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I pick myself and stride over to the edge of the squirrel's dead body. Although the rotten smell coming from the ground slowly fades away, the discomfort inhaled by my lungs is still abiding inside. Thus, still covering my mouth, I carry on and track the merciless beast that caused the sighting in front of me.
While wandering around the uncharted decaying sward, my feet stumble upon distinct claw marks belonging to an anonymous group. The slashes are much gigantic compared to the squirrel has had from its ivory nails, which made my entire existence cowering in fear.
Fortunately, the damaged route was distant from my post, making my place secure. In addition, it will take the creature a minute or two if it would start pursuing me. If it was, let us say that the monster has a speed of running at fifty-kilometres per hour-typical for a car's pace.
I shrug my shoulder and continue to proceed forward where the spike would lead me. But of course, with precaution and necessary escape plans.
However, the only problem that I am experiencing right now is the eyeball following my rear. It was as if the orb became the pet that wanted to guard or annoy me in my investigation.
"Hey!" I whisper. "Can't you just leave me alone?"
The mysterious optic attaches behind my back, forbidding me to see its appearance. I have no other choice but to push forward and discern the environment ahead of me.
Somewhere along the putrescent lea, I could discern a sea of trees towering from the distant. Willow trees, to be exact, as I was very familiar from their majestic appearance.
At first, I was hesitant that the scenery had gradually changed, especially from the fallen leaves on this location. However, much to my surprise, fruits and other berries are growing from the other side. Looking from afar, I can also see a crystal lake envelope at the heart of the woods. I can feel my hydrated mouth eyeing for the liquid that will refresh my famished and exhausted state.
Without thinking twice, I dash towards the refined rain forest and dip my feet onto the blue and fresh saline. My lower limbs felt ecstatic, and the sensation continues to run across the rest of my body. Following suit, I dive my head and wash my puffed hair into the water and help myself to fill with my dampen stomach.
"This is more refreshing than the bathtub at home!" I exclaim while reminiscing and comparing the bowl filled with fragrant aroma inside the room.
I do not want my clothes to be soggy during my journey as I still need to examine the world around me, specifically the creature who killed the gigantic squirrel. My body is at no condition to fight or run around in this unknown forest, let alone the open field.
"I guess I'll have to think of a plan…" I murmur to myself while enjoying the nice bath in the pond.
It was a good thing that there are no fishes or any violent animals that can pose a threat to me while indulging myself with my personal care. Even planktons or tiny looking worms are non-existent to this place, leading me baffled and frightened to be alone.
But these things change more often-whether living in this reality, or this cruel world.
The flooring shudders, evident from the ripples and waves created by the water. Even the entangling leaves of the willow tree are also quivering back and forth, mimicking the magnitude.
Finally, after putting myself lost inside this woodland, my ears perceive the chirping of a flock hovering in the distance. Inhumane also accompanied and paired with the moaning audio that was enough to penetrate my eardrums. Thankfully, I instinctively reacted to the voice and covered my ears with my hands while forcefully shutting my eyes.
I did not want to see what entity was about to chase me, nor to be a part of any occurrence of this world. Truthfully, my head wishes me to flee from the scene, but my petrified and sunken legs refuse to budge an inch. My body, still swimming underwater, was now trapped and immobile and gasping for air.
"I can't breathe," I cried while producing bubbles above my mouth every time I attempted to aspire.
But, alas, every action I tried was futile. Even in my arms, who had found the chance to flap subaqueous, I can only feel myself slowly drowning to meet my demise.
"Is this how I would die?" My will kept fighting 'til the bitter end. I felt like a soldier battling against a war that I cannot win; like a bird flying with no wings. And a ship-a girl, sinking, descending, and slowly dying alone in a realm I do not know.
The lake never ceases to push me downwards, as if the body of water is expanding its dimension. I can neither feel the land at my flank nor roots of the plants dangling across the shore.
"Grab hold on to my hand!" In a trice, the muffled voice roused me from my depression, pressuring me to open my eyes; and live.
"Where?" I gaze left and right, up and down, but see no signs of anything that I can latch. Everything was bright. My consciousness steadily fades away while desperately clinging to that glimmer of hope.
Suddenly, a black figure akin to a snake emerges from the bottomless pit, charging upwards from where I was floating. Although my vision was feeling a bit hazy, I can still observe the emerald scales plunging to the surface.
"Shit!" The man cursed, thinking that he had discerned what I could see.
"Don't worry. I will get you out of here."
By the time I knew that struggling for my life was hopeless, a human hand grips the ends of my shirt and swiftly pulls me out of the serpent's way.
At once, I inhaled as quickly as I could to gather the surrounding oxygen. Within a few seconds, my eyes bulge out, and my mouth opens wide. I can feel my chest resting and rising, fingers trembling, and my feet still paddling from the aftermath. But, finally, I am free from the cage of the aquarium.
Eventually, the man carefully reclines me on an isolated shade, far off from the roaring life form. However, instead of hearing his voice or feeling the cold light forest breeze, I return to my familiar abode.
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"Gah!" I screeched as loud as I can with my arms and feet unbending forward in a defensive form.
Startled from the unholy sound produced by me, my parents, who were luckily home, rushed to my room.
"Sweetie, are you alright?" My mother was the first person to go inside while my father followed her from behind. They did not want to waste any more time and knock on the front door as they deemed the situation an emergency to help me.
My father silently watches my scuffling body taking control of my senses and nerves. He then walks beside me and caresses my hair while my mother holds my convulsing hand.
"I'm okay," I answered, aware that I am back to where I should be. I never expected that I would lapse so soon and lay in the comfort of my bed. To the eerie occurrence, my parents arrived from home and nursed me. They were on a business trip, they said, and it's rare for them to stay inside the house even for a little while.
"Mum, Dad," I call out for their attention, hoping to tell them that my body is recovering. "I'm fine. Really."
I return the grasp of my mother and state my condition to the worried expression of my father. Acknowledging my utterance, he unambiguously nods and stands up from his seat and walks towards the door.
"I will bring you something to eat. Get some rest, Roxanne." He added while continuing his stride towards the kitchen, readying an abundance of snacks and a cup of milk; I think.
"Mum, why are you here so early?" I query her a question. Not that I hate them suddenly appearing inside the house, but wondering the cause of their unforeseen visit.
"We got lucky that the business trip ended quicker than we had initially expected," She said while glancing over to the set of papers scattered on the chair. "And we did not want to leave you alone for the whole three months now, would we?"
My mouth curves up a smile as I listen to my mother's words, wanting to spend the rest of their time with me. I still do not know what kind of business they are dealing with that needs to be accommodated within months or even years overseas. And even if I ask them about it, they would dodge the question and continue with what they were about to do.
"I understand mum."
With that, my mother releases her hand from me and gets ready to leave my room. She first compiles the clustered documents and asks me if I specifically want something that my family can eat for dinner.
"I want some fish or any seafood that you can find," I said while hiding my grin. It was ironic that my appetite promptly wants to get revenge on the devastating king of the sea. Even after all that, my stand is as hard as tone. In which made my mother puzzled, but willing to purchase what I requested.
"I will help dad." She utters and gives me a quick kiss on my forehead before leaving the door.
"Okay, mum."
I watch her figure leisurely walk on the hallways and perceive her footsteps down the stairs. After realising that she is now inside the kitchen helping my father, a cold liquid runs across my nose, between my brownish lips. By the time the fluid enters my mouth, I immediately taste akin to a metal shoving on top of my tongue. Registering the taste buds inside my head, I straight away jerk off my seat and rinse my mouth with the glass of water. At that exact spot, I notice the smear of blood running through my nostrils, even profusely than before. The symptoms exemplify even more than I felt nauseous and wet all over my body. It was as if drowning despite the absence of water.
And then it hit me. I remember that the things that I experienced inside that realm will be brought up and haunt me.