I opened my eyes, my gaze fixed upon a sky that was alien—clear yet distorted all at once. Around me stretched thick, vibrant green grass. I was lying in the heart of a terrifying forest, filled with the sounds of creatures I did not recognize—bizarre and menacing. Ugh, my head. Where am I? Suddenly, what had happened to me rushed back, and terror seized me. I sighed; it seemed I was in a dream. I tried to reassure myself, rising with difficulty, trying to gather my shattered nerves. I shouted, "Is anyone here? Is there anyone here?" I screamed, but no one responded.
Suddenly, as I was breaking through branches to pass, I heard the sound of a girl weeping. My terror intensified. The sobbing grew louder. I approached the sound and stole a glance. I saw a girl crying; she was strange—I had never seen anyone like her in my life. She had horns upon her head. I shuddered; it added a new layer of dread to my heart. I tried to compose myself and looked at her again. She continued to weep, fear painted across her face. She gripped a tree trunk and whispered, "Who are you?" She jumped, terrified of me, her words stuttering. I felt her fear. I threw down a branch, but her fear did not dissipate. I whispered again, "Who are you?" She sighed, "Zoe... I don't know where I am. I'm lost in this forest."
Siraj sighed. It seems she is just like me. But why had her appearance changed while mine had not? I said, "Okay, what is your name, girl?" She sighed fearfully, "My name is Zoe." I whispered, "Alright, my name is Siraj. Don't be afraid; I will get you to your family safely." With a kind smile, I added, "Alright, where are we now? Let us get out of this forest first." I looked at her. "Let's go, Zoe." Zoe felt a touch of safety. We began to walk together, bypassing trees, and every strange sound in the forest heightened my tension. Bizarre noises surrounded us in the forest. I whispered to myself, Everything here is strange—even the trees here are unnatural.
We finally reached the end of a hill and emerged from the forest to find ourselves before a small town. Its houses were strange in shape—large and small all at once—frightening, with no familiar forms. I looked at them and said, "Do you know this town?" She shook her head, denying it. I said, "Alright, let's go and ask the people where we are."
In the town, Siraj whispered, "What is wrong with these people? They are strange and frightening. They have horns on their heads, just like her." We entered its market; it was even more bizarre and horrifying. Strange, repulsive food—donkey dung used as spice, bones served like mint. Women were being sold at low prices. One of the merchants shouted, "Oh, tribe of demons, come here! I have brought you the most beautiful women."
Siraj stopped for a moment, looking at them. What are they doing? Suddenly, while walking, he bumped into an elderly man, and a small tool fell from him. Siraj bent down quickly and said, "Sorry, sorry." The old man smiled and said, "Think nothing of it, my son. Thank you." He took the tool and whispered, "You are not from here, are you? If you want to know where you are, follow me." I looked at him while I was walking; he raised his hand, gesturing. Zoe and I followed him until we stood in an alleyway. I whispered, "Where am I? Tell me, how do I return to my homeland?" The man sighed, "You are in the Underworld, the world of demons. You are human, aren't you?" Terror flooded my heart. "Yes, I am human. I don't know how I will get out of this world." The old man said, "I don't know how you will manage to leave, but I will give you the address of a man who will help you. Here you go, my son, this is the address." He turned to leave, then looked at me and whispered, "Good luck." I looked at the address and said to myself, So, I am in an Underworld. What happened to me is not a dream.
While Siraj was walking, he asked one of the passersby, "Where is this address?" He replied, "Right in front of you." Siraj said, "Thank you." We stood before the address; a sign was hanging on a building with the address written on it. Siraj sighed. So, this is the place. I pushed the door, and it slid open. The place was frighteningly dark. Zoe and I entered, and suddenly, the door slammed shut behind us with force. I tried to open it, but to no avail. Terror gripped my heart. Siraj whispered to himself, "It seems I have walked into a trap." Zoe grabbed my shirt tightly and looked at me. "I am afraid." Siraj looked at her and placed his hand on her head. "Don't be afraid, Zoe."
Suddenly, the voice of an old man appeared. "Come closer." We walked through a corridor with quiet steps until we reached the door of a hall. We opened it and found an old person sitting, his white beard long and reaching the floor. He had rings in his lips and ears, wearing a purple cloak, with a white object on his head. He looked at us calmly and whispered, "Sit." In front of him was a fire pit, and games, dolls, and carved things were placed beside him. I held Zoe's hand, and we sat quietly before him. Morthus said in a hollow voice, "So, tell me, what do you want?" His gaze was devoid of any life. Siraj sighed, "I am human. I want to leave this world. Someone told me you could help me." He whispered in a terrifying voice, "Foolishness. You are in the world of demons—a world filled with treachery, betrayal, and lies." Siraj was shocked, and terror was painted on his face. So, I was deceived. Morthus whispered, "No, you were not deceived. I help those like you, but you are the only one who will help yourself. I will give you the method, and you will walk the path." Siraj looked at him with determination. "Alright, I will return to my homeland, no matter the cost."
Morthus said, "Very well. First, your body has been possessed by a demon in your world, and what is before me now is only your soul." Terror surged in Siraj's heart. "To reclaim your body, you must reach the Sky Tree and cut it down. Inside, you will find a box containing the heart of the demon that possessed your body. Destroy it, and you will return to your true body." Morthus continued, "But there are more than one town and obstacle ahead of you that you must pass to reach the Sky Tree."
"Many have come wanting help like you. The demon possessed them, and they died before reaching the Sky Tree, and they died in their real world as well."
His breathing quickened. I will die if I don't act. I will die—then how will I meet my Creator? Siraj whispered audibly, "Do all the demons here control human bodies?" Morthus replied, "No, only one tribe exists in the Sky Tree town, responsible for possessing human bodies. You must cut down the tree and save yourself." Morthus raised his hand and produced a scroll. "This is a map that will help you reach the Sky Tree. Good luck to you. Be careful, for you are in the world of demons."