.

*'Don't scream,'* he told himself, biting down on his tongue to stifle the pain. *'Don't give them the satisfaction.'*

"Hey, don't hurt Jack!" the first voice growled, its tone suddenly protective. Jack heard a low snarl, followed by the sound of scuffling, as if the creatures were fighting over him. For a moment, he dared to hope that the night might pass without further torment.

But then, the cold hand returned, this time wrapping around his throat. Jack was lifted off the ground, his back pressed against the cave wall. He struggled to breathe, his vision blurring as the creature's grip tightened.

"When I said he shouldn't hurt you," the first voice hissed, its breath icy against Jack's face, "I didn't mean I would also not do the same. I have to have my share of the fun before we leave. Regardless, you're not leaving this forest—dead or alive."

With a final, brutal squeeze, the creature released him, and Jack crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. He heard the creatures retreat, their laughter echoing through the cave as they disappeared into the darkness.

*'They're gone,'* Jack thought, his body trembling with pain and fear. *'For now.'*

The hours dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Jack kept his breathing slow and steady, his eyes fixed on the entrance of the cave. The crimson moon cast its bloody light across the forest, and the shadows seemed to writhe and twist, as if alive. Jack's instincts screamed at him to stay still, to stay quiet. He knew the creatures were still out there, watching, waiting.

Finally, the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, and the crimson moon began to fade. The forest grew still once more, the oppressive silence lifting as the creatures retreated with the night. Jack let out a shaky breath, his body sagging with relief.

*'It's over,'* he thought, his mind numb with exhaustion. *'For now.'*

But as he tried to stand, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he collapsed back to the ground. His body ached from the night's torment, and his throat felt raw and bruised. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness claim him.

When he woke, it was midday. The sun was high in the sky, its light filtering through the trees. Jack groaned, his body stiff and sore. He pushed himself up, his hands sinking into something soft and wet. His eyes flew open, and he froze.

He wasn't in the cave anymore.

He was in Emag Village.

And he was sitting on a pile of corpses.

The bodies were stacked haphazardly, their lifeless eyes staring up at him in silent accusation. Blood pooled beneath him, soaking into the ground and staining his clothes. The stench of death was overwhelming, and Jack gagged, his stomach churning.

*'No... no, no, no...'* he thought, his mind reeling. *'This can't be real. This can't be happening.'*

He scrambled to his feet, his hands slipping on the blood-slicked bodies. He looked around, his heart pounding in his chest. The village was silent, the streets empty. The houses were in ruins, their doors hanging off their hinges and their windows shattered. The ground was littered with debris, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and decay.

*'What... what happened here?'* Jack thought, his voice trembling. *'Did I... did I do this?'*

He stumbled forward, his legs shaking beneath him. The bodies were everywhere—men, women, even children. Their faces were frozen in expressions of terror, their mouths open in silent screams. Jack recognized some of them—the man with the pitchfork, the woman who had called him a monster. They were the villagers who had tried to burn him alive.

*'This is my fault,'* Jack realized, his chest tightening with guilt. *'I did this. The Abyss... it used me.'*

He fell to his knees, his hands clutching his head. The voices were silent now, but their presence lingered, a dark weight pressing down on him. He could feel the Abyss within him, its power coursing through his veins, its whispers echoing in the back of his mind.

*'You are the vessel,'* the deep voice had said. *'The Abyss has chosen you.'*

Jack looked down at his hands, still stained with blood. He didn't know what he was anymore. He didn't know if he was still human. All he knew was that the nightmare was far from over.

And the forest was still watching.