Episode 1

The wind howled through the trees, sending shivers down my spine. I ran blindly through the dark forest, my heart pounding in my ears. Behind me, I could hear the deep, guttural growls of the monstrous creatures chasing me.

My bare feet pounded against the uneven ground as I desperately tried to get away. Sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes. Suddenly, I slammed into something hard, falling backwards onto the forest floor.

Dazed, I looked up to see one of the beasts towering over me. Its jaws were wide open, drool dripping from its jagged teeth. It let out a bone-chilling howl that made my blood run cold.

I tried to scramble backwards, but I was trapped. The monster lowered its head, preparing to scoop me up in its massive jaws.

Just then, my eyes snapped open. I was back in my bedroom, safely in my bed. It had all been just a nightmare. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the phantom pain in my feet from where I had hit the hard object in the dream.

Letting out a shaky breath, I tried to calm my nerves. The monsters may have been a figment of my imagination, but the terror had felt devastatingly real. I laid back against my pillow, silently hoping I wouldn't have to face those beasts again anytime soon.

It was 7 in the morning. I got up from my bed and lazily walked towards the bathroom. Brushing and grooming myself early in the morning was a hectic task which I’d avoid at any cost since I started living by myself, all alone, away from people and sunshine. However, today was a special day. I finally have a job.

But did I truly need a job?

When I ask that to myself, I’m even more convinced that I was living a great life without such vexatious chores. Linda and her family would pay for all my stuff, and I do not have friends. A jobless, unbothered life seemed pretty much made for me.

But I know. I know that the longer I continue to live like this, it will be I who will suffer and become a target of mockery. I absolutely cannot let those detestable soul-eating flies have their way. Therefore, I must wake up and face the real world. I must save everybody.

I washed up and browsed through my closet. I hate all my outfits, they are so quirky and outlandish. I should probably buy new ones.

But still, I picked one of them, hesitatingly. After finishing breakfast, I will leave for the company. I was accepted for the post of radio jockey based on the sole reason that they liked my voice. It’s a low-paying job with high requirements, so I didn’t have many people to compete with in the first place.

Oh, this bright light.

As I stepped out of my house, the warmth of the sun's rays caressed my skin, a sensation I had long forgotten. Squinting against the bright light, I felt the warmth soak into my bones.

The world seemed so vibrant, colours I had only dimly recalled are now bursting with vivid life. The gentle breeze ruffled my hair, a refreshing change from the stale air I had grown accustomed to.

Taking a deep breath, I relished the crisp, clean scent of the outdoors – no longer muted by the confines of my dimly lit enclosure. Every sight, sound, and smell felt new, as if I was experiencing the world for the first time in forever. My eyes stung with tears of both joy and sensory overload.

But I didn't care. After so long trapped in darkness, the light was a welcome, invigorating assault on my senses. I never wanted to go back.

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