The World Of Nightmare

Mike jolted awake, gasping as though his lungs were fighting for air. His heart raced, pounding in his chest as he sat up. A shiver ran through his body, his skin damp and clammy. It was cold, the kind of deep, bone-chilling cold that sank into your marrow and wouldn’t let go. His breath misted in the air, swirling in the dim light.

Where am I?

He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The ground beneath him was hard, uneven, covered in something damp that felt like moss, but the air was thick with an unsettling stench of rot and decay. A dense fog surrounded him, wrapping everything in an eerie, shifting veil. The world beyond his immediate vision was a blur of twisted trees and dark shadows.

This wasn’t home. Home was... no, his memories were fragmented, slipping away the harder he tried to grasp them. He remembered his name—Mike—and that he had once lived a life of quiet monotony. But that life felt distant now, a dream compared to the sharpness of this place.

A rustling sound snapped his attention to the forest surrounding him. The fog seemed to pulse and writhe, alive with something unseen but dangerous. Mike’s pulse quickened. Panic gripped him as the sound grew louder, closer—something was moving through the mist.

Instinctively, he scrambled to his feet, his legs weak, trembling. He scanned the area but could barely see past the thick fog. His breathing quickened as the rustling grew into a low growl, guttural and menacing, coming from all sides.

Run. The thought cut through the panic, and without a second to consider it, he sprinted forward. His feet slipped over the damp, uneven ground, but adrenaline drove him onward. The forest blurred as he ran blindly, dodging around tree trunks and leaping over roots, desperate to escape whatever was hunting him.

But no matter how fast he ran, the growling followed, closer now, more distinct. His heart pounded in his ears, his lungs burning with every breath. He couldn’t outrun it. Whatever was out there, it was faster, and it was closing in.

Suddenly, his foot caught on something—a rock, maybe—and he went sprawling forward, crashing into the ground. Pain shot through his body as he hit the cold earth, dirt and leaves sticking to his palms. He gasped, trying to push himself up, but the growl was there—right behind him.

Mike twisted his body, his breath catching in his throat as he came face to face with the creature. It emerged from the fog, monstrous and massive, like a wolf but with glowing red eyes and fur that shimmered unnaturally. Its lips curled back, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

He froze, terror paralyzing him as the creature’s growl deepened, vibrating through the air. This was it. He was going to die here, torn apart in a world he didn’t understand. His chest tightened as he watched the beast crouch, ready to pounce.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him glowed. Mike’s eyes widened in shock as strange symbols—runes—etched themselves into the earth around him. They pulsed with a dim blue light, faint but growing stronger with each second. He felt a strange warmth rising from the symbols, seeping into his body.

The creature lunged, but instinctively, Mike threw his hands up. His muscles tensed, and without knowing how or why, a blast of light shot from his palms. The energy hit the beast mid-air, and it let out a howl of pain, knocked back by the force.

Mike stared at his hands, shaking. His pulse thundered in his ears. Did I... do that?

The beast snarled, its eyes locked on him, but it didn’t attack again. Instead, it let out a low, frustrated growl before retreating into the fog, disappearing as quickly as it had come.

Mike collapsed back onto the ground, his body trembling. The runes beneath him flickered, then faded into the dirt, leaving no trace behind. He lay there for a moment, panting, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

He had power—real power. But how? And why now? This wasn’t the kind of thing that happened in the mundane life he vaguely remembered. He didn’t have time to dwell on it. Not here.

He needed to find shelter.

Struggling to his feet, Mike looked around, the fog beginning to thin. In the distance, through the haze, he saw a faint glow. A village, maybe? He had no idea, but he didn’t have many options. He started walking, every step heavy, but determined. The light grew clearer as he approached—a settlement of some kind, with crude, wooden huts clustered together, and a faint warmth of firelight flickering through the mist.

As he neared the village, wary eyes met him. The people looked rough—hardened by survival. Their clothes were stitched from animal hides, and many of them carried weapons: crude swords, spears, and axes. The air of suspicion was palpable as they eyed him, a stranger in their midst.

A man stepped forward, broad-shouldered and scarred, with a large axe strapped to his back. His eyes were hard as he studied Mike.

“You don’t belong here,” the man said, his voice rough, like gravel. “What are you?”

Mike swallowed, unsure how to respond. “I... don’t know. I just woke up in the forest. I don’t know where I am.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, his hand resting on the hilt of his axe. “Liar. No one just wanders into this world. Who sent you?”

“I’m telling the truth,” Mike insisted, his heart pounding again. “I don’t even know what this place is.”

Before the man could respond, a woman emerged from one of the huts—a tall figure with long, silver hair and eyes that gleamed with an unnatural light. She looked at Mike with an intensity that made his skin crawl.

“He’s telling the truth,” the woman said, her voice smooth and commanding. “I can sense it.”

The man frowned but stepped back as the woman approached Mike, her gaze piercing.

“You’ve found something,” she said, her voice low. “Something powerful.”

Mike’s thoughts flashed to the runes, to the energy that had saved him from the beast. He nodded hesitantly, unsure of what to say.

The woman smiled—a cold, calculating smile. “This world is dangerous,” she said softly. “Power will be your only salvation. But power comes at a cost.”

Mike’s stomach twisted. He didn’t like the way she said that, but what choice did he have? He was lost, alone, and now... marked by something far beyond his understanding.

“Come,” she said, turning and gesturing for him to follow. “We have much to discuss.”

Mike hesitated, glancing back toward the forest. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him, but in this world, there was no turning back. He followed the woman into the darkness, his mind racing with questions, but knowing one thing for sure: whatever path he was on now, it would change his life forever.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***