Along the bend of the one lane road emerged a single mail truck, made small by the grand trees that lined the road edge. The truck cruised through the forest as if it was itself as excited as it’s driver for the last stop. Jack, in agreement, tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in a cheery way. His Bluetooth speaker wobbled atop the dashboard.

On Jack’s lap sat two items: Jack’s phone and the last envelope of the day. He didn’t normally need to use his phone’s map during his rounds, but this envelope had an unfamiliar address. So unfamiliar, in fact, his phone could only locate a general area. After which, Jack figured he could navigate once on-site. And that might have worked out for Jack, if only he had noticed the advisory speed limit sign sinking into the ground in front of him.

In the midst of duetting “You’re The One That I Want”, where he was fully capable of covering both parts, Jack’s truck met sudden resistance. It was as if he was driving through two feet of mud. As he pressed hard on the gas, the road ahead of him started to rise. But it wasn’t the road that was rising, but he who was sinking. The trunk sank, angled forward where the hood started to disappear into the road.

Jack strained to slide the truck’s door open, eventually creating enough space to jump out. He landed softly, not on, but in the road. It had already engulfed up to his knees. Despite frantically kicking his legs and grasping the grass just beside the road, he continued to sink just as fast as his mail truck which had already disappeared.

It was a quick process, really. There were a couple cries for help from Jack, and then there was nothing. Just a lonely forest and a smooth road missing its advisory speed limit sign.

For Jack, though, dirt and roots closed in around him. The dirt in particularly filling his nose and clogging his ears. He squeezed his eyes tighter and clamped his jaw shut, hoping to keep the last of his breath inside his body. An unknown force pulled him and he passed through miles of ground in seconds, dirt smudging across his face before there was no more. That was when he fell. A stale wind buffeted against Jack before he slammed into the ground.

Jack splayed out in a coughing fit amongst the dry grass. He rolled over onto his aching back and looked up at the foggy sky above, eclipsed by the forest canopy. Everything appeared in shades of gray except for the white mail truck that seemed to have no signs of damage. Jack groaned and closed his eyes trying to make sense of it all.

Whilst laying in the rough grass, a slight movement parted the foliage and slithered its way to Jack. He propped himself up on his elbows, still in a daze. Thorny vines reached out and spiraled around his legs.

“Woah! What in the Hell?!”

Jack tried scrambling to his feet which only resulted the vines tightening further. The tiny thorns pierced into his skin. Nothing a little pocket knife can’t fix, he thought to himself. The vines seemed to read his mind and just as Jack reached in his pocket, they yanked him across the dead forest floor. His right side slammed into a tree stump, causing Jack to lose grip of his pocket knife he’d finally freed.

The vines pulled Jack towards an old tree that stood like a giant amongst the forest. Now dangling by his feet, Jack writhed his body against the vines but it seemed pointless. He was held taut against the trunk of the tree when the world grew still again. Deceptively still as Jack noticed the tree trunk rapidly expanding in circumference, forming around his body. Jack struggled again, not wanting to be engulfed for the second time that day.

At that same moment, a white object wizzed by him. Like a loose blade spinning in air, it cut through the vines that were holding Jack captive. With a thud, Jack hit the ground.

“Ugh, c’mon. My back’s not what it used to be,” he complained squinting up at the tree.

A familiar, white envelope fluttered down to join Jack on the ground. The mailman in him instinctually grabbed the envelope as he scrambled to his feet. As quickly as he could limp after his two falls today, he directed himself back towards his truck; the only comfort he knew in this strange world.

No vines followed him this time. At least none that he could see as he repositioned himself in the mail truck driver’s seat. Jack sighed and looked down at the envelope in his hand.

“Maybe I can still deliver you. They might know where I am and how I can get back.”

Jack looked at the envelope as if it might confirm his thoughts. It only rested, lifeless in his grasp. Jack straightened his shoulders and revved the engine. Yellow lights pierced through the mutated fog of the forest.

“Wait till the union hears about this one,” Jack mumbled as he rolled slowly through the forest with the envelop laying in his lap again.