by Aiden James
“The force from that footstep pushed me face up against the wall. And then a much worse rumbling filled the area. The wall itself trembled.
“Morylan and the villagers ignored me, focused on the growing disturbance that threatened to overwhelm the village. The magnificent golden gates groaned open, and the splendid buildings and crystal wall began to crack and crumble. The villagers all scattered in a screeching panic, like beetles whose nest had just been exposed to daylight. The golden road rose and then buckled from the earth’s upheaval.
“I stood up, only to find Genovene and her loathsome brood looming above me, blocking the sun’s light. Just when I thought I might’ve seen the last of her, she found me again. But before she and the others could finally get their claws on me, the very ground the monsters stood upon gave way, sending each one sprawling and screaming into a large sinkhole.
“‘God damn you, Jack!’ she cursed me. ‘God damn you and everything you love to HELL!! Do you hear me?? TO HELL!!!’
“Perhaps foolishly, I edged up to the sinkhole’s rim and peered down into the earth. Bare roots of a large magnolia swayed back and forth near the spot Genovene had been a moment ago, along with several gold cobblestones and a few crumbling dirt clods. I started to feel dizzy from the sheer depth of the hole and pulled myself back, though I couldn’t help but smile. Finally gone! That goddamned bitch and her wicked cronies were really gone!
“All I had to deal with now was Morylan and a handful of villagers. They still ignored me, preoccupied by the deepening fissures that stretched across the sides of the buildings and along the entire length of the crystal wall for as far as my eyes could see. I noticed a bright swirling mist of rainbow-like colors hovering just inside the gates, now fully open.
“The mist swirled faster and faster, lengthening and twisting until it looked like a cyclone about the same height as the gates themselves. A high-pitched whistle filled the air. Morylan seemed mesmerized by the strange mist, and I felt safe enough to venture a closer look. Then I heard more adulation, like what happened in the garden earlier.
“‘Thank you, Jack! You did it, son!! We knew you could do it!! Thank you-u-u!!!’
“The chorused voices seemed to hasten the destruction of the buildings. I watched them collapse upon themselves. The massive crystal wall appeared ready to follow, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the swirling mass. The souls of the village’s countless victims materialized in the air before me, their radiant smiles mingling with intense light.
“‘You must leave now, Jack,’ a familiar voice told me from somewhere close by, though difficult to say exactly where it originated. Hell, it might’ve even come from inside my mind. The only thing certain was that it belonged to my mother. ‘Your journey has just begun, my son. Come on!’
“It felt like her voice moved through me. From front to back, her unseen spirit gently prodded, pulling and pushing me through the open gates of the ruined village. I stood atop the steps that led down into the corridor Genovene and I’d walked through earlier.
“‘Be brave, Jack,’ she said. ‘Be very brave and stay on the path you see before you. They’ll collect themselves and come after you soon, while others lie in wait. Remember we are with you, and will do everything possible to ensure your safe return home. Go quickly!’
“I felt several unseen hands upon my back, shoving me through the gateway. When I reached the bottom step, I heard the mournful cries of Genovene amid the remaining enraptured voices of her emancipated victims.
“She made it back again?? How the hell did that happen??
“I turned around in time to see the swirling mist lengthen and rise above the village wall. It disappeared in a bright blast of light speeding toward the late afternoon sun, the joyous voices silenced once it left. Heeding my mother’s latest warning, I didn’t wait to see if Genovene, Morylan, or any other fiends were on their way after me. I ran down the long corridor, determined to make it back home before it got dark.
“The first few hundred feet easy, I’d completely forgotten the miahluschkas because I didn’t see them right away. I soon heard their high-pitched voices sending an alarm to one another that rang shrilly throughout the corridor. Looking up as I ran, I still didn’t see anything. Then a wave of darkness appeared high in the treetops, moving up quickly from the village ruins behind me.
“The wave passed over me and started moving down the massive carnac trees ahead. When the wave neared the ground, to my horror it was made up entirely of miahluschkas, whose faces remained shrouded by their hoods. I tried to run past them since none had ventured onto the marble floor yet. As I ran, I glanced over my shoulder, seeing none behind me. I picked up speed, but then was shocked by what I found waiting for me. I nearly hurled myself into the air, I stopped so fast.
“An army of several hundred miahluschkas stood less than twenty feet away, entirely blocking my path. It seemed impossible that they’d moved into position that fast. They removed their hoods, and a stray beam of sunlight settled upon many of their pale frightful faces. All had long white hair as brilliant as Genovene’s in her human form. They glared, malevolent, their pupil-less gray eyes devoid of any warmth as they pulled back their lips far enough to reveal sharp serrated teeth. They spread out to surround me, scooting ever closer, drooling on their dark robes.
“With absolutely no idea what to do next, my mind raced wildly. They closed in tighter around me. I thought again of my mother’s words. Maybe the hubris of youth, but I believed her earlier admonitions could save me again. I met my aggressors head on.
“As the miahluschkas brushed up against me, I screamed at the top of my lungs and threw my arms and legs in every direction. The entire group froze, seemingly unsure how to respond. They backed away, confusion replacing the malice I’d originally been greeted with.
“Since this strategy seemed to work, I intensified my body’s convulsive movements, inadvertently kicking one of them. It flew into the trunk of a nearby carnac, splattering and sliding down to the tree’s base where it slumped over, dead. When the rest of them saw this, they disbanded, shrill screeches as they ran away.
“A pleasant surprise, but I wasn’t given long to enjoy it. A heavy crash rocked the area behind me. Morylan tore down the gates, and once that happened, the last few villagers poured out into the corridor.
“The bastards ran straight for me with Morylan lumbering right behind them. His powerful footsteps easily obscured their chirps and other gibberish. The ground shook beneath me, but I kept running. My lungs and sides burned really bad, and I didn’t think I could outrun them.
“As for Morylan, the thick vines and moss hanging from the trees slowed his progress. He couldn’t pursue me effectively and I saw frustration on his face when I glanced over my shoulder. He used his sword to cut the vines, which only made matters worse. The vines became a greater nuisance hanging lower.
“Frustrated, Morylan began chopping the trees themselves. But since the sword was made of gold, he mangled it more and more with each whack. He threw down the now-useless weapon and pulled on one tree until it snapped near its base. Dark green sap flowed out into the corridor, which formed an additional sticky mess for him to step through. Incensed, he picked up the sword and threw it at me.
“I just happened to see this and avoided the flying sword by diving headfirst into the tall grass growing between the trees. The sword careened down the marble floor, crushing the leading villagers before skidding on up to the very end of the corridor, where it rested precariously over the top of the stone staircase leading down to the pond.
“The rest of my pursuers slid on the gooey mixture that a moment ago had been their comrades. One by one they toppled to the ground, falling on top of each other as they looked back anxiously at Morylan, who quickly bore down on them all. In the midst of this confusion, several miahluschkas gathered around me. I immediately got back to my feet, and they moved away, fearful. Confident I’d gained the upper hand, I started running again. The marble f
loor slippery with blood and gore, I eluded everyone’s grasp and soon was in the lead.
“I reached the sword and crawled underneath the huge, twisted blade, careful to avoid the gore clinging to it and what had collected in puddles on the stairway beneath it. I sprinted to the bottom, jumping down onto the gravel pathway. By then, I had a huge lead. The villagers seemed unable to look past the liquefied remains of their buddies trickling down the stairs. It wasn’t until Morylan caught up to them that they pursued me in earnest.
“The marble giant bent down to pick up his busted sword. For some reason, he didn’t follow me down the staircase. Instead, he glowered in anger while fidgeting, as if unsure what to do next. Perhaps his ‘maker’ never believed anyone leaving the village would ever get past this point.
“I ran onto the bridge to cross over the pond, pausing briefly to look behind me. For some reason, the villagers didn’t seem as interested in me as before. They were fascinated instead by something in the water just to my left. I glanced over the side of the bridge while maintaining my guard. At first, I couldn’t see what caused the bubbles in the churning water, though it moved swiftly toward me. The ducks and geese nearby flew away, screeching in fright.
“The disturbance in the water soon caused the bridge to sway, and I lost my grip on the railing and fell hard on my ass. I wouldn’t need another look, and certainly wasn’t foolish enough to take one either. I only hoped the immense fish I just saw wasn’t able to bite through the bridge’s wooden floor.
“Cautiously, I moved across the bridge, crouching just below the railing. But I was losing ground to my pursuers, who came after me once they saw I wasn’t moving as fast. I had no choice but to pick up my pace. When I paused to look over the railing, the fish were getting even bigger. Cold, hungry eyes followed my progress from just below the water’s surface.
“Suddenly, several fish flew into the air above the bridge, snapping their jaws at me. My first good look at them. When their jaws opened, I saw several rows of sharp pointed teeth. They could easily suspend themselves in the air with large red fins that fanned out into wing-like appendages with razor tips. I barely avoided being filleted by one of these monsters as it came at me. It missed, but caused me to fall, allowing the villagers to creep within a few feet.
“I hadn’t made it far when one particularly large fish crashed onto the bridge directly in front of me. It flipped around with its teeth gnashing at my legs and feet. With little room to maneuver, I could hear excited clicking noises from the bastards about to grab me from behind.
“The fish flipped itself toward my chest. At the same time it flew up, I dropped and rolled under it, the fish’s sharp fins grazing the back of my T-shirt, easily ripping it. The villager closest to me wasn’t so lucky. The fish flipped upward again and latched its deadly jaws onto its face. Blood and some grayish goo squirted everywhere as the surprised fucker howled in pain, falling to its knees in a desperate effort to free itself.
“It kept the rest of them at bay for a moment, and I scurried away from them, dodging two more flying fish. I’d made it most of the way across the pond, but then heard a tremendous roar coming from the staircase. Morylan swung his bloodied sword angrily above his head, shouting at me in another strange language. He hurled the sword in my direction one last time. The heavy weapon flew high through the air, landing just beyond the middle of the bridge where it snapped into two pieces. The screeching villagers fell into the water.
“I made it to the pond’s other side just before my side of the bridge was pulled underwater by the pond’s current. I might’ve been all right anyway. The fish paid little attention to me, choosing my adversaries instead, so conveniently gathered in the middle of the pond. I climbed up the grassy bank overlooking the pond and sat down, hoping to catch my breath before moving on. I saw Morylan collapse to his knees across the way, burying his face in his hands. Beyond the towering trees behind him loomed the remains of the golden spike, a mere fifty feet or so above the tree line.
“When ready, I stood and walked over to the path, near the grove of fruit trees I’d visited that morning with Genovene. Another huge rumble soon filled the air behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw an enormous black cloud hover above the remnants of the golden spike. Bolts of lightning flashed around it as the cloud rumbled even louder. The last of the spike melted away until it disappeared from view. As it did, the cloud steadily grew larger, and then crept toward me.
“It just fucking figured…. I mean, was there no end to this shit? I started running for the grove, while a gusty breeze blew through the meadow around me, bending the grass and wildflowers to the ground. The wind continued to worsen until I stepped inside the grove’s cool expanse.
“It seemed darker in here than earlier, which alone added spookiness to the huge fruit trees…the ‘somilas’. I recalled the gentle breath-like sounds they made earlier. Quiet now, and like everything else in this hellish place, I feared what once seemed benevolent would turn out hostile. It felt like a thousand invisible eyes watched me
“I slowed my pace and warily looked around, with less and less light the deeper I moved in. I heard something move to my right, but when I turned my head I saw nothing. Then something moved again, only this time on the left side of the path. I stopped and looked over there, but again detected nothing out of place. Maybe what I heard was the trees’ fruit falling to the ground. Yes, that made sense...some ripe somilan fruit dropping.
“That logic comforted me until I glimpsed a tree’s root rise out of the ground and take a ‘step’ forward. Only a quarter of the way into the grove, I considered turning around and going back. But what if Morylan had somehow followed me and waited now for me just outside the grove? What then? Maybe even Genovene was out there, too, hoping I’d panic and frantically run back into her waiting claws. Hell, even if neither one was there, what about the dark cloud I saw?
“A loud thud resounded from behind me to my left. As soon as I looked in that direction, another loud thud came from my right side. I whirled around, peering as best I could into the dimness. The decision I’d just debated had now been made for me. Surrounded by seven trees, only the path ahead remained unblocked. Another tree approached the path, its roots and branches stretching forward, as if determined to close me in.”
Shaking his head, Jack looked at Peter, his smile wan. The agent, in the meantime, busily jotted more notes in another journal. A pair of stylish eyeglasses resting precariously at the end of his nose, he had removed them from his jacket and put them on earlier while motioning for Jack to continue his tale uninterrupted. At least the redness in his eyes had abated somewhat. He now noticed that Jack had ceased talking and looked up from his journal.
“You know, Agent McNamee...I was pretty frazzled by this time,” said Jack, his tone hushed, thoughtful. “Weary and exhausted in this ridiculous ‘other world’, and so goddamned tempted to simply collapse on the ground and go no further. I hoped maybe it was a bad dream that I’d somehow wake up from…. But before I gave in to my suicidal urge, sudden warmth enveloped me. I didn’t hear a voice this time, but I felt something powerfully impressed upon my mind. It was like, ‘don’t give in, Jack—you’re going to make it home!’
“I mustered up my remaining courage and took a few steps forward. The eighth tree lifted itself up from the ground and landed with a heavy thud on the edge of the path’s gravel surface. Within the next few seconds it would completely block the path. I drew in a deep breath and sprinted toward the tree, just as its roots stretched out in an apparent effort to pull itself fully onto the path and block me. In the very instant before it pulled itself over, I dove over its roots, scraping my arms and knees in the gravel but rolling to safety beyond the tree.
“I stood up and ran like hell, hearing a loud, meaty, breath-like sound coming from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, surprised to find a face glowing within the tree. Not sure if it was the monster Genovene or some other fiend, it sneered contemptuously. I believ
e it tried to say something, but all that came out was a low whispery rumble—at least that’s the best way I can describe it. Maybe it was an order for me to stop, because all the other trees in the grove now approached the path.
“Some trees tried to halt me with their branches, but I kept running. The sound of roots and limbs stretching to the point of tearing filled the air around me, sending cold shivers along my spine. Or maybe it was that feeling of being watched and studied from all angles again…. When I neared the grove’s exit, they crowded the path along its remaining length. One stepped in front of me. I faked to the right as if I really would move in that direction. The tree went for it and I sprinted to the left instead. Despite my cleverness, I narrowly escaped in one piece, receiving a reminder of just how close it’d been. A long scratch from a branch drew blood along the outside of my right leg.
“Leaving the grove, I happened to look over to my left. I stopped moving. Banjo and a few of his playmates were suspended in the air within a circle of five trees roughly forty feet away. He hung from the trees’ branches while a sixth tree moved within the circle toward him.
“He put up quite a struggle, kicking his legs desperately. A branch wrapped tight around his snout kept him quiet while two others were wrapped around his mid-section and shoulders to keep him from escaping. The other animals were motionless, with strips of bloody flesh and fur hanging from their torn bodies. The raccoon looked like it was stuck halfway inside a tree, like that particular somila was trying to absorb the animal’s flesh. The middle tree closed in on Banjo.
“In my mind I knew I should just get out of there, to save my own skin. But my heart wouldn’t let me do it. I couldn’t bring myself to desert my friend, even if Banjo was just an animal.
