(Third Person Narrative - Hospital Setting)

  The sharp, sterile smell of hospital cleaner filled the air, mixing with the steady, rhythmic beep of machines in the Intensive Care Unit. Beside bed number four, a doctor, his face lined with tiredness under the harsh fluorescent lights, watched the changing numbers on the monitor.

  "He's losing consciousness," the doctor said, his voice low and serious. He turned to the nearby nurse, a hint of hope fighting resignation in his eyes. "Were you able to contact his guardian?"

  The nurse shook her head, her expression just as somber. "I'm sorry, Doctor. I tried multiple times over the last three days. No response to calls or messages." She paused, adding quietly, "He signed a DNR form, just so you know."

  The doctor let out a soft sigh. "I see. That's... unfortunate." The word didn't feel strong enough for the frustration and sadness he felt.

  After the nurse left, leaving him alone with the patient, the doctor pulled a stool closer to the bed. He looked down at the young man – Vince – whose breathing was so shallow it barely moved the clean white sheets.

  "Hi, Vince," the doctor began, his professional tone softening into something more personal, tinged with sadness. "I... I'm so sorry it has to end like this." He leaned in a little, his voice almost a whisper. "You know how serious things are, what's likely to happen... I know you understand. I promise, we did everything we could." He hesitated, finding the words difficult. "The rest... whether you keep fighting or decide it's time... that's your choice now. And I respect it, either way."

  He glanced quickly towards the door, making sure they were alone. "Nobody should be alone like this, Vince. Your family... they're incredibly cold-hearted, aren't they?" Anger flashed briefly across his face before sadness took over again. "But listen," he continued, meeting Vince's gaze, though unsure if the young man could really see him anymore. "Don't worry. I'm here with you. As your doctor, and just... as another person. I'll stay right here, whatever you choose."

  Through the fog of his fading consciousness, Vince saw the doctor's face – a blurred shape showing kindness mixed with deep sorrow. He saw the shine of tears in the man's eyes, ready to fall. A faint, barely noticeable warmth spread through Vince's chest. In his final moments, someone genuinely cared. It was a surprisingly comforting thought. As the steady beep of the heart monitor changed into one long, unbroken tone, Vince closed his eyes a final time. The image of the weeping doctor was his last glimpse of the world.

  (First Person POV - Vince)

  Darkness.

  Like, pitch black. And dead silent, except for this weird dripping sound... like one drop hitting water in a giant cave. Is this... what dying is?

  Yeah. Kicked the bucket. Just like that. Twenty-eight years stuck in a hospital bed, seeing the world only through screens. Kind of strange, thinking back. The internet was my only real connection. News, stories, getting lost in manga, anime, webtoons, games... that stuff was pretty much my whole life. Maybe not the worst way to live, considering, but still...

  So where am I now? It's black everywhere. Can't tell up from down, just floating in nothing. Feel completely weightless. Can't feel my body, or... anything, really. It felt weirdly calm, but also really unnerving.

  Time didn't seem to work here. Minutes? Hours? Days? No idea. Just... floating.

  Then, I saw a tiny light.

  Just a little speck, way off in the distance. Not bright or harsh, more like a warm little spark floating there. It pulsed gently. Couldn't feel any heat, but I just knew it felt warm. Curiosity got the better of me - always does.

  Huh—? It moved. Floated closer, then it sped up. Before I could really think about it, the spark touched... me? Didn't hurt. It just flowed right into me, merged with whatever part of me was still here.

  Instantly, warmth spread out from that spot. This strange energy, strong and new, rushed through me. I felt... stronger? More solid? And now I realized I was glowing slightly, a soft light pushing back the darkness.

  Whoa! More lights popped up. Dozens, then hundreds, maybe thousands, like stars scattered in the blackness. Pulsing with that same soft energy. I tried to reach for one, but my non-hand just passed through it. They weren't just coming to me if I tried to grab them.

  Wait. Focus. The first one came when I wasn't trying, just watching it. Maybe... I need to focus inward? I tried to concentrate, quiet my thoughts like I'd read about in meditation guides, find that calm center inside myself.

  It actually worked! As I focused, the lights closest to me seemed to take notice, slowly drifting my way. I didn't need to grab them; they just flowed into my glow, letting me absorb them. Every light made me feel warmer, more energetic, more... solid. My own light got brighter.

  Okay. Focus. Stay calm. Draw them in.

  One by one, then in small groups, the lights drifted over, pulled toward my focused mind. They merged smoothly, making me feel stronger, making my light grow. It felt... amazing, really. Like waking up after being asleep for my whole life.

  So I got the hang of it: focus, pull the light in, get stronger, glow brighter in the endless dark...

  (Third Person Narrative - Forest Setting)

  Elsewhere, in a world of old forests and dark trails, the harsh breathing of two people broke the night's quiet. Branches caught at their worn clothes, and damp earth stuck to their old boots as they ran.

  "Haah... haah... Aena!" the man, Leon, gasped, glancing back at the woman stumbling beside him. Weak moonlight filtered through the thick leaves overhead, showing the sweat on his face and the fear in his eyes. "Are you okay? Can you keep running?"

  Aena clutched her side, breathing hard, but her voice was steady. "Keep going, Leon! We have to... hah... get away before they realize we escaped!"

  Leon scanned their surroundings quickly, spotting a dark opening in some rocks nearby. "There! A cave. Let's hide in there, just for a bit. To catch our breath. They won't find us easily there."

  He helped Aena towards the opening, and they slipped into the cool, damp darkness inside. The sounds of the forest faded, replaced by the echo of their own loud breathing and fast heartbeats.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Leon helped Aena sit on a moss-covered ledge near the cave entrance. "Rest here. I'll keep watch."

  Aena leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment, clearly exhausted. She reached out, finding Leon's hand in the dark. "Leon..." Her voice shook slightly. "Was this the right decision? Running away?"

  Leon squeezed her hand, his voice low but determined. "It was the only way, Aena. I won't let them trap you, not now." His gaze softened as he looked down at her stomach, slightly rounded under her dirty clothes. "Especially with the baby coming."

  Aena put her other hand gently over her stomach. "You're right," she whispered, her voice suddenly fierce. "We have to live for our child now. I hope they grow up safe, healthy... and free."

  A faint scraping sound echoed from outside the cave – the clear sound of metal hitting stone.

  Leon froze, looking up sharply. "Someone's coming," he hissed, carefully helping Aena up. "We need to go deeper into the cave. Fast, and be quiet!"

  They moved away from the entrance, quickly hidden by the growing darkness. The cave floor was uneven and wet.

  "Do you know where this leads, Leon?" Aena whispered, holding onto his arm tightly.

  "No idea," he admitted, his voice tight with worry. "But it's better than being caught. Just watch your step, be careful..."

  "Okay," Aena murmured, trying hard to see in the dark. "It's so dark, I can hardly see anyth—"

  Her words cut off with a sudden cry as the floor under her feet disappeared. Her hand, still holding Leon's, pulled him down with her. With a shared yell of surprise and fear, they fell together into a deep, dark hole inside the cave.

  "AHhhhh!"

  (Third Person Narrative - Outside the Deep Cave)

  The soldiers paused just inside the damp cave entrance, peering nervously into the deep shadows. The air felt heavy and still.

  "Thought I saw something move in there," the first soldier whispered, his hand gripping his sword hilt.

  "Should we follow?" asked another, his voice tight with fear.

  A third soldier scoffed, shaking his head. "Are you crazy? This cave marks the edge of the Forbidden Forest of Lockhart. Everyone knows it's crawling with nasty beasts. Who knows what's hiding in that darkness?"

  "He's right," agreed a fourth soldier, already backing towards the entrance. "We chased them far enough. Let's report back. It's not worth becoming monster food."

  Nodding in agreement, the small group turned, their relief obvious. They began retracing their steps through the winding passages they had already explored. But their relief didn't last long. As they rounded a bend, a huge, snake-like shape blocked their path. Before they could even draw their weapons, they saw the terrifying truth – the thrashing tail end of a Scalios, a monstrous three-headed snake. Horrified screams echoed briefly through the stone corridors as the snake's heads took turns striking the soldiers, silencing them one by one. The cave fell quiet once more, leaving only the faint dripping of water.

  (Third Person Narrative - Underground Lakeshore)

  Far below, much deeper within the earth, Leon gasped awake, sputtering as water filled his mouth. He had hit a large body of water, cold and shocking. Disoriented, he thrashed for a moment before finding his footing in the shallows near a soft, sandy shore. Strange, glowing moss lit the area with a soft, blue-green light, revealing an unbelievable sight: a vast underground cavern housing a lush forest and a calm, clear lake. Colorful, harmless-looking insects buzzed quietly through the air, unlike anything he'd ever seen.

  But the beauty didn't register immediately. Panic seized him. "Aena!" he yelled, his voice echoing strangely. "Aena! Where are you?!"

  He scrambled along the shore, his eyes darting frantically across the water and the strange plants. Then he saw her, lying still on the sand just a short distance away, half in the water.

  "Aena!" He rushed to her side, kneeling in the wet sand. "Aena! Darling, wake up!"

  He felt for her pulse – faint, but there. He checked her breathing – she wasn't. Remembering basic first aid, he gently tilted her head back and pressed firmly on her chest several times, trying to force the water out. He turned her slightly onto her side, pressing again. Finally, a spluttering cough broke the silence. Aena coughed again, spitting out water, her eyes fluttering open.

  "Cough... Cough... Ugh. Leon?" she gasped, looking around confused. "Where are we?"

  Relief washed over Leon so strongly he almost cried. "Aena! You're okay! Does anything hurt?" He gently helped her sit up, checking her over for injuries.

  "I... I don't think so, Leon," Aena said, still catching her breath. "I'm just... glad there was water down there. If we'd just hit rock..." She shuddered, not finishing the thought.

  "Me too! But I was so scared, Aena. Are you absolutely sure you're alright? Nothing hurts?"

  "I think I'm fine," she reassured him, placing a hand protectively over her belly. "I just hope the baby is okay."

  Leon managed a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I know our baby is fine. He or she is tough, just like their strong, brave mother."

  Aena leaned against him, a tired smile touching her lips. "Oh, you! I hope they get your smarts and your talents." She looked up at him, her eyes full of affection despite their situation. He leaned down, and their lips met in a kiss filled with relief and shared fear.

  Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through the cavern, bouncing off the distant walls. It sounded incredibly old, like rolling thunder shaped into words.

  "EHEM! WHO DARES DISPLAY SUCH AFFECTIONS IN MY PRESENCE?"

  Leon and Aena sprang apart, hearts pounding, staring wide-eyed into the glowing forest where the voice seemed to come from.

  "Who's there?!" Leon shouted, instinctively moving in front of Aena. "Show yourself!"

  A deep chuckle rolled through the air, like massive stones grinding together. "HAHAHAHAHA! QUITE BOLD, YOUNG MAN, TO MAKE DEMANDS OF ME! VERY WELL. COME CLOSER. STEP INTO THE TREES."

  Hesitantly, holding tightly to each other's hands, Leon and Aena moved forward, pushing past large, glowing leaves and strange, soft vines. As they walked deeper into the magical underground forest, a shape began to form in the soft light ahead.

  First, they saw wings. An impossible combination – huge wings covered in soft, white feathers, like an angel's, folded beside equally massive wings that looked like they belonged to a bat, covered in dark, shimmering scales. These wings belonged to an enormous figure standing before them. It had the powerful hind legs and body of a dragon, with strong arms ending in sharp claws. Thick, heavy-looking magical shackles glowed faintly around its legs, binding it to the ground.

  The couple gasped, stopping dead in their tracks. All the color drained from their faces as they stared up at the immense creature.

  "WHERE IS THAT BRAVERY NOW, SON? HAHAHAHA!" The dragon's laughter echoed again, but it didn't sound cruel, perhaps just amused. "DO NOT FEAR. I SHALL NOT HARM YOU. AS YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE, A SPELL KEEPS ME BOUND HERE. I AM... NO LONGER NEEDED IN THIS WORLD. I AM SIMPLY WAITING HERE TO FADE AWAY, PERHAPS FOR THE NEXT FEW MILLENNIA."

  Leon, though trembling, forced himself to bow his head respectfully. "Forgive my rudeness, oh wise one. Your... your majesty is truly awesome." He glanced back at Aena, who looked utterly terrified. He lowered his voice slightly. "I think I recognize the description from old stories, but... may we ask your name directly?"

  Aena looked at Leon, startled. "You know who this is?" she whispered. Leon gave a tiny nod.

  The dragon let out another rumbling chuckle. "HAHAHAHAHA! FLATTERY WILL GET YOU NOWHERE, SON! I AM WHAT YOUR ANCESTORS CALLED AN ANCIENT GOD. THE DRAGON GOD, AZAHEL."

  Leon's eyes widened, confirming his suspicion. "I knew it! Oh, Great Creator... I wasn't trying to flatter you. I studied the old histories, back when I had access to those books. The texts spoke of you, though most consider it myth now. But... why are you trapped here?"

  "HAHAHAHAHA! YOUR CURIOSITY OUTWEIGHS YOUR FEAR, YOUNG ONE!" Azahel tilted his massive head, observing Leon with ancient eyes. "INTERESTING. VERY WELL. SINCE YOU ARE THE FIRST MORTALS TO STUMBLE UPON MY PRISON IN... OH, A VERY, VERY LONG TIME... I SHALL INDULGE YOUR QUESTIONS."

  As Azahel spoke, Leon and Aena looked around the magical cavern again. Despite the terrifying, god-like dragon chained before them, the peaceful glow of the plants and the gentle quiet felt safer than anywhere they had been during their days on the run. Here, at least, they could rest.