Book Keep Below Paradise

Chapter 1

Ever since I saw that man in the forest things have been strange, but I never imagined it to be this weird, ever. Of course, no one expects this of all things to happen after you see a not quite human man in your forest. Any normal, rational person wouldn’t even think something like this would ever happen to them unless we lived in some crazy fantasy land. Although, right now it is not really the time to wonder what a rational person would be thinking of this utterly peculiar situation that is currently happening to me. 

     I can see Alice if I move my eyes all the way to the side of my face, but she is passed out from whatever drug the bird-like creatures pumped us with when they stole us from our cozy little loft above the book shop. If I could hold her right now I don’t think I would care all too much about why we are here or why I cannot move, but alas, wishful thinking does not help me escape this strange night. 

     I can feel some things but the movement of limbs isn’t really available for me at this very moment. I assume that this a symptom of whatever the hell was in that syringe and I’m hoping it will wear off soon. It didn’t keep me knocked out for too long so I can assume Alice will wake up eventually. 

 We have been here in this one spot for a few minutes or maybe more, I don’t think the time is really important right now anyway. I can see just ahead of me a large lit-up hole and I realize that whatever words these birdmen have been saying hasn’t been English or any language I know of. It sounds like it could be similar to French but whatever is being said is being chanted while Alice and I are dragged to the pit. I am certain we are going to be thrown down there and quite possibly die and the reason might be all because I saw some god-damned guy in my own damn forest. 

     I can now see that we are at the very ledge of the pit and it seems to go down forever from what I can manage to see. I can hear the creatures ask something from the tone they are using and one nods its head and throws Alice down.

 I can’t even muster up a scream before I am thrown too, I guess if we die this way we won’t be alone, but we aren’t supposed to end like this, not yet. I can barely move and my limbs are stiff but I manage to grab onto Alice and hold on as we fall. 

     My lungs are in pain and my palms are sweating but I cannot let go. I refuse to let go of Alice. I am almost glad she isn’t awake right now because why should she suffer more for a mistake I didn’t even know I made. I can feel the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes as I see something that may be ground which means we will probably be fleshy pancakes soon. 

     God, I am so sorry Alice, I hope you know I love you more than the stars love their planets. If there is an afterlife please find me, please remember who we are and don’t be mad or beat yourself up over something that you couldn’t possibly control. 

     I can feel a cold stone below me and I know that this is the end. My thoughts end here, and I am going to die here where I will probably never be found. The ground can’t be more than five metres away from me so here I come death no stopping it now.

 In my ear, I can hear something hit the walls of the pit and a long hiss of wind so I hold my breath and wait, but I haven’t hit the ground. I can feel my body jump up but I’m still thinking and my hand still holds Alice’s and I can still feel my lungs move up and down as I breathe. I am alive, I am very much alive.