The Ash Tree

Chapter 1

Authors Note: I am currently editing the grammar errors. Hope you enjoy :D

Chapter 1

I awoke to numbness. I did not feel, hear, nor see anything. I am starring only at silver white mist, wherever I turned my head, there it was. I could not tell if it was warm or cold, I didn't even notice I am lying on the ground until I tried to move. It is eerily silent, not a single sound in the air. In a daze like trance I walked forward, not knowing where I was going, but it was almost as if something was alluring me. I continued walking until I stood in front of a tree, a sickly looking tree seeming as if its life was being drained away. As I starred upon it I felt a chill, leaving little bumps on my body. A chill that was not caused by cold. A feeling of unease started to spread through me. Every part of me was telling me to leave, to get as far away from here as possible.

I found myself slowly backing away from the tree, as if it was also going to drain my life if I stood too close. The silence was not helping, it made the situation more nerve-racking. I stated to run. Where, I do not know. I just wanted to get away from the tree. It felt as if I was running through a cloud: I could not see where I was going, my clothes and hair were getting damp and sticking to my skin.

Why am I still running? Where am I even going? I slowed down until I came to a complete stop. Where am I? I spun around seeing nothing but the mist.

"Hello!" I yelled waiting for a response that never came. "Please, help me!" No one answered, I was alone. My breath caught in my throat and my heart was beating faster. Calm down, just think back. What is the last thing I remember? I closed my eyes trying to think back. My mind was a blank. I couldn't remember anything. I tried again, but nothing. Not even my name or who I was. The mist got thicker making it hard to breathe. My heart felt as if it was going to burst. I wanted to vomit, cry and scream at the same time. I wanted to run and fall to the ground. The mist started to engulf me, making it so I couldn't breathe...

***

I do not remember losing consciousness, but I must have for I awoke on the side of a road. Drowsily I stood, looking to my left I saw the mist. The further you look, the denser it was. It seemed as if someone was not done drawing the path. Toward my right the road stretched on for miles. Not wanting to be in the mist again, I turn to my right and begin to walk. A pounding headache formed and I felt empty inside. Not numb, empty, as if a piece of me was missing. I trudged on, awake but not conscious. It is as if I am here, but not.

I continued down the road for what felt like hours, the sun slowly sinking lower into the sky. My ear suddenly twitched to a low murmur coming from the distance. My head snapped up and I looked ahead. I saw nothing but I could hear commotion. My pace quickened until I was in a full sprint. The noise became louder and louder until finally I could see a city, a city that was full of energy and life.

As I entered the city, I saw people going in all directions, some carrying bundles and baskets, others herding livestock up and down the road.

Hopefully someone here will recognize me.

I quickly went toward the closest person. "Hello! Sir, sir do you recognize me?" He walked right past me as if he didn't even hear me. Not wasting any time I went toward the next nearest person. "Miss, can you help me? Please, do you recognize me?" No reply. She walked passed me as if I was not worth her time. Panic starting to set in, I quickly went to the next person. Again no reply, just rushing off somewhere. From person to person, I was ignored, over and over again. I was going to try one last time. I went up to a man carrying timber. "Good sir, can you please help me?" the desperation was clear in my voice, but he hurried on. Franticly, I ran after him.