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Sophia
I settled into the cabin for a few days, eating some of the canned food that had been left in the small pantry. It was extraordinarily quiet out here, surrounded by the silence of the trees. From my knowledge of the landscape, I guessed that I was deep in the forest of upstate New York. I couldn’t pinpoint my exact location, but that didn’t much matter since I had no intentions of returning home. Soon enough though, food became scarce, and I decided that I needed to move on.
I had high hopes that I could find a small mountain town where I could bleach my hair, get a job, and start a new life out of the limelight.
I packed a bag and started out once the sun rose the next day. I had taken several things from the cabin, including a thick flannel shirt, a pair of pants, oversized socks, and boots. Everything was meant for someone much larger than me, so they fit big, but I didn’t have any other options.
Later that day, storm clouds began to gather overhead. Within an hour, it was drizzling and by mid-afternoon, it was pouring. My feet slid in the mud, and it wasn’t until I almost fell that I knew it was time to seek out shelter. Almost as if the heavens were confirming my decision, a bolt of lightning lit up the sky and a crack of thunder rumbled so loudly, I questioned if the Earth had split in two.
I held the flannel above my head and tried to look around for shelter. When I spotted a cave off to the right, I sprinted in that direction and prayed it wasn’t already inhabited by an animal, most notably a black bear. Grizzlies were highly unlikely in this particular area, but that didn’t mean the risk was zero. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any wolves, coyotes, or bobcats waiting out the storm in there either.
Another crack of thunder sounded, and I ran faster, my feet slipping a little in the mud, but I kept myself upright. Just after I raced inside, a bolt of lightning crashed into a tree nearby, causing a tremendous amount of electrical energy to discharge into the tree trunk. In an explosive release, a fiery wave of heat and light followed as the trunk splintered with a loud thunderclap.
I threw myself to the ground and covered my head as splinters flew every which way. Thankfully, the cave sheltered me from much of the fallout and after a few seconds, it started to quiet. I pushed myself to my feet and looked back at the wreckage.
At least I’d have firewood tonight.
Once I determined that the threat had passed, I began to gather the large branches just outside the perimeter of the cave before they could get too wet and piled them up safely inside. The rain came in waves, and when a lighter spell took hold, I went out and gathered enough wood to last through the night.
When I was finally done, I reached into my pack, digging out the flint I’d found in one of the drawers of the cabin. With deft hands, I guided the flint against the rough piece of steel, creating a spark that flew straight into the tinder. The spark danced among the kindling as a fire began to take hold. Slowly it grew stronger, licking up the broken branches, and I sighed happily, tucking the flint back into my pocket.
For a while, I relaxed by the fire. The rain hadn’t let up again, creating an impassable waterfall that cascaded off the rock at the entrance of the cave. The sky grew darker outside, and I settled in for the night. Once my clothing was dry, I peered into the back of the cave, unable to see past the encroaching shroud of darkness.
I realized I should probably make sure I was in this cave by myself before I went to sleep.
I put it off for a while longer until it was pitch black outside and my exhaustion was coming in waves. With a massive yawn, I lit the end of a long stick, carrying it with me like a torch. I wandered deeper into the cave, the fire casting light on the rocks as I moved. When I reached a fork in the road, I looked one direction and then the other, trying to decide which way to go. Eventually, I settled on going to the right first. If I found any other forks, I’d choose the right one, that way I wouldn’t get lost on my way back. The passage narrowed and then opened up far beyond what my little torch could illuminate, and when I looked around, I saw a glowing light in the distance.
I kept going, trying to figure out what I was seeing. I climbed up onto a ledge and approached the light, lost in confusion.
It wasn’t another way out like I’d expected.
It was as if I was looking into a mirror, but what I was seeing wasn’t a reflection. It was an image of a forest, but it was surrounded with a hazy greenish glow that was circling around it. It looked like a magic portal.
Magic wasn’t real, but I could think of no other explanation.
I stared at it, studying the massive wooden tree trunks and the green leafy boughs overhead. Not far in the distance was a flowing river, creating a picturesque haven of peace. Unable to stem my curiosity, I reached out. Hesitant, I paused before I made contact, but some strange pull of gravity made me feel like I needed to keep going.
So, I did.
As soon as my fingertip contacted the strange magic, my whole world collapsed and turned upside down. Wind ravaged all around me, dragging me through the portal and up into the air. Gusts picked up all around me like a whirling tornado, throwing me around like I was nothing more than a leaf caught in the breeze.
I tried to back away, but my feet no longer had purchase on the ground.
The pressure made my ears pop, and it suddenly became incredibly hard to breath. I wheezed and tried to gulp down a lungful of air as the wind rushed through my hair, and all at once, it became too much.
My eyes rolled back in my head and nausea roiled through the pit of my belly.
Then my whole world ceased to exist.
* * *
When I came to, I wasn’t in the cave.
Flat on my back, I opened my eyes to see an overwhelming tree canopy overhead. Every leaf was massive, large enough that if I’d curled one around my shoulders, I could have worn it like a cape. The tree trunks were wider than I’d ever imagined they could be. Nearby, the sound of the rushing river soothed me, and I groaned, wondering what the fuck had happened.
Had I had some king of mental break? Was I dreaming? Had I hit my head or something?
I pressed my fingers into the soft moss, noting that it was thick enough to create a comfortable, plush carpet beneath me. Honestly, it felt kind of nice.
