percy stumbled through the dense underbrush, his breath coming in ragged gasps. the trees around him seemed to close in, their towering trunks and thick branches forming a tangle that made it impossible to tell where he was going.
the sky above was a dull, leaden gray, the sun barely a smudge of light behind the thick cloud cover. every step he took felt heavier than the last, his legs burning with exhaustion, his lungs aching for air.
he had been running for what felt like hours, though he couldn't be sure. time had lost all meaning in this endless forest. he knew only that he had to keep moving, keep running, or else... well, he didn't want to think about what might happen if he stopped. he could feel something behind him, something dark and malevolent, closing in with every passing moment. it was a feeling of dread, a cold, creeping sensation that sent shivers down his spine and made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
the forest was unnaturally silent, the usual sounds of birds and rustling leaves absent, as if the very life had been drained from the world around him. percy's footsteps seemed to echo in the stillness, each one louder than the last, until it felt like the whole world was vibrating with the sound of his pounding feet. his heart hammered in his chest, the rhythm erratic, wild, as if it were trying to break free from his ribcage.
his vision blurred, the trees around him becoming indistinct smudges of green and brown. he stumbled over roots and rocks, his limbs heavy and uncoordinated. somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he was close to the end of his strength, that his body was on the verge of giving out completely. but he couldn't stop. he had to keep running.
the air grew colder as he pressed on, a biting chill that seeped into his bones. his fingers were numb, his breath coming out in frosty puffs. the forest seemed to stretch on forever, the trees becoming a tangled mass of shadows that twisted and writhed, as if they were alive. it was as if the very forest itself was conspiring against him, trying to trap him in its endless, suffocating embrace.
and then, without warning, the ground beneath his feet gave way. he plunged forward, his arms flailing as he tried to catch himself, but there was nothing to grab onto. the world tilted and spun, a dizzying blur of colors and shapes, and then everything went dark.
when percy opened his eyes, he was lying on the cold, damp earth. the trees loomed above him, their branches twisted and gnarled, reaching out like skeletal fingers. his head throbbed with pain, a dull, relentless ache that made it hard to think. he tried to push himself up, but his arms felt like lead, heavy and unresponsive. he could barely move.
panic surged through him, a wave of fear so intense it was almost paralyzing. he had no idea where he was, how he had gotten here, or what had happened. all he knew was that he had to get up, had to keep moving, but his body refused to cooperate. his limbs felt disconnected, as if they didn't belong to him anymore.
he could hear something in the distance, a faint rustling sound that grew louder with each passing moment. it was coming closer, whatever it was, and percy knew instinctively that it wasn't friendly. he had to get out of this situation immediately.
as if the very life had been drained from the woods, leaving behind only an oppressive stillness. percy's heart pounded in his chest, the only sound in the otherwise silent forest. he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, terribly wrong, but he had no time to think about it. his instincts screamed at him to run, to get as far away from whatever was chasing him as possible. but with every step, his strength waned, his vision blurred, and his thoughts grew foggy.
the trees began to blur together, their trunks and branches merging into a swirling mass of darkness. the ground beneath his feet seemed to shift, like it was made of quicksand, pulling him down with every step. he stumbled, his foot catching on an unseen root, and went sprawling forward. his hands hit the ground first, the impact jarring up his arms, but it was the cold, hard earth that told him he was done. he couldn't go on, couldn't push himself any further.
"just a little more," he whispered to himself, his voice hoarse and desperate, but his body refused to listen. his vision tunneled, the edges of his sight going black, and the last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was the towering silhouette of a tree, its branches reaching out like skeletal hands.
when percy woke, it was to the sound of crackling fire and the smell of burning wood. his eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, but he forced them open, blinking against the dim light that filtered through his lashes. the first thing he noticed was the warmth. it wrapped around him like a comforting blanket, a stark contrast to the cold, damp forest he had been in before.
he was lying on a rough, wooden floor, a quilted blanket draped over him. above him, the ceiling was low, wooden beams crisscrossing overhead. percy slowly sat up, wincing as his muscles protested, and looked around. he was in a small cabin, the kind you might find deep in the woods, far from civilization. the walls were made of logs, rough and sturdy, and there was a small window to his left, though the curtains were drawn, blocking out any view of the outside.
a fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room. a single armchair sat in front of the fire, but it was empty. percy's head pounded as he tried to remember how he had gotten here, but his memories were fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle that didn't quite fit together.
he swung his legs over the side of the bed, the cool wooden floor pressing against his bare feet. where were his shoes? he scanned the room, but they were nowhere to be seen. he was dressed in the same clothes he had been wearing in the forest, though they were now clean and dry. someone had found him, brought him here, and taken care of him. but who?
a creak from the other side of the cabin drew his attention. percy's eyes flicked to the door, which was slowly swinging open. he tensed, every muscle in his body coiling in preparation for... he didn't even know what. but when the door fully opened, it revealed not a monster or a threat, but an old man, his face weathered and lined with age, his white hair wild and unkempt.
the man smiled, a kind, gentle expression that seemed to ease the tension in percy's chest. "you're awake," the man said, his voice gravelly but warm. "i was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come around."
percy blinked, trying to gather his thoughts. "where am i? how did i get here?"
the man stepped inside, closing the door behind him. he carried a tray with a bowl of steaming soup and a mug of something that smelled sweet and comforting. "you're in my cabin, deep in the woods. i found you unconscious not too far from here. you were in bad shape, son. i brought you back, got you cleaned up, and now you're safe. for now, at least."
"safe from what?" percy asked, though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. the memory of the dark presence that had been chasing him in the forest was still fresh in his mind.
the man's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. he set the tray down on a small table next to percy's bed. "there are things in these woods, things that no mortal eyes should ever see. but you've been touched by the gods, haven't you, boy? you're different."
percy swallowed, the soup forgotten as a chill ran down his spine. "who are you?"
the old man chuckled, though there was no real humor in it. "just an old hermit, living out my days far from the troubles of the world. but i've seen a lot in my time, and i know when someone like you crosses my path, it ain't by accident."
percy's mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. "what was that... thing in the woods? was it after me?"
the old man nodded slowly, his expression grim. "it was a shade, a creature of darkness. they don't often stray from their realm, but when they do, it's usually because they're drawn to something—or someone. you, boy, you shine like a beacon in the night to them."
percy's heart skipped a beat. "how do i stop it?"
the man placed a hand on percy's shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong for someone so old. "rest now, regain your strength. the shade won't be able to reach you here, not with the protections i've placed around the cabin. tomorrow, when you're ready, we'll figure out what to do next."
percy nodded, though his mind was still spinning with questions. he watched as the old man turned and walked back to the fire, sitting in the armchair and staring into the flames. percy lay back down, pulling the blanket up to his chin, the warmth and safety of the cabin lulling him into a sense of security he hadn't felt in days.
as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger, something that would take him far beyond these woods. but for now, he was safe, and that was enough.
