MOONBOUND : THE REBIRTH OF SELINA

Selina's POV

Selina breath caught, as the air was thick with the fragrance of earth and something sweeter, something old. Her bare feet scratched the soft forest floor as she fell through the shadow, her heart pounding in her chest. Above her, the twist branches of the overshadow trees created a web of darkness that seemed to pull her deeper and deeper into the unknown with each move.

“Where am I?” She said something in a whisper barely audible over the murmur of the wind.

She was breathing in short gasps as the trees around her, panicking. She wasn't able to remember how she had gotten here, how she had slept off in her bed and woken up here, in the centre of a forest so real and bright that she could feel the water of the leaves on her body.

She could hear the fade whisper of branches and the screaming of a wolf in the distance. Her own heartbeat was so loud that it nearly submerged out the voices that appeared to be calling her name.

“Selina... Approach.

She felt her heart beat more rapidly. She could feel the lovely, quiet voice echoing through her bones. The forest itself seemed to be pulling her in a strange way, pushing her in the direction of the sound.

The force that made every step make the air heavier was beyond her comprehension. It looked ancient, as though the forest had been here for ages. A shiver went through her body. The tug inside of her was too strong, even if she wanted to run away and turn around.

Another murmur echoed from the trees, closer this time.

"Stay calm. You were meant to arrive here.

She searched all about for the source of the voice but was unable to locate it. The shadows danced around her as if to mock her confusion.

"Who is that?" She called out, her voice shaking, though she tried not to show it.

As a figure emerged from the trees, the answer was revealed. A tall man with broad shoulders and eyes that glowed like molten gold. Her skin tingled as his focused gaze was fixed on her, and his dark hair framed his beautiful, perceptive face.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said in a loud, gravelly voice that shouted caution.

Her heart pounded in Selina's chest. "I'm not sure how I got here. What's this location? You are who?

The man moved forward with smooth, purposeful movements. Here you'll find the Dreaming Forest. You have been pulled here, Selina. For a reason.

“Drawn here?” Her mind racing, she frowned. "I don't understand. Do you want anything from me?

His response was slow, his eyes moving over her as though he were thinking about something deep inside her. There was tension between them, and Selina could feel the heat of his glare as it pierced her.

Your soul is tied to this place, even if you aren't aware of it yet. Finally, he said in a more solemn tone, "Tied to something… ancient than you can think." "And some people will stop at nothing to prevent you from ever learning the truth."

Selina turned, caught a sight of movement, and felt her heart beat into her throat. As the darkness in the woods changed, more shapes appeared, people that seemed to appear from the darkness itself.

With a rushe "We have to leave," the man held her by the wrist and pulled her to him. "They are on their way."

As Selina was jerked toward the man, her breath caught in her throat. She was shocked by the appearance of the ominous, shapeless monsters in the darkness who were getting closer. Even though she tried to pull away, he held on to her passionately.

She cried, "Let go of me!" as panic sister through her chest.

He said, his face burning with rage, "You don't understand." “They want you dead.”

The man shoved her from behind, putting her in the path of the approaching individuals before she could respond as the darkness surged ahead.

First to come out of the trees was a tall, slim woman with cold, cold eyes. Her skin was pale and almost fragile, and her black hair flowed like a river of night. A dark smile twisted her mouth.

The woman's voice was as sharp as a dagger as she grumble, "Dorian, you should not have brought her here," "She isn't supposed to wake up."

The woman's warning did not discourage the man, Dorian, who stood straight. "Lysandra, you don't own her," he growled viciously. "She won't be with you."

Selina felt a chill when Lysandra, the woman, chuckled softly. "Whoever thinks they can stop us is a moron. There is nothing you can do to change the prophecy; it is already happening.

Perhaps to shield Selina from whatever horrible fate awaited them, Dorian's eyes hardened as he pulled her closer to him.

He mumbled through clenched teeth, "You don't understand." " She is not part of the prophecy, as you think. You will be lost if you do anything to her.

Lysandra's smile faded as she squinted her eyes. "You're as stupid as she is, then." As she gestured toward the shadows behind her, more ominous, formless creatures appeared. "Take them both out."

Selina experienced a surge of fear, her chest tightening as the figures approached, their presence like a suffocating cloud.

As the first of the dark things lunged at them, she screamed, "No!" and the cry was torn from her mouth.

With an angry snarl, Dorian moved ahead of her and pushed her away. Energy flared in his hands, and a dark light swirled about them. With a deep, commanding voice, he said, "Stay behind me."

But there was no uncertainty among the figures. They were upon them in a moment, their forms changing and merging as they hit with a strange speed. With a frightening power, one of them seized Selina's arm and dragged her forward, forcing her to gasp. The cold fingers of the shadow burned her skin, and she let out a cry of pain.

"Give me some rest!" She struggled, panic thumping her heart.

Dorian's roar blasted the shadow away, his power exploding in a burst of light. But the statistics kept coming in, relentless and unyielding.

Lysandra's voice cut through the uncertainty, cold and forceful. However, Dorian, it's too late. She holds the secret and will constantly be targeted.

As though the forest were alive and watching, they could feel the black energy surging through it and the trees themselves groaning. With her head spinning, Selina's thoughts were a confused mix of fear and confusion. Whatever it was, she knew it was far bigger than she could have ever dreamed, but she had no idea what was happening or why she was here.

Dorian looked at her, his eyes catching hers in a final plea. "Selina, you have to get away. Now.

However, the scene shifted before she could move. The moon turned blood crimson, the sky above them darkened, and the ground beneath her feet fractured.

The world started to swirl, and Selina screamed as she was pulled into the abyss. The last things she saw as the darkness set in were Dorian's hand reaching out and his voice screaming her name in a panic.

Then there was silence.