Chapter 4 – The Falcon's Cry and a Missing Friend
Galvin's breath was ragged as he sprinted through the dense forest, his heart pounding like a war drum. The massive eagle's shadow loomed over them, its piercing cry shaking the trees.
"This thing is huge!" Galvin gasped, pushing his legs to move faster.
Enzo ran beside him, his focus on the predator in the sky. But in his panic, he failed to notice a thick tree root jutting out of the ground. His foot caught, and with a loud thud, he crashed onto the forest floor.
"Damn it!" Enzo groaned, trying to push himself up.
The eagle wasted no time. Its talons stretched wide as it dived toward its vulnerable prey. The glint of its razor-sharp claws sent shivers down Galvin's spine.
"Move, Enzo!"
But Enzo wasn't fast enough. The eagle's shadow engulfed him. Galvin didn't think—his body moved on instinct. He lunged forward, gripping his dagger tight. The blade flashed as he slashed at the eagle's legs.
A sickening cry tore through the forest as blood sprayed from the eagle's wound. It flapped its wings violently, trying to regain control midair, but Galvin wasn't finished. He leaped, dagger in hand, and plunged the blade straight into the bird's chest.
The eagle screeched one last time before collapsing onto the ground, its massive form shaking the earth.
A notification appeared before Galvin's eyes.
+500 XP for killing a Giant Falcon
Panting, Galvin pulled his dagger free, wiping the blood on his torn sleeve. He turned to Enzo, who sat on the ground, wide-eyed.
"You… actually did it," Enzo muttered.
Galvin smirked. "Guess I'm not completely useless."
They continued deeper into the forest, the night swallowing the last traces of sunlight. The darkness was thick, suffocating, and filled with the whispers of unseen creatures. The wind carried eerie sounds, but exhaustion gnawed at their bodies.
Galvin yawned. "I think we should rest."
Enzo nodded. "Yeah. We'll find a place to stay for the night."
After some searching, they stumbled upon a small, empty cave. No traces of other creatures—at least, none that were visible. With no better option, they decided to settle there.
As Enzo lay down, he stretched and sighed. "See you tomorrow, Galvin."
Galvin, however, couldn't sleep.
He stared at the cave's ceiling, his thoughts spiraling into the past. His own death. The memory burned fresh in his mind.
The pain. The helplessness.
He was weak. A crybaby.
He had no father, only a struggling mother who worked tirelessly to support him. And yet, he couldn't even live to make her proud.
His bullies had seen to that.
They had cornered him after school, their voices filled with mockery. Then came the stabbing. He remembered the sharp pain, the blood soaking his uniform, the fading light in his mother's eyes when she saw his lifeless body in the hospital.
Now, here he was. Trapped in a cruel game of survival. Was this a second chance? Or just another nightmare?
His eyelids grew heavy. He closed his eyes.
But when he woke up—
Enzo was gone.
Galvin sat up, blinking in confusion. He looked around the cave. Empty. The warmth of Enzo's sleeping spot was long gone.
A cold dread slithered down his spine.
"…Enzo?"
Silence.
He stood, gripping his dagger tight. Stepping outside, his stomach dropped.
No one was there.
The forest was still, almost unnaturally so. The wind had stopped. Even the distant howls of the creatures had vanished. Something was wrong.
He quickly gathered his things, strapping his worn-out bag over his shoulder.
Where the hell did Enzo go?
Without another thought, Galvin stepped into the unknown, determined to find his only friend in this twisted world.
And he had a sinking feeling that something was watching him.