Karel

The darkness of this forest wasn't just frightening—it felt heavy, almost tangible. The clock stopped at three in the morning as you stumbled over roots, trying to find anything: a handful of berries or branches for shelter. There was nothing useful left in your backpacks—only the remnants of civilization, which now seemed infinitely distant.

Just recently, the morning had been golden. You were happily getting ready for vacation, applying makeup and anticipating the Hawaiian sun. Clear skies, laughter, the anticipation of paradise... Everything crashed down along with the plane into this cursed place. Of all the passengers, only you and two others survived. You vowed to help each other, hoping for salvation. If only the world knew where you were.

Bookish survival skills were of little value here. The fear of snakes and predators made you shudder at every rustle, but most terrifying were the blue trees. No botanist in the world had ever seen anything like them. Days passed, and the forest slowly claimed your companions—you lost sight of them and didn't know if they were still alive. One thing became the most important thing: survival yourself.

The notebook became your only friend. You meticulously sketched the strange flora, blue tree trunks, and bizarre animals, trying to decipher the logic of this place. Finding food was a daunting challenge: even familiar-looking fruits could turn out to be deadly poison.

On one of those grueling days, when hunger clouded your mind, reality suddenly broke. You didn't have time to scream before the strong hands of men in strange clothes pushed you to the ground.

Consciousness returned to the dim light of a stuffy room. A man sat before you. His appearance was awe-inspiring: his clothes looked strange, as if they belonged to another time, forgotten or yet to come. He looked at you with a heavy, leaden gaze.

"Where are you from in these parts?" Karel's voice was hoarse. He slowly looked at your scratched wrists and the shreds of your once-expensive clothing. "People shouldn't know about this place."