Before you read: This is a scene I have kinda had planned for my future book but I am fitting it to the prompt as well. Enjoy!

“Welcome child.”

Nicolai found himself staring into the white maze that was the silky exterior of a giant cocoon. The boy could not seem to find the man who he heard speak. He almost could have sworn it was his father, but mother had pounded the fact that dead men tell no tales into Nicolas’s small head.

Suddenly the cocoon started moving. “Welcome child, step closer, young one.” Nicolai could hear being spoken by a firm voice. It was coming from the cocoon, wasn’t it? Pounding rang from the cocoon as the boy slowly approached it. He didn’t understand why he obeyed the call of the voice, but he could almost sense something important would occur if he stepped closer.

The pounding rang louder and more frequent. The child moved close enough so he could reach out and touch the cocoon. As he did two large claws with dagger-like talons reached out and dug into his shoulders. It didn’t hurt but the boy’s heart pounded and his small body filled with adrenaline.

“Run.”

Nicolai ran. “I would have ran even without your commands!” The boy thought to himself, mostly to convince himself that it was true. The trees and forestry around him dissolved, as they were replaced with a more familiar landscape. Large brick buildings and roads just like home, although there was no inhabitants in sight.

As the boy flew through the empty streets, he heard the screams of the beast that was chasing him. He couldn’t see it, but it was there. The screams got louder. He could hear them through covered ears.

“Hide.”

The boy stopped in his tracks and located a building he could easily hide in. “Wait, what am I doing?” Nicolai thought back to his running from the beast. He couldn’t feel his bare feet against the pavement. He touched his face. He couldn’t feel his fingers brush his hair or poke at his eyes. “I don’t need to listen to him.” Nicolai decided.

“Clever boy.”

The screams ceased, but I new sound began. The flapping of many wings was heard in the far distance. They were moving quick. “I will use my magic. I will stand my ground. I will not hide!” Fire formed in Nicolai’s childish hands as swarms upon swarms of moths flew, covering the entirety of the road in front of the boy. The fire shot from Nicolai’s palms. It was easily the strongest blaze he had ever produced, but the moths engulfed him in a matter of seconds.

Darkness. Nicolai was alive, but it felt like he wasn’t. He walked forward. Darkness and more darkness was in his path. Everywhere he looks was pitch black. He had found himself in a void of nothingness for as long as his eyes could see.

“Hello, my child.”

Two claws grabbed the boy just like they had before. Nicolai struggled as he was picked up, but the beast didn’t attack or tear at the child. The beast set the boy down on his lap and patted the young boy on his head. “Those are hands, and not claws. What is happening! Who are you!”

The monster answered only his last question.

“Vinimars.”