From the direction where the bunny had appeared, a figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, moving with purpose. What made Travis''s heart race, however, was that it wasn''t alone. His breath hitched as the first creature stepped into view—its small, twisted form barely visible in the gloom of the forest. But then another came. And another. Soon, they were all there, eyes gleaming in the moonlight, their jagged, green skin mottled and rough like ancient bark. Their brown eyes locked onto Travis with an unsettling hunger, gleaming like feral beasts on the hunt.


    Fear clenched at Travis''s chest. He could feel the weight of the situation crushing him as the goblins advanced, their sharp, crooked weapons held tight in their hands. His hand twitched toward his sword, but his body felt heavy, unwilling to move. He took an instinctive step backward, the brush of his boots against the ground a whisper of retreat, but it felt like a century as they closed in.


    Then, the last one stepped out of the underbrush—a taller figure, its twisted bow held taut with a shaft notched, the arrow pointed directly at Travis. His breath caught in his throat. That one. The one who shot at me. The recognition hit him with a jolt.


    “Goblins,” he thought, the word echoing in his mind with a rising tide of panic. His heart thudded painfully in his chest. His legs burned with fear, and yet, he forced himself to take another step back. He knew the danger, knew the stories, knew what goblins were capable of. He touched the hilt of his sword, but it felt heavier now, its promise of defense empty against the rising terror.


    The goblins stood there, their eyes narrowing in anticipation as the cold, jagged cackles erupted from their throats, filling the air like the shriek of wild animals circling their prey. Their smiles stretched unnaturally wide, exposing sharp teeth that glinted in the dim light, and then—there was a nod. A simple gesture between them, but it made Travis freeze. They weren’t mindless. They were organized. They had a plan.


    That moment of realization was enough to snap him from his paralysis. With a guttural snarl, the goblins lunged forward, moving faster than he expected, their tiny legs carrying them with unnatural speed. There was no time to think, only to act. Without a second thought, Travis spun around and broke into a full sprint. His pulse roared in his ears as he raced through the woods, his heart pounding harder with each footfall. Branches scraped against his arms, and the dense undergrowth tangled at his feet, but he didn’t dare slow down.


    Behind him, the goblins cackled louder, the sound thick with malicious delight, echoing through the trees like a chorus of vultures. It sent a cold, sickening shiver crawling down his spine, but still, he ran. He had no choice but to keep moving, every breath burning in his chest, the sound of their pursuit so close it felt like they were breathing down his neck.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Minutes stretched on, long and endless, until the ground beneath his feet suddenly disappeared. Travis’s eyes shot wide in horror as he skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff—there was nowhere left to go. His breath caught in his throat, and he turned to face his attackers, who had emerged from the forest like a wave crashing toward him.


    The first goblin charged forward, its jagged sword raised high, its bloodshot eyes gleaming with victory. The others followed suit, running at him without hesitation, their weapons raised, their laughs ringing in the night air.


    Travis’s sword was already in his hand, but as his knuckles tightened around the hilt, doubt clouded his mind. Can I survive this? His legs shook, and his breath came in ragged gasps.


    As the goblins closed in, Travis steeled himself, pushing the fear down, knowing there would be no other choice. He was out of options. He swung his sword with all the strength he had left, but his heart wavered—was it too late? Would he ever be able to escape the nightmare that had stalked him from the shadows?


    An arrow whistled through the air and struck his left shoulder with a sickening thud, piercing through his flesh.


    "Ahhhh!" Travis roared in pain, his voice raw and echoing in the night. His left arm hung limp, radiating agony with every slight movement.


    Yet, despite the searing pain, he forced himself to stand tall, gripping his sword tightly in his right hand. His breaths came shallow and fast, his vision blurring as he steadied himself.


    A goblin darted toward him, its jagged dagger raised high. With a fierce yell, Travis swung his sword in a desperate arc.


    *Gash*


    The blade bit deep, cutting through the goblin cleanly. Its grotesque body crumpled to the ground, its greenish blood splattering across Travis’s sword and staining his face. He staggered back, bringing his blade up in a shaky defense. Another goblin darted forward, its eyes blazing with fury as it lunged at his face.


    Travis sidestepped on instinct, but his footing betrayed him. He stumbled and fell heavily onto the forest floor, landing on his wounded arm. Pain flared like wildfire, drawing a guttural cry from his lips. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself upright, his back pressing against the rough bark of the wall-like cliffside. His trembling hand raised the sword again as the goblins surrounded him, their guttural snarls and laughter grating on his ears.


    Another arrow zipped past, and he barely ducked in time, the sound of it embedding in the wall just above his head sending his heart racing. His eyes darted to one of the goblins—a smaller one struggling to pull its blade free from a crack in the stone. Travis''s mind sharpened.


    '' Now’s my chance.'' He thought.


    With a burst of adrenaline, he lunged forward, ignoring the searing pain in his shoulder. His sword plunged downward, piercing through the goblin’s skull. The creature twitched violently before going still, its lifeless body slumping to the ground.


    Travis planted his foot against the wall and pushed off with all his strength, propelling himself toward two goblins guarding the archer. They reacted too slowly. His blade swept through the air in a wide arc, cutting them both down in a single, fluid motion. Their bodies fell like sacks of meat, and Travis didn’t spare them a glance.


    The archer goblin let loose another arrow, this time striking his foot. Pain jolted through him, and he hissed through clenched teeth but didn’t stop moving. He charged, his movements fueled more by sheer willpower than strength. The archer fired again, and the arrow buried itself in his torso.


    "Argh!" he screamed, the pain almost unbearable, every step feeling like his last.


    TO BE CONTINUED