The Way Out

Chapter 4 - The Way Awake

I blinked open my eyes, clearing away the blur. Darkness engulfed my surroundings as I got to my feet. Pain shot through my legs, and I stretched out my arm to rest against the big oak tree. My hand fell through midair and I stumbled. The tree was gone, blackness left in its place. I looked around in confusion. There were no trees or bushes in sight. The black of the air whipped around the empty space. It felt like a desert of emptiness. I took a step forward, the ground flatter than the forest's plant-covered soil. My bare feet moved smoothly across the floor as I walked. I squinted as I peered into the distance. A light shimmered in the distance, and curiosity pulled me towards it. I tiptoed up to the blinding light, finding a circle-shaped hole in the ceiling. It was far too high for me to reach, and much too bright for me to peer into. I wondered what could be causing the light to shine, and where it was coming from. I looked up, reaching my tired arms above me. My fingers were feet away from the shimmering hole. Its light showered down and hit the floor where I stood. It lit up the shiny, black tiles of the floor, and I kneeled down. My hand brushed against its glossy finish, my shadow being cast in front of me. I looked at my small body's shadow as I stood up. I brushed my hair out of my face and continued through the darkness. The light grew smaller behind me until it disappeared completely. A hissing noise startled me, and I instinctively jumped away. A scaly touch gripped around my ankles, tightening more by the second. I shook my foot, my cries ringing in the shadows. Light suddenly drifted from an opening in the distance, igniting the beast. Scales showed around my ankles, growing higher and higher as the creature twisted itself around me. It was about a foot thick, its eyes a glowing yellow. Its tongue hissed as it slithered around me. I pushed against its body with my hands, trying to get free. It hissed and tightened its grip. It was now as high as my waist, my legs held together by its clutch. Its dry, scaly skin rubbed against me as it grasped higher.
     It's constricting me, I realized.
Its head climbed over my shoulders, twining around my neck, and around again. It twisted and turned, growing tighter each time. I pushed back, toppling over without my legs to stabilize me. I lay on my knees, the snake-looking demon reaching above my head. My arms lay pressed against my sides as the creature twisted around my head. I gasped for breath, feeling my body turn numb and my head start to spin. My heart beat in my chest, faster every second. Light perished as its scales crossed over my eyes, wrapping around my head. I choked for air, growing lightheaded. All of a sudden, the tightness around my body vanished with a last hiss. I gazed around in confusion, wondering why the beast had left.
     It could have killed me if it wanted to, I said to myself, pushing the thought away.
     I wiggled my fingers and toes, regaining feeling in my limbs. My knees ached, and I stood up, instant pain crawling through my legs and arms. I groaned, wondering why everything had to be so tough. I wished I could find my way back to the light, pink trees, and pretty, yellow flowers, but knew that there was no such thing as paradise in a world like this. My bare toes dragged along the tile floor as I trailed along in the blackness. I shuddered as I remembered the fairy.
     It wasn't even close to the kind of fairy you hear in stories, I told myself. How could I be so stupid?
     I longed for the magenta petals of the trees, falling around me as the wind shook its branches. I looked up from my feet as a pair of yellow eyes appeared in my path. They shone like two little moons in the darkness of night. I trembled as a massive wolf crept out of the shadows. Its fur as black as a crow's feathers, its teeth as sharp as a sabertooth tiger. It snarled and slowly crept closer, claws unsheathed, gleaming in the dimness. It stretched its jaws, and let out a yowl. I held my breath. A few silent seconds passed before a cry came in return, followed by another and another.
     There's more, I winced.
I slowly stepped back, pace by pace. I swore the wolf could smell by fear-scent, and hear the loud thumping of my heartbeat. It growled, more of the same yellow eyes showing up in the distance. The glow of the eyes around me swirled through the air. I turned to run, quickly rooting to the spot as eyes appeared behind me.
     I'm surrounded, I told myself, there's no escape. The wolf standing in front of me now stood only feet away, taking slow steps toward me, hackles rising, mouth foaming. It showed its teeth and let out a loud howl. I drew in a breath as it pounced, claws outstretched. Its mouth was wide open as it flew through the air. I shut my eyes tight, waiting for the sting of pain. This is the end, I thought.