THE STRANGER
821 Words
The light faded.
The forest became quiet again—but not peaceful.
Lira stood still, holding the glowing stone tightly. Her heart was beating fast. The ground no longer shook, but the air still felt heavy.
The stranger was watching her.
Neither of them moved for a moment.
Then Lira took a small step back.
“Don’t come closer,” she said.
Her voice was stronger this time.
The man stopped.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said.
Lira did not believe him.
“You said I shouldn’t touch this,” she said, lifting the stone slightly. “Then why is it here?”
The man looked at the stone, then back at her.
“It was hidden,” he said. “It was never meant to be found.”
Lira frowned.
“Well… I found it.”
For a brief moment, something changed in his face. Not anger. Not fear.
Something else.
“You shouldn’t have,” he said quietly.
Lira felt a small spark of anger.
“I didn’t know!” she said. “It was just there!”
The stone in her hand glowed softly again, as if it was reacting to her voice.
The man noticed.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“It’s already connected to you,” he said.
Lira blinked.
“Connected? What does that mean?”
The man did not answer right away. He looked around the forest, like he was listening for something.
“We don’t have much time,” he said.
Lira’s fear returned.
“What do you mean?”
He stepped closer.
This time, she did not move back.
“You need to leave this place,” he said. “Now.”
“Why?”
Before he could answer—
A loud sound echoed through the forest.
A deep, unnatural roar.
Lira gasped.
“What was that?!”
The man’s face turned serious.
“They felt it,” he said.
“Felt what?”
“The stone.”
Lira’s grip tightened.
“Who are they?”
The man looked at her, his glowing eyes sharp.
“You don’t want to meet them.”
Another roar, closer this time.
The trees shook.
Something was moving fast through the forest.
Lira’s wings lifted, trembling.
“We have to go,” the man said.
Lira hesitated.
She didn’t know him.
She didn’t trust him.
But staying felt worse.
“Fine,” she said. “But you’re explaining everything.”
The man gave a small nod.
“Stay close.”
He turned and began to move quickly through the trees.
Lira followed.
They ran through the dark forest, branches and leaves brushing past them. The glowing insects scattered as they passed.
The sounds behind them grew louder.
Heavy steps.
Breaking wood.
Whatever was coming—it was big.
“Faster!” the man said.
“I’m trying!” Lira replied.
She spread her wings and lifted slightly off the ground, moving quicker now.
The man glanced at her.
“Don’t go too high,” he warned.
“Why not?”
“It will see you.”
Lira quickly lowered herself.
Her heart was racing again.
“Who are you?” she asked as they ran.
“My name is Kael,” he said.
“Kael…” she repeated. “What are you?”
He didn’t answer.
That only made her more nervous.
Suddenly—
Something crashed behind them.
Lira turned her head.
Her eyes widened.
A large shadow moved between the trees.
Too big. Too fast.
Glowing eyes in the dark.
“It’s coming!” she shouted.
“I know,” Kael said.
They reached a narrow path between thick trees.
“Through here!” he said.
They pushed forward.
The sounds behind them got closer.
Lira could feel it now.
A dark presence.
Cold.
Hungry.
“Kael…” she said, her voice shaking. “It’s right behind us!”
“I need you to trust me,” he said.
She didn’t like that.
“Why?!”
He stopped suddenly.
Lira almost ran into him.
“What are you doing?!” she cried.
Kael turned to face the darkness.
The ground began to shake again.
“Because,” he said, his glowing eyes brighter now—
“I’m the only thing standing between you and it.”
Lira’s breath caught.
The creature stepped into the edge of the light.
Huge.
Dark.
With burning eyes.
Lira froze.
Kael stepped forward.
His hand lifted slightly.
And the air around him began to change.
Dark energy moved like smoke around his body.
Lira stared in shock.
“Kael…” she whispered.
He didn’t look back.
“Run,” he said.
Lira hesitated.
Her heart pulled in two directions.
Run…
Or stay.
The creature let out a terrifying roar.
Kael’s voice became stronger.
“GO!”
This time, Lira ran.
But as she moved, she looked back one last time.
And what she saw—
Changed everything.
- Writer
