Heart of My Mountain

Chapter 3: Forgotten

You had just gotten over your high, breath slowing down to an more normal pace. You tread along the trail, which now seemed a little more even. Glancing ahead, you see that the path has slowly begin to show specks of wild shrubs and grasses. Soon, you were walking inside a thick forest, green pine needles covered with icicles and frozen snow.

You take a deep breath, adjusting the straps on your pack to fit more comfortably, and to also reassure yourself from your wild, increased panicking. You weren't going to stop now. Your pride depends on it, even if it'll cost you in the long run.

You burst through a small bundle of bushes, and the sight before you makes your breath hitch. You were no longer on a trail. There was a metal platform, leading off to the edge into oblivion. In front of you, you could see that the platform was high. So high that you could see all the cranes, buildings, and construction sites littered all over the woods and snow.

It was real. This place was real.

You gaze in amazement and wonder, taking it all in. It really did feel magical. If this was only the start of the mountain, you can't imagine what you'd see climbing your way up to the top.

"Wow..." You breathe. You look down, and from some partially hidden trees, you could see the cabin where that lady was. Smoke was coming out of the chimney.

A sudden aching in your heart tells you how homesick you were. Not for your home, but just the feeling of peace that you had long, long time ago.

You look forward, shaking that thought off. You walk carefully to the edge of the platform, aware of just how high you were. You see another platform in front of you, but there's a good distance away. You would have to jump.

You gulp.

What? Why would the platforms be unfinished? Is there really no other way around this?

You look over your shoulder in desperation, trying to see if there was an alternative route you could take that was less dangerous than this. You feel your palms sweat, seeing that there was none.

You needed to jump.

Well, you survived that bridge last time, so what's so different about this? A voice in your head mutter.

It wasn't different. You could possibly die! One wrong move...and splat goes your body.

You look down, finally realizing that the platform you were standing on was the base of a building. Inside, barely visible since it was so dark, you could make out what appeared to be an escalator. You exhale, not realizing you held your breath the whole time.

Watching your step as you climb inside, you could see that the escalator had been there for a while. It looked a bit different than a normal one, with a platform to stand on, and links that helped move it. You search around for any button or signs of power. You hit your arm on the side of it, and jump back, yelping as the platform speed across into a hole opening in the front. It stopped just before it flew outside, gears turning as it slowly came back.

You look at it in confusion. What kind of escalator sends you forward at breakneck speed? Did the builders make a mistake? Is that why they abandoned this place?

Another thought nudges you at the back of your head. You didn't want to believe it.

Maybe they built it that way on purpose. Ever thought of that?

That was impossible. There was no way that was used for transportation, especially of people. Even if it was built like that, what kind of sick psychopath would want this? This is basically a murder machine. The people riding on it would get flung-

The sudden thought hit you so hard in the head you stumble back, disbelieving. It seemed so obvious but also unnoticeable. 

If it really was true...then how would you make it over to the other side? If you timed it wrong, you could fly off and smash yourself onto those jagged spikes and sharp metal. You grimace, that thought making your knees weak.

You look at the escalator. How did you just activate it? You had slammed your arm against it. You must have triggered something inside it, or it had touch sensors, though you doubt that this hunk of metal was that advanced.

You slam your arm against it again, watching it speeding across then slowly coming back. You put a foot on the platform, carefully watching it if it would move. It didn't.  You step onto it. 

You stamp your foot down, almost screaming as you speed forward. You see the opening, the light blinding you. You give a shout as you leap off it, barely grabbing onto the edge and pulling yourself up. You look back at the hole you jumped out of, watching the escalator slowly disappear into the darkness again.

You feel a bit more proud of yourself than before. Maybe that was a good thing. You look forward, more determined than ever. As you continue moving along the trail, you see more and more of those escalators. You try to avoid using them unless absolutely nesesary, but with each jump and landing you feel yourself grow more confident in your step. Along the way, you see something in the corner of your eye. It looks bright red, and was buried in the snow. You uncover it.

A fresh, ripe strawberry.

What the hell? Where was the stem, the plant? You hold it up to your face, squinting your eyes. It looked perfectly normal to you, with the left over snow melting.

Guess this could be useful.

You mentally shrug, putting the strawberry into your pack and continued forward.

Soon though, you climb over a rock edge to see a broken down plane. The smell of smoke caught your attention as you look over to see a man sitting next to the campfire.

The first you noticed was his impressive beard. It reached from his hair all the way down to his shoulders in one big curly mess. He wears a yellow scarf and a dark green winter sweater with horizontal and vertical stripes. His giant backpack was next to him on the ground as he sits by the fire quietly.

Of course, the first thing you did to start a conversation is to apologize for no reason, already setting the mood akward for someone you just met. You learn that his name is Theo. You both talk about alot of things, his interest in photography, the abandoned city, and his knowledge of a site up ahead called ruins. Theo was a warm and friendly guy, he was open to you about alot of things. You were still shy, but tried to go along and keep the conversation moving. It was before long that you both part ways, now leaving you alone again.

You continue climbing, feeling your arms and legs starting to become sore after gripping sharp stones for so long. You also found more strawberries, same as the last one. All ripe without any signs of their growth or development.

You climb over a wooden platform to see a giant memorial. You walk up to it, reading its words that were worn from years of rain and weather.

This memorial is dedicated to those who perished on the climb.

You feel your heartbeat stop for a second. Of course people died here but, how many? There must have been alot, enough to make a giant grave for all of them. There's no names on here either. You feel your body go cold.

"Ugh...I'm exhausted...." You mutter to yourself. You didn't want to think about that right now.

Walking forward, you see a old campsite with a burned out fire. You use some nearby wood and a match to get a flame going. You shrug off your pack, watching it land with a thump. You slump down on it, using it as a backrest. You can feel that bird land on top of you, squawking before making itself comfortable in your hair, but you couldn't care less right now.

You exhale slowly, looking into the darkening sky.

Maybe this was a mistake.