Forest Road - Revised
I find myself on a lonely road lined with towering trees. My vision is obscured, the air smells stagnant and from the trees...an occasional rustling in the leaves can be heard. There is nothing behind or in front of me. It really doesn't matter where I go from here, I have no choice but to wander.
[[Forward]]
[[Backward]]Despite the rustling within the trees and leaves growing louder and more frequent, I consciously walk timidly into the mist. Now, all I can hear is the amplified sound of my boots crunching through the dirt. Squinting and struggling, I can just see a fork in the road ahead.
The left path is lined with brambles and dead flowers. The ground also appears to be wet with something. But it is not water, water isn't red. Obscured by a heavy fog, there is what appears to be an orange light, a lamp perhaps?
The right path is lined with dead leaves and the air is ripe with the sickly sweet stench of decay. As I look further out, the fog on the right path seems to be less dense and perhaps clearing.
Which path do I take?
[[Left]]
[[Right]]I must have reached this path somehow. Plus, there really isn't a point to getting any more lost. It's probably safer to go back the way I came. Did I come this way?
I continue down the path, all I hear is the sound of dirt crunching beneath my boots. The air begins to grow colder and I pull my jacket tight around my frame. Continuing, I come across a rotting almost fallen wooden sign. The writing is covered by dirt. Propped awkwardly at the foot of the sign is a teddy bear. It looks oddly familiar.
For some unknown reason, I feel compelled to take the bear and I stuff into my jacket. Standing back up, I look to the sign for an answer. As I reach out to wipe it clean, the sound of a twig snapping behind me pierces the air, startling me.
Should I move on?
[[Continue On]]
[[Read Sign]] The orange glow of the light is more appealing, it is starting to get dark after all. Also, if it is a lamp, it might mean that people travel this road often. Perhaps I will come across someone who can help me.
The ground of this path is becoming sticky and wet. I struggle with each step as if I'm walking through a thick bog. The crimson color is unsettling.
Lookling closer the brambles are covered in serrated thorns and some as long as my index finger. I'm careful to stay in the middle of the path. After walking awhile, the light glows brighter. Hopefully I'm close to its source, my legs are growing sore from the constant pulling of my feet from the heavy crimson mud.
I eventually get close enough to see that it is a lamp. I am now awkwardly trying to pick up my pace. My foot strikes something in the ground and I crash violently face-down into the sticky mud. It tastes metallic almost coppery. Wiping my face and gagging, I push myself up to my feet and look to see what I tripped on.
It is pale white, a color that stands out against the brown weave of the bramble roots. I kneel down and wipe more of the mud away. It is an arm. Horrified, I turn and run towards the lamp. Clinging to the lamp post in exhaustion and panic, I notice that from the lamp hangs a sign. It reads, "Your hands are stained, wash them."
At the base of the lamp lies a small silver ring, simple in its design. I reach down and pick it up. Where have I seen this before?
[[The Victim]]The dirt beneath my feet slowly changes to a firm base of fine grey sand. Shockingly, the sand provides little resistance to my steps. The air is still sickly as a breeze whisps heavy air through the trees. Then suddenly, a voice calls to me from behind.
"Don't...", it is unfamiliar just barely above a raspy whisper. It is femine in tone. I stop and listen in the silence, the voice calls out again.
"Stay with me-e", the voice chokes out. In the silence, I can now hear light footsteps approaching from the mist behind me.
[[Wait and See]]
[[Runaway]]I don't like the idea of some creature pouncing from behind. I move quickly past the sign. The ground has changed to solid black rock. It is smooth and shiny...almost obsidian in appearnce. The trees are now dead, growing fewer in number.
Pressing on, I am suddenly struck with an overpowering stench of sulfur.
I gag and double over wretching, realizing that I am no longer surrounded by trees. Shaking myself, clearing my head, I see nothing but a barren sea of obsidian. The sky is now a dull grey and the sun glows faintly. Pulling myself to my feet, I hear a voice.
"Demon", it rasps. "You belong to us now". It sounds like many voices chanting in unision. On my right and left, shadowy figures with glowing red eyes appear and begin running towards me.
[[Accept]]
[[Reject]]Snapping around defensively in the direction of the noise, I see nothing. Shivering, I turn back to the sign and wipe away the dirt. It reads, "Face the Truth". Face what? I'm the only one on this road...
A twig snap behind me a second time. I spin and once again and I am still alone. But,in the dirt, I see prints. They are not my boot prints, but that of bare feet.
[[Continue]]From behind me there is a soft groaning sound. I whip around to see the arm twitching and frantically grasping at the crimson mud. A female body begins to pull itself from the ground.
Her black hair is wet and sopping in mud, she is naked, and her nails are black with necrosis. Her lips appear to have been ripped away, revealing a gaping wide mouth of rotting yellow teeth.
She is of a condition I could never have imagined; yet, she looks somehow familiar.
[[Stay and Watch]]
[[Run]]She pulls herself from the crimson mud with a sucking and wet sound. She scratches and crawls weakly to my feet. Grasping my legs and pulling herself to her feet, she slowly lifts her head and looking deeply inside me, she whipers "Why?"
"Why what?", I think to myself. Breathing heavy and raggedly, she blinks and I feel her large pale eyes pierce into me.
[[Push Her and Run]]
[[Stay]]I'm not going to stay around and wait for her to take me. I spin and run, stumbling through the heavy mud. Looking over my shoulder, she is already just behind me.
Reaching for me she screams, "I will have you!" Not ready to give-up, my fear now my fuel, I run for my life....
[[Consumption]]I push her away and start to run. Looking back, I see her body contorting on the ground. Bones cracking and reshaping themselves, her mouth unhinges as she wails from the distortion and pain of her transformation.
As I run, the trees I pass begin to wither and die. The creature moves nimbly over the mud. Suddenly, something grabs my ankle and I stumble. A corpse, covered in open sores and crimson mud, has risen and is locked onto to my leg.
It is soon followed by another...and then another...and then another.
Descending back into the earth their arms tether me to the ground. I am now helpless, I refocus and she has become a beast, scrambling towards me like a spider on all fours.
She pounces, settling on me, her weight a consuming and parlyzing hug.
"I will have you", she softly whispers in my ear. I retract and scream as her weight and the tethers from beneath pull us deep into the crimson mud.
She laughs, one final scream and then the darkness.Whether terror or pity for this grotesque woman, I stand frozen. To my surprise, she embraces me tighly and starts to cry.
"Why?", she chokes. "Why did you do it?" She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. Paralyzed, I now recognize her.
My first wife, Miranda. Two decades ago she died. I begin to cry and return her warm embrace. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Why couldn't I see how much you loved me, why was I so stupid?
Weeping together, we hug each other even tighter.
[[Forgiven]]Has someone been following me. I haven't heard anyone walking behind me. I would have heard dirt crunching beneath their feet. I turn and walk backwards, my eyes watching as the silent bare footprints mirror my steps. Nothing happens and I tentatively turn back to the path. The sign has now changed, "How have you sinned?"
Thoroughly unnerved and picking up my pace, I approach a fork in the road. Two paths diverge and just between them another sign. On it is written the words, "The path to freedom lies through me. There is only one way." Could the sign be refering to the paths before me? It must, what else could it be.
The left is lined with dead trees and brambles. The ground is covered in crimson mud, and there appears to be a faint orange light at the end.
The right path is lined with healthy trees. Under its lush canopy, the ground seems to turn into grey sand. A slight breeze blows air smelling of rot and decay.
[[Left]]
[[Right]]She gently pulls back from me, "Can I have it back?", she asks.
What is she asking for? Feeling the small foreign object in my breast pocket, it hits me. Pushing back, I reach into my pocket and retrieve the ring.
She slowly reaches out and takes it. From her touch, it begins to glow with a blinding white light. The light spreads to her and then she is gone. I shut my eyes and drop to my knees.
[[Open your Eyes]] As the light fades, I open my eyes. Looking up, its Miranda 20 years ago, just as I remembered. Long silky black hair, beautiful skin, emerald green eyes, and bright red lips. She is admiring the ring on her finger.
We are standing in a field of deep green grass, the air clean, and the trees sway in a soft breeze. It is just before sunset and the landscape is warm with fall colors. Miranda smiles and kisses me deeply. "I forgive you", that is all she says. I blink to clear the tears and she is gone again. I turn around and see the end of the path. It leads to an expansive meadow full of flowers, a few small bushes, and an occasional tree.
Under one of the far trees, I see Miranda sitting. She waves and beckons me towards her, that smile I'd always loved never leaving her lips. I break out in a mad sprint towards her. The closer I get, the warmer I feel. When at last I collapse next to her under the tree, I feel at peace. We embrace and I wander no more.
[[Peace]]Frozen in terror, I watch as the demonic entities quickly close in. I am surrounded...they seem to be growing taller. They now tower over me, casting shadows and blocking out the pale sun and grey sky.
An overwhelming sense of dread consumes me as I ask, "Where am I?"
Their taunting laughter shakes the ground, "You are in the place you've earned and deserve".
They descend with claws and fangs.I flee, bolting at my best speed, but they continue to gain. The ground suddenly vanishes beneath me, and I stumble, falling into a fathomless pit. I scream as I plunge into the darkness.
"You belong here", the same voices shriek. My ears ring as demonic cackling fills the void. It's been like this for years, and I'm still falling.
It's so cold....I turn on my heels as the haggard form of a woman appears from the mist. The moment I turn, she lets out a wail so loud I am knocked to the ground. I feel my ears begin to bleed. Scrambling to my feet in a panic, I look over my shoulder and she is barrelling towards me. The grey sand now surrounds me. No trees, no dirt, no clouds, no stars, just miles of endless grey dunes.
Her wails continue, and I shut my eyes in agony not caring where I'm running. All I care about is escaping. I open my eyes and she is somehow now in front of me.
Where are the trees? Where is the forest, there is no where to hide! Where am I going to go, she is not going to give-up. My mind races, I feel as though I have been running from her for years.
I'm fatigued and feel my mind breaking.
She hasn't stopped screaming....The form of an extremely emaciated woman appears from the mist. She struggles, she shuffles towards me moaning softly. Face to face, she whispers my name.
She reaches for my face with her boney claw-like fingers and nails.
[[Stay]]
[[Runaway]] As I run, the nightmare that chases me starts to wither and kill the trees. Her speed is not affected by the heavy mud. Suddenly, something grabs my ankle and I stumble. A corpse, covered in open sores and crimson mud, has risen and is locked onto to my leg.
It is soon followed by another...and then another...and then another.
Descending back into the earth their arms tether me to the ground. I am now helpless, I refocus and she has become a beast, scrambling towards me like a spider on all fours.
She pounces, settling on me, her weight a consuming and parlyzing hug.
"I will have you", she softly whispers in my ear. I retract and scream as her weight and the tethers from beneath pull us deep into the crimson mud.
She laughs, one final scream and then the darkness.