Assassins of Heretrua

Chapter Seven

Nik blinked, trying to clear the blur out of his eyes. His thoughts were muddled and his head felt foggy. He squinted and saw that he was laying on dirt and leaves. He lifted his head and peered up to see trees surrounding him and blocking out the sky.

He was obviously in the woods somewhere. But he couldn't remember falling asleep, or how he got into the woods in the first place.

Nik sat up, searching his mind for answers, for where his memory ended. All he could seem to come up with was weeding the garden after dinner, and that didn't give him much information to go on.

Standing up, Nik turned around, looking for... he didn't really know what. "Mom? Dad?" There were no signs of civilization anywhere. No sound of cars in the distance, no walking trails, no evidence that anyone had camped out in this area before. Nik was completely lost and alone.

Sure that if he waited and thought hard enough his memories would return, Nik started walking. If he had gotten himself into the woods, surely he could find a way out.

He didn't find anything for a long time. Though the woods were beautiful, and peaceful, terror began to slowly creep over Nik as the hours wore on. His watch had stopped working, so he had no way of telling what time it was or how long he'd been walking.

The woods began to thin out and at last Nik stumbled upon what seemed to be a path, not marked out specifically, but rather beaten down by constantly being walked over. He followed it, grateful for some sort of direction.

All at once the trees ended and gave way to what appeared to be a bustling medieval reenactment village. Nik stopped, dumbfounded. The people were all dressed in authentic looking clothing, fashioned after old times, and there were many cottages. Animals were everywhere, they could be seen as well as heard and smelled. There were no cars, no roads, nothing that resembled anything out of the present day. It was the most realistic setting Nik had ever seen.

People had begun to notice him, and were giving him odd, unwelcoming looks. All the same, Nik stepped forward. "I appear to be lost. Could you tell me where I am?"

All he got was more odd stares. The people were acting as if he looked like an alien.

"You must be very lost," one man finally replied, suspicion/criticism lacing his words.

"Yes, I am. I woke up in the woods," Nik pointed back into the trees. "And I can't remember how I got there or where I am."

There was silence as more people gathered.

"Could any of you help me? Is there a phone I could call someone with?"

The people only looked more confused at his words and muttered among themselves. Nik was getting frustrated. He moved towards the friendliest-looking people. "Look, I really don't have time to... oof!" He was cut off as someone jumped on him from behind. "Get off me!"

He tumbled to the ground and several men leaped forward to help pin him down. Nik fought back viciously, but was helpless against his attackers. "What's wrong with you?"

One man stepped out of the crowd and stood above Nik, pulling out a sword and holding it over him.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Nik squirmed, trying in vain to put distance between himself and the blade. "That's not real, is it?"

"Where do you come from?" The man demanded. "And why are you here?"

"I... I'm from Verma. And I told you, I'm lost."