What Lurks Behind The Trees

An illusion

"Alright, I'm done!" Illyria beamed, straightening the parchment on the grass, revealing the finished map of the forest, all the men leaned in to have a better look.

"Gregor, you were right," Alan said

"Three more fractions of the forest?!" Aden groaned

"Yes, Gregor's predictions were right; this forest is split into fractions. The first fraction is what we call the human graveyard, the second is where the deadly beasts reside, the third is where we are currently; the forest of illusion" everyone stared at Illyria in confusion "The fourth is pretty normal, however, we have heard of strange encounters there, the fifth is the Vonks territory, and the sixth..." she swallowed nervously "...the sixth fraction is where the Dethiens dwell."

Everyone looked puzzled, their heads filled with unanswered questions, before someone voiced out their thoughts "I have so many questions right now" Aden said, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Why is this fraction the forest of illusions?" Gregor asked

"When you entered this fraction, didn't you feel strange?" Illyria said

"My body felt lighter, I felt happy and tingly," Barton said, furrowing his eyebrows and holding his chin in thought.

Illyria nodded "This is an illusion; the things you're seeing now don't actually exist. The colourful trees, the delicious fruit and the beautiful illumination is a figment of your imagination. You might also start seeing things, like the faces of your loved ones."

"Why?"

"I don't really know why this happens here, and you might think it's harmless, but it distracts and causes you to stray off your path, leading you to a trap."

"A trap?" Alan asked

"It leads you to terrifying creatures called Megors, they are large creatures that live in holes in the ground with their jaws open. Their mouths form traps which can be fallen into and once you fall in you'll be met with doom, but these mouths are veiled by the illusion."

Gregor visibly shivered at the image, a terrifying pit of sharp teeth.

"It is said that the Megors release a sort of gas that creates these hallucinations," Illyria said

"How do we get out of this fraction then?"

Illyria stood up, her dress falling around her gracefully. "I'll help you; Sisins are immune to the substance that creates these illusions," and with that, her dress twirled around her as she transformed into her Sisin form. The men stared in astonishment, their mouths gaping and their eyes blinking in disbelief.

"A fox?!" Aden gasped.

"It's a Sisin," Gregor said, rolling his eyes.

The other men stood up. "So, do we just follow her?" a man named Rowan said

"How can we trust her?" another man asked

"If what she said is true, I don't want to bring myself near it, let's follow her," Barton said

The Sisin nodded, turned around and started walking. They all walked behind her, carrying their weapons and dragging their boots across the multicoloured leaves that carpeted the ground. The illusion was still in their head, and slowly their little huddle started to widen as men would stray away absent-mindedly.

The forest appeared even prettier than before in Gregor's eyes. It created a sort of peace in his heart; it was as though all his troubles were faded to dust. His shoulders felt light, he wanted to laugh and lie down on the comfortable bed of vibrant leaves. He felt like he could finally breathe, he felt as light as a feather. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes. He was happy; he hadn't felt this happy in months.

"Greg,"

He smiled, mother?

"Greg,"

I'm here, mother,

He could see a figure approaching him; he opened his arms and wrapped them around the figure.

"Greg!"

Mother? Are you sick, why do you sound so rough?

He tightened his embrace and rested his head on the figure's shoulder.

"Greg!" A man's voice

Gregor's eyes snapped open; he looked around and frowned. This shoulder was broad, this hair was blond. He jerked back, almost falling to the ground.

"Alan?!" Gregor said, not hiding the disappointment in his voice.

Alan rolled his blue eyes and sighed, "Mother? Really? Do I look like a mother?"

Gregor burst out laughing but quickly swallowed it when he saw that everyone was staring at him. They all resumed their walk, with the Sisin leading them.

"You were gone, for a bit. You were walking another way until I caught you, and you latched onto me like a baby." Alan said

Gregor scratched the back of his head sheepishly, looking at the ground in shame and muttering a quiet "Sorry,"

"It's alright, some of the others walked away too, but we bought them back,"

"Woah, this illusion gas is strong," Aden said

"I heard my mother," Gregor said

"I saw my grandmother,"

Gregor looked at Aden, expecting an explanation.

"She raised me, I don't have a mother," he said, looking forward.

"I-I'm sorry," Gregor said, feeling sympathy for his friend.

Aden chuckled "Don't worry, I never knew her, she died when I was an infant,"

Gregor smiled sadly.

"Let me go!" one of the men sobbed, struggling against Alan as he tried to hold him back from running to one of the traps.

"Snap out of it Dudley!" Alan wrapped his arms tightly around his shoulders.

Dudley thrashed and kicked "No! I have to see my Maria!"

"She's not there; it's just an illusion Dudley!"

They were fighting now; they both fell to the ground and started throwing punches at each other. Aden ran to stop Dudley, but he stood up and unsheathed his sword, swinging it around to stop anyone from coming closer. His eyes were glazed and hazy, darting in every direction. He was sweating, his eyebrows knitted together in anger? Fear? Confusion? Gregor couldn't tell.

"Leave me alone! Don't follow me! Maria is calling me!"

Barton attempted to approach him from the side, but Dudley quickly swung his sword at him, making a deep cut in his arm and ran between the trees before anyone could catch him.

Gregor made to follow him, but Alan stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder "He's far too gone."

The petrifying scream that echoed through the forest sent chills through Gregor's body. He fell. Dudley fell. In the trap. A terrifying pit of death.

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21 chapters of this story, I can't believe it! More than 22,000 words!

What do you think guys? tell me your opinions? is there something dodgy about this story? is there something good about this story?

talk to me please :)