First Encounter

He came up to a fork in the road. Left or right?

He picked right trusting his gut to avoid making a decision consciously. The width of the path was certainly larger, it was less moist and the fauna was of a different taste, but that was not of Michael's concern.

The deeper he walked down the trail, the less the inner conflict assaulted his mind. Like waking up from a dream, the turmoil slowly slipped from his mind. The walk became largely tranquil, the forest appearing to possess an even greater charm than before. The turmoil that was brewing inside of him dissipated gradually the deeper he ventured.

He didn't take note of the change in scenery either, he just appreciated the peace. A rabbit like creature of white fur that was interspaced by patches of dry wrinkled skin, darted past Michael. It's mouth was a row of human like teeth turning what would have been a beautiful creature into an abominable thing

Michael, however, found it beautiful, smiling lazily as it darted across the trail.

Birds with dark feathers and more bone than flesh or skin flew above him and, to him, they too were beautiful. Their singing, if it could be called that, sounded like a crying infant. It was enough to send goosebumps crawling over his skin yet, he smiled and even extended his arm in hope they'd patch on it.

The air reeked of death and rotten flesh, he took in a deep breath and smiled even wider. The local fauna appeared dead, animals were an amalgamation of different parts as if bred in a mad scientist's lab. But to Michael it was paradise.

What was he even worried about? The forest was just perfect, from the rays of white moonlight to the refreshing scent of nature, it induced an addictive sense of serenity that drugged Michael silly.

Glee filled his heart and clouded his mind, his eyes were starry as he placed one foot infront of the other with the grace of the dancer. Matter of fact, he was... dancing.

The further he walked—skipped—down the path, the more joyous he felt. His eyes appeared starry and his face that of a man in a drunken stupor.

He chuckled to himself like a mad man, staring at the skies that seemed even more beautiful than before. Since when could he see the sky, wasn't it obscured by the forest canopy?

That was not if his concern, he wanted to enjoy the beauty, to relish the very essence of this palace of tranquility; a kaleidoscope of enchanting beauty that he found especially heart warming.

Lights dotted the immediate vicinity and stole his attention, their golden glow reflecting in his dark eyes and illuminating his bronze skin.

"Fireflies?" he wondered outloud.

Suddenly, something clicked in his mind, a wave of warmth encapsulated his mind and the joy from before begun to wane as if a veil had been lifted.The world was no longer the kaleidoscope from before. The peace he had come to enjoy was replaced by the turmoil he had thought was no longer.

In truth, it had always been there only shadowed by an illusion of happiness.

His eyes darted around the forest... somehow, he did not remember getting to this part of the forest.l Slowly awe was replaced by fear as he begun to take in his environment in a new light. Everything suddenly didn't seem as beautiful and harmless as before.

Arachnophobia had never crossed his mind, but now staring at the bug infested tree barks, he grew cold.

The world seemed darker and dangerous.

He stopped in his tracks and listened; his ears perked up as a light tremor shook his body.

Another tremor ensued, it's intensity slightly higher than the last, then more tremors, each more intense than their predecessors.

His heart pounded at his chest and his throat became dry, blood rushed to his head, saturated with adrenaline.

A distance ahead of him, trees shook as their barks creaked and the wood of their trunks broke, the echo traversed the forest and rattled Michael's body and nerves in equal measure.

The canopy broke and a flood of white light illuminated the area in front of his eyes as if a flash grenade had been set off. Wasn't the sky visible just a moment ago?

He was shaken out of his attempt to process what was happening by revolting creatures that raced past him, away from the imminent threat. Their calls loud eerie and chilling.

What should he do?

His mind froze as terror gripped his heart, the suddenness of the change failing to make sense.

The air seemed a little colder, and the world a little darker despite the flood of moonlight; turning hazy as sounds became muffled.

The ground before him broke into a chasm and from it, a callous tentacle short forth aiming straight for him.

His instincts screamed at him to run, dodge; to do something that would get him out of harms way. Yet he couldn't, he was too scared, too frozen and slow to react.

Too bad.

The tentacle whizzed through the air and connected perfectly with his abdomen.

The wind was knocked out of him and his eyes teared up as his body bent awkwardly and he was punched through the air crushing through several trees before the momentum of the hit was broken by an especially large boulder and his body sprawled on the ground.

It was a powerful, solid hit that was enough to shatter his whole body... but, surprisingly, it didn't hurt, atleast not as much as he expected.The hit however sent him in a daze, but he wasn't hurt, it baffled him and his mind flushed with hope. Maybe his body would give him a fighting chance or afford him escape.

This new found confidence was shattered when the trees before him parted and gave way to myriad of tentacles, massive tentacles.

What type of land beast had this many limbs? He wondered in a frenzied panic.

It was one thing to have a resilient body, it was a whole other thing to have the prowess to exercise it's full might; He was lacking in the latter.

One, two, and soon he lost count and a grip on his consciousness as hit after hit sent him flying in the air, each putting him in the trajectory of the next tentacle.

Each hit packed more punch than the first. lacerations begun to appeared on his 'tough' skin and the cracking sound of bones filled his ears as blood pooled in his mouth.

More panic ensued, and with it an overwhelming feeling of helplessness that resurfaced all his past lifes trauma.

He was completely at the mercy of his assailant. Would he really die another pathetic death?

He groaned in pain as he was rag dolled through the air. His lungs ached as he tried and failed to fill them up with air, his whole body became sore in a matter of seconds.

Slowly, his fight to stay conscious seemed to be a loosing battle. The concussive blows disoriented him, his perception of space was nullified as his eardrums burst from the countless hits to his head.

A tentacle gripped on his foot and dragged him through the air and onto the ground in a merciless thud. Once, then twice until he was too dazed to keep count.

With one final hit, the world around him went dark and silent as his body went limp.