The Hunt Begins

Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins

The jungle erupted into chaos.

The moment the beast emerged, instincts took over. A wave of panic crashed over the students, scattering them in every direction like frightened deer. Shouts and cries filled the humid air, blending into the symphony of rustling leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. Feet pounded against the damp earth, shoes slipping on moss-covered roots as the desperate mob pushed forward, trampling through dense foliage in an effort to escape.

Kai did not run.

His muscles tensed, his breath steady as he remained rooted in place, eyes locked onto the predator that had just stepped into their world. Unlike the behemoth they had expected—a towering tyrannosaur—this creature was sleeker, faster, and no less deadly. A Carnotaurus.

Its mottled, reddish-black hide shimmered beneath the dappled sunlight filtering through the jungle canopy. Short, twisted horns curved above its piercing amber eyes, burning with an intelligence that sent a chill down Kai's spine. Its powerful hind legs tensed, its clawed feet digging into the earth. The deep, guttural growl that rumbled from its throat was nothing short of predatory amusement.

This thing enjoyed the hunt.

Then, it struck.

With a ground-shaking push, the carno lunged forward, its powerful legs launching it into the clearing. A deafening roar blasted through the trees, sending birds screeching into the sky. The students screamed, some falling in their desperate bid to flee. The beast's tail whipped through the underbrush, snapping branches like twigs.

Kai moved.

His mind worked at an inhuman speed, analyzing the creature's movements, the terrain, the students' erratic paths. The jungle was a death trap—thick roots, uneven terrain, nowhere to truly escape.

Think, dammit.

A girl stumbled near him, her terrified gaze locking onto his. Wide, brown eyes filled with desperation. Her chest heaved, her breath ragged. "Kai!" she cried out, reaching for him, but the tide of students pushed her away before she could say anything more.

Kai recognized her—Sophia. One of the few who had spoken to him on occasion. She wasn't the only one looking for him. Amongst the screaming, desperate faces, there were others. Some called his name. Some only searched for him in silence, their eyes frantic, filled with something unspoken.

No time to dwell on it.

The carno's thunderous footsteps closed in, each step sending vibrations through the ground. Kai whirled around just in time to see the monster's head lower, its curved horns slicing through the air. It was aiming for a direct charge—intending to bulldoze through them like brittle twigs.

They wouldn't make it.

Kai's mind snapped into focus. He spotted a fallen tree—large, thick, partially uprooted and leaning at an angle. An idea struck him.

He sprinted.

Veering left, he shoved past a few students, making a beeline for the tree. "This way!" he barked, his voice sharp, commanding.

Some hesitated. Others followed blindly, their survival instincts latching onto anything resembling leadership. Kai reached the fallen trunk and, without pausing, leaped onto it. His footing was precarious, the bark slick with moisture, but he didn't stop. He ran along its length, the elevated surface giving him a split-second advantage.

The Carnotaurus wasn't expecting it.

Its massive bulk barreled forward, unable to stop its own momentum. The students who had been in its direct path scattered just in time, tumbling into the undergrowth. The beast skidded, trying to adjust, but it was too late. Kai had already reached the other end of the fallen tree—and with a powerful push, he launched himself into the air.

Time seemed to slow.

As he sailed over the carno's massive, muscular back, he twisted midair, his keen gaze locking onto the monster's shifting form. He landed in a crouch on the other side, rolling with the impact. The moment his feet hit the ground, he didn't stop. He ran.

The Carnotaurus roared in fury, its sharp talons tearing into the earth as it whirled around, but its own speed had betrayed it. The force of its charge had carried it forward too far. By the time it could correct itself, Kai was already leading the others into the denser part of the jungle, where the trees grew close enough together that something of the carno's size would struggle to maneuver.

The hunt had only just begun.

The chaos of the chase escalated. The jungle floor became a stage for carnage as the relentless Carnotaurus advanced. In the narrow, tangled paths of the jungle, terrified screams melded with the wet, thudding sound of heavy feet crushing everything in their wake.

Some of the slower students, frozen by fear or simply too exhausted to run, were trampled under the beast's brutal charge. The monstrous predator slammed into a group, its enormous head colliding with a hapless student with a sickening crunch that echoed like shattering bone. A horrifying sound of tearing flesh punctuated the air as it snapped one student's limb from his body and clamped its powerful jaws around another, the sound of ripping and muffled screams blending into a nightmarish symphony of death.

Amid the chaos, panic split the survivors into two groups. Kai, Liam, Ava, Sophia, and others who seemed to naturally gravitate towards leadership and solidarity under pressure. Their eyes shone with a desperate determination as they raced through the dense undergrowth, driven by the primal urge to survive.

Kai led this chosen group, his mind churning with both strategy and raw instinct. The Carnotaurus, having decimated part of the mob, now seemed to focus its predatory gaze on Kai's group. The beast's heavy, laboured footsteps pounded closer, its roar a low, mocking challenge that reverberated through the jungle. The creature's head swivelled, horns glinting as it honed in on its chosen targets with calculated precision.

As they ran, Liam, ever alert in the chaos, suddenly spotted a narrow crevice along a steep, rocky outcrop rising from the jungle's floor—a gap tight and precarious enough that the massive predator would likely be unable to follow. His heart pounded as he shouted, "This way, everyone! To the crevice!" The announcement cut through the din, and the group pivoted toward the rocky hill.

Liam was the first to reach the narrow opening. His breath came in ragged gasps as he squeezed his way inside, his body nearly disappearing into the tight space. Behind him, the others fumbled and scrambled, the threat of the Carnotaurus spurring them on in frantic desperation. Kai moved with purpose, but he paused momentarily to devise a diversion. He knew the creature's focus could be shifted with a calculated misdirection—a quick, subtle movement to draw its attention away from the entrance.

Kai shifted his body slightly in the opposite direction of the crevice. His eyes, narrowed in determination, met the beast's as he made an almost imperceptible turn. It was not a flamboyant gesture, but a deliberate act designed to mimic the movements of prey. The Carnotaurus, startled by the sudden change, let its gaze follow Kai's slight diversion, its predatory instincts momentarily overridden by curiosity.

Ava, who was not far behind, followed suit. The group surged toward the crevice with renewed urgency. However, fate was not entirely kind—amid the desperate scramble, Ava's foot caught on an exposed, gnarled root jutting from the earth. With a heart-stopping yelp, she tumbled to the ground, her delicate form momentarily pinned by the weight of gravity.

Time slowed for Kai. He saw Ava falter and without hesitation, he lunged forward, reaching her side as the Carnotaurus's thunderous approach grew ever nearer. The beast's guttural roar filled the air, vibrating the very ground beneath them as it closed in with relentless force. Kai grabbed Ava's hand, his grip firm and unyielding, and helped her to her feet, the urgency of their escape overriding any lingering fear.

For a heartbeat, the jungle was silent except for the pounding of their hearts and the distant, ominous snarl of the beast. Then, as they gathered themselves, the Carnotaurus halted a short distance away. Its enormous head lowered as if to inspect its quarry, amber eyes glinting with a mix of triumph and disdain. It seemed to almost mock them, emitting a sound that was part growl and part sneer—a chilling proclamation that it had succeeded in its hunt.

Kai's gaze met the creature's, unflinching and resolute. In that moment, fear was cast aside, replaced by a calm, almost defiant resolve. The Carnotaurus's mocking roar reverberated, a sound that would haunt lesser souls, but Kai met it with unyielding confidence. He gripped Ava's hand tighter, drawing her toward the narrow crevice. The edge of the gap beckoned like a sliver of hope in an otherwise brutal reality.

Seconds stretched into eternity as Kai and his small band edged closer to the safety of the rocky hideaway. Then, with a final burst of effort, they all plunged into the crevice. Just as Kai crossed the threshold, a brutal crash echoed behind them—the Carnotaurus, in a desperate bid to follow, rammed its massive head against the narrow wall. The impact was a resounding thud, reverberating off the stone like the toll of a death knell. Dust and small fragments of rock flew in every direction as the beast's bulk slammed against the unyielding barrier.

For a moment, time seemed to hold its breath. The creature's furious snort filled the air as it withdrew its head, clearly frustrated by the impenetrable obstacle. The jungle around them fell eerily silent, the relentless pursuit paused—for now. Within the narrow confines of the crevice, Kai and his companions gathered, their breaths ragged and bodies trembling from the exertion and shock of what they had just witnessed.

Kai's heart pounded in his chest, every beat a reminder of the chaos they had escaped—and the peril that still lurked just beyond. Despite the terror and loss that had marred the chase, a spark of defiance burned in his eyes. In that moment of respite, he knew they had been granted a fragile reprieve. Yet, the beast's mocking gaze and the echo of its thunderous charge served as a grim reminder: the hunt was far from over, and the jungle would demand its due in blood before they could claim any semblance of safety.

The group huddled together in the narrow crevice, each face etched with a mix of terror, sorrow, and hardened determination. They had witnessed too much brutality already—a stark testament to the unyielding savagery of their new world. But Kai, with his unwavering resolve and quick wit, had ensured that, for now, they had a chance to survive another day.