I woke up by the wet grass soaking my backside. I tried to sit up but my whole body was paralyzed. Slowly I managed to move my toes and then my feet and legs. I got to a sitting position and opened my eyes once my head stopped spinning. There were trees all around. I got myself up on my feet and started walking. Having no idea where I was or how I got here.

A light was showing somewhere in the woods. Not knowing where else to go, I followed it. A thin black tree with shining red leaves was the source. Something about it dragged me closer and I couldn’t help but touch the leaves. They were hard and cold, like glass. On the other side stood a dark shadow. I noticed it as it was leaving the comfort of the trees. I turned and ran. There was no trail to follow so I just ran through the trees. The thing behind me sounded heavy as it ran on all four. It leaped and I crawled into a ball as its claws scraped my back. I fell forward and rolled, falling into a hole. The creature stopped and walked past the hole a few times before running back towards the tree. I blacked out.


I awoke to being dragged out of the hole by my arms. I screamed and flayed my arms to get free. A whisper came from the darkness

“Shut up. They will hear you.” They got me out of the hole and helped me to my feet. A tall guy, with long brown hair in a ponytail.

“Can you walk?” He asked. I nodded. We started walking, he held his hand around my wrist, taking me through the trees carefully. I could hear animals moving around in the woods, but we didn’t see anyone. We got to a clearing, where an old watchtower was standing. He let go of me and walked to it, ringing  a bell that was sitting at the bottom of the tower. Someone looked out of the tower and the guy waved. A rope ladder was thrown down, and we climbed up. At the top of the tower there were three other people, a scared looking boy, a boy with a hard face and a girl that smiled at us. I collapsed the moment I took my foot off the ladder.


When I awoke the sun was high in the sky. It was only the girl there. She was brewing something that smelled like rotten eggs and blood. I almost threw up.

“What is that?” I asked in a raspy voice. She looked over at me.

“Oh you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Not too well. My body is aching.” She came over and sat down beside me.

“You got attacked yesterday right?” I nodded to her. “Where?”

“In my back.”

“Take off your shirt, I need to see.” I did what she asked of me. She trailed her fingers over the wounds, I flinched. 

“There are eight of them.” She said, taking out a bit of cloth and dipped it into the brew.  She placed the fabric on my back, it burned. I let out a scream.

“This is what we use for cleaning wounds we get from the creatures here. I’m Natalie, what's your name?”

“J-Jessica.” I said.

“It’s going to be okay Jessica. This will help it heal faster.” She dipped the cloth and continued. “This is blood from one of the creatures, it’s the only thing that heals these wounds.” I recoiled and tried moving away but she grabbed me. “Jessica, it's okay. I know it feels disgusting in the beginning, but I need to do this before it gets infected.” I swallowed and let her continue.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“What is the last thing you remember before you got here?” Natalie said.

“I went to bed on Friday and then I awoke in the woods.”

“Aha, same for me, for all of us actually.” She put the cloth in a bucket. “I have been here for about six months, I think. Aiden is pretty new to this too, he has only been here for two weeks. Isaiah is the youngest of us, he’s only 12. He has been here for about a year. And Tyler, the guy who saved you yesterday, he has been here the longest. Almost three years.”

We heard something outside and Natalie went to look. She released the rope ladder and the boys climbed up. They had some food with them and some weird fabric. Tyler looked over at me.

“Ah, good you’re awake.” Isaiah went up to Natalie and hugged her. Aiden gave me a node and I nodded back. Tyler turned to Natalie.

“Have you told her about this place?”

“Not much. Thought it was better that you told her.”


The others went down, leaving Tyler and me alone in the tower. He threw the fabric at me.

“Put this on.”It almost smelled as bad as the mixture.

Tyler took out a package of cigarettes and put one in his mouth. 

“Do you smoke?” He said, pointing the package at me. I took one.

“Sometimes.” I said.

“How do you get all these things in the woods?”

“From the people who own this place. This is a game to them. They leave things in the woods for us to find, anything to keep the game going.” I looked at him in confusion.

“Game? We’re stuck in the woods, we just need to find our way back to civilization.” He took a drag of his cigarette.

“I wish it was that simple. Everyone got here the same way. Went to sleep and then woke up in the woods. They were sold, including you. By their parents.” His eyes pierced mine. My heart started beating faster..

“My parents wouldn’t do that! They love me! Why would anyone sell their kids?” I said, feeling my eyes sting. Tyler flicked his cigarette out the window. 

“Some do it for money. They get an immediate payout depending on the age of the kid. Then they get more money for each day they survive. Others do it because they are sick of their kid or even worse, because they are part of this twisted game.” Tears filled my face and I was shaking uncontrollably. Tyler sat down in front of me and put his arms around me. “It’s going to be okay.” I wailed and tried pushing him off me, but he held on tight, letting me get everything out.