Jonash’s breath came in quick, shallow bursts as he scrambled up the rough bark of the tree. His fingers ached with the strain, and his legs were barely able to hold his weight as he pulled himself higher, inch by inch. Every time he glanced down, he could see the glowing eyes of the shadow wolves below, circling the base of the tree like hungry predators. Their snarls echoed through the jungle, low and menacing, as they tried to figure out a way to get to him.

His heart pounded, each beat ringing in his ears. He wasn’t sure how long he had been running or how far he had come. All he knew was that it wasn’t enough. The wolves—black as night, with fur that shimmered in the moonlight—had been relentless. Every time he thought he’d outrun them, they reappeared, moving with an eerie speed and precision.

Jonash cursed under his breath. This is real.

The reality of it hit him harder with each passing second. This wasn’t some virtual game with cheat codes and easy resets. This wasn’t some quest that would end once he clicked the “log out” button. The way the wolves moved, how they knew exactly where he was even when he thought he had hidden—there was nothing fake about it. The growls, the rustle of the underbrush, the very air around him—it was all too real. And that realization made his gut churn with a growing dread.

A shadow passed over him, and Jonash froze, his body tensing. He wasn’t alone on this tree. There were others—more wolves, waiting. Their eyes gleamed in the darkness, reflecting the faint light of the moon filtering through the thick canopy above. He could hear them panting, their sharp breaths like whispers in the night.

He climbed higher, trying not to look down, trying not to let the fear paralyze him. The tree’s branches creaked under his weight, and for a moment, he feared they would snap. But he kept going, one hand after another, the muscles in his arms burning with the effort. His breathing became more labored with each pull, but he didn’t stop. Not when the wolves were so close. Not when his life depended on it.

He could hear the wolves howling now, their calls sharp and eerie, like a warning. Jonash’s eyes flicked upward. The tree’s canopy stretched high above him, a wall of leaves and branches that seemed to go on forever. There were no signs of any other animals or players—just him and the wolves, trapped in this endless night.

What now?

He had no plan. His mind raced, trying to piece together some way out of this mess. His gaming instincts kicked in—his years of playing survival games, where every moment counted, where every decision could mean life or death. But even those instincts, honed through countless hours of play, couldn’t help him now. This wasn’t a game. This wasn’t something that could be solved with a few taps of the keyboard or a clever strategy. The stakes were real.

Jonash’s stomach growled in protest, a sharp reminder that hunger was creeping up on him. His body, already exhausted from the climb and the constant running, demanded food. But where? He didn’t even know where he was, let alone where to find anything to eat. The jungle stretched endlessly in every direction, a maze of trees and shadows, and he hadn’t seen a single edible plant or animal since he’d arrived.

His eyes scanned the area below him again. The wolves had stopped circling for the moment, but they hadn’t gone far. They were watching, waiting, their eyes flickering between him and the ground below. He couldn’t see them clearly in the dark, but he could feel their gaze, like invisible pressure weighing on his chest.

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Then, suddenly, there was movement below. A dark shape shifted in the underbrush, and Jonash’s heart skipped. Another wolf—larger than the others—stepped out from the shadows, its fur blacker than the night itself. Its eyes gleamed, two yellow orbs in the dark. It sniffed the air, and Jonash froze, holding his breath. The creature’s eyes locked on him, and for a moment, everything went still.

The wolf’s low growl vibrated through the air, a rumble that sent a chill down Jonash’s spine. He knew this wasn’t going to end well. The creature wasn’t just watching him—it was sizing him up, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Without warning, the wolf leaped forward, its powerful legs propelling it into the air. Jonash’s heart slammed against his ribs as the massive beast soared upward, snapping its jaws wide. It was coming for him.

“Shit!” Jonash shouted, scrambling up the tree faster, his hands shaking as he reached for the next branch. His fingers slid off the bark, and for a terrifying second, he thought he was going to fall.

But he didn’t fall. Instead, the wolf’s claws raked against the branch he had just been on, and the force of the strike sent splinters flying through the air. Jonash yanked his legs up just in time, barely avoiding the wolf’s snapping jaws. He was shaking with adrenaline now, his breath ragged, the fear clawing at him like a living thing.

The wolf landed gracefully on the branch below him, its eyes narrowed, its snout dripping with saliva. It was only a few feet away. Too close. Jonash could feel the heat of its breath, the weight of its presence pressing down on him.

His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was moving faster than ever. He couldn’t keep climbing. He needed to think of something—anything. He had to outsmart the wolf, had to get away.

He glanced around, hoping for some miracle, some solution. The tree, the jungle—it all seemed the same, endless, suffocating. His mind raced, but nothing came to him. This wasn’t a level to be solved with strategy. There was no “next step.” It was just him, stuck in a jungle with creatures that wanted to rip him apart.

Then, he saw it.

A vine hung down from the highest branches, dangling in front of him like a lifeline. It wasn’t much, but it was his only chance.

He reached for it with shaking hands, his fingers brushing the thick green strands. The wolf growled below, sensing the shift in his movement. It snarled, pacing, waiting for him to make a mistake. Jonash gritted his teeth, pushing past the fear. He grabbed the vine and swung it over his shoulder, then, with a deep breath, leapt from the tree.

For a split second, he felt weightless, as if the world was suspended in time. Then, gravity took over, and he crashed into the thick underbrush below, the vine still in his grasp. He hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact. Pain shot up his side, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Behind him, the wolf let out a howl of frustration, but Jonash didn’t look back. He picked himself up and ran, faster than he ever thought he could. His legs burned, his chest ached, but he kept going, pushing through the thick foliage. The growls of the wolves were getting quieter, fading as he put more distance between them.

For a moment, he thought he might have made it. Maybe he was safe. Maybe this nightmare was finally over.

But then, he heard it. A rustle behind him. A snap of branches.

Jonash’s heart dropped into his stomach as he turned to face the noise.

And there, in the distance, was the wolf—the one that had leaped at him earlier. Its yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness, and it was coming after him again. Faster. Stronger.

Jonash’s breath caught in his throat. He couldn’t outrun it. Not for long.