The Way Out

Chapter 1 - The Way In

My eyes flung open, and the shock of water hit me like a slap across the face. I choked for air, and swung my arms around me in the darkness of the current. I reached out for rocks and my head spun as I drifted along with the rest of the debris. Logs and branches scraped along my sides and stars blurred my vision when my head hit a rock. I clung to the roots of the trees growing along the sides of the raging stream. Whitecaps scattered the surface of the water, and I held on tighter to the root of the tree. I spotted a shorter branch near the bottom of the trunk and wondered whether I would be able to reach it. Were my arms long enough? They certainly weren't strong enough. I felt like I hadn't eaten in days and was surprised I hadn't drowned yet. I reached up, wrapping my fingers around the rough bark of the tree. I pulled myself up using the branch. There was a crack as I lifted myself out of the water, but I didn't stop. I refused to drown. Not yet. Not today. I pulled my other hand out of the freezing cold water and hung both my arms over the branch. I could hear a small creaking noise coming from the tree, and let out a shriek as the branch tilted and I dropped about a foot. Half my body still lay in the water being pulled this way and that by the current. This branch was my only hope, I thought. I pulled myself higher until I lay hanging over the whole branch. It held almost my whole body weight, the tips of my feet still hanging in the deafening water. The tips of smaller branches poked into my ribs and I lay uncomfortably, wondering how to get from here to the land. It wasn't too far away, but one lousy jump could mean falling right back into the water and ending up exactly where I started. I pulled my legs up and ended up in a kneeling position. I sighed with relief as I realised I was finally out of the chilling water. It sent shivers down my spine. I placed my bare feet on the thick branch and balanced with my hands next to me. I took a deep breath before stretching out my legs and pushing away from the branch. My stomach dropped as I flew through the air. It felt like an eternity before I landed. I heard a thump as my body hit the long grass, and I lay limp on my back, gasping for breath.
I gathered my thoughts as I watched my chest rise and fall. I couldn't believe I had survived. But I realised that there would soon be other, much scarier, much more painful ways to die. All quietly lying in wait for me to pass by. I closed my eyes, images of flaming orchids burning in my mind, then sat upright. I slowly opened my right eye, then my left, afraid of what I might see. When I saw nothing but trees to my right, and the stream to my left, I sighed and got to my feet. My legs buckled and shook as I walked cautiously towards the woods, every part of me dripping with water. My head was telling me to stop and take a nap, but I would never dare fall asleep in a place like this. It was stressful enough having to blink. Anything could happen during the time you're not paying attention. Or not enough attention. My hands brushed against every bush and tree as I explored deeper and deeper into the forest. The farther in I ventured, the more I noticed the darkening sky, and vague shadows in the corner of my eye. I memorised the shape and texture of every plant and tree, knowing I would eventually get lost anyway. As I looked into the distance all I saw was a sea of trees. They blurred slightly and spun like my dizzy head. But, I kept walking.
Something was pushing me forward. There was a small voice in my mind urging me on. I followed the voice as it moved from my head, to the nearest tree. I walked up to the tree and put my hand on it. Its bark had been torn away and looked partially dead. It felt smooth against my hand as I felt its bare branches. The voice sounded again, this time from a different direction. It called from my right, a little farther up. I wondered whether it really was another person, but realised the idea was impossible. I felt stupid even considering it. I was alone. I knew that for sure. I followed the voice one more to the next big oak, and the voice whispered ahead.
Follow me. Here. This way... I did as it said, my feet dragging on the rough dirt floor.
Come. Over here... the voice called out to me again. Its soft whisper sent chills through my whole body. Half of me trusted it. The other half knew better than to trust random little voices. Yet I followed anyway, my legs pushing me forward, one slow, wobbly step at a time. The voice called from a big rock this time. It stretched high into the grey sky. I slowly walked over, waiting for my next instructions. But, nothing came. No "this way..." or "follow me...". There was an empty silence as I put my hand against the chilli surface of the rock. Although, I didn't question it. I felt the sharp edges of the rock and its bumpy surface. The moss that edged the curving rock felt cold, like it had been raining. I traced my scraped fingers along the sides of the massive rock as I wondered around it. Suddenly, my fingers dangled in the open air. I looked over to see a hole, a little bigger than half my size. I peered in, not daring to get too close. Out of nowhere, a voice sounded in my head, louder this time. Follow me...