Chapter 5 – The Beast Beyond the Edge
Val and Sydney crept toward the one place they weren't supposed to go.
The village was large enough that walking to its edge took nearly an hour. It had been built deliberately far from the forest, a buffer born from old beliefs. Between the last homes and the tree line stretched about five hundred meters of stubborn earth — shrubs, dead plants, and brittle grass. No one understood why so little could grow outside the forest. Yet the little that did had sustained the village for centuries.
Val slowed. "Alright, Syd, from here on out, there's no shade. If we're spotted, it's game over."
Sydney shot him a look. "Yeah, I got that. I'm not stupid, you know."
"I never said you were…" Val took a breath. "Just focus. You remember the plan, right?"
"Split up. Not too far. Search for signs, avoid getting seen."
"Good." He pointed. "I'll take left, you take right. Please—be careful."
Sydney gave him a quick thumbs-up. "Got it."
They parted ways. Val moved left, scanning the dry ground. Jagged marks scarred the dirt, cracks spread like veins in brittle stone. His stomach tightened.
Then he froze. Ahead, James stood with a cluster of people in white coats. They carried tablets, equipment, even a massive humming machine. They were taking samples, collecting data.
Val's jaw dropped. Since when did our 'crude village' have tech like this?
James stepped toward the one who seemed to lead the group. "Well? Have you found anything? What caused the rumble?"
The researcher exhaled. "Chief, science takes time. But… there's one result. Something that doesn't make sense. From the readings—it looks like the forest is expanding."
James stiffened. "Expanding? Oh no…"
The researcher narrowed his eyes. "You know something. Tell us. It could help."
James hesitated, then lowered his voice. "It's only speculation… but there are records. Every few centuries, the forest swells outward. It grows closer, swallowing land. Sometimes… villagers vanish. Not many, but enough. I never thought it would happen in my lifetime."
The researcher frowned. "That still doesn't explain why it's sudden. We'll keep searching."
"Do what you must," James said firmly. "But none of you step into the forest. Under any circumstances."
Before the man could reply—
"AHHH! HELP!"
A scream tore through the air.
James's head snapped up. Val flinched behind the shrub.
That sounded like Sydney.
James's eyes narrowed. No. Val wouldn't drag her here. Whoever it is, they're in danger. He signaled to his team. "Continue the work. I'll handle this." With a practiced motion, he drew the blade at his hip and sprinted toward the sound.
Val shot up from hiding, panic clawing at his chest. "Sydney!" He bolted in the same direction. "No, no, no… this is my fault."
Sydney was already running for her life.
Behind her thundered a white tiger — enormous, the size of a car, its muscles rippling like living steel. Its roar shook her bones.
Her lungs burned, but she pushed harder. She had always been fast — the village's track star — and now every ounce of that athleticism kept her one step ahead of death. She slid, spun, leapt, narrowly dodging every swipe of its claws.
She wasn't looking to fight. Only to survive.
Through the blur of motion, she spotted Val racing toward her.
Okay, I see her—but what's she running from? His question answered itself as the tiger lunged, jaws wide. Sydney dodged by inches.
Val's heart slammed. "Whoa. That's… that's not normal." He shook his head. No time to admire it. Need to move. James could be here any second.
His eyes darted across the ground. A jagged rock, sharp and heavy, lay half-buried in the dirt. He snatched it up.
"Okay… got a plan."
He sprinted toward Sydney. "HEY, SYD! DUCK!"
"Duck? Really? Now?" she shouted, still sprinting.
"Duck NOW!"
She didn't argue this time. She dove flat—
KRSHH!
The rock slammed into the beast's eye socket with a sickening crack. The tiger howled, staggering wildly, blood spraying as it thrashed in blind fury.
"Move!" Val yelled.
Sydney didn't need telling twice. They bolted together, sprinting until the village boundary loomed into sight. Only when they stumbled inside did they slow, gasping for air.
Sydney doubled over, then laughed breathlessly. "Heheh… that was close."
Val laughed too, shaky and raw. "Too close. Syd, what was that thing?"
"No clue. I just know I'm lucky. That thing was the size of a car."
"Yeah… but you shouldn't have needed luck. I'm the one who dragged you out here. It's my fault."
"Hey, Brat." Sydney tapped his arm. "It was my decision. Don't beat yourself up. We're fine."
"Yeah, but—"
"Let it go, Val. Tell me instead—did you find anything?"
Val nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah I actually saw your dad with a group of researchers and some tech I haven't seen before around here… I will tell you everything on the way home and while were at it, you can explain how you met that… thing."
"Deal."
They started home, trading stories, laughter and adrenaline mingling in their voices.
Meanwhile—
James arrived just in time to see the rock strike the tiger's eye. He watched, stone-faced, as the kids escaped.
He sighed, pressing a hand to his face. "Ugh. Those kids never listen."
"Right buddy?"
The tiger turned toward him, one good eye gleaming with rage. It roared and launched forward.
James didn't flinch.
In a blur, the beast was reduced to pieces, its blood soaking the earth. The only thing left standing was James's broad back as he walked away, muttering with a thin smile—
"Those kids… really need to be taught a lesson."