The ground shook as soon as Daniel took out the baseball bat which was tucked away in his bag. No matter what kind of battle he would face at this time, Daniel would not just give up that easily. And though Wendy cringed for the sake of holding his feet above the ground.
"Dan, let's run! I - this is not true. The trees here are weird, and so is the sound," Wendy stammered. Her ace was already dark because it was completely covered by darkness. The only thing Daniel could see was the color of her shirt which was white with a multicolored pattern.
Daniel didn't answer at all. Just like when he arrived at Musi Lake, his manners remained calm even though his heart was beating very fast. His lips were dry, especially when he saw the swinging trees around him that were getting closer together.
Once again the ground shook with a sound like a thud not far from them. Wendy screamed and Daniel nearly collapsed from the shaky ground and nearly swallowed him up. A large crack was created not far from the end of Wendy's feet, sending her inching away in great fear.
Unable to stand up, Wendy could only curl on the ground with her hands wrapped around Daniel's feet.
"Get out, you!" challenged Daniel. His voice broke through the air, amidst the creaking of twigs that seemed to be mocking him. Sweat trickled into Daniel's pores, dripping, and had time to enter his sharp and focused eyes.
Once again a thud was heard, and now a roar followed. The leaves began to dry and wither as if in a very hot wind. Heat crept over Daniel's body. He was now taking off his black jacket, leaving behind a black T-shirt that was almost completely wet.
"If you want to solve the problem seven years ago, then come out! I dare you not to be a coward right now!" shouted Daniel again, making a cautious circular motion using his head. He could not move freely considering that Wendy was still curled around his legs.
Again the ground shook, with a rhythm that was felt more and more frequently. These were like the feet of a creature of enormous size. Maybe ten meters were still out of reach because the force of his stomping foot had caused Daniel to fall back and forth over and over again.
A puff of smoke could be seen from the end. The trees suddenly grew very fast, as if they were being extended under a very hard pull. Wendy, who had closed her eyes, didn't notice anything, including the roots of the tree that had started moving around her.
Ground cracks were being created everywhere. Daniel had to drag his feet, including Wendy, to find a more suitable foothold. He wanted to scold Wendy, throwing her away so Daniel could move freely and face whatever was going to attack them. But then Daniel realized that he shouldn't have done this stupid thing. Wendy was scared, and it was completely natural.
"Wendy, wake up! You have to wake up! " command of Daniel which became very futile.
Seeing the tree swinging back to a height that could no longer be seen, Daniel took the opportunity. He didn't want to hide, but he would ask Wendy to hide. The decision to trust these trees was not the right one, but if Wendy was still curled up on the ground and clinging to Daniel's feet, it would be the same as big trouble.
"Wendy, go behind the nearest tree. I'll catch up with you soon!" ordered Daniel who was still preparing the baseball bat in his hand. His eyes continued to be alert even though he occasionally glanced at Wendy, who still hadn't moved.
"H - how can I go behind a nearby tree, when my legs are already stiff and can't move?" whimpered Wendy.
There was no other choice. Daniel dragged Wendy to take her to a hiding place. They had to avoid the crack in the ground that was like a gaping boulder.
"You wait here!" When Daniel was about to leave, Wendy returned to hold his leg. However, Daniel's attitude suddenly became very firm and it made Wendy finally let go of her hand on Daniel's leg.
Daniel couldn't hear Wendy's ring. When he nearly fell into a crack in the ground that didn't exist before, Daniel decided to be more careful. The jump in his legs stopped at once when smoke began to appear from the sidelines of the ground and also the air.
Wendy was heard screaming, "Dan! Dan, help me! DAAAANNN! "
How surprised Daniel was when he saw Wendy had entangled in tree roots which made her look like a cocoon. In a very nimble motion, the root had engulfed Wendy and dragged her into the chunk of earth, and swallowed her.
Wendy's faint scream could be heard until it finally disappeared. Daniel curled up and blamed himself. While trying to dig up the ground where Wendy was buried, Daniel continued to blame himself.
Not finding anything he can do, now Daniel hit the tree that was suspected to be Wendy's bearer.
The tendrils from the roots moved in all directions. In one fierce blow, the roots tried their best to destroy Daniel, but in one quick jump, Daniel could survive.
Cracking everywhere, signaling that the roots had been smashed to pieces.
Now the ground was filled with roots that had grown from each other and grow from beneath the ground. They were united and linked. The tip, which was shaped like an octopus's tentacles, seemed to be looking for Daniel's figure.
Daniel sharpened his eyes, dodged, and swerved while continuing to hit the roots that suddenly appeared to ensnare him. The movement and the intricate battles continued until finally, Daniel became exhausted.
His breath was gasping and sweat broke out endlessly. His baseball stick could still function despite a few dents here and there.
Again alert, Daniel kept jumping and finally found his target. He saw the biggest tree in the middle of all the towering trees. Moving as if on a skateboard, he tripped over the creaking roots. Daniel finally got the closest foothold on the biggest tree.
Hitting one of the roots that had attacked him, now Daniel was taking out kerosene which he always carried in a small half-liter bottle. Daniel poured the kerosene on the tree and started a fire on the trunk.
The roar was heard again, the roots that had filled the ground have now sunk like worms back into the mud.
Daniel stepped back and watched as the largest tree had been burned badly and fell in weakness with its burnt trunk.
Soon Wendy's body appeared from the ground, like a bubble that had suddenly surfaced.
"Wendy!" shouted Daniel, trembling. Still holding onto his baseball stick, he ran as fast as he could to get to Wendy's body which was soiled with dust.
However, before Daniel could be within five meters of Wendy's body, suddenly sparks exploded in the sky. Daniel narrowed his eyes and found that all the trees around him had changed their size to what they were.
Daniel didn't mind or think about it. The important thing was that he had to get Wendy out of here immediately, no matter what.
The tip of Daniel's hand was able to grab Wendy's hand. Intending to carry her, Daniel also tried to pull her body. But suddenly something grabbed Daniel's body, throwing him in a very fast backward motion, like being dragged by a tornado.
Daniel almost vomited because of the dizziness that attacked him. After he shook his head how shocked he was to find the most annoying face Daniel had ever met in his entire life now greeted him cruelly.
The face was filled with smoke like cypress, with the texture of the face like very charred wood. His nose was like a dented skull, and his eyes burned like fire.
"Finally I can find you, Storm!" roared the figure who was the monster. His mouth, which was filled with smoke and began to be sprinkled with flames, was now wide open, pushing Daniel's body into it.
***