W*tch

Chapter 5: Fields of Golden Crap

NOVA

The first thing I could sense was the course ground beneath me. My hands ran over the plant-like texture. It was rather sharp. There was also a bright light. Terrified, I didn't want to open my eyes and become permanently blind. It was quiet. Not in the 'oh my god, someone talk because my ears hate this' kind of silence but there was a soothing breeze the was ruffling unknown foliage around me. It smelled earthy around me. Definitely not the apple air freshener I used a little too much in my bedroom. I took in a deep breath centering myself. The smells made me feel giddy and excited but part of brain seemed to fight against that feeling. Like I wasn't allowed to be happy in this strange world.

Hesitantly, I opened my eyes and  instantly became overwhelmed by a splitting  headache as the white light pierced through. Once my vision cleared, all i could see was a sky so blue that it was something I'd only read about and tall wheat reaching above me. However, they almost seemed to glisten as if they were make of gold. I'd driven past wheat fields in the past on many family road trips but these seemed different. Though they seemed like they were made of gold, they sway easily in the wind. Making soft rustling sounds as the wind danced throughout it.

I slowly inched myself onto my elbows. Good news, nothing in my body felt broken. Bad new, I definitely had no clue where I was. All that surrounded me was the golden crap that seemed to be just dull enough to not cut into me. 

"Hayden!" I yelled though my thought felt tight as if I hadn't drank water in months. What if I was alone? I imagined the weird flame again and tried to determine if he was placed in this hell too.

I could hear light rustling and braced myself for whatever it was. What if there was a monster out there? Probably was not smart to yell out giving myself up to whatever it was.

I sucked in a breath of a shadow looked over me and I shut my eyes. Readying myself to be devoured by the monster. I guess it was my time to go. What if I'm already dead and this thing is going to take me away to a place full of pain. Maybe I should've listened better to Zoey about being nice. 

"Are you okay?" Hayden asked softly and my body tried to relax at the sound of his voice. But part of me feared that this monster could mimic  voices. I couldn't tell if I was prepared for this mystery until felt a hand rub against my face.

My eyes snapped open. It was him. He was leaning over me with concern but quickly pulled his hand away when he realized I was alive. I nodded at him and he helped me stand in silence. Hayden kept eyeing me as if I were a glass doll about to break making my skin crawl. 

I sighed and rested my hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine," I said softly. It was partly a lie. I was barefoot and the plants were pressing into my feet. My muscles ached from what felt like a fall. The headache that first formed was dissipating but I could feel the shadow it left.  

I glanced down at myself. My skinny jeans were still intact and my sweatshirt, although ruffled, seemed to be okay too. I wasn't bleeding, which was a relief because I had no clue what exactly happened. I looked at Hayden, he too seemed fine. However, his shift was ruffled and the soft tuft of hair was sprawled out. Held in place by the gel he had clearly used. There was no physical memory of the blue flame. 

"Where are we?" I whispered to him. Concerned that we somehow landed in a hells-cape. I didn't want to alert the monsters in my mind had created.

"I don't know," he whispered back in a tone that seemed odd. As if he wasn't sure in his answer. but I didn't want to push. He was probably as confused as I was. 

I looked around us over the tall wheat. It was beautiful. The plants glistened in the sun and seemed to go on forever in the direction I was looking. I turned around and saw that we were near a tree-line.  The forest almost seemed to look ethereal. There was this glow coming from it as if it were alive. I took a step forward, dragging Hayden with me until I noticed a creature within it. The beautiful white creature reminded me of a deer but its antlers reminded me of a tree. There were leaves growing from it. Part of me was terrified of the creature. The other part wanted to go up to it. Touch its smooth white fur and see how soft it was.