T-B-D

3

She couldn't move, couldn't even blink. Her fear had her rooted, as if she herself were one of the trees in the vast forest.

The eye blinked.

"I would never have thought a meal this fetching would befall me so soon, but god's almighty, there are no mistakes."

Shiver upon shiver raked down her spine. It's voice like claws scraping her brain, the feeling driving her towards insanity.

She wanted to run. She willed her feet to run but they would not obey.

"What..." She managed to breathe out.

Niraka couldn't finish her sentence. That very word took all the air from within her lungs, leaving her suffocating and aching.

The creature laughed, a sight so horrid she felt vomit rise.

"My child, you do not know who I am?"

She shook her pounding head, willing her stomach to calm.

"Do you truly wish to know?"

It smiled. The action so petrifying, tears sprung to her eyes as she read every intent clear upon its face.

The creature moved forward, going in a small circle around Niraka, a predator circling its prey.

"I can smell your fear child." The creature's snake tongue darted out to taste the air itself- her fear itself. "What a delicacy it is." It sighed.

She didn't know what to do, how to get out of here.

This creature was going to eat her, there was no doubt in her mind.

"Zuraok."

She inhaled deeply. That word- name clicked something within her.

"Do I... know you?" Every inch of her being screamed yes. Yes. Yes.

Only for a moment did Zuraok look taken aback. The action so abnormal on a creature of its nature, Niraka knew it was rare.

"My child, if you knew me, you would not be living."

It was a lie. She could feel it to her bones. Zuraok was lying.

But that didn't matter.

"Am I going to die?"

"Yes, my dear, you are."

She inhaled sharply, the air biting her lungs. "Will you kill me?" Her words a mere whisper in the howling wind.

Something akin to sadness crossed Zuraoks face before it vanished completely. As if the emotion ceased to exist.

"No little one. I plan to take my time with you. Truly relish the taste of your flesh burning on my tongue." Tilting its head back, the creature breathed. "I wonder if it'll be as delectable as your scent."

The birds began to chirp again.

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

And in a blink, Zuraok was gone.

Niraka could finally move again, could breathe again.

Tears started rolling down her face as she looked around, praying to not see the Zuraok. But he was nowhere to be found, as if the creature itself never existed.

It's presence still lingered, the air cold and dark.

Odd. How very odd.

She didn't waste another moment standing still. She had no clue where she was and what else awaited her in the forest.

She had to find amai and the only way she could do that, is survive.