Whose blood? Twisting, I see one of the men of Black Moon Draw working on prying a sword from the head of his enemy.

I've been to one funeral in my life and have never seen anyone die outside of television. Staring at the blood and brain matter splattered everywhere, I get tunnel vision, and my ears start roaring. The world grows surreal, the blue sky swirling and colliding with the trees, the sense of floating descending over me.

I want to throw up and pass out at the same time.

"Come!" The kid pulls me hard enough that I almost lose my footing. He catches me and pushes me back onto my feet, and I shake my head.

This isn't real. That man isn't dead. It's a story. A dream. A movie. If I pretend these people are like those in a video game, I won't get sick or run off screaming.

Stumbling forward, I see another Green Dawn Cave man fall under a sword and look away quickly. Bile rises in my throat.

This isn't real.

I chant the words with desperation I haven't felt since Jason broke the news to me that he found someone else. Hot tears burn my eyes as that painful memory resurfaces.

I'm in the middle of the field and claustrophobic, surrounded by death and blood and a nightmare.

Wrenching away from the kid, I race towards the forest, not caring where I'm going or who might chop me down before I get there. I don't watch scary movies, let alone can stand gore of any kind. Any thought of sticking it out to find the Hero dissipates.

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"I got her!" The shout is accompanied by someone smashing into my side and driving me to the ground.

The air is knocked out of me and I lay, mouth gaping open, struggling to breathe. The man with a green circle has his hands raised in triumph and he's signaling to someone else.

As much as I despise him, his blow knocked me out of panic mode and I roll onto my stomach and start to cough as air reaches my lungs. My ribs ache from his tackle and I focus on the strand of vibrant grass before my eyes. I pluck it up, mesmerized by the moist, ribbony texture.

It's real, and so is everything around me. If I don't get my shit together, I'm going to end up in a box before I can make it home.

"I survived being bullied in high school and college, before I dropped out. I can survive this." With a deep breath, I push away from the earth and climb to my feet.




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