An Endless Cycle

Chapter 3: A.. Friend?

I coughed as I collapsed, it had been so long since I stopped for a break... I laid out and let myself catch my breath. I looked up, everything was fuzzy but I was able to make out a few things: I was in a forest, surrounded by lush, green plants and vines. I sat up hugging my hoodie, "Mama... I'm so sorry..." I mumbled to myself as tears swallowed my eyes. I closed my eyes tightly and let them fall, Mama has been through me through everything... and now she was gone... and it was my fault. I could never forgive myself for this... I looked up and then all my sadness instantly turned to fear. In front of me, all the lush, green plants had all died... and there stood it... a blacked out figure that didn't look fully there, with a white smile plastered over it, "₲ØØĐ ₲₳₥Ɇ, ₦Ɇ₭₳₦Ɇ," it says in a glitchy tone, hurting my ears as I tried to understand it.
"Who... who are you...?" I asked out into the abyss.
It's smile seemed to get wider, "₮Ⱨ₳₮₴ ₣ØⱤ ₥Ɇ ₮Ø ₭₦Ø₩, ₳₦Đ ₣ØⱤ ɎØɄ ₮Ø ₦ɆVɆⱤ ₣ł₦Đ ØɄ₮, ɎØɄⱤ ₱₳₮ⱧɆ₮ł₵." It claimed.
I didn't say anything, I was too scared... was it right? Was I pathetic? "Shut up.." I said.
The smile laughed, the disappeared, I got up and slowly started to walk away. My legs and chest stung like being stung by 60 bees simultaneously. I ignored it and kept waking

I woke up in a clearing, mostly confused of how I had been there? I was just in an enclosed area that was in the forest? I decided to not question it and get up, I kept walking, "I don't think that's a good idea, little one," a voice from behind me says. I flinched and turned around, there stood a tall white man with brown hair and circular glasses, he wore a hoodie and sweatpants.
"You alright?" He asked me.
"I-I'm fine," I responded
"You're not, come with me," He said with a smile.
I followed him to a small cottage, we went in as I smelled the smell of cinnamon. "What's that smell?" I asked, "Cinnamon!" He answered happily, "Oh right! What's your name?" He asked, "Nekane," I answered, "Zekel, pleasure to meet you!" Zekel said with a smile. I smiled back at him before I realized how hungry I was, "Uh- Zekel- may I have something to eat?" I asked politely. Zekel politely replied with, "I have a few apples, though I need to go out shopping for more stuff in the morning- you should shower and I'll get you somewhere you can rest." I nodded and he guided me to the bathroom, I showered then came out. Zekel had made a nice make-shift bed for me and I gladly laid down.
As I slowly drifted off to sleep I saw Zekel walk into the kitchen with a pitch black liquid following him.

Suddenly, I wall falling, my mouth was stitched such and I couldn't move. I hit the ground with a loud thud and a bone shattering pain through my body. As I looked up... I saw two dots a terror-stricken smile. Then... I woke up, it was midday... something... something felt off. Where was Zekel?