This is completely separate from the main story. Not a strand of connection.

Why?

1. I'm bored.

2. My short stories book gets no love.

3. Writer's block. :/

Enjoy if you want.

Also, guess what my new obsession is.

Started an MHA fanfic if y'all are interested. Average chapter length is 5-7k words and I'm ten or so chapters in now. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Warning for the short story below: graphic violence
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><> Steve's POV <><

With one large gasp, I landed in the tall grass, immediately pulling my legs in closer to me so they were under the sunlight. Sweat doused my brow as my head shot up, staring over my shoulder.

There, the transparent immortal stood, begrudgingly glaring my way as though I had done something wrong for preserving my own life!

"This struggle of yours is useless, mortal." He commented. Even under the shadow of the dense forest, it was bright enough for his body stand there only as a ghostlike figure. I swallowed the spit in my mouth and shook my head, disagreeing. Every second of life was worth it. And hopefully I would find a way out of this entrapping forest...before night returned.

I dragged myself up to my feet and strode from one side of the sun-patch to the next. All the while, the immortal's blank, glowing eyes followed me. My right leg stung still with every limp. It was wrapped in bandages to cover for last night's injury. I had to make it to a doctor quick or risk getting an infection. I jumped again from one patch of sunlight to the next, this time landing on my feet properly. The immortal lurked behind me in the shadows, tracking my every step like a wolf waiting for that perfect moment... When the wounded lamb stumbles its last step.

Thankfully, it was just late morning... I still had time.

-------

"Ack!" I stumbled onto my back, just enough to dodge the swing of the immortal's razor-tipped claws. His hand completely vanished under the sunlight, and the immortal drew it back with a growl. His hand was completely normal again when it returned to view. My short hair stuck to the sides of my face. My beard, too, was doused in sweat. I was thirsty, tired, and baked under all this sun. My hunter showed no such signs. He only glared, both annoyed that I dare fight for my own life and at his own inability to simply exist under such light.

My teal shirt was stuck to my skin. Alrighty this was getting out of hand. Why did today of all days have to be so d### hot??

I took a break from all the walking to grab the bottom of my shirt and pull it up over my head, turning it inside out in the process. Carelessly, I tossed it aside and sighed a content sigh as I felt the air hit my exposed, sweaty skin. In my moment of bliss, my face rose upward to the sky and at last I smiled a little. At least I could enjoy these little moments on such a terrible day. The sun was directly overhead. Only half the day left to go. When my eyes dropped, I spotted in the corner of my view, the immortal. I shifted suddenly, posture lowering like a meek animal. The immortal only squinted at my exposed chest.

"...You have attained a lot more scars than most your age." He commented. I flinched, surprised he even cared enough to bring it up.

"Oh! Yeah...heh. I was always a pretty adventurous kid. Even now, my older sister scolds me a lot for getting myself into unnecessary trouble..heh..." I rubbed the back of my neck bashfully, imagining Alex's stern words ringing through my ears. Maybe it would be better I not tell her about the crazy immortal demon thing that haunted me in a forest if I ever wanted to keep my hearing in tact...when I escaped, that is.

The immortal stood a little taller, crossing his arms. "..She had reason." I chuckled, realized standing around any longer would be pointless, picked up my shirt, shoved half of it into my pocket, and continued on. The immortal followed as before, all-be-it a little more casually than before. "That big one on your lower back.. Is that a cave spider bite?"

"Wh-h-h?" My head spun around, trying to see what he was talking about. When I simply couldn't, I felt for the imperfections on my skin instead. "Oh yeah! Forgot about that one." I mused. "How'd you know??" Turning around, I asked. It wasn't often that someone could tell the difference between a normal spider and cave spider injury. The ghostly figure stood still for a moment before quietly pulling up his own shirt a little to reveal an smaller version of my injury on his side.

"I have had my fair share of injuries as well." He again looked up at me. My eyes widened a little.

"Wait what??" So this man could be hurt, huh? Hm.. Guess he wasn't as immortal as I thought... Strange... Every attempt at injuring him I tried earlier this morning proved useless against his immortal skin.. But, maybe this meant there was a way to defeat him after all...

We continued on as before, my posture a tad more lax now.

-------

My feet dragged their way through a little creek, kneeling down on occasion to splash myself with water and or pick up shiny rocks that looked pretty. The immortal watched me curiously under the shade of the nearby treeline, kicking grass which his foot half phased through with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

I dipped my shirt in the creek to fill up on cool, crisp water. Then I slapped it over my neck and left it there so that the droplets would roll down my back. I followed the creek where it flowed, hoping that eventually it would lead me out of this forest.

"So how did you happen upon my forest in the first place?" The immortal's eyes turned to me. My head rose so I could glance at him briefly.

"You actually want to know??" His casual demeanor and question had me earnestly caught off guard. The other looked away to show he was not desperately interested or anything. I still considered telling him anyways. My eyes wandered away to land on nothing in particular. "I...don't know, actually.." I then chuckled. "Just felt like this place was worth exploring." I sighed again as the mild wind tossed the dry bits of my hair.

I then hauled a couple more stones into my right pocket, pushed myself upright, and continued on through the forest.

-------

The ghostly figure was much more prevalent now. I stuck to the brightest patches, but even those were shrinking! Following the creek seemed to take me nowhere. How big WAS this forest?!

The sky above taunted me with its growing streaks of red, steadily stretching over the sky. I soon found myself trapped on a small patch of light just beside the creek. Gripping my once again covered sides -- my shirt dry -- I watched the shadows grow for the immortal.

He was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey." I jumped, swiftly spinning to face him. He stood casually against a tree, eyes glowing brighter in the darkness, appearing more tangible than before among the creeping shadows. My jaw tightened, fists clenching at my sides. "Relaaax, alright?" The immortal faintly smiled. He pushed himself from the tree with his shoulders and took a few slow steps towards me. I looked down, watching the slim thread of light slide out from under my feet. The darkening skies already mourned with a great display recreating the spill of my own blood. The immortal stepped on a stick and it actually snapped. My head shot back his way, beginning to hyperventilate as those glowing white eyes came into full view. He stalked towards me like a lion preparing to pounce. Conflicting this, however, was the calmness in his eyes; the look of a friend who just wanted me to hear him out. "I'm going to let you slide this time, alright?" He offered, standing a little taller. My eyes dilated, squinting at him in confusion.

"...Wh..?"

"Yeah... You know," he chuckled, "I've really taken a liking to you. So I'll give you one more day to find a way out of here... Sound good?" By the time he was done, the immortal stood a mere few feet away. I paused, frozen in place to allow myself a moment to think. This was all..a bit jarring for me.

I forced my shoulders to lower in a relaxed sort of manner. This man had been...rather kind to me lately, after all. Forcing out my lips a soft, "thanks," I smiled faintly and turned around. If he was being honest, could I finally sleep? I sat down on my knees and pulled some grass to form a pillow, all while keeping the half ghost in my line of sight. He strutted a little ways off and sat down on a log, pretending not to watch me by turning his head away. Pillow formed, I slowly laid myself down, head on the pillow of grass, hands in my pockets. Facing his way, my eyes slowly, painfully, drew closed.

...

...crunch...crunch...crunch...

Thick boots on dry grass neared slowly. Hands closed, I pulled them out of my pockets and rested them, still closed, in front of my face.

I waited until the man crouched down and sighed quietly to himself. Mumbling under his breath, "Hate to do this to ya, kid..." And, when I felt the moment was right, my eyes snapped open.

Cack!

I hit the two "stones" in my hands together like there was no tomorrow.

Fwoosh

The fire caught on my dry grass "pillow" quickly, catching the immortal off guard and knocking him back a few pegs. I leapt to my feet, fists up and ready for a fight. "I may be ignorant, but I am NOT stupid!!" I shouted. The immortal pushed himself up and growled. Now, the only source of light was my rapidly growing fire, and I made sure it was between him and I at all times.

"You blazing devil!!" Glowy eyes snarled. His hands morphed into long, sharpened claws; a thin tail sprouted from him and twitched behind his feet; two curling horns jutted up from his head and in an instant I knew I had made the right choice. I wish I'd scoffed at the irony but I was in no such mood.

The man leapt over the fire at me but I quickly rolled away. I kicked some of the burning grass out, then dodged another lunge from my hunter. No matter what he did, the immortal simply could not exist around such bright flames. His body would fade out of existence entirely if ever close enough to touch me. For this reason, I slowly built up the fire until it was surrounding me completely. By this point, my little embers had grown into a roaring inferno, which so eagerly ate the fallen trees around me. I caught sight of the immortal's distant but terrifying glare from across the creek. The shadows had his back, the raging fire had mine.

"You're clever, I'll hand you that!" Using a stern tone, the immortal complimented his opponent. "But your draw short by underestimating your adversary!!" With that, the man turned around and with little effort plucked a full-grown tree from its roots. My eyes widened as the massive tower of lumber came crashing my way.

I took my chances and jumped over the fire to escape. Before it even registered, I was rolling around in the dust as fire nipped at my legs and arms. A scream shot from my mouth without my own will driving it. I was being burnt alive and it was my own doing!

Splash!

Water doused my whole body, and for a moment I felt relief.

Until I was kicked in the ribs... Then the wrapped leg, and then my lower back, each time hitting weak points he must have spotted on me earlier. I groaned in pain after the third jab to my recently broken rib, clutching my side. With each kick, I was knocked steadily further and further away from the fire, each blow stronger as I went.

Then a hand gripped a fist full of hair and dragged me over the dirt. Through teary eyes, I saw my fire catching on to the forest, but it just wasn't quick enough to catch up to me. The light was faint when I felt my back being drug over smooth pebbles.

"St-ao-oap!" I weakly protested, burnt hands scratching at the man's leathery skin. It had no affect. Just like the night before, I was doomed... But now there was no morning light to save me.

The hand pulling at my scalp suddenly let go. My head dropped, falling into the shallow, rocky shore of the creek. "Noh.. NOH!" My eyes shot open again, begging for my life as the immortal dropped onto his knees over me. He didn't care for my pleas.

Startled overtop of me, the immortal gripped my throat. "I'm sorry little buddy but you don't know how desperately I need this." And then he plunged my head under water. My legs kicked, my body jolted, and my hands balled into fists to beat the living Nether out of the other's arm holding me down. I held my breath, I struggled, and I screamed. But...

All that hoping was for nothing.

My limbs fell limp, lungs stalling. Suddenly, I was unconscious.

The immortal, after letting go of my throat, sent his gaze upward to the sly, glowing tears rolled down his cheeks. And with a broken voice, "Are you happy now, forest..?" He closed his eyes, a gentle wind playing with his hair as, slowly, he faded completely from sight. Even among the darkness, he was gone.

-------

...

SPLASH!

I gasped the moment my face hit air. I coughed and wheezed, though thankfully nothing was in my lungs. My arms hauled my upper half out of the water and I just sat in amazement for a moment that I was even alive. Huh, oh wow, the sun was coming up. A bright, cherry blossom pink peeked over the treeline. I couldn't help but smile. Looks like I was gifted another cha-a-ance!?

My gaze shot down to my body, which was in a horrifying state. No, I wasn't bleeding. No, I wasn't in pain. But there were ROOTS in me! Refeeding from my skin, the unnaturally fast tree roots drew themselves from my body. I yanked one arm free first, then the other in a hurry. By the time both arms were free, the other roots had all vanished, leaving behind not even a mark on my skin... Oookaaayy?

I stood up at once and brushed my legs off. Genuinely, I was surprised by the lack of pain. Would have even thought it had all been a dream if not for my pants being a little more on the crispy side. After standing straight, I looked again to the sunrise, breathed in a new breath of chill, morning air, and strode forward. My feet entered the creek to cross. Strange... It almost felt like some of the water was going..through..my feet.

I glanced downward, seeing that my legs were now transparent. "Aaa!" I yelped. I scurried out of the water in a flash and hid behind a tree. Looking again down at myself, huh... I was still a little see-throug, but not as much as before. Curious, I stepped out from under the tree's shade. Indeed, the morning light made anything underneath it nearly vanish. I tested this some more as the sun rose. I followed the creek as I had before, all the while marveling at my lack of existence under the sunlight. It was like I was invisible, except I could also phase through objects and objects would phase through me. The opposite was true while I was in the shade of the trees. The more I walked, the more I wondered whether or not this would be permanent. I was now an awful lot like that immortal who had...killed me..?

At long last, after hours more of walking, the stream led me to the outskirts of the forest. Even from here, I could see across the vast meadow, a tall watch tower. Just go over there an I'd be home free-

Ow.

Strange. I hit some kind of invisible wall. My invisible self grazed a hand over some strange...force. like my hand was a magnet meeting one with an equal pull, I simply could not push it any further forwards!

I spent the rest of the day and night pacing along the edge of this massive forest's invisible barrier, but... At the end of the second day, I fell to my knees and leaned my forehead against the barrier. No, I wasn't tired. Nor was I thirsty, or hungry, or even a little bit angry.

No...

Despair washed over me as, at last, I accepted that I may just be stuck here... I really did die back there...didn't I..? And now...I was trapped until, like the previous immortal, I kill someone else to take my place.

...Would this really be my destiny...?

After several days of thinking: No, it wouldn't. Even if it cost me my sanity, I would NOT kill another soul! I- I would find other things to do! Ways to help travelers! Find solutions to problems!!

Yeah, I would be different than the one who killed me, for sure!...

...If only I could be sure the previous guy hadn't once thought the exact same thing...

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Lol k bye.

I started writing the next chapter a while ago but uhhh, the writing process is rather slow. So, uhh, have fun with this I guess. Feel free to use this concept for wherever you want in your own stories.