The Viral Scheme

Alton woke at the bottom of a giant tree. He felt lifeless and devoid of emotions. There was no place to escape as he found himself trapped in the ever-growing giant. The leaves around him a frozen purple covering his whole body. He looked up, seeing no end to the tree, but in the far-off distance, five figures watched him idly. A sudden urge took hold of him. A natural instinct that he didn't belong here. He needed to run. He tried breaking free from the prison over and over, feeling more desperate and frightened by each passing moment. Eventually, he stopped unable to move. The part of the tree frozen alongside him. That was when he heard someone walking towards him. His mind was racing as he tried breaking free the ice washing into his bones, cracking them, turning them into brittle. As his desperate cries were heard, a hand was placed on his shoulder. The ice shattered as Alton collapsed to the ground. Catching his breath, he turned around, finding no one there.