Screams from the Abyss

Into The Unknown

Consciousness returned to Jaden like a slow tide, ebbing and flowing. At first, there was only sensation - a cool breeze against his skin, the scent of damp earth and pine, a chorus of unfamiliar bird calls. His mind struggled to make sense of these inputs, grasping for context.

[System Reboot Complete]

[Toxin Levels: Nominal]

[Location: Unknown]

[Caution Advised]

The system notifications flickered across his vision, bringing with them a flood of memories. The recruitment center. The gymnasium. The gas.

Jaden's eyes snapped open, his body tensing for a fight. But instead of the sterile confines of the military facility, he found himself staring up at a canopy of leaves, sunlight filtering through in dappled patterns. He was lying on his back in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees that looked nothing like the manicured park near his apartment.

"What the hell?" he muttered, pushing himself up to a sitting position. His head swam with the movement, and he took a moment to s