CHAPTER TWO – THE UNKNOWN WORLD

The stone village lay silent beneath the noon sun. Houses carved from dark, moss-covered rock stood still against the endless wall of jungle. Strange birds sang a melody that was at once familiar and alien. Wind stirred the thick canopy, whispering secrets of an ancient land.

On the dirt path, two figures lay unconscious—STEVE and STELLA. Their futuristic clothes, faintly glowing implants, and metallic accents contrasted sharply with the primal setting.

A faint groan broke the silence. Steeve stirred first, clutching his head.

“Stella…?” he rasped.

She opened her eyes, blinking as confusion clouded her gaze. “What… happened?”

Both sat up slowly, their eyes darting around the unfamiliar place. Children of technology, now abandoned in a world untouched by circuits and steel.

From behind the stone dwellings, humanoid figures peeked cautiously. They looked human—flesh, skin, eyes filled with fear—but none bore the glow of implants or machinery.

Steeve’s throat tightened. “They look… like us. But—”

A sudden shout pierced the air. The villagers scattered in alarm. Moments later, ARMORED SOLDIERS emerged, their spears glinting, rifles raised. Sirens wailed like a warning of doom.

Stella’s voice trembled. “They think we’re dangerous!”

“Run!” Steeve shouted.

The two bolted into the jungle. The ground shook beneath their metal boots, leaves crunching, branches snapping. Towering trees swallowed them whole, vines dangling like watchful snakes.

In the Jungle

At last, they stopped, gasping for breath near a glowing blue mushroom that pulsed faintly in the shadows.

Stella’s voice quivered. “Where are we?”

Steeve leaned back against a tree, his chest heaving. His voice was low, honest. “Like you, I don’t know either.”

She lowered her gaze, hugging her knees. “What should we do? I’m… scared, Steeve.”

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll camp here for the night. Stay out of sight.”

Her lips trembled, but she nodded. “Okay… I wonder what happened to Michael though.”

Steeve’s eyes softened. “Yeah… me too. If only he were here. He’d know what to do. You know how brilliant he is.”

She smiled faintly, sadness lacing her voice. “Of course. After all, he is my coworker.”

Steeve grinned despite himself. “Yeah…”

Stella hesitated, then whispered, “What do we do about the power core?”

The word hung heavy. Their lifeline—the very thing keeping them alive.

Steeve forced a smile. “Don’t worry. You’ve got a professional engineer with you.”

A short laugh escaped her lips, light and shaky. “We’ll see about that.”

Days in the Wild – A Montage

— Bioluminescent creatures peeked from the shadows, curious and unafraid.
— Stella shrieked when a flying insect buzzed too close.
— Steeve fought off a predator with nothing but a sharpened branch.
— Their scanners beeped red over every fruit they tested—poison.
— At night, they huddled by small fires, whispering, watching, waiting.

The jungle tested them. And slowly, it drew them closer.

Waterfall – Day Four

Water thundered down into a crystalline pool. They sat at its edge, shoulders slumped, exhausted yet alive.

Steeve glanced sideways at her. “So… you never answered my confession, Stella.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile. “You want an answer now?”

“Yeah. If possible.” His voice carried a fragile hope.

She paused, brushing damp hair from her face. “I… never mind. I’ll tell you when things are back to normal.”

Steeve sighed, a mix of relief and disappointment. “You could’ve just said it, you know.”

She laughed softly. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Their laughter mingled with the roar of the falls—fleeting, fragile.

Nightfall – Day Four

The jungle shuddered with distant sounds. Explosions. Steel clashing against steel. The echoes of war.

Stella clung to him. “What’s happening out there?”

Steeve didn’t answer. He simply held her closer, eyes scanning the darkness.

Shelter – Day Five

Steeve tapped desperately at his communicator, static screaming back at him.

“Come on… Michael, answer me…”

The device remained silent. His chest tightened.

A sudden alert flashed across his HUD. Power Core: 0% in 12 hours.

The truth struck like ice. The core—their heart, their soul. If it shut down completely, they had ten minutes before death.

His hands trembled. Their skin grew pale. Every movement felt heavier.

Steeve fell to his knees first, coughing weakly. “This is it… huh?”

Stella crawled to him, her eyes shimmering with tears.

Her voice shook. “Then… since it’s our final day… I’ll tell you my true feelings.”

Steeve forced a smirk. “Took you long enough…”

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, “I’ve always loved you, Steeve.”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “Thanks, Stella… for accepting me…”

His eyes dimmed. The glow of his power core flickered, then died.

“No…” Stella clutched him, sobbing. “Steeve! Stay with me! You liar… you said you loved me…”

She buried her face against his chest. Her own strength was fading fast.

“Then let me… die with you…” she whispered, surrendering to the dark.

Her body went limp. Silence.

A Voice in the Dark

Somewhere, a voice broke through the void.

“Steeve? Stella? Oh, there you are…”

Light flooded back.

Michael’s voice—warm, almost playful.

“Took me long enough, huh?”

To be continued…