The Fallen

*Chapter Three*

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Everything was groggy and my head was pounding. I groaned while rubbing my aching skull. It wouldn't stop pounding. Even worse was that I was sure that I was lying on something damp and wet. Reluctantly I opened my eyes slowly. Through my squinted eyes I could see nothing but thick tree branches and a few scattered branches with leaves the color or autumn. Though hearing the crunch underneath me, I could guess that most of the leaves that were once on the trees were now making a nice sort of make-shift mattress for me.

Pushing myself onto my elbows, I had to pause. Letting my head adjust to the new elevation. Looking around I could tell that I was in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing but trees, and the sound of small animals scurrying about their business. Where was I? I couldn't remember how I had gotten here, or why. In fact I couldn't remember anything. Nothing. The only thing I knew for sure was that my name was Ezra.

"Well, that's great." I muttered to myself.

What are you supposed to do in a situation like this? Where you couldn't even remember who you are? Who you parents are? Where you go to school? Or even what you were doing before you awoke? This was fantastic. I let myself drop back onto the ground. I let out a muffled moan. What was I supposed to do now? I didn't know where to go, or even how to get out of these woods.

Closing my eyes, I put my forearm over my face hoping that this was all a bad dream and that I would wake up or at the very least know who I was. Opening my eyes once more, I groaned. I was still in the forest, and had no idea how I'd gotten here. As I looked both to the left and right of me, a symbol carved into a tree to my right suddenly caught my eye. Slowly pushing myself up, I held onto the closest tree for balance. Closing my eyes for a second I willed the pain in my head to go away. Staggering closer to the tree, I could see that the symbol appeared to be wings with a cross in between them. It was exquisitly carved into the tree. Even looking at it just began to spread a strange warmth throughout my body. I felt the urge to touch this beautiful work of art. Reaching out my hand to touch it, I felt memories begin to stir in the back of my brain. I willed them to surface, I needed to remember something, anything really.

But nothing came they felt suppressed. Like they were being pushed back and away from me even though I wanted to see them. Sighing I let my hand drop before I had the chance to touch the symbol. I just needed to get out of these woods.

I began my search for a way out of here. My boots made a crunching noise as I stepped on dried up leaves which painted the forest floor many different hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and every color in between. I wrapped my thin jacket closer to my body and wrapping my scarf around my neck once more, hoping to keep out the cold which kept trying to creep its way under my skin. My long wavy hair was tied loosely at the nape of my neck and I quickly retied it to pull back all the pieces which had already fallen out of the ponytail back and away from my face.

Putting one foot in front of the other was the key here. I needed to continue walking, hoping that I would walk out of the forest soon enough. There had to be an end to it somewhere. It couldn't continue on for forever. I could feel a few small critters following in my steps and watching me from the tree branches above. Glancing up I saw a family of what appeared to be squirrels peek their heads out of the little hole they had burrowed into the tree and watch as I walked by. Looking over my shoulder I could see the tail of a fox as it zig-zagged between trees. I continued walking, knowing in a odd sort of way that these animals would do me no harm.

I continued walking for quite a long stretch of time. My muscles began to scream at me in protest, but I was scared to stop. Scared that if I did stop that I wouldn't find my way out, and I needed to get out. I was beginning to feel hungry and tired. And I still couldn't remember a thing about who I was. It was infuriating. I didn't know how much longer I could aimlessly wonder around for. I felt as if I was going nowhere. Taking a few more steps I stopped at the base of a large oak tree. I pressed my tired body against it and leaned all my weight onto it. I couldn't to it anymore. I needed help and didn't know what to do. I needed help. I slid my body down to the base of the tree and cradled my head on my knees.