A Parallel Universe

Chapter 7

"Would things be different if I hadn't heard the whispers from the forest," I asked myself. "Of course they would. I would be enjoying the last day of my field trip and getting ready to go home. But because of my curiosity, I was trapped in a world where everyone wanted to kill me." I sighed and got up. I started walking in circles around the tent. I caught a movement in my peripheral vision. I turned around but...there was nothing there. Weird. I could've sworn I saw something but all that was there were a bunch of trees and bushes. I shrugged and turned around. At the same moment, I felt something creep up behind me.

"Who's there," I asked, alarmed. When I turned around again there was nothing.

I gulped. There was something wrong with the trees. And then I remembered what Cyrus had said about the nature of The Ancient Forest. There were savage creatures here. I wanted to run and was just moving the muscles of my leg when something caught my ankle. I dropped to the ground with a thud. I turned my head to look at the attacker and to my surprise, it was a tree. One of the tree's branches had extended long enough to grab a hold of me. It started pulling me toward the tree and I saw its bark open. It was going to eat me! At this moment, I really wished I hadn't left the lake. I screamed for help. I needed someone to rescue me. I didn't want to be tree food. "PLEASE SOMEONE, ANYONE HELP. HELP HELP HELP HELP."

Nothing. I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it. I tried kicking my leg so that the branch would uncurl but it held strong. I even tried extending my hand so that I could untie it but of course -given how unlucky I am- it didn't reach it.

Then I heard a voice, someone calling my name. I focused hard, I knew that voice, Mayla. She could control the tree, she could get me out of here.

"MAYLA I AM HERE. PLEASE HELP ME,"I screamed.

Now I could hear footsteps. She was near but so was the tree.

"IT IS GOING TO EAT ME!! HURRY UP!!," I screamed again.

Now I could hear running. Yes Yes Yes! I was going to be saved. Then I felt something hard fall on my shin. My whole leg went numb and pain shot through it. I glimpsed at it and realized why it hurt so badly, the tree's bark had closed on it.

"MAYLA!"

And then Mayla appeared. She was panting and seemed to have walked.....or ran a long distance.

"What on Earth is that thing," she asked in surprise.

"I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS! JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE," I shouted at her.

"But I haven't controlled anything like it before," she said hesitantly.

"WELL, TRY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT! I SAW WHAT YOU DID TO THE VINES. YOU ARE STRONG! JUST FOCUS!!"

"Ok."

It was a short word but made relief wash over me. I watched as she spread out her hands and curled her palms. What happened next surprised me, her hair began to rise until it was all standing upright on her head. Her eyes glowed neon green as she spoke in a weird language. It almost sounded like she was humming a sweet melody. Little by little, the branch's bark began to open and its branch began to lose. She was doing it! I could now move my ankle freely but I still wasn't able to get up. The bark's weight has probably broken some bones. I placed my hands on the soil and started using them as legs. When I was finally at a safe distance, I shouted to Mayla to stop. It took a few moments before Mayla released her hold of the tree and then she immediately collapsed on the ground.

"Are you okay," I asked.

"Probably. Commanding this tree drained out my energy. I will be fine after a moment."

"Great! Now we both can't walk."

"This gives us time to do a little chit-chat."

Chit-chat. That was the word I hated the most. Nothing good came out of Chit-Chatting.

"Oh please, not now. We can talk another time."

"No. What happened with you and Cyrus?"

"Nothing."

"Really? Honestly, what happened?"

"Well....he..um..lost control....over his......power."

"Why was that?"

"Don't ask me. You should ask him."

"So you are sure you had nothing to do with it?"
"Yes of course I am sure."

"Then, why didn't you ask him for a reason?"
"I won't ask him for the reason he nearly killed me."
"You want to tell me that you just interpreted things the way you wanted instead of listening to what he has to say?"

"You make it sound all bad. You weren't nearly flooded nor were you about to drown."

"That sounds really dangerous. I am sure Cyrus has an explanation."

"He can keep it for himself. I don't need it and I think you don't either. Now I am sure you have regained strength. We should probably get out of here before another creature attacks."

"You are right, we should get going. But we will continue this conversation later."

"I won't be so sure."

With that said, Mayla got up and slung my shoulder over hers and we started walking back.