The Wood : Part 6 (Final)

Continued from The Wood : Part 1, The Wood : Part 2,  The Wood : Part 3,  The Wood : Part 4, and The Wood : Part 5

   Seeing Zoey awake, the worried-looking Jill quickly fetched her a glass of water, and then tried to calm her bewildered friend. She was rambling about eggs, a forest, and what? Cyber? It all made no sense until Zoey got better as days passed by. After two weeks, she had became her normal self once more. Jill, who at first was as confused as Zoey was when she woke up from her coma, had now understood Zoey's initially strange reaction. After being told of the strange dream about the forest,  Jill in turn related to her friend on how her car had smashed into the back of a delivery truck, and it took quite some time to get her out of her crushed vehicle. Zoey shuddered when Jill filled her in on the details of the accident.

   Both of them pondered over Zoey's story after that. To her, the dream seemed so real that she thought she was transported to another place when she came out of coma at the hospital. To Jill, it sounded far-fetched. But she had to agree that whatever it was: a delusion, imagination or maybe a reality existing in another realm, it did sounded lovely and obviously magical. "No wonder you're in coma for so long, Zoey. I supposed you liked it better there."

   Zoey thought about what Jill said. True, she liked the wood better. It was like all discoveries and no worries for her. If she lives there, her life would be simple. But she'd rather have it simple and contented than living in luxury but being unhappy all the time. Then her mind was cut off the matter when Jill thrusted a colorful paper bag into her hands. Zoey reached inside, pulling out, if you would believe it, a small Stryber! "Jill! This is what Stryber looked like!" she exclaimed in delight.

"Stryber, huh? Thought you did mention something about 'cyber'. Merrick bought it for you. He came to visit you everyday, but he's been very busy lately and couldn't come as often."

   Zoey  was smiling broadly. "He did? He bought this? It's like he knew, right?" Jill just smirked, then laughed. "Look at that blissful mushy smile on your face! I suppose you and him possess some kind of mushy couple's telepathic ability or something similarly gross! Hey, hey-" Pretending to call out of the window, Jill shouted, "-hey! Get your feet down on earth this instant! You couldn't fly to heaven in a weak body like that!"

   Zoey chuckled and said, "I was just missing Stryber and here he is, all cute and cuddly..." Which made Jill winked mischeviously.

"You sure it's only Stryber? What about Merrick?"

"Jill- "

 "Okay, okay! ....But hey, didn't you said that in your dream you were supposed to deliver eggs to an old lady? Pffftt...what century were you in? Delivering eggs in baskets...does anybody even do that anymore?"

"Haha. I dunno, Jill. Totally weird. It was Mrs Flag. Or Flaig. Whatever. Why?"

   Jill giggled uncontrollably. "Oh..I remembered now, that truck-...delivery truck-...." Zoey impatiently tugged at her hand and urged her to speak properly. "Stop laughing and tell me!" She herself couldn't help laughing when seeing how comical Jill looked trying to explain.

"...-your car ran into.."

"Yes, well what about it?"

"...-the truck of an...egg selling company...owner, FAIG! What mojo brought that into your coma, girl??"

   Zoey laughed loudly, in fact, she was almost screaming with laughter that the nurse who passed by had rushed into the room, concerned. So that's where the character of Mrs. Faig came from in her dream!

- THE END -

 ~t h a n k s  f o r  y o u r  p a t r o n a g e !  c o m e  a g a i n ! *rings bell.dingdong.*~

P/s: There would be another story coming up...one that is mushy! Prepared to be ewwed and yucked! But if you like mushy love stories (Busted! Yes, you. Don't pretend to look somewhere else.) maybe you'll like it. So damn much that you're gonna puke. =p I'm gagging, yes. BUT! On the plus side, you're getting rid of the toxin in your body, right? RIGHT?

The Wood : Part 5

Continued from The Wood : Part 1, The Wood : Part 2,  The Wood : Part 3 and The Wood : Part 4

   When Stryber suddenly stood upright, fear gripped me. I felt for the knife on the table. But it turned and went out of the house. I saw it sniffed and circled a tree. The tree, which bore odd-looking fruits the size of football, was located on the left side of the house. It was just a small tree and I can easily reached for the fruits. I picked two, curious to know what's inside the coarse brown skin. Maybe Stryber would eat it. Next to it I saw, to my amazement, a biscuit tree! Well, not biscuit, really, more like a tidbits tree. It was really amazing, who had ever seen snacks grow on a tree before? The smooth, soft skin was transparent, almost like a plastic wrapper, which allowed me to see what's inside. It looked heavenly! Egg tarts, chocolates, sweets...my, my, what a feast we're going to have! I picked several of them to put inside the jars I found in one of the kitchen cupboard.

   I tried to hack open the 'football' fruit. One swing of the knife and the skin fell aside to reveal what's inside. Immediately Stryber sprang to my side. I looked and saw that the fruit contained meat! Laughing aloud, I understood then why Stryber was so attracted to it. I put those meat on a plate and then preceeded to open the next one. Shaking my head I muttered, "Will I cease to wonder? Now will there be a salt and sugar tree too?" I tried scouring the kitchen more thoroughly and finally I found them, sealed tightly in containers. 

   Nevertheless, I succeeded in making a satisfying 'bruncher' - breakfast plus lunch plus dinner. I was ravenous! I tucked in like a person who hadn't eaten for ten years!, Later I was lying on the sofa, contented but quite ashamed of the unladylike way I had gobbled up the whole pot. I bet Stryber was ashamed of me too. Hah. He was lying on the rug, satisfied with his dinner. The warm glow of the fireplace and a tired body soon drew me to sleep. I could still hear the music of the forest, accompanying me to slumberland.

   Before long I began to dream. I dreamt that I was in the hospital and my friend Jill was sitting next to my bed. I saw the situation as if I am another person in the room. I inched nearer to get a better look. What a state I was in! Covered in bandages, hooked up to the machine, IV bag...surely I didn't need that? How bad was my condition actually? It was so weird. This is considered a nightmare! I suddenly wanted to be inside that sick body. You know, just to get a taste of how it feels. Is it possible to do that in a dream? What a stupid feeling, who wanted to try feeling sick anyway? But maybe I could tell Stryber all about it during breakfast.

   I seeped, or dissolved, or whatever it is, into the body, and I immediately felt cold. I shuddered and instinctively knew that something wasn't right. I was wriggling inside, trying to find the perfect fit in the body so that I wouldn't be so uncomfortable like this. But then I decided that it was no use and after all, it's a dream and honestly, I was starting to dislike it. I struggled with all my strength to break free again. It was terribly painful, and it struck me that maybe this is how it feels in the sick body. I hate the uneasiness that lurked in every part of it. I felt stiff and hot. I didn't feel belonged. I yearned to be back in the cottage, lying in the coolness of the night. I want to stop this really, really bad nightmare! If only I could wake up. God,  I prayed, I don't want to be stuck in a time, at a place, that is unreal. I can't believe I'm caught in this, I thought. My strength was fading away...

   Just as I was beginning to lose hope, so sure that I was trapped forever...a firm grip on my hand pulled me back to the present. Stryber! My eyes snapped open. I saw Jill bending over me with a panicked look. Then I saw the concerned doctor and the nurse. Nobody else. My strained eyes searched the room, but everything was white and cream under the bright light. I didn't see any black stripes. I couldn't see Stryber and I was not at the cottage. I was not even in the wood. So, it's true...I was really stuck in the dream. Recognizing defeat, and feeling so weak and thoroughly confused, I drifted into sleep, determined to go back to the cottage again if I could 'dream' about it. I swore I would! Surrendering does not necessarily means defeat, right? I would get back to Stryber.

   Alas, I didn't. I was awake once again to find myself still in the same room, the same hospital ward, Jill by my side. I felt betrayed. Jill was in this! In some kind of conspiracy to keep me from the wood. Why? Because I didn't deliver Mrs Faig's eggs? I was going insane. Is there some kind of witchery? What else could have done this?

- To be continued -

Continued in The Wood : Part 6 (Final)

The Wood : Part 4

Continued from The Wood : Part 1, The Wood : Part 2 and The Wood : Part 3

   So I rose and began to walk slowly. It rose, too. I thought that it was going to pounce and I waited for the worst to happen, breaking in cold sweat. But it didn't, so I made a move, and the next, and the next, and the tiger followed me closely. Finally I felt at ease when it didn't harm me. I even tried to pat its head. When it didn't bite my hand or reacted aggresively, I knew that I've got a companion in the isolated forest.

   My stomach felt sucked in. By then I knew that I was really starving. Just then i caught sight of a cottage. My heart leaped with joy and I was smiling from ear to ear. "Come on!" I said to Stryber the tiger. Yes, that's the name I gave him. It bounded along the path beside me as I sped towards the cottage. When we reached the gate, I suddenly didn't know what to do. And I found out that the road ended there instead of a bend as I had predicted. Although I called out a few times, no one answered. I was convinced that I should go into the house because there was nowhere else for me to go.

   I pushed the creaking gate. It was not locked. Why didn't the owner oil the hinge? It sounded terribly creepy. Going up to knock on the door, I stayed near Stryber all the time. No one opened the door. I twisted the knob. It was not locked too. I debated with myself whether to go in or not. What's the worst that can happen? After all Stryber was with me. It will kind of be like Goldilocks and the three bears, won't it, only I didn't have golden locks. Oh well, who cares?

   When I got in, I was astounded. The furniture were covered with white cloths and everything was so dusty. It's clear that no one had lived in the house for quite some time. "Let's stay here, Stryber. At least for now." Stryber just watched as I pulled off the covering on the furniture and coughed when dust filled the air. I had to go out of the house for a while until the dust settled. I discovered where the kitchen was and that there was only one bedroom. The toilet was near the kitchen, on the northeast corner. It's an old-fashioned house, but there's a fridge and an old stove. I found the broom and as I swept away the dust, my stomach suddenly growled with hunger. I had forgotten how hungry I was in my excitement of exploring the house. I hurried to the kitchen and found where the cutlery and cooking utensils were in the kitchen cupboard. But where could I get the food? The thought hit me so suddenly. I looked out of the kitchen window, hoping to spot any edible plant or fruit. To my delight, I saw that there were many kinds of it growing all over in the garden. No wonder, since there's nobody to take care of them. Except, maybe, magic? I opened the kitchen door that led into the backyard. It was quite large. I brought with me a basket to put in all the vegetables. Stryber followed behind as I plucked, picked and dug potatoes, carrots, beans, radishes, toamtoes, cabbages...before long my basket was full and I went to have two more picking trips. I put all of them in the fridge. Stryber sniffed at the basket. 'What a cat!' I smiled to myself. Then I remembered. He must eat meat! Where am I going to find it? Salt, spices...oh...I sat on the chair with resignation. I turned to Stryber. "Stryber, can you bear eating vegetables just like that everyday? Are you going to hunt for your own food or do I have to prepare it for you? Hey, I'm not your food, right?" He just looked at me with inquiring eyes. I just hoped that he didn't suddenly decided to have me for dinner!

- To be continued -

The Wood : Part 3

Continued from The Wood : Part 1 and The Wood : Part 2

   Now, how can I climb the tree? I didn't think, I just jumped and something propelled me up and forward. Lo and behold, I was up in the air! I honestly didn't know I could do that. Something prompted me. The small voice? Instinct? It's just as though I knew that it was possible. What a great feeling, being able to fly. I felt that my body was as light as feather!

   It was already fully night time by the time I settled down in the medium-sized tree house. I lied in it, snug and comfortable although I bumped my forehead while trying to scramble in just now. The branches that formed the floor were surprisingly soft. I didn't need a mattress or a blanket. The air was quite warm. The full moon gave sufficient light for me to see everything around me. Not everything, really. But I did get startled when I saw an owl on the tree across, blinking its round eyes. Then I was lulled into a deep slumber by the seemingly never ending lullaby of the forest...

   When I woke up, the sun had not yet risen fully. I sat on the edge of the tree house with my feet dangling, listening to the cheerful morning sound. Then I jumped to the ground. More like floated, actually. I still marveled at the way I half flew just now when I started my journey again. I knew that eventually I would reach a place that would be the end of my journey and the place would surely be the most magical of all the things that I had encountered. The eagerness made me feel like bursting with energy. I was practically skipping along the path. After about half an hour walking, I was overcame with hunger. I realized that I haven't eaten since yesterday evening! And not a single drop of water had entered my mouth either.

   While walking I looked around, looking for something to eat. I saw some berries, but I dared not eat them for fear that they were poisonous. I was hungrier and thirstier by each passing minute. At last I couldn't stand it anymore and stopped to rest under a shady tree. I fell asleep soon after, dreaming about food.

   I had no idea how long I slept. I woke up when I felt something tickling my face. When I opened my eyes, what a shock I got! A weird tiger-like creature was sniffing my face! It has white fur with grey stripes. I froze in fear, thinking that I was finished. I am some animal's dinner now and it would serve me right for being overly adventurous! But no, the beast didn't hurt me or eat me. It just sat there staring at me. I stared back. For a long time we just looked at each other. It seemed like eternity before I decided that maybe, just maybe, the animal was tame. It seemed to be...it's acting like a pet cat. Course, it was some kind of cat! Err... really huge cat, though...

- To Be Continued -

Continued in The Wood : Part 4

The Wood : Part 2

Continued from The Wood : Part 1

   All of a sudden, a small voice inside me asked, What are you doing? Are you nuts?! I stopped walking and turned abruptly towards the direction that I came from. The entrance was still there, though it looked a bit blurry from the spot where I was standing. I could still go back if I wanted to. I stood there, weighing my options. I looked again. The path to the entrance seemed dark, far, uninviting...boring. I looked around me. The birds, the flowers, the animals...all of it formed a warm place that were surely exciting and could offered a lot more. The trail that led to the place that would mark the end of my journey, though unsure I was of how it would appear to be, seemed bigger and brighter. Warmer and welcoming. I didn't realized a smile had formed on my lips when I said, Yes, I am crazy, and resumed my journey. I didn't look back again, and the small voice that bugged me earlier shut itself up the moment I started walking again. Since then also, there was never an ounce of worry in me that I'm venturing into the unknown and was leaving a place so familiar to me, a place where I belong, a place where I should be.

   The sky's getting darker. I knew this because the light in the wood was dimmer and I saw the colours of sunset peeking through the leaves above. Fireflies came out of nowhere and brightened the surrounding. It was as if their presence there was to provide my eyes with better sight. The music can still be heard. I was wondering where to spend the night, as I didn't meet anyone at all or saw any cottage or hut. I was tired and sleepy. I hadn't eaten, either. I figured food could wait, I needed sleep. Mu eyelids were so heavy I felt that I could sleep while walking.

   Finally I came upon a huge tree. I didn't recognize what tree it was because it was so peculiar. A kind of tree house had been built on it, but not by any human hand as far as I could tell. It was made of the tree branches, which intertwined and wove themselves to form the wall and the roof. There was only three sides of the wall, leaving an opening. Judging from the size I guess I could sleep in it. Besides, there's nobody around and I didn't know if it belongs to anybody.

-To Be Continued -

Continued in The Wood  : Part 3.

The Wood : Part 1

   I was mystified, really, really intrigued. The beginning of the path into the wood lay in front of me, beckoning me to enter. I could see a bit of the path, winding a little way off into the lush jungle. I questioned myself over and over again...am I going in or not? I decided that exploring it a bit wouldn't do me harm. I'll stay near the edge of the wood and wouldn't stray off the path. Besides, it didn't seem to be dangerous.

   Ten yards into the jungle, I suddenly became enchanted by the surrounding. I saw many kind of flowers, even the type that were not supposed to be there. Buttercups, bluebells, baby's breaths, roses, sunflowers, daffodils...I didn't see them earlier from outside the wood. Standing out there just now, I saw only the path. Everything else was not clear, hidden among the shadow. But inside there, I could see literally everything. I don't know, as though the sunlight suddenly found its way through the thick canopy of trees. The squirrels watched me carefully from among the branches and the rabbits scampered across the path as I walked on, truly engrossed in discovering what else that lay ahead in the jungle.

   I didn't forget the farm that I'm supposed to return to. I didn't forget the basket of eggs I'm supposed to deliver to Mrs Faig. But still I followed the path, deeper and deeper into the wood. Somehow I didn't worry about the consequences, feeling that I'll be perfectly safe. I continued with ease, noticing the fluttering butterflies and all the flowers that seemed to be prettier with each step I took. And there's another thing. There's music coming from somewhere. I couldn't find the source, it echoed all around and was absolutely harmonious with the quiet surrounding. It was there all the time, though I didn't noticed it at first. The music noted were graceful, beautiful, they complemented each other, they fit with nature. I could make a poem about it, it was that inspirational. I know and could distinguish the songs, but I never knew when a song started or ended, they went on and on with each new song never the same as the last.

- To Be Continued -

Continued In  The Wood - Part 2