Short Stories

The Jungle

Sweltering heat ate away at us. Insatiable waves full of treacherous heat hit us from every angle.

Me and my companion took on this challenge as an ambitious fundraiser. Now, lofty trees of varying heights surrounded us; battling for sunlight. Meticulously designed flora and fauna grew in secretive places and bloomed in the golden sunlight. There were other plants as well. Those that hid in the shadows and thrived in the moonlight. Ones with thorns, spikes and poisons. When we, me and her, accepted the challenge, we didn't think it would end up like this. The jungle around us thriving and making us feel insignificant.

The watering hole in front of us was nothing like what we imagined. It was...empty, and the water looked a strange brown-red colour. It almost looked infected. Images of magnificent creatures roaming around and drinking crystal waters like Gods drinking nectar were shattered. This part of the jungle seemed unsettling silent. No animals. No signs of life. No noise. As we walked closer towards the edge of the water, a putrefying stench arose and burned our noses. These festered waters hid rotten corpses and shattered bones. There must only be two reasons as to how this happened: The water poisoned them, or someone/something did this to them.

Clicking noises arose from the jungle encircling us. A chorus of shiver inducing noise. Rustling leaves was the only movement to be seen.

High up in the boughs of the trees, fruit began to drop and a high-pitched noise pierced the clicking cacophony. Creeping from the shadows crept a familiar figure

....a boy.

He was dressed in outrageous rags that hung from his slender frame. His wavy hair looked choppy, as if he had cut it himself. He seemed to be a teenager, younger than us, but not too much younger. Filth covered his body and his clothes were stained with a red tinge. As he neared, the metalic stench of blood incorporated with a sweet smelling fruit radiated from him. Hesitantly, we backed away until our feet reached the edge of the putrid water.

It was never meant to be like this.