I found myself sitting, looking over an almost empty field. Tall cogon grass was everywhere and white popinac trees stood tall, creating a canopy, shadowing everything under it.
“Where am I?” I asked myself.
I never really received a reply since it seemed like I was the only one around.
All of a sudden, a sound got my attention. It sounded like a cheer? No, perhaps a cheerful chant? I couldn’t tell. I turned around and took notice of the thick forest. There seemed to be a small pathway that led deeper into the dark forest.
Now usually, I’d stay away from things I know would end up as weird or dangerous, but I suddenly felt courageous so why not try and venture out?
I stood up from where I was sitting and headed for the forest.
The moment I stepped inside everything got dim. The trees were tall and the canopies they made blotched out the sun, only letting a few strays of sunlight enter. The trees had thick branches and even thicker trunks. I carefully placed my hand on the trunk. Its bark was rough to the touch, almost as if it could cut my skin open.
With the little light I had, I continued moving forward. The pathway was uneven with tree roots and rocks randomly there, making me stumble a few times as I made my way.
A sound made me stop on my tracks. I looked around and observed. The thickly grown bushes were swaying from the non-existent wind. The rustling of leaves made the hairs on my body stand up, making me shiver as some chill went up my spine. I whipped my head as I heard a small twig get broken in a close distance. I steadied myself, afraid that I might fall down.
‘What the heck is going on? I should probably get out of here.’
With that in mind, I turned around, deciding to retrace my steps and return to the entrance. But I froze as I found the way back to have disappeared.
‘Sh-‘
Another rustling made me go stiff and I turned to the direction where it came from. I noticed that the pathway going forward was still there.
“Do they want me to keep moving forward?”
I swallowed the nonexistent lump on my throat, and I felt my own legs take the step forward. I cheered myself in my head, hoping I could survive whatever it was I found myself in.
I walked for what felt like hours. The surroundings were the same the further I got. Surprisingly I did not get tired despite knowing that I had been looking for so long. It took even what seemed to be more hours before I stumbled upon a small clearing.
I stopped on tracks the moment I saw it.
The clearing was shadowed by the canopy of trees. It even seemed like the canopy was thicker in the area since it was darker than the path I just walked on. I couldn’t see what was past the clearing because of how dark it was. In the clearing itself was a bonfire lit up with blue flames. But that wasn’t the scariest part…
The scariest part of what I just witnessed was the figures dancing around the fire.
There were about three of them, all garbed with black robes and staffs. I wasn’t sure if they had masks on, but I could see horns protruding from where their foreheads were supposed to be. They were chanting unto the flames, dancing in weird steps and postures. They sounded rather cheerful in their chants, which made the scene even more frightening.
I put a hand over my mouth, making sure I did not utter any audible sound. I took a step backward, but it seemed like misfortune decide to strike me at that moment. The moment my foot made contact with the ground a twig snapped which made me freeze. I looked at the figures around the bonfire and was shocked to see them being still. Slowly, their heads turned to me. I could see their deformed faces clearly, and their eyes stood out as it was glowing in a reddish color. They started muttering in a language I neither understood nor knew.
Before I could even process what was going on, I started running. I delved inside the dark forest whether there’s a path or not. I was afraid and I sure as hell did not want to get entangled with something as dangerous as people (perhaps?) dancing around a bonfire as if they’re in the middle of a ritual.
I suddenly woke up.
I gasped, trying to catch my breath. My forehead was damp with cold sweat and the lingering feeling of fear latched into my consciousness. I looked around and noticed I was in my room. Nothing seemed to be amiss. My baby blue curtains swayed with the breeze from the window I left open last night due to the sweltering heat. My messy desk still had my opened notebooks and books, the evidence that I had been studying the previous night.
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‘It was just a dream?’ I thought, letting out a relieved sigh.
For the rest of the week, the fear never went away though. Even at the smallest of sounds would make me jump. My friends and relatives noticed my sudden change in attitude. Some of them thought I was just in a phase and would try to talk me out of it, but others thought I was depressed and would try to cheer my up. But nothing worked.
One night, as I was walking on the street on my way back home. I felt chills running up my spine. The unmistakable feeling of fear rose within me, and I was suddenly stopped on my tracks. In front of me were the figures I saw in what I thought to be a dream, the same black robes, the staffs and even their grotesque faces.
“We have been looking for you, my lady.” said one of them.
“It is time to go home.” said another.
“The master is waiting for you.” said the last one.
Before I could utter as single word, I was whisked away, and I knew no more.
~The End