D’Angelo landed at the bottom of the hill near the river and looked up to see how close the monster was away from him. As he did, he saw that halfway up the hill, the toad monster was bending its front legs in a leaping motion. In one powerful stride, it leaped into the air above d’Angelo.

  Realizing that his plan did not buy him as much distance as he thought. He jumped into the water, letting the current take him. The monster crashed down in his previous spot a half second later.

  The cold water of the river shocks his system and momentarily steals his breath. The current was stronger than he remembered, quickly pulling him into the rapids. The water churned around him, a chaotic mix of white foam and roaring noise.

  D’Angelo fought to keep his head above water, his arms flailing as he was tossed and turned by the powerful current. Sharp rocks jutted out from the riverbed, and he struggled to avoid them, his body being pushed and pulled by the relentless force of the water. He gasped for air whenever he broke the surface, his lungs burning with the effort.

  The river’s rapids carried him downstream at a dizzying pace. He was tossed over a series of small waterfalls, the impact jarring his bones and making his muscles ache. His vision blurred from the spray of the water, and his ears rang with the constant roar of the rapids.

  In the midst of the chaos, D’Angelo spotted a fallen tree branch protruding from the water’s edge. Summoning all his remaining strength, he reached out and grabbed it, his fingers wrapping tightly around the rough bark. The current fought to tear him away, but he held on with everything he had.

  Slowly, painfully, he managed to pull himself closer to the shore. He dragged his exhausted body out of the water and collapsed on the riverbank, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. The cold, wet ground beneath him was a stark contrast to the chaos he had just escaped.

  D’Angelo lay on the riverbank, trying to catch his breath and calm his racing heart. The cold ground provided a brief moment of respite, but it was fleeting. Just as he began to feel his strength returning, a hissing sound cut through the air. He looked up in horror to see an acid ball hurtling toward him, shot by the toad monster now perched menacingly on top of the waterfall he had just tumbled from.

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  The acid ball slammed into the ground beside him, sizzling and burning the grass, sending up a cloud of acrid smoke. D’Angelo scrambled to his feet, his instincts screaming at him to run. His eyes darted back to the waterfall and then to the dense forest ahead. He knew he couldn’t go back, he didn’t know if he could escape the water again. With no other choice, he turned and sprinted into the forest, his heart pounding with a new surge of adrenaline.

  “Mom! Dad! Help!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees as he ran. The forest was a blur of greens and browns, the underbrush tearing at his legs and slowing his progress. “Someone, please help me!”

  The sounds of the toad monster crashing through the foliage behind him spurred him on. He could hear its monstrous croaks growing louder, the acidic hiss of its attacks burning into his mind. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pushed forward, branches whipping against his face and snagging his clothes.

  “Help! Anybody!” he cried out, his voice raw with desperation. The forest seemed to close in around him, the thick canopy blocking out the sunlight and casting eerie shadows on the ground. Each step was a struggle, his legs aching from the effort, but he didn’t dare stop. The fear of the monster was a constant, driving force behind him.

  The forest, once a place of play and exploration, had become a labyrinth of terror.

  While running, D’Angelo spotted a break in the tree line up ahead. His heart leaped with a glimmer of hope as he sprinted towards it, desperate for an escape. Bursting through the trees, he found himself at the edge of a cliff, the ground dropping away sharply beneath his feet. His stomach churned as he looked down at the dizzying height, realizing there was nowhere else to run.

  The sound of the toad monster crashing through the forest behind him grew louder, and he spun around to see it barreling towards him with terrifying speed. Its grotesque form loomed larger and larger, and D’Angelo felt a wave of despair wash over him. He was trapped.

  Just as the monster lunged, a strange sensation washed over him. A black dot appeared in the air in front of him, expanding rapidly until it encapsulated him completely. In an instant, the world around him vanished, replaced by darkness. He felt himself being pulled through space, disoriented and breathless.

  Then, just as suddenly, he reappeared, landing on a sturdy tree branch high above the ground. He clung to the branch, gasping for air, and looked around frantically. Beside him stood a tall figure, cloaked in shadow.

  “You alright kid?,” the figure said, his voice calm and reassuring.

  D’Angelo blinked and focused on the man next to him. It was a stranger, he had a mixed feeling of Relief, weariness, and gratitude flooding through him.

  “Who are you?” D’Angelo managed to ask, still trying to catch his breath.

  The man smiled gently. “I’m Jeremiah, a hero. I saw you were in trouble and came to help.” As he finished speaking a large boom and angry crock could be heard from the bottom of the cliff.

  D’Angelo nodded, his heart still racing but feeling a sense of safety he hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever. “Thank you,” he whispered, looking down at the cliff where the toad monster was far below, now unable to reach them.

  Jeremiah nodded. “You’re welcome, kid. Let’s get you somewhere safer.” With that, he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and they vanished.