An Endless Journey Into Another World

10

The air in the cave grew thick with despair, settling over us like a suffocating shroud. Jade's face drained of color as she stared at the lifeless forms of our friends, disbelief washing over her like a cold wave.

"No... no... this can't be happening!" she cried, her voice rising in pitch as panic gripped her. "They were just here! They can't be gone!"

"Jade, please," Mia pleaded, reaching out to her. "We have to stay calm. We need to think about what to do next."

But Jade's eyes had become wild, glistening with tears that spilled over her cheeks. "Calm? How can you tell me to stay calm? They're dead! They're dead, Mia!" Her voice cracked, the weight of her words crashing down around us.

A surge of anguish welled up within me for my friend, but I couldn't afford to break down. "We can't give up hope," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We have to find a way to survive, to escape this place. We owe it to them to stay strong." My own voice wavered, the effort to remain composed feeling almost impossible.

Jade shook her head, her breath hitching as she looked back at the clearing. "What are we even supposed to do? We can't just sit here and wait to become the next victims!"

A knot of dread tightened in my stomach as I glanced at the entrance, where shadows danced menacingly. "We need to be smart," I urged, forcing the tremor from my words. "We have to find supplies and a way out while staying hidden. If we stay quiet and stick together, we might just make it through this."

Mia nodded, her expression grave but determined. "Aria's right. We can't let their deaths be in vain. We need to fight for our lives."

I could see Jade struggling with her emotions, but something in her expression softened as she looked at us. "Okay... okay," she whispered, wiping her tears. "I'll try. But we need a plan."

"First, let's gather whatever we can find in here—anything we might use for protection or to defend ourselves if that thing comes back," I said, forcing a sense of urgency into my voice. "Then we can scout the area for anything useful."

As we started searching the cave, I couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmare was only just beginning. The weight of our friends' absence settled heavily on my shoulders, but I pushed it aside. We had to survive—together.

"No! You don't understand!" Jade shrieked, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. "They're out there! And we're next! We're just sitting here waiting to die! I can't do this! I can't!"

In a sudden fit of rage, Jade surged forward, her fists clenched as she began to hit the cave wall. "We should've done something! We should've gone with them! Why didn't we go? Why didn't we—"

"Stop it!" Aria shouted, grabbing Jade's shoulders and shaking her gently, desperate to reach her through the fog of despair. "You can't blame yourself! None of us knew this would happen! We need each other right now!"

But Jade's eyes glazed over, her mind unraveling as the reality of their situation took hold. "They're gone, Aria! We're all going to die here, and I... I can't—"

Suddenly, she dropped to her knees, her shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. "I can't be in this nightmare anymore!" she cried, her voice raw with anguish. "I want to go home! I want to see my family! Why are we trapped here?"

Mia knelt beside her, trying to comfort her friend, but Jade pushed her away with surprising strength. "No! Don't touch me! I don't want to feel anything! I just want it all to end!" Her voice echoed through the cave, bouncing off the walls like a haunting melody.