Tyler had always loved the forest. It was his sanctuary, a place to escape the noise of the city and reconnect with nature. Today, he had ventured deeper than usual, following a narrow, overgrown trail that seemed derelict and forgotten. The scent of pine and damp earth hung heavy in the air as the orange glow of the setting sun pierced the canopy above. Tyler smiled as he heard the leaves rhythmically crunch under his boots.

An hour passed as he meandered through the forest, admiring the serenity around him. The deeper he went, the quieter it became, the sounds of wildlife slowly fading. Tyler didn’t mind the solitude; it was exactly what he had come for.

As he rounded a bend, he noticed a small clearing ahead, surrounded by dense underbrush. The ground here looked different, the soil darker and wetter. Curious, Tyler stepped into the clearing. His boots sank into the soft earth. He hesitated for a moment, but shrugged it off. The forest floor was often uneven, and he was confident in his footing.

He took another step, but this time, his foot sank deeper—up to his ankle. Frowning, Tyler tried to pull his foot free, but the earth clung to it like a vice. Alarmed, he took a step back with his other foot, only to feel it sink down as well. Panic surged through him as he realized he had stepped into quicksand.

"Okay Tyler… Stay calm," he whispered to himself, recalling bits of survival tips he had heard about quicksand. He knew that struggling would only make things worse, so he tried to keep still, but the ground continued to give way. His legs were now buried up to his knees, the wet, sticky muck pulling him down inch by inch.

Tyler's heart raced as he scanned his surroundings, hoping to find something to grab onto. There were no nearby branches or sturdy trees within reach. His mind raced as he thought of how far he had come—too far from the main trail for anyone to hear his calls for help.

He stretched his arms wide, trying to distribute his weight, but the more he tried to move, the deeper he sank. The quicksand had reached his thighs now, and he could feel the pressure tightening around his legs, tugging him further into the earth. The muck squelched and slurped as it swallowed him deeper, coating his clothes and flesh in a thick layer of mud as he struggled helplessly.

His breath came in short gasps as he tried to remain calm, but the terror was overwhelming. The quicksand was hungry, creeping up to his waist, then his chest. Tyler tried to lean back, hoping to float on the surface, but every attempt only pulled him deeper. His arms, flailing in desperation, were now coated in the thick, lumpy muck.

As the quicksand reached his neck, Tyler screamed desperately for help, but the forest remained silent and indifferent to his struggle. His fingers clawed at the mud, grasping for something—anything—to save him, but there was nothing but the oppressive weight of the quicksand pulling him deeper and deeper into the pit.

His body was now almost completely submerged, his mouth barely above the surface. The mud filled his ears, muffling the world around him, the moonlight above growing dim. With one last, panicked breath, Tyler felt the quicksand close over his head, pulling him under completely.

The forest returned to its quiet stillness, as if nothing had happened at all. The clearing, undisturbed, showing virtually no signs of his struggle. Only the faint ripple of disturbed mud remained, slowly settling back into place.