The Town Of Woodlake: A Very Strange Bird
"Sorry, but my aunt and uncle said they don't want me going into the forest."
Alexis looks crushed.
You offer her a weak smile and shrug. "Maybe they're worried I'll get eaten by a dragon."
She gives you a small smile. "Oh well. See you around then." You nod and leave, stepping into the thick, hot air. As you step into the driveway of your relative's house, you notice a large bird sitting on the roof. You can't see it very well but you think it's a bird of prey. Minutes pass and it doesn't move. Heat pools into your cheeks as you realize it's probably one of those decoys to scare off other animals.
After eating dinner and spending some time with your aunt and uncle, you head up to your room for the night. In the evening light, you spot a large shadow just outside your window on a branch. A bird, like the one that was on the roof. Sneaking up to the window, you get a closer look. It's a medium brown with flecks of white and built like an eagle but you can't be sure. The bird turns its head towards you and you jolt. Its eyes were neon pink and glowed softly. You think you see the bird's eyes glow brighter. A shockwave folds you onto the floor as pink light overtakes your vision.
You are flung into deep space, millions of stars swirling around you at impossible speeds. Thousands of red, white, and blue lights twinkle in the distance and spin into dazzling swirls of spilled paint. You drift backward through the kaleidoscope of color. A sharp tug yanks you sideways and into the motion of the stars. Light consumes you as you are spun in rapid circles, increasing in speed. You can't move, you can't scream, you can't gasp. The circles become more and more constricted, like water swirling down a drain.
Then you
are underwater. It's cold and black. Not a shred of light penetrates the inky darkness, yet you know what's around you. You can
feel the landscape around you. No, you are part of it. You are stretched out across every mountain and trench. It's still and immense. A clap of thunder sounds in the distance. The reverberations of the sound slice through you and you find yourself stumbling backward and crashing onto your back. Carpet scratches at your skin. Your limbs feel like heavy weights, chains even.
It's many minutes before you're able to get up and look out the window again. The bird is gone. There's only a forest and an empty road. It's mundane but something doesn't feel right. It doesn't look the same but you can't find the difference. Collapsing on your bed, you wonder if you dreamed it all. Maybe you fell asleep unknowingly. Or perhaps you're dehydrated. Yeah, that's it. You chuckle nervously and shake your head. You're dehydrated. It's hot, you've been busy. You go downstairs to get some water.
The next morning you wake up and roll over, wanting to go back to sleep. You catch a glimpse of the curtains before closing your eyes and suddenly snap awake. There's a reason why you slept facing the other side all night. You lay in bed, suspiciously eyeing the window. Maybe you'll just leave the curtains closed. That would leave you unprepared for any pink-eyed eagles that might divebomb you as you walk out the door, but you hallucinated it all so why worry? Hesitantly, you get up and open the curtains. Empty branch.
A trip to the lake sounded good today. A good place to forget everything. As you walk down the driveway, a strong breeze dislodges a feather from the tree outside your window. You pick it up, stomach lurching. A first glance, the feather is normal but a small slip of paper is tied around the shaft. You unravel it to find a simple drawing of a city with rounded and spiraling architecture. It looks like something from a fantasy book. On the back of the paper, three words are written neatly: In the forest. Your heart skips a few beats. Was this why you were told to stay out of the forest?
You are surprised how quickly your fear turns to intrigue. You do hate being bored.
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