The forest seemed endless. Trees stretched high into the sky, their branches so thick that barely any light reached the ground. He ran, his boots slipping on the damp earth, his breath loud and uneven. The shadows in the forest moved unnaturally, twisting and flickering like they were alive.
He stumbled over an exposed root, falling hard to the ground. Mud streaked his palms and knees, and he clenched his fists in frustration. The shadows grew darker around him, and the rustling of leaves behind him made his heart race. He didn't look back—he couldn't.
Pushing himself up, he forced his legs to keep moving. His muscles burned, and the air felt heavy in his lungs, but stopping wasn't an option. The maze of trees surrounded him, their gnarled trunks and sprawling roots creating barriers that seemed impossible to escape.
---
The forest grew thicker as he pressed on. The dim light was gone now, replaced by a cold darkness that made it hard to see anything. He stumbled over uneven ground, grabbing onto branches to keep himself steady. Every sound—his own breathing, the snap of twigs beneath his boots—felt louder, sharper.
A sudden drop in the ground sent him sliding down a steep slope. He grabbed at roots and rocks to slow himself, the rough edges cutting into his hands. When he reached the bottom, he collapsed onto his knees, his chest heaving. The fog here was thick, curling around his ankles like smoke.
He pulled himself to his feet, his legs trembling as he pushed forward again. The cold air stung his face, and the forest pressed closer, its twisted trees forming walls that boxed him in.
---
Then he saw it.
Through the tangled branches, a metallic object stood out against the natural backdrop. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. As he stepped closer, the shape became clearer—a crashed spaceship, its sleek surface damaged and covered in dirt and vines.
The sharp angles and rounded edges of the ship stirred something angry inside him. The design reminded him of that arrogant blue monster. He clenched his fists as the memory flooded back—he didn't need details to feel the frustration. The ship had the same air of smugness, even now, as if mocking him in the middle of his struggle to escape the forest.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, his teeth grinding. He took a step forward, glaring at the ship like it had personally insulted him.
---
The ship was partially buried, its nose stuck in the earth. The cockpit dome was shattered, its pieces scattered across the ground. Despite the damage, the faint glow of its lights gave the clearing an eerie atmosphere.
He placed a hand on the cold metal, his fingers trailing across the surface. The ship was massive, and its once-sleek frame had been bent and scarred by the crash. Vines crawled along its sides, wrapping tightly around its damaged panels.
The entrance hatch was slightly open. With effort, he pushed it further, the metal screeching loudly as it moved. Inside, the ship was dimly lit, blue lights pulsing weakly along the walls.
---
The cockpit was a mess. Wires hung loose, sparking faintly, and the control panels were cracked. The air smelled of burnt metal and old machinery. He approached the main console, his eyes scanning the rows of buttons and levers.
None of it made sense. The layout was chaotic, and the screens flickered erratically. He gritted his teeth, his frustration building. "Figures," he muttered, his hands hovering over the controls.
He pressed one of the buttons, and the console emitted a low hum. Lights began blinking around him, and the screen lit up with strange shapes and lines. He didn't understand any of it, but he didn't care. He just wanted the ship to move.
---
The engines sputtered weakly as he pulled one of the levers. The ship groaned, the floor vibrating beneath him as it struggled to come to life. A red light blinked steadily on the console, but he ignored it, gripping the throttle-like lever tightly and pushing it forward.
The ship roared suddenly, its thrusters sending a bright blue glow into the clearing. The vines that held it down snapped one by one, the ground trembling as the ship lifted slightly off the earth.
With a final surge of power, the ship broke free from the soil. It wobbled violently, throwing him into the pilot's seat, but it was moving. The roar of the engines drowned out everything else as the ship climbed higher.
---
The forest blurred below him as the ship rose into the sky. The twisted trees and suffocating shadows grew smaller until they disappeared completely. The stars above stretched endlessly, their light cutting through the darkness that had surrounded him for so long.
His grip on the controls loosened slightly as the ship leveled out. The screens in front of him flickered, but he didn't care what they said. The important thing was that he had escaped.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he let out a shaky breath and relaxed into the seat. He was free.