The Universe Beyond Ours

Chapter 7 (Part 2)

     Eventually, everyone pauses and takes the opportunity to rest. Philip grabs the map from his back and unfolds it. Raising a brow, he carefully checks the map and examines their location.

"Right... the totem is nearby. It might be somewhere around this area," Philip declared, keeping the map back in its proper place.

"Let's scatter," Meredith suggested. Turning to Denis, she said, "Denis, you stick along with Chloe, alright? Whatever you do, whatever you see... don't walk astray."

"Mhm," Denis nodded.

Well, this place may be a forest and all, and there may be wild animals in this environment, but what was with the ominous statement?

     Like dispersing clouds, Denis, Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, and Presley scatter around the area, searching for the hidden totem. Philip looks around with Meredith, scanning the thick, tall grass. Presley looks behind the bushes, raising a finger to his lips as he inspects the area. Like a lone scavenger, Harris checks behind fallen tree logs, though his tightened lips show that he doesn't want to be part of the quest.

As Denis and Chloe checked the area, looking through the grass and under the shrubs, Denis asked, "Hey, Chloe. Uh, about your brother... Harris... you know? He seems like... he's acting very mean to me. Why's that?"

"What do you mean? He's not mean. In fact, he's a very good person, a good brother!" Chloe countered politely as they searched under the shrubs.

"Even Mr Philip said he's afraid of Harris," Denis whispered.

Chloe sighed. "Okay, I have to admit. Harris... he's sometimes aloof... to others. But sometimes, he's giving and kind when necessary," she confessed.

"I cannot see that trait in him," Denis remarked. Denis' remark causes Chloe to frown, saddened. Quickly realizing his mistake, Denis' eyes widened, and he attempted to apologise. "Oh, uh! Sorry! I didn't mean to—"

"Don't worry. It's alright," Chloe said with a smile.

     Denis and Chloe exchange warm smiles and resume their task of searching for the hidden totem. It might be somewhere. As Chloe scans the area, she notices a shiny stone, half-buried, under the shrubs.

     Raising a brow, Chloe digs her hand into the soil while she uses the other to push the bush away. As Chloe digs, Denis stands up and glances around the forest. Then, far behind the trees, he sees a beautiful lady with black hair in a white dress gesturing towards him to come closer. Curious, Denis approaches the lady, while Chloe is oblivious because she's too busy digging.

"I have to show you something," the lady in a white dress told Denis, her grin sparkling.

     Perplexed yet intrigued, Denis offers a hesitant nod of acquiescence as the lady seizes his wrist and propels him forward, leading him deeper into the forest and pulling him away from his group. Uncertainty prickles at the edges of his thoughts as he ponders the destination she has in mind. Despite the ambiguity shrouding their journey, Denis can't help but entertain a sense of thrill at being guided by this enigmatic stranger into the veiled mysteries of the unknown. Is it a bold move to let oneself be swept along by a girl into uncharted territory, he wonders, or perhaps a daring adventure in the making?

     After traversing a few more steps, Denis and the lady emerge into a clearing, greeted by a gentle slope that unveils a breathtaking vista before them. Below, a verdant valley unfurls, its floor carpeted with a tapestry of lush foliage. Enveloped by a veil of mist that lends an ethereal quality to the landscape, Denis and the girl stand in silent admiration of the serene surroundings. As Denis' gaze sweeps over the picturesque panorama, a profound sense of wonder strikes him, for the sheer beauty of the scene stirs a deep-seated reverence within his soul.

"I'm hungry," said the lady. "Can you grab me those elderberries in the bush?" she asked with a modest smile, pointing at the bush to their left.

     Agreeing to the task at hand, Denis bends down on one knee amidst the verdant foliage, deftly plucking elderberries from the bush with a focused determination. While doing his foraging, a subtle unease creeps into the air as he senses a restlessness emanating from behind him, manifesting in the lady's unsettling movements and spasms. Upon completing his harvest, Denis straightens up and turns around to face the lady, only to be met with a chilling metamorphosis unfolding before his eyes. In a heart-stopping transformation, the once-familiar figure morphs into a towering, arboreal entity, its form now resembling that of a menacing, wood-like creature bristling with sharp fangs.

     Shock and terror seize Denis as his widened eyes lock onto the nightmarish sight before him. His breath catches in his throat, his heartbeat pounding erratically in his chest. Fear grips him, sending a shiver down his spine as every hair on his body stands on end, and his jaw trembles with an overwhelming instinct to flee.

"Denis, run," his mind screamed in silent panic, urging him to escape the looming threat.