The Spirit from Within

Prologue

On a dreary summer night in Crooksville, Maine. Hansel is running from something. Something he can't describe.

He walks past the restaurant, and doesn't ask for help because he's afraid that what's following him might hurt the people in the building.

"Hansel, is everything alright?!", someone shouted from the restaurant but Hansel didn't notice who spoke, he doesn't have time for that now. He needs to run away, or whatever is chasing him will catch him.

He runs into the forest, the people's screams already drowned out by the distance and his heartbeat, but he can't stop, it's getting closer.
The smell of the warm night, the trees, the earth and sweat.

He stops for a few seconds to breathe. He can't feel his legs, but all this effort was worth it. There was no one, or nothing, behind him now. Slowly, Hansel loses his balance and looks for the nearest tree to lean on. Leaning against the trunk, he closes his eyes and smiles. Finally, a moment of peace and silence.

Suddenly, he hears something. A branch breaking? Steps? He gets up to start running again, but the night starts to get even darker than it is. His stomach starts to hurt and the teenager crouches down to gain some energy.

The head is filled, not only with pain, but also with all the noises that can be heard and also the inaudible ones. Unexpectedly, he starts vomiting. All the effort his mother put into the dinner was for nothing. He places his hands on his belly, as if to help with something, but it only gets worse.

The boy looks around, in case he has another unexpected visit, and notices that the details of the forest are less and less visible. His eyesight drastically deteriorated in such small seconds. Hansel puts his right hand on the floor, but his arm is numb. There's nothing to do. Whatever's chasing him may catch up.

He gives up. The teenager's eyes close and he falls to the ground, leaving himself completely alone in the dangerous forest.