Foreign Reality

Part 1 - Discovery

I woke up to my alarm blaring in my ears early morning, as I stood from my bed dazed from my lack of sleep the night before I look out of my apartment window, thinking how I've lived in this city all my life. I step out of my room, seeing the lights were off I headed towards my kitchen and make a quick breakfast. Tomorrow is valentine's day. I never liked it because to me It was just another day nothing more, nothing less. After finishing my breakfast I made my way out of the kitchen, past my living room and onto my apartment hall. I grabbed my keys and anything I needed and turned to head out of my apartment. Today was my first day at a new college since my move. It's been hard since getting a job was a hassle for me of late. While making my way downstairs I see my neighbor coming out of his apartment. He's fairly new to the city, his name's Jake. I'd like to think we're good friends since he's been over at my place many times before to hang out. He's very energetic and cheerful anytime he comes over. I greet him as always but today something seems to be bothering him, I ask him but he says It's fine and not to worry about it in a forced smile and wave as he says that he'll see me later.. whatever that means. I finally head downstairs after greeting him, now walking along the long and narrow hallway of the first floor of the complex I notice it's unusually cold today. Good thing I brought my jacket. Making my way down the steps I open the rigid metal door out front and walk onto the somewhat quiet street of my secluded neighborhood.

The sky seemed clear today, it had been raining for a while now. I don't mind the rain though it's very calming, one of the reasons I like it here. Making my way up the street I see the bus I'm supposed to take pass me, I hurry and run to try to catch it-- but it was too late. Morning buses take forever to arrive and I still have to make it to the college relatively early because of my morning classes. Now waiting at the bus stop I see an unfamiliar street across from the stop. I make my way across the street, and at the other side I stop and stare at the buildings along the strip of wide road. The buildings seem to be almost medieval and old, very out of place for a modern city like the one I live in. I begin to make my way through the street and about half way I feel as if I'm being watched but the buildings looked empty and there was no sign of anyone around. I was starting to get a strange feeling about this place and begin to move faster to make my way out of the street as soon as I could. But right as I did I was stopped where I stood and notice I'm beginning to be pulled into the road itself. 

I begin to panic and flail all over the place asking for help, "HELP! ANYONE!" but no one came. I was already almost fully submerged and losing consciousness. Just before passing out I see a figure standing above me as the road itself closes above me and I pass out.

I woke up not knowing where I was or how much time had passed. Dizzy and disoriented I began to look around as I sit up from where I laid. Now beginning to regain my thoughts I looked around and It seemed as though I was In a mossy and dilapidated cave. I stood up and began walking toward the entrance of the cave where the blinding light of the sun hit my face. After regaining sight I peered out and saw what looked to be like a forest with massive trees, trees I've never even seen before. They  weren't only big, they were as wide as skyscrapers reaching as far as I could see through the thick fog. Stepping onto the rough dirt of the tall forest I could barely see a thing so I went back in the cave to collect my thoughts. I was pacing back and forth inside where I had awoke from frustrated and confused as to what had happened. 

I scream in frustration, "AHHH!!" I felt defeated and slumped to the ground. I tried to fall sleep on the hard surface of the cave to pass some time. After what seemed like forever I began to fall asleep. But as I did I was woken up by thunderous shakes that seemed to be coming from outside of the cave. I erupted and fully awake I struggle to keep my balance, I step back and hit the wall of the cave. As soon as I collected myself the footsteps stop. There was a strong silence and an overwhelming sense that something was staring  at me. I look up and see from the entrance of the cave a massive eye staring at me with murderous intent. I scream in disbelief and try to hide behind some stalagmites growing from the cave floor. As I hide and look back the eye disappears from view and the thunderous footsteps start again, this time running away.

Shaken by the encounter I start to hyper ventilate and say to myself "w-what in the living hell was that". Now composed I start to look around and find that there was a gap near the back wall I was standing against. Maybe I can fit I say to myself as I begin to crouch down into the gap. It took some effort but I made it through, too bad I don't have a flashlight because I can't see a thing. Making my way through I see a tree not even twenty feet away in what seemed to be a small grotto inside this part of the cave, it has a weird and misty glow almost purple and pulsating. I felt drawn to it almost as if it was calling to me somehow, I make my way towards it.

Now at the base of the tree I snap back and feel hazy all over as if I'm being showered with very thick mist. I could see a strange triangular symbol on the body of the tree, right as my eyes meet it my body recoils as roots I didn't notice before rose from the floor and grab me as I begin to lift. I struggle as hard as I can but they're too strong, the roots begin to dig into my skin and I scream in agony as my mind fills with strange images of what seem to be centaur like people and the silhouette of the person I saw before arriving here. The roots finally retract from my skin and they give, dropping me onto the floor. As I try to regain my senses I see that the places where the roots had dug into my skin were now healed and in its place were now markings that circled my entire forearm as well as the marking of the tree was etched onto my palms. I look up and the tree is now dead, its leaves crumpled and the trunk withered along with the roots that etched onto the floor. I make my way back to the gap and entrance of the cave, I decide I've had enough for today and stay put as I begin to fall asleep on the moist floor once more.