ATLANTION - LAYLA BOOK1

Part 3 Layla

Layla emerged from the lake, shivering uncontrollably. The bone-chilling temperature of the water had left her teeth chattering, and the stench of rotting leaves and stagnant mud filled her nostrils. She gasped for clean air, her clothes clinging to her like a second skin, drenched and heavy with water. She stumbled forward, her limbs feeling like lead.

As Layla approached the decrepit house, the hairs on her arms stood on end, and a bitter metallic taste filled her mouth. The oppressive darkness weighed down on her, suffocating her with its malevolence. The gnarled trees twisted in the wind, casting eerie shadows across the overgrown bushes.

Layla's heart pounded painfully in her chest, her body quivering with fear and anticipation. The orange glow of the eyes staring back at her seemed to pulse with a life of their own, beckoning her closer. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and Layla felt as though she was walking through molasses.

With a deafening crash, the patio doors of the house flew open, unleashing a cacophony of sound. The shards of glass glinted in the fading light, casting rainbow hues across the scene before her. The air was thick with the smell of burnt wood and shattered glass, and Layla felt the sting of smoke in her eyes.

As the house transformed into a beast before her very eyes, Layla felt her stomach churn with nausea. The creature's razor-sharp teeth glinted in the light, and Layla could feel the cold metal of the branch biting into her skin as she held on for dear life.

The rustling of the leaves mingled with Layla's labored breathing, and she could feel the sweat pooling under her arms. The twisted shapes inside the house appeared to writhe in agony, and Layla could feel their pain. The piercing shriek of the house echoed through the forest, sending shivers down her spine.

Layla's fingers throbbed with pain, and she could feel the blood pulsing through her veins. Her body screamed for her to run, but the marionette strings pulled her closer to the house. She could feel the earth beneath her feet crumbling, the rocks and jagged edges tearing at her flesh. Every step felt like a thousand needles piercing her skin.

The sound of her own voice was barely audible over the roar of the monstrous abode, and Layla felt herself losing grip on reality. The leaves continued to fall, their gentle sound mingling with the soft footsteps and wicked laughter. She felt as though she was drowning in a sea of golden leaves.

Yet Layla refused to give up, her mind fighting to stay alive. "Help me!" she screamed, her voice filled with desperation. Her body burned with pain as she was dragged across the jagged terrain, but she refused to let go. The darkness threatened to swallow her whole, but Layla clung to the hope that someone would hear her cries for help.

"I will not be defeated by you!" Layla roared, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination to seek revenge and fight until the bitter end.