Excerpts From Stories That Got Lost Along The Way

10

The wind whispers it's haunting melodies in my ear as it breezes past. It sends a chill down my spine and makes my hair stand on end.

How did I get here?

My mind cries out the words, my tongue too thick to formulate sounds into sentences.

Spinning, spinning, spinning. A foggy feeling clouds my head and it's difficult to stand still.

My knees tremble and nearby a river roars angrily. It's overwhelming. The sounds a chaotic tangle in my head, my thoughts whirling as I struggle to process everything all at once.

The wind, a river, trees, a forest.

And me.

One of these things is not like the others and I know this isn't where I'm meant to be. It's too cold here, too loud.

I stumble forwards and fall to my knees, my fingers curling in the soft moss covering the ground. My body's weak and fragile in comparision to the thick tree trunks that surround me.

The woods throb with life, all around me I can feel it deep in my bones. I feed off the feeling, it strengthens me.

I look down at where my hands have gripped the moss. Grey, grey, dead. My touch alone has killed it and in return I feel...

powerful

I stretch out, my sickly, pale hands brushing against all the moss within reach.

stronger, stronger

Deep breaths, eyes wide, heart pounding. I crawl slowly, following the pulse of life that calls me. Panting and sweating, dragging myself until I'm at the base of a giant oak. I reach out, my fingers spread.

Touch it.

The voice that speaks in my head is familiar but not my own. A cold feeling spreads at the base of my neck and I shiver.

Touch it.

My hand reaches out, almost on it's own accord. The second it makes contact a shudder runs through me and the feeling of power is overwhelming.

It's as if, for a split second, I become part of the tree. Twisted roots intwined with warm earth, leaves ruffling with the cool gusts of air. My hand drops from the trunk and I gasp for air.

With ragged breaths, I turn my face skyward to look upon the damage caused simply by my touch. My handprint seems to be scorched into the rough bark. The leaves of the tree, once healthy and green, now brown and littering the ground around the trunk.

I stand and feel a surge of power run through me.

What have I done?

A branch breaks off the weak tree and falls to the ground not far from me. I pick it up and inspect it.

Dried out and dead, almost like a piece of driftwood.

How did I do this?

No human can do this,

Did I really just do that?

I look around, as if the pulsating forest can answer me, but its silence and stillness give no response.

You did that.

That familiar voice sounds again, smooth and deep and surrounding me from every direction making me jump.

"Who's here?" I call out. My voice is hoarse and my throat burns. There's no one in sight, no movements, no breeze to ruffle the bushes.

Silence.

And then-

You did that.

I whip my head around but the voice isn't anywhere I can see.

You can't see me. So don't bother trying.

A shiver runs down my spine and I back up until my back's against an oak. It's life saps slowly through my shirt and into me and I shudder again.

"Who are you?" I cry out. Tears prick in the corners of my eyes and land sizzling in the grass.

Who am I?

The sound reverberates, echoing in my head. A chuckle follows it, dark and menacing.

Why, I, am your worst nightmare and your best friend. I am the one who brings death swift and rightful and bargains for souls in the land of the weak.

My heads pounds with every heartbeat and I shake. Slowly memories trickle in like rain from a leaky roof.

So, do you remember me yet?

Drip

Do you remember our deal?

Drip

Do you remember how I spared that life?

Drip.

The life of your sister?

Drop.

I gasp and stagger to forwards away from the tree only to fall to my knees.

"Death?" I whisper.

The one and only.

I tremble, the forest around me trampled on and blackened and dead. I brought death here.

Do you remember our deal?

Death's voice is like melted honey. Smooth and sweet and thick.

"Of course I remember."

A lump forms in my throat and I hold back tears.

"You said a life for a life right? Is this why I'm here? You're going to kill me instead of my sister?" I hold my voice steady and squeeze my hands into fists.

Kill you?

Death sneers and laughs.

No, no. I'm not going to kill you, I own you. I own your life, I have complete control.

My stomach twists and my nails dig into my palms, drawing blood.

I won't kill you. But you'll wish you were dead.