Chapter 7

Kenny's eyes snapped open, his body jerking upright. He was lying on a bed of soft moss, the scent of damp earth and pine needles filling his nostrils. The world around him was a blur of green and brown, the towering trees of a dense forest casting long shadows in the fading light.

He sat up, his head pounding, his body aching. The man and the woman, all gone. He was alone, lost in the middle of nowhere. But the silence was broken by a low, guttural growl.

He turned, his eyes widening in horror. Through the thick undergrowth, he saw flames, a raging inferno consuming the forest. The air crackled with heat, and the acrid smell of smoke filled his lungs.

And then he saw her. Chidi. His old friend. Chidi was trapped, pinned beneath a fallen tree, her face contorted in pain. Kenny had not seen her since he moved into Orvin's house, after his parents died.

"Chidi!" Kenny yelled, scrambling to his feet. He ran towards his friend, his heart pounding in his chest. How had Chidi gotten here? How had he gotten here? None of it made sense.

As he reached Chidi, a shadow fell over them, a monstrous shape blotting out the already dim light. He looked up, his eyes widening in terror. A dragon, its scales shimmering like molten gold, its eyes burning like coals, was bearing down on them, its jaws agape, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

What the heck is going on! Kenny thought to himself, the world just keeps getting stranger.

Kenny frantically tried to lift the tree, but it was too heavy, too deeply embedded in the earth. Desperation clawed at his throat. He scanned the forest floor, his eyes searching for anything that could help. He spotted a collection of tools, scattered near a fallen log—a machete, an axe, a shovel.

He grabbed the shovel, and dug around Chidi's legs. As soon as Chidi could wiggle, Kenny tried with all his might to raise the tree as high as possible, giving Chidi enough space to break free. The dragon, who took notice of them, as Kenny groaned heavily while raising the raising, turned around to them.

They scrambled to their feet, the dragon's fiery breath scorching the air behind them. They ran, their feet pounding against the forest floor, the roar of the dragon echoing through the trees.

They didn't stop until they were sure the dragon was no longer in pursuit. They collapsed against a large oak, their chests heaving, their bodies trembling.

"Where are we?" Kenny gasped, his eyes wide with confusion. "How did we get here?"

He turned to Chidi, his gaze searching his friend's face for answers. But Chidi's eyes had changed. They were cold, empty, devoid of their usual warmth.

Before Kenny could react, Chidi lunged, a knife flashing in the dim light. Kenny recoiled, his heart pounding, his mind reeling. It was like Chidi was being controlled, his movements jerky and unnatural.

He tried to defend himself, his hands raised in a futile attempt to block the attack. But Chidi was relentless, his movements swift and precise. A sharp pain ripped through Kenny's side, followed by a searing slice across his throat.

He stumbled back, his hands clutching at his bleeding neck, his eyes wide with disbelief. He tried to scream, but only a gurgling sound escaped his lips.

And then, darkness.

Kenny’s eyes snapped open. He sat bolt upright, his body drenched in sweat, his heart pounding like a drum. He was in a room, a dimly lit room with stone walls and a high, vaulted ceiling. A fire crackled in a hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room.

A woman sat in a chair by his bedside, her eyes fixed on him. It was a different woman than the one in the car, this one had kind eyes and a gentle smile. The man with the sword stood near the fireplace, his gaze watchful.

"Welcome back," the woman said, her voice soft and soothing.