With renewed hope, they pushed themselves harder, sprinting toward the light. But as they neared the exit, the ground suddenly shook, causing rocks to tumble from the ceiling.Richard glanced back, his instincts screaming at him. “Go! I’ll hold them off!”“What? No!” Addams shouted, but Richard was already positioning himself to face their pursuers.“I’ll buy you time! Just get to safety!” he insisted, determination flooding his veins.Reluctantly, Addams and the president’s daughter darted toward the exit, their hearts pounding in unison as they fled into the open air.Richard turned to face the oncoming aliens, adrenaline surging through him. He could see the anger and desperation on their faces, and he knew he had to stall them long enough for his friends to escape.---------Outside the tunnel, Addams and the president's daughter emerged into the cool night air, their eyes adjusting to the dim light of the moon. They could hear the distant sounds of chaos and shouting as the alien

"We'll rest tonight, and tomorrow, we'll cross that river into the forest," Richard said, folding his arms as he surveyed their surroundings."What if the aliens come after us?" the president's daughter interjected, her brow furrowed with concern."She's right, man. We're not safe here," Addams added, his tone serious."We're not safe anywhere," Richard replied, his voice steady. "But we have a better chance of surviving if we go into that forest when the sun is up, rather than at night." He paused, a thought forming in his mind. "And if the aliens do come after us, we can lead them right into the forest. We can use them as bait to escape whatever evil lurks there.""Sounds like a good idea to me," Addams said, a smile breaking through his worry."I'll try to scout for any antelope or animal in the area that we can eat," Addams suggested, turning to leave."Be careful, and don't stay too long," Richard cautioned, watching Addams walk away.Once Addams was out of sight, the president's

The lead mermaid's eyes gleamed with malice as she hissed, "She’s the Leviathan of the ocean kingdom, Ghost Rider. You are no match for her power.”Richard gave a sarcastic smile, unfazed. "Then tell her I sent my regards."In an instant, his body surged with electricity, lighting up the water around him as bolts of lightning struck each mermaid holding him. The mermaids convulsed, their sinister expressions fading into pain as the shocks weakened their grip.With a powerful stroke, Richard pushed through them, swimming upward with relentless speed. The water cleared as he broke the surface, gasping for air, and hauled himself out onto the riverbank, glancing back at the water that was now eerily still.Richard took a moment to steady his breathing, then made his way over to Addams and Sophia. Addams was crouched by the fire, focused on roasting the deer he’d caught, while Sophia sat silently, her gaze locked on the flames.As Richard approached, Sophia glanced up, her eyes wide with

"Bad dream?" Sophia asked softly, noting the shadows of dread lingering on Richard's face as he sat up.He shook his head, forcing a casual tone. "Nothing much. Just the usual nightmares." He glanced around, brow furrowing. "Where’s Addams?"Sophia shrugged. "I woke up, and he was gone. No idea where he went."Richard’s jaw tightened. "We need to leave, and fast. I have a bad feeling the aliens will find us if we linger.""Alright," Sophia replied, rising to her feet. She dusted herself off and headed toward the river, pausing as the water stretched out before them. She turned back to him, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "How are we supposed to cross this? The river’s huge."Richard stared at the churning water, his face set with resolve. "We swim. I don’t see any other choice."Sophia’s eyes widened, anxiety flickering across her face. "What if the mermaids attack again?"Richard met her gaze, his voice steady. "Let’s hope they don’t. But even if they do, we’ll be prepared this tim

“The bloody trees can speak! And they have eyes!” Addams yelled, his face paling as he struggled to process the impossible.Sophia clung tightly to Richard, her breath quickening. He could feel the press of her body against his, but his focus was entirely on the unsettling sight of the talking trees, their eyes watching him with unsettling interest.Richard raised his hands in a gesture of peace, choosing his words carefully. “We don’t mean to intrude. We’re just passing through and wish no trouble.”The trees let out a sound that might have been a chuckle, the rough bark twisting as if trying to form mocking smiles. Their voices echoed in eerie unison. “It is not us you should be wary of, Ghost Rider. We mean you no harm. But… we cannot speak for the others.”“What… others?” Richard asked, a flicker of relief running through him, though his wariness remained. The trees weren’t hostile, but their words hinted at something darker.“There are many great evils here,” the trees intoned, t