Alex.
Of course, it being story of my life, it did continue and it actually got worse.
Since the first night of my dream in the forest, I started having them frequently. Coming across so many monsters in my dream and trying to get away from them. The strangest part of it was that now I feel the pain of the injuries I get in my dream in reality, and they hurt like hell. Just as the pain in my ankle made me limp. I had gotten that from a bear looking Fox that had horns.
I'd gotten pretty used to the weird combinations now.
You might think my dreams were the only encounter I had. I wished too but so far I'd had to deal with a sinking sand that appeared out of nowhere. That almost got me killed. A super fierce rabbit that almost ripped off my arm. Running away from a bunch of snakes. Having so many pains from my dreams didn't make things any easier but aren't I lucky to still be alive after a month of all that.
I still had no clue of the whereabouts of Tyson or Tyler, my phone still has no signal and I don't know if I've made any progress at all. I tried not to let my imagination run wild about their current state. I let out a sigh as I limped forward without much to think about.
Thud.
I slid in immediately behind the closest tree as I scanned the trees around me carefully. My hand slowly reached for the knife hooked at the corner of my bag.
Erica had kept a kitchen knife in my bag while she was making one of her unrealistic jokes but honestly, I'd have lost my heart if it wasn't for it. I still thank her silently for being unrealistic.
I listened carefully as the noise picked up in the awfully silent area. I picked up the direction it was coming from and slowly took a peek. I couldn't see anything, was I mistaken.
'oh I see something'
It was running pretty fast towards my direc– wait, that's no it. HE was running at my direction.
"Tyler?!"
I came out as I got excited but my eyes widened as I saw the uninvited guests behind him.
"Oh no" I shrunk back behind the tree as I panicked. What the hell are those things and how the hell does he have so many on his tail?!.
I watched him run forward as I wondered what to do. My ankle still hurts so I really would slow him down. I've only got a kitchen knife used on harmless fruits and vegetables. I couldn't see a way out of this. I got furious and bit on my nails.
"1,2,3,4,5,6,7...they freaking keep popping out!" I screamed through gritted teeth.
Tyler suddenly stopped running and turned back to face the monsters as they still ran full force at him.
What was he thinking?
The monsters drew closer as he stood still. He took his bag off his back and still stood armless. I came out as I was about to yell out to him but then his next action shut me up. Just like he had the timing calculated, he stretched out right hand and averted his gaze as a huge fire immediately gushed out of his hand.
I stood speechless as I heard the monsters screech out while being engulfed in fire.
"Woah"
The fire kept coming and I was starting to think he could stop the fire now but he didn't. I realized a little too late he had his eyes closed. He staggered as his hand started to shift direction in a circle.
"Woah woah woah! Tyler that's dangerous, You gotta open your eyes!" I said but he didn't seem to hear me. The fire came towards me as I hid behind a tree and closed my eyes. I flinched as I heard a loud cracking sounds. I opened my eyes and looked back to find the tree falling off the stump in my direction.
"Ohmygod!"
I jumped out of the way and gasped out as the tree landed with a big thump.
Could fire do that?!
"TYLER!"
I screamed but it soon got through to me that shouting wasn't helping anymore as Tyler still with his eyes closed was now closing himself up in his fire. I ran around the fire and got in before he could close it up.
I started to think maybe I shouldn't have done that. It was blazing hot in the circle and he didn't seem to be letting the fire off. I was about to call out to him but I stopped in track. If I alarmed him things could end up badly. I heard another cracking sound. He had chopped off another tree and it was falling right over him.
"Tyler watch out!"
I ran over to him and dragged him as we both rolled away just in time. His eyes flew open beneath me as he stretched out his hand at my face for another round of fire.
"nonononono! Don't do that! It's me Alex! Hold your fire!" I screamed at the top of my voice.
"Alex?... Alex?!"
"Yes yes, it's me Alex" I smiled as I anxiously and slowly pushed his hand far away from my face before a so called reflex could kick in.
"You're okay. When did you get here?" He asked, his face filled with relief and surprise.
"Right before the barbecue party started" I joked as he smiled a little then he looked beside him as his eyes seemed to widen. He closed his eyes shut immediately started coughing, seriously.
"Tyler, are you okay?" I asked and stopped in my track as I saw him hyperventilating. "H– hey Tyler. What's wrong? Tyler?!"
He gasped out for air as I panicked. This was something new. I had no clue what to do as he gasped out louder.
"Tyler!"
He held my arm really tight as he struggled. My hands had gone shaky. Was he injured?. No, he wasn't. Was he reacting to something? I couldn't tell. What do I do?
At the corner of my eyes I caught something moving. I looked up to see one of the monsters climbing its way up a tree. The fire didn't get it. It bared it's fangs and long purple tongue at me. I stood in its way to Tyler.
Oh no you don't.
I reach for my knife just in time as it jumped into the circle as expected. It lunged at me with its mouth wide open as I tried my possible best to stay calm. I turned the knife and used the butt to hit the side of its head real hard. It rolled off as it managed to get a scratch on me but I had gotten it where I wanted. Away from Tyler. I dropped my bag to the ground and ran at it. It started off and almost ran past me but I grabbed its squishy head and dug the knife deep into it. It struggled and flung me real far as I rolled away almost being engulfed in the fire. I watched it screech as it ran for Tyler again.
So damn persistent!.
I got up again also and pushed it away. It had me pinned down as it suddenly dug its fang into my arm.
"Ugh!" I groaned in pain as I gritted my teeth and reached for the knife still in its head. I yelled out in frustration "let go of my hand you stupid jelly!"
I stabbed it once again below its chest and dragged it over to the end of its body as a purple liquid gushed out. That hit seemed to do the trick as it stopped moving. I pushed it off me as I breathed out loudly for air. Sweet trickled down my face as I finally realized how hot it had gotten.
"Oh no" I ran over to Tyler as the fire had dangerously spread out. Tyler wasn't conscious anymore. "Tyler, Tyler can you hear me?" I tapped his face a little but there was no reaction. I put my finger under his nose. Good. He's still breathing.
I coughed out as the smoke started to get to me. This was messed up. We had to leave the circle before we become the barbecue in the barbecue party. I ran over to my bag and searched frantically for something useful. There was nothing. The little water I had left wouldn't suffice to create a path. I carried my bag and went back to Tyler.
"What do I do?" I looked around desperately for a way out when the monster in sight gave me an idea. I rushed over to the side and stuck my hand in for the goo. I looked at the flame as I had second thoughts. It was worth the try anyway. I leaned back away from the heat as I stretched out my hand and choose a very small area to experiment. I let the goo drop as the fire kindled.
Good.
I went back to my bag and took out my blanket. I had to hurry. The flames didn't seem to be on our side. I immediately covered the blanket in goo making sure it got on on the edges. I got as much goo as I could then went for the fire. 'here goes nothing'.
I flapped out the blanket carefully as my heart lightened up. It worked. I threw our bags over as I went back and got Tyler on my back. I took a step and suddenly my vision blurred up.
"Eh?" I lost my balance a bit as my body felt hot. I had to get through now before the goo dries off. I closed my eyes to shake off the dizziness.
Oh no.
I began to walk over as the dizziness still blurred up my path. My legs felt heavy, I could feel a cold sweet drip down the side of my head. My stomach clenched down on me.
What's happening to me?
I pushed harder as the reality stuck with me that I wasn't here alone. I have to get pass, I thought. Easier said than done. I could hear myself breathing out heavily. My left leg gave out as I slumped on one knee. Almost there. My eyes were slowly closing shut.
"You gotta be kidding me Alex?... You wanna take a nap right now?" I said out loud to myself as I breathed out. I was loosing air, I couldn't even think of what was happening to me 'cause I was too busy trying to take just three more steps with my own leg. The blanket was starting to catch the fire. I got up and with a final struggle I walked out of the danger zone. My eyes seemed to roll up my head as my body gave up every ounce of strength I had. I fell to the ground as Tyler rolled off my back. I felt terrible. I could feel pain and aches in so many parts of my body. I opened my eyes a little to see Tyler away from the fire. I sighed in relief as the loud ringing in my ear covered up the movement sound behind me.