The Fall
The wind howls through the trees, attacking wood and rock with raging currents invisible to the human eye. Leaves, sticks, and other debris all caught helplessly in its inescapable grip, landing wherever it sought fit to place them. A vast sea of crowns, both young and old, bow their heads in acceptance of this ghostly force, swaying in unison to its invisible waves as they wash overhead. Those not strong enough to withstand the force soon joined their fallen kin upon the woodland floor. Drifting miles above rests a boundless sky, masked in a churning mass of silver and pitch dimmed by the call of the night. Heavy is the tempest that looms above, its form restless with an impending downpour that threatens all who are yet to take shelter. Its sharp, echoing shouts brought to light long before they are heard, portraying its final warning.
In the midst of it all lies an absolute behemoth of a rock formation, a true thing of wonders to behold. If not for the storm that is. Its reach goes far beyond the black sea overhead, its highest points concealed among the clouds. On the border between mist and mountain lies a stark white blanket, descending from on-high like a silver veil. It's upon this veil that the storm lays its weight, releasing its downpour onto the glistening peaks. Midway down the colossus is where her pale cloak reaches its conclusion, converting into streams and rivers that carry the very lifeblood of Gaia. It seeps from her skin and runs down her sides like roots descending into the forest, branching out and carving itself into the ground over millennia. Upon the woodland floor lays a dense, chaotic tapestry of life and decay. Leaves in varying levels of deterioration sit caked upon mud and moss, collecting highest at the base of their respective trees and holding on for dear life with whatever friction possible to escape the clawing hands of the wind.
No clear path has the chance to form within this forest as none of its inhabitants require such a thing. Much to the struggle of an unprepared human. Worn boots contest to find grip on a surface slick with damp leaves, the difficulty increased by the slight incline they walk on. Raised roots disguised as rocks trip small feet as they trudge onward, bringing the one they belong to to their knees with the combined effort of the wind. Brittle hands catch them before their head hits the ground, shivering due to their prolonged exposure to the cold. Not that they notice. Regardless, the figure rises, forcing themselves onto one knee before finding the strength to stand once again and continue stumbling forward.
They don't know how long they've been walking for. Don't know where they're going.
All they know is that they have to keep going. Have to keep moving. No matter what.
Not once during their walk up the mountain did they look back. They refused to allow themselves to.
It's too late to look back now.
Too late for regrets.
The gale holds no mercy for those it assaults, ruthlessly ripping the hood from the frail child's head that had been held in place by a single hand gripping the rim. It doesn't deter them in their efforts though. One hand grabs their hood and places it back on their head while the other tightly clenches the oversized jacket that cloaks their frame, holding it closed as they press on. Their expression holds no fear for the raging storm around them as they take each of its attempts to make them fall in stride with unwavering determination. In fact, they even go as far as to challenge the gale by tilting their head up to properly peer upon the storm.
It seems to hold no end in sight, its contorting body stretching endlessly into the firmament beyond. The rain that previously sat atop the mountain's icy peak can be heard quickly encroaching on their location, its hammering roar drowning out all other sounds. They lower their hood just in time to hide their face from the shower, their exposed lower legs taking the brunt of the assault as it hits them. Maybe wearing cargo shorts wasn't the best idea.
The walk through mud, wind, and rain is a torturous one. Each hazardous step a battle to not to lose balance under the newly acquired weight of rainwater piling up on their garments. They weave in and out of the trees, stepping over puddles, nettle bushes, and fallen trees as they do. They nearly trip multiple times on more concealed roots but always manage to catch themselves on the trees before they fall. Or at least they did most of the time.
It wasn't long before the night crept in, the horizon losing more and more light by the minute. Soon enough it'll be pitch black, and without any sort of illumination to guide their steps, it'll be nearly impossible to continue onwards. Not to mention the risk of creatures such as wolves, big cats, and other predators will be starting to come out for the evening. It's been a miracle they haven't run into any creatures already, but that luck might be due to the storm. Either way, one thing is becoming clear.
Continuing is getting dangerous.
Now near the morphing point between soil and stone, the child is looking more and more exhausted with each step, their knees shivering from more than the cold. They continue on however, prohibiting themselves from resting on one of the many rocks protruding out of the ground from the mountain. Their breath is strained into a heavy wheeze as their eyes frantically dart around in a struggle to find any suitable form of shelter.
They knew that the chances of finding refuge out here were slim. Next to none even. But they can't afford to face the reality of the situation now. They just need to keep going, keep hoping, keep praying. That there's something, anything, they could use to escape the storm. Many would call it delusion, and they would be right. But that fragile illusion is the only thing keeping their weary body from collapsing where they stand.
Roaming along the mountain's base, occasional flashes of lightning briefly illuminate the sky, granting them a chance to gauge their surroundings. The reflective surface of the saturated forest is all they are able to see through the downpour. But as they traverse through the sparse trees right at the foot of the stone giant, the distant shape of an opening in the rocks catches their eye. They dare not waste another second dwelling on it and instead muster every ounce of energy they have to drag their freezing legs towards the opening as fast as possible, mud squelching beneath filthy boots as they do.
The closer they get, the clearer the opening becomes. It's a cave. Barely half a meter in diameter, but a cave regardless. Crouching down onto their knees the best they can without completely collapsing, they peer inside. It's beyond pitch black, as if the very void of creation itself is staring back at them. A wave of fear washes over them at the sight of the light-consuming darkness residing in the hollow, but through either terror or bravery, they stand firm.
They stare into the opening of the cave with a morbid curiosity, watching it almost hypnotically for a moment before blinking out of their trance and looking either side of them. There's nothing else around that they aren't already aware of. So, with a breath of courage, they disregard their better judgement and reach an arm into the opening. They're surprised when they manage to get shoulder-deep into the opening, but even more so at the cave's endlessness, its walls continuing to descend further into the stone with no sense of an end.
Pulling their arm out of the cave and briefly inspecting it for unfelt damage, they resume observing the shadows, contemplating if what they're about to do is truly a good idea. They'd heard stories of people getting stuck in places with no one around and only being found hours from death... Were they about to put themselves in the same position? They avert their eyes in a wince, shivering as they dismiss that train of thought and once again gaze at the small slot in the mountain. For a split second, they reconsider their options, wondering if it was too late to turn back.
What a stupid question to ask.
It wasn't long before an option was chosen for them as lightning strikes the ground mere meters from where they're kneeling. Fight or flight takes over, forcing their body to move instinctively. They're quick to fall onto their hands and knees and even quicker to enter the cave, slipping inside without so much as a second thought. It's a tight fit, even for someone as small as them, but they manage to pull their body into the cold embrace of the mountain just in time to avoid a large tree as it falls directly onto the entrance of the tunnel, completely collapsing it.
They don't have time to think about that though, their mind still in a sense of panic. They continue to shuffle deeper into the mountain, their sight completely useless in the crawlway void of all light. Keeping one hand partially outstretched in front of them as they crawl, they brace for an end. But it never comes. In fact, the further in they go, the wider the cave seems to get, its walls becoming less constricting as it steadily inclines upwards and outwards.
Though they're unsure of just how long they've been in the mountain or how deep they've actually gone, they continue to press on. The weak spark of hope in their heart their only motivator. Good thing it pays off, because it isn't long before the constant incline of the walls abruptly opens up and expands into a large air pocket buried within the stone behemoth. Beams of light shine through cracks in the stone, providing just enough light to dully illuminate the hollow. But that doesn't matter. Swiftly, they pull themselves out of the tunnel and into the open expanse. Pushing off of the ground, they flip their body over and sit on their backside, leaning back on their hands as they glance back at the spot they just emerged from.
They blankly stare at the abyss before them, crimson eyes wide as a plethora of different emotions come shooting to the surface of their consciousness. Did they really just crawl through that tunnel? Were they really inside the mountain right now? How are they going to get back out? When will the storm end? Is it safe in here? These questions and more race around their mind, engulfing their head and stealing them from the present moment. They had been too preoccupied with their mission to find shelter for the night to allow these thoughts to surface. But now that their task has been accomplished, there is nothing keeping their thoughts or feelings suppressed. And one by one, they each bubble to the surface.
Their heart beats like a raging battle drum in their chest and ears, the rhythm amplified by the unnerving stillness of their retreat. Their breath reverberates off the stone walls, forcing them to focus on just how heavily they're wheezing. Reaching for the fabric covering their chest, they try to calm their borderline-gasping, but just as soon as they grab it, they immediately let it go again. A hiss escapes their gritted teeth as they look down at their hands. Slivers of bright red seep from minute cracks along their fingertips, their frigid skin numbing yet multiplying any pain within them.
In the blur of their vision just past their hands rests their knees. Shifting their focus, they're welcomed by a shocking sting as they notice their flared up red skin, itching with a pain that feels too deep too reach yet too sensitive to touch. Following closely behind is their feet, aching and sore from all their walking on unfriendly terrain. Next is their shoulders that twinge from the weight of the rain carried within their jacket. And finally, their joints, all of which thoroughly exhausted from the journey.
They sit on their backside for who knows how long, completely enveloped in the overwhelming signals their body is screaming at them, paralyzing them to the ground. But the distant whistle of the wind shrieking at them to join the fun outside the cave manages to break their shock. Slowly they feel the heat of tears running down their cheeks and the build-up on snot creep down their upper lip. For a time, they let themselves indulge in their pain, allowing it all to catch up to them before letting it go. It almost seems like a practised reaction to the whole ordeal. Probably because it is.
Once they've let it all out of their system and calmed their nerves, they allow their curious nature to take hold and look around the cave. It's not a very big cave, even by child standards. But then again, they haven't seen very many caves, let alone been in one. As they bring their shaky legs to stand, they focus their attention onto the walls, noticing how the beams of light seem to have a pale reflection upon the stone. Placing a hand against the wall tells them not only is the stone wet, but it's surprisingly warm. It makes sense that they thought the stone would be cold, maybe a bit warmer than their frozen hand, but the level of warmth they're feeling seems unnatural.
Turning where they're stood , they take in the rest of the cave, finally noticing the grand detail they'd be completely oblivious to this whole time. Directly opposite the tunnel entrance sits the large statue of a fair woman. A marble figure that easily towers over their meager frame, its head reaching the roof of the cave yet not touching it. The stone woman has long hair made of exotic leaves and vines, equally parted on either side of her head with flowers scattered throughout. Her expression is neutral, her eyes loosely looking down to her body. Her chest is bare, a carving of the sun located directly in the center of it with 3 moons surrounding, one on each breast and the third located directly above the sun close to her collarbone. Her abdomen is swollen round with the very earth itself, either hand placed on it in a low carry. Her legs are crossed, both equally decorated with an intrinsic pattern of overlapping swirls. And yet there wasn't a single crack or speck of life on her stone skin.
The alluring mystery of it all catches them off guard in more ways than one . The strangeness of it all intriguing yet ominous. 'How is this even here?' They ponder, knowing they'll most likely never get an answer. Looking down to the base of the statue where the beams of light meet the ground is a small colony of bluebells, flowering at its knees. Now, they're no expert on plants, but they have enough general knowledge to know that this species of flower isn't supposed to be growing this time of year. Or in this location. How are they even growing in a cave like this? Crouching down, an odd sense of curiosity overtakes them and they're compelled to count the flowers either side of the statue. They're not exactly sure why they want to do this, but they do it anyway, cause who are they to question their child brain? It takes a minute, but they manage to count a total of 37 individual flowers. What an odd number.
As they go to stand once more, they feel a subtle shift beneath their feet. Glancing down they don't notice anything different and assume it's just their weak legs attempting to give out underneath them. That is until it happens again, this time much more prevalent. The ground beneath them abruptly sinks down, creating a noticeable indent. Startled, they step back from the statue and into the very center of the cave, only to realise a split-second later that they're now standing in the middle of the crater.
'...I should probably-' Their thought is immediately cut off by the ground jerking down without warning, causing them to instinctively bend their legs in a brace. Swiftly, they regain their composure, their thoughts rapidly returning to the idea of stepping out of the crater, but they barely get the chance to raise their boot before the earth gives way beneath their feet, casting them into a free-fall.
They plunge backwards into the ground, watching with terror as the floor they were just standing on shoots past their head into the front of their vision, revealing it to be a tight network of old dry roots covered in dirt and dead leaves. They desperately reach for the shrinking light, a fleeting attempt to try and save themselves from plummeting further into the abyss. The wind races past their ears, increasing in pitch with the speed of their descent. Helplessly they watch the darkly illuminated face of the statue fade from sight as the void consumes them.
Their eyelids grow heavy, their head foggy, their body weakening.
They cast one final glance at the distant beams of light before their eyes flutter shut, and they slip into unconsciousness.
It never seems to end. The dark all-consuming. No matter where they look, no matter how far they seem to fall, nothing ever changes. They're not sure when the wind stopped racing past their ears, but the unnerving silence that persisted in its absence was more than a little intolerable. But despite their lack of vision, the unmistakable pull of gravity dragging them further into the void told them they were still falling. After so long of this feeling they thought they'd be able to ease up a little, but the unshakable thought of eventually hitting the ground kept their panic alive. They didn't want to be awake for when that happened. They tried multiple times to close their eyes and drift into sleep, but a wave of panic shot through their body at every attempt they made, startling them back into consciousness.
They can't take much more of this.
A blur races past their vision, so fast that they half believed they simply imagined it due to the darkness slowly driving them insane. But the hands they felt sliding onto their shoulders said otherwise. Terror immediately grips their consciousness, screaming danger signals at them. Yet, they're completely frozen, unable to move their eyes or even blink. Forcing them to stare at the null space stretching infinitely before them. More hands plant themselves on their body, this time a pair on the sides of their lower ribcage. They feel the hands subtly tighten their grip as whatever's behind them pulls them closer to itself, further increasing their fear to levels they never thought possible. Cold skin touches the side of their face just outside of their visions reach, followed by the sickening echo of flesh painstakingly ripping open and bones cracking as they unlock. It's not their own though.
Their mind has no time to react before an unnaturally androgynous voice encroaches on their eardrums.
"Wake up."