Ding! A cheerful sound. One of promise for new adventure. Inhaling deeply the scent of unexplored worlds… That weren’t there.

Mother Earth was renowned for being a incessant smoker, continually releasing pungent earthy notes skywards. The sharpness would be unbearable if fresh rain didn’t sprinkle its lightness. Opening your eyes you looked around bewildered. There were no neatly stacked shelves. Instead a sea of lavender, heather, dull straw and forest shadows swished roughly in the swirling storm.

Whirling around you reached out in desperation for a door that wasn’t there. You had always wished for an immersive story. Now was your opportunity. Smiling broadly you started to carefully to pick your way across the rough moorland. Climbing a small hillock you felt Jack Frost’s frigid touch ghosting over your exposed skin. Ruffling your flailing locks leaving you feeling uneasy.

Spinning. Scanning. Surveying. An unforgiving expanse. In whatever direction you looked, the same desolate landscape sprawled out. Pick a direction and walk straight as the crow flies. It so happened to your right a towering form could be made out. Pummelled by distraught tears, begging you to leave.

Unheeding to their plea you marched onwards. Boots squelching through a boggy patch. Gathering unsightly splotches of rich brown, scrunching your eyebrows together in annoyance. A wild whispering sprung up, rushing around you so fast you were left feeling dizzy.

Rolling across the moorland a thick blanket unfolded. Tossed from the heavens in attempt to quell the rising evil. Yet there was nothing that could be done. A wistful sigh blew away all attempts of salvation.

Your skin began to tingle. Your gut began to ache. Your brain screamed “Run!” Alas you stayed. From the fading worn tendrils a voice emerged, “We’ve been expecting you.”

Terror gripped your stomach, twisting violently displacing gastric juices with foul consequences. Unbridled spirits of wild horses galloped across your chest. Leaving your bones quaking.

Blink. A tall lithe man, dressed in leggings and tunic he held a quiet confidence. It seemed as though he embodied the untameable lands.

Blink. Before you stood a beautiful woman, with auburn hair that glittered even in the dull light.

Blink. A small straggly child now stared at you with cold coal eyes.

“Follow us,” they spoke as one, perfectly harmonising. Unable to ignore their melodic request your feet carried you onwards. Always forward towards the single lonely tree. The tree that held your fate.

As one the murmuring ceased. Turning to your companions, who had seemingly fallen silent. A clinging silence that encased your core. You were alone in a land so unpredictable. Staring at your feet hoping for inspiration your eyes landed upon a tiny figure.

No more than three feet high, though you didn’t judge. Who knew they could have a disability. “Good sir, can you help me?”

“Me?” He pointed to his scrawny chest, eyes wandering around in bewilderment.

“Yes? You’re the only one here?” Confusion danced out of your lips

Suddenly his hearty laugh sprung out, “Oh! So I am! How may I help you on this dull dreary day?”

You noticed his jollity failed to reach his eyes. Suspicion snuck up your back as you cautiously asked, “To get me off this moor would be quite helpful, if that’s no trouble?”

Beckoning with a pudgy hand he skipped off, leaving you to stumble after on unpracticed legs. Jolting and jerking over potted, scarred and tainted ground. Directly under the stretching boughs of the ancient birch he froze. Casting his gaze upwards he sprinted away into the fading light. His words floating behind him, “This is the only way out!”

How was a tree meant to help? Perhaps that question was asked too late. Loving arms reached down, taking you in a tender embrace. Your feeble mind never comprehending the gravity of the situation. Inexplicably, with practiced ease the muscles tightened. Coiling around stealing your air. Never asking, just taking.

Gasping. Thrashing. Gurgling. Your fight was futile. Your fight was stupid. Soon stars exploded across your vision. Guiding you faithfully into the perpetual darkness of the night planes. One final rasping sigh and you released your grip on the world of the living.

A stinging slap across your cheek. Pain bloomed in a Fibonacci sequence; unfurling the petals of a blood red rose. Peeling open your eyes drowning with fear, you stared at your tormentor.

“I said focus on me! Don’t leave me for some intangible place!” Broad hands tugged sharply at the knots binding your limbs to a wooden table. Suddenly, a sharp creaking groan of something being turned. Muffled screams burst forth as your limbs were hauled in opposite directions. Sharp popping filled your ears as your joints finally gave way.

Blinding white light seared across your mind, if this was love then death best be sweet. An inner dialogue screamed and berated your foolish incompetence to simply listen to your friends warning.

Looming above you his pale sneering lips wobbled with pleasure. Dead soulless eyes of hell intently studied your heart. Slowly, he revealed a rusty nail. You never saw the nail’s romantic partner, before the sweet clanging kiss of lips. Pointed tip buried itself into your eye. Crisp crunch, a soft pop, a whole world of pain. Liquid ran gently from the perforated capsule. Your mind tracked the movement as it rounded your delicate shell.

“Please,” a feeble word, slipping unheard from your lips. Pleading with your imagination to carry you away back to the windswept moors.

Mercifully, the final savage thwack came quickly. You barely registered the impacted before the whispering voices of the forsaken came to bring you home.