𝓐𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻 (but you're Ashlyn) 𝕊𝔹𝔾

Episode 58

>>>><A Desperate Rescue><<<<

The moment we stepped into the phantom realm, a sense of urgency enveloped us. Our mission was clear: find Tyler. The pulse of adrenaline quickened my heart as the gravity of our situation sank in-this was no ordinary rescue mission.

The mantra echoed in my mind: Find Tyler. Secure Tyler. Get out of here. We knew we had little time, and every second felt precious as we frantically searched for any sign of him.

Hours ticked away, but it was as if we were combing through an endless expanse-an expansive wasteland devoid of identifiable landmarks. The thought that we were searching for a needle in a haystack gnawed at my sanity.

My mind raced with anxious possibilities, each more morbid than the last. Hopelessness started to creep in; we had to succeed. We couldn't leave Tyler behind.

Then, a sudden yell sliced through the heavy air, sharp and desperate. It resonated deep within my chest, and instinctively, I flinched, fully aware it had to be Tyler. I stole a glance at Taylor, her body tensing in response to the pain in his voice.

We exchanged a quick nod of understanding, heading toward the sound as swiftly as we could manage. "Tyler!" we called out in unison, urgency propelling us forward.

Adrenaline surged through my veins, electrifying my thoughts, pushing aside the heavy veil of fear that loomed over us.
But just as we pressed on, we ran headlong into a phantom. Without hesitation, I launched into action, delivering a swift kick that sent it sprawling backward, before hollering out Tyler's name once more.

But the words died in my throat as I froze mid-sentence.

There he was. ​My worst nightmare materialized before my eyes-Tyler, suspended helplessly from a gnarled tree, a thick branch impaled through his abdomen.​

Blood dripped down his torso as he coughed violently, gasping for air. I felt the breath leave my lungs.

My mind raced, thoughts colliding in a chaotic whirlwind as disbelief mixed with horror. Then, Aiden's voice broke through the haze behind the bushes.

"Ash-? Oh, there you are-"I cut him off, scanning our surroundings without comprehending a single word he uttered. Where was the syringe? I needed to find it. "Where's the syringe?!" I demanded, urgency shrouding my voice."What's wrong?" he questioned, confusion spelling out on his face. But his expression shifted from puzzlement to sheer terror as he raised his gaze toward Tyler's pitiful state, and I could almost feel the blood drain from Aiden's face.

Before long, Logan and Ben caught up, their faces morphing into masks of shock and nausea; Logan looked on the verge of throwing up while Taylor succumbed to tears, collapsing onto the grass in despair.

Aiden steadied the ladder as I climbed up, my heart hammering against my ribcage. I reached toward Tyler, cheeks dampened with blood as I plunged the syringe into his skin.

"Ash, you steady?" Aiden's quiet voice broke through. I could hear the tremor lacing his tone as he attempted to remain composed."Y-yeah," I stammered, though I felt anything but steady.

When I finally descended from the ladder, my knees felt brittle, barely able to hold me. The sight of Tyler like this was suffocating, drowning me in an ocean of dread. Aiden enveloped me in a protective embrace, shock echoing in his gaze as we stood frozen in a suspended moment of horror.

As Logan started to shoot phantoms that greedily approached us, we managed to secure Tyler onto Ben's back. I bent to help Taylor, gently guiding her up off the ground, reclaiming my grip on the situation as my leadership instincts kicked in.

"You got him?" I asked Ben, needing to hear his affirmation.
He nodded, but his eyes spoke volumes of the fear that coursed through him.

"Another phantom," Logan announced, his alertness momentarily pulling me from my introspective shroud.

The reality of our situation crashed down again. Time was slipping away, and the phantoms were beginning to crawl back. I refused to let fear dictate our actions. We needed to reach the school as fast as possible.

"Alright, let's go," I commanded, my voice steady. "More phantoms are starting to show up."

The words weren't just for encouragement; they were a rallying cry. We were in this together, and we would fight for Tyler until our last breath.

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