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The memory of the grunting, the heavy thuds announcing the arrival of the first beast, was so vivid that I could almost hear them.
And then, sure enough, the grunts sounded, only a split second later than my recollection.
This can’t possibly be deja vu…
My heart raced, but I didn’t freeze this time.
With grim determination, I turned on my heels and fled in the opposite direction.
The jungle, which had once seemed so alien and impenetrable, now felt like a known maze, albeit a treacherous one.
Just as I started to think that I might escape, another sound made my blood run cold.
A rustling, then the unmistakable guttural roar of another beast — the sleeker, faster one.
The one that had intervened during my previous jungle misadventure.
It was close,muchcloser than I’d anticipated.
Panic surged through me, urging my legs to move even faster.
But could I outrun such a creature?
I doubted it.
Twigs snapped underfoot as I darted between trees, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
The sounds behind me grew closer, echoing the determined pursuit of the beast.
Every rustle, every snap intensified my fear, each sounding like the prelude to a violent capture.
A stray thought managed to pierce the haze of adrenaline and terror:
Was this my new reality?
An endless loop of crash landings and pursuits?
Was I destined to be the forever prey in this alien world’s twisted game?
There was no time to dwell on this disturbing prospect.
I needed to focus, to find some semblance of safety.
Up ahead, the jungle seemed to thin out.
Hope flared.
If I could just make it to that clearing…
But then, a fierce roar resounded, chillingly close.
The beast was nearly upon me. My heart raced even faster, and I dared not glance back, fearing that the sight of the creature would paralyze me with dread.
The clearing grew closer.
Just a few more strides…
And with that thought echoing in my mind, I burst through the edge of the jungle and into the clearing, praying that this time, somehow, the outcome would be different.
