A Beautiful Mistake

Flashbacks of Truth

Making it out of the house was easy. As I stumbled along the dense bushland that was the house's backyard, I had no idea where to go. Tripping on exposed roots and small rocks made little difference to the rate at which I was running. I seemed to be running forever, which was odd because it was just a backyard. The sun was just peeking through the trees, and I followed the rays of sunlight until I stumbled upon a hill. Exhausted as I was, I kept on running and when I reached the top of the hill it was not what I expected to see. 

Vast expanses of rainforest and bushland covered the earth for kilometres. In the distance I could faintly see tall mountains, their peeks covered by clouds. I could hear birds chirping and the rustling of trees far away, low growls and screeches chorused together as I spun around bewildered, causing a cold chill to pass down my spine. My breathing slowed, but my mind was still racing. Where the hell was I? And how did I get here? I had no clue. I seemed to be in the African jungle or something!

I looked around again, and my eyes passed a relieving sight. In a vally of thin forest I could see small little houses made out of bamboo and smoke rising from the chimneys. It seemed a fair 10 kilometres away, so I started to head in that direction. I still held the kitchen knife in my hand, and I gripped it tightly. Hopefully I won't be needing to use it anytime soon. 

As I made my way down the hill again, I started to feel a little light-headed. I shook myself and slowed a bit. A high-pitched sound errupted through my skull and shivered my spine. I yelped out in pain and fell to my knees, my head pounding like a thousand marching men running through my brain. I yelled again as I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my hands so tight they drew blood. Images began to flash through my mind. A cold, hospital room with a bright flood lamp glaring down at me. I look down at myself and my hands are stained with blood. I look up and the whole room is drenched with red; splattered on the walls, staining the bed sheets, dripping from the ceiling. A scream erupts and another image swirls into my mind, this one dark and evil. Running through a forest, the fear of something chasing me was surrounding me. Falling and stumbling, into a tunnel of darkness. A shadowy figure standing over me, his teeth like sharp incisors gleaming white in the darkness as he bends down.

I opened my eyes again, tears streaming down my face and my breathing raspy and hard. I was on my hands and knees, the knife digging into the ground just beside my right hand. I sat down and wiped my face with my hands and slowed myself. What was that? Was it flashbacks of what has happened to me? Or was it a message? A sign of what's to come? Thoughts and questions running through my brain searching for answers, but getting none. 

I slowly got to my feet and ran a hand through my tangled hair. I grabbed the knife again and looked at it's sharp edge. I needed help, I decided. Big time. So I took two deep breaths, and again started my way into the forest, in search of the village. 

 ~~~~~~~

An hour had passed and no images came again. I am glad because I am scared at what I will see again. I looked at the sky and the sun had risen higher. I am guessing it is around three thirty in the morning now. I am exhausted and thirsty and hungry from all the running I have been doing. I look down at myself and my once pink nightgown is now a shade of gray and has little scratch marks all through it from branches catching on the material. My bare feet are a bloody mess with cuts and bruises running up my ankles to my knees. I feel light-headed again, but I know it's not the flashbacks or whatever they are coming back. Soon I would collapse from exhaustion and lack of water. Hopefully I will find a stream or river or something to aid my needs. 

The sun shone bright on my back and I could feel it burning into my skin. Sweat was running off me like I've just came out of a sauna, and the world around me looked as if it was doing somersaults. I stumbled against a tree, it being my only hold of staying on my feet. I dropped the knife with a careless throw and sagged to my knees. All around me was an aurora of noises of animals and things living in the jungle, as if they were singing to me in synchronised harmony. Nothing sounded out of place except for my ragged breathing. I heard a rustle of bushes to my left and my head snapped to the sound, causing my mind to swim. But I didn't care because I knew something was watching me. A cloud passed over the sun and instantly turned the forest to darkness, shadows forming around the trees and making the jungle feel spooky and dangerous. I kept on staring at the bush from where the noise came, and something flashed yellow and it rustled again. I inched closer, grabbing the knife steadily as I crept up to it. I heard a low growl, deep and rumbling that travelled all through my body making me shiver. I suddenly knew how dangerous this was and had to get out of there as soon as possible. I started to back away, my eyes wide with fear and my hands shaking like crazy. I tripped over a rock and fell back suddenly, the surprising impact winding me making me gasp. I looked at the darkness again and I could see two yellow eyes like a cats gleaming out at me. It growled again and moved closer, into the ever preceding sunlight. I could catch colours of orange and black running along its face and a set of razor white sharp teeth as big as my fingers, dripping with saliva. 

My breathing stopped as I realized what it was. I made a noise like a strangled plea and scrambled up on my feet holding the knife out in front of me. The tiger was inching closer, and its eyes were playful, as if it knew I was caught already it was just messing around with me. I gulped and stamped my foot cursing, trying to scare it away. It only growled back at me and took a step closer. "Go away!" I screamed.                         

And then it pounced on me.