My Classmates And I Were Transported to Another World

I wake up before the others. The air's still cold, the ground stiff beneath me. I'm not surprised. I didn't sleep much anyway.

They're still around the fire, their bodies tangled together like they're trying to pretend this is just another camping trip. They're not aware of how fragile that illusion is.

Sophie stirs first, rubbing her eyes. She looks confused, like she's forgotten where we are for a second. It doesn't matter. She'll remember soon enough.

Taro's still asleep, his back to the fire, chest rising and falling in a rhythmic, unaware way. He doesn't even know he's being watched. He doesn't understand what it means to be truly vulnerable.

I stand up without making a sound. The food I found is tucked away in my bag. I don't take it out. Not yet. It's mine, and I'm not sharing. Not unless I have to.

The ruins around us are as empty as they were last night. Not a soul in sight. No signs of any other survivors, no beasts, no strange creatures lurking in the shadows.

It's unsettling. But I don't let it distract me.

I move a little further from the group, my boots crunching on the dry earth as I step through the scattered debris. There's a structure in the distance—half a wall, crumbled and leaning. I head toward it. Doesn't matter if I find anything. I need to keep moving, always moving.

I don't know what's waiting out there. I don't care. I know that if I stop for too long, I'll become a target. That's what happens to people who don't know how to act. People who wait for someone else to make the decision.

I don't wait. I don't hesitate.

The others eventually wake up. Sophie tries to organize them, like she always does. Taro follows her lead, though he's clearly not as certain. They're both soft. They think they can "fix" things. They can't.

By the time I return to the camp, they're already arguing. I don't know about what. Doesn't matter.

They're arguing because they can't see the truth. They think it's just about getting home, about finding some way out of here. They're wrong. The truth is, we're not going anywhere. Not unless we make our own way. And I don't think they're ready for that.

"Stop," I say, cutting through their words. They both turn to look at me. Sophie's face is full of concern, Taro's a bit annoyed, probably at my tone. But they both stop talking.

"We need to go," I say. "Now."

They exchange looks, like they're weighing whether to trust me. But they know better. I've already made it clear that I'm not here to play nice.

Taro opens his mouth like he's going to argue. I don't wait for him. I just start walking.

They follow, eventually. They don't have a choice.

---

We move through the ruins, scanning every corner, checking every shadow. There's nothing here. Just more broken stone, more piles of debris. We haven't seen any sign of life since we arrived. It's starting to feel like we're the only ones left.

I'm not complaining. I don't need anyone else. But I can feel their fear growing, and it's not helping.

They're all looking to me for direction now. Sophie keeps glancing at me like she's waiting for something, like I'll say something that'll make everything make sense.

She's waiting for reassurance. I don't give it.

We reach the edge of the ruins by mid-afternoon. The sun—or whatever passes for the sun here—is starting to burn hotter now, beating down on us in oppressive waves. The silence is almost suffocating. The air itself feels wrong.

I pause, scanning the horizon. A new feeling stirs inside me. Unease.

Something's coming. I don't know what it is, but I can feel it in my bones.

I look back at the others. They're sweating now, looking tired. Sophie's already wringing her hands, and Taro's mouth is set in a grim line. They don't get it. They still think this is temporary. That we'll find a way home if we just keep moving.

They don't know what it's like to survive. Not like I do.

I push forward, ignoring the tightening in my gut. I can't afford to slow down.

We come across an old structure—part of a collapsed building, maybe, or what used to be a wall. It's barely standing, but there's enough space inside to hide. We could make camp here.

But as I move to step inside, a sharp, high-pitched noise cuts through the air.

My heart races. Something's here.

I stop. I look back.

The others are already behind me, looking just as confused as I feel.

And then I see it.

A figure, moving in the distance. It's not human, that much is obvious. Its shape is all wrong. Too tall, too gangly, and it moves too smoothly, like it's gliding across the ground.

I reach for the dagger at my side. I've had it since the moment we arrived, hidden away under my jacket. A weapon—just in case.

"Get inside," I hiss. "Now."

Sophie and Taro hesitate, and I don't give them a chance to question me. I push them toward the building, my hands firm on their shoulders.

We duck inside. The structure's barely standing, but it'll have to do.

I listen carefully, my eyes on the entrance. The figure doesn't come closer. It's watching us. I can feel its eyes on me, even from here.

The seconds stretch, slow and painful.

"What is that?" Sophie whispers, her voice trembling.

I don't answer. I can't.

Instead, I move toward the far corner of the structure, crouching low. My instincts are on high alert. I know this feeling. This silence. Something's coming.

And if it gets to us first, we won't stand a chance.

---

We stay hidden for hours, the air growing heavier with each passing minute. The figure doesn't move. But I can't shake the feeling that it's waiting for us to make a move. That it knows we're here.

The others are afraid. I can see it in their eyes. They're waiting for me to do something. But I don't tell them what's going on inside my head. I don't need them to know.

I need to think. I need to plan.

---

Eventually, as the sun sinks lower, I hear the footsteps. Soft at first, then louder. It's circling, getting closer.

I don't wait.

I step out from the ruins, into the open.

The figure's already there, standing still, like it's been waiting for me.

"Move," I mutter, more to myself than to it.

I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. My hand tightens around the dagger. I'll do whatever it takes. I'll make sure we survive.

I'll make sure I survive.