Emily
The dense canopy of the sss rainforest stretched endlessly above me, thick vines and leaves blotting out any glimpse of the sky. The air was oppressive, heavy with humidity and the sharp tang of moss and decay. I stumbled forward, boots sinking into the damp earth, each step a fight against exhaustion and dread.
“Hello?” I called out, voice cracking. Only silence answered—silence, and the soft rustling of things unseen.
We’d been five when we entered the forest, all naive and excited, chasing legends down a poorly marked trail. Now, I was alone. The others were gone, vanished after that… thing came for us. I barely caught a glimpse—just a blur of red, burning eyes, claws flashing through the green. But I remembered the roar. God, I still heard it sometimes when I blinked too long.
