ECLIPSED

CHAPTER 3

Lea hung suspended in the air, bound tightly by branches that twisted and coiled around her like serpents. She could hardly believe what was happening. The figure before her was undeniably an elf, an ancient being from the myths her mother used to tell her as a child, never meant to exist in her reality. A mix of fear and awe surged through her. "I'm not in New York anymore," she thought, panic rising in her chest. "I'm not even on Earth."

As tears began to well up in her eyes, she caught the elf's mocking gaze. His lips curled into a sinister grin, revealing pointed teeth. "Oh, little human, are you crying?" he taunted, laughter dripping from his voice like poison.

Lea's anger ignited. "Asshole," she whispered, her heart pounding in her ears.

The elf's laughter cut through her resolve, and he leaned in closer. "What did you say?" he inquired, his tone a mix of amusement and curiosity.

In a moment of impulse, Lea jabbed her fingers into his eyes, feeling the heat of desperation propel her actions. The elf stumbled back, momentarily blinded, and the branches that held her loosened their grip just enough for her to drop to the ground. Without a second thought, she scrambled for her pepper spray, her fingers fumbling as adrenaline surged through her veins.

She didn't look back as she bolted into the forest, not caring whether he followed her or not. But soon, she heard the sound of footsteps pounding behind her-heavy and relentless. Panic flared within her, but she tightened her grip on the spray, ready to defend herself.

"You can't catch me!" she shouted over her shoulder, the bravado hardly masking her fear.

But the elf was fast, closing the distance between them in seconds. Before she could react, he tackled her to the ground, pinning her down with an alarming ease. She felt the weight of him, and with a surge of determination, she raised the pepper spray and aimed for his eyes.

"Get off me!" she screamed as she sprayed, the acrid mist hitting his face. He howled in agony, releasing her momentarily as he recoiled, clawing at his eyes.

Lea seized the opportunity and sprinted away, the vibrant colors of the forest blurring past her. The plants pulsed with life, their hues richer and more vivid than anything she had ever seen, while fireflies danced around her, glowing in shades of purple that illuminated the darkness.

As she raced into an open space, the world around her shifted dramatically. Above her, the night sky loomed vast and empty, a black canvas without stars or clouds, casting an eerie sense of isolation. Fear clutched at her heart, mingling with awe at the sheer strangeness of this place.

"What is happening?" she gasped, the cold air filling her lungs.

Suddenly, she heard the elf's footsteps again, but this time he stopped running. She turned to look, confusion flooding her as she saw a smirk spread across his face. Before she could comprehend his intentions, she crashed into something solid-a wall that wasn't a wall at all.

It was another elf, towering over her, twice her size. He looked down at her with a mixture of disgust and curiosity, a twisted smile curling his lips.

As he waved his hand, Lea felt a crushing weight descend upon her, as if the very air was being siphoned away. She gasped, struggling to breathe, her chest constricting painfully.

"Please, no! No!" she cried out, desperation spilling from her lips.

" Azrath would be pleased with what we found hahahha" as they laughed menacingly

Azrath? My head hurts. The towering elf's expression remained cold and unyielding, his power suffocating her hopes of escape. As darkness began to close in at the edges of her vision, Lea fought against the encroaching despair, her mind racing for a solution, a way out of this nightmarish predicament.

With every ounce of strength she had left, she prepared to summon whatever courage remained inside her, hoping against hope that she could find a way to survive this ordeal.