I awoke in an oaken forest. All the trees looked young and nothing like a large mighty oak. Where did I even know what a large and mighty oak tree was?

I looked around and noticed what might by a high hill a couple of dusin meters away. The sun looked as if it had risen from the horizon not too long ago.

Suddenly it felt as if my brain jerked and a sharp pain shot through my head, I groaned in pain and surprise and held my hand to my head. What was happening?

I looked down myself and noticed I was wearing a green t-shirt and some blue baggy pants.

They felt strange and familiar at the same time. I decided to shrug it off for now.

"moo"

I jumped at least 3 feet in the sky and spun around, falling heavily on my butt.

I had not heard the cow sneak behind me; though it seemed to care about everything but me.

I let out the breath I had unconsciously been holding.

I decided to go to the hill I could see.

The hill side was steep and varied between almost completely steep rocks to flat grass sides.

I had trouble getting to the top, but when I did, I realized it was worth it. The view from atop of this almost mountain tall hill was stunning, to say the least.

Birds flew in the cloud-free aquamarine blue sky. The bright golden sun was getting high in the sky at this point. The proud trees with their fresh green leaves stood proud and tall below me.

The horizon was hidden mountains to the north, and to the south it was hidden by trees. To the east and west was the mighty sapphire colored ocean.

Below me was thousands of mighty trees – oak, spruce, birch – several clear lakes and silent rivers.

All the best of nature was gathered below, and around, me. Then something hit me, something that had probably been nagging me all this time…

I was alone, and there was nothing man-made. This kingdom below me was made by nature and nothing else.

As I turned around myself, trying to point myself wrong. I saw it, the black pillar.

A black pillar of smoke, and over the quiet sounds of the wind and the aroma of the flowers; the sound of crackling fire and the smell of burning wood appeared.

Not knowing what else to do, I rushed down the hill top, partly falling down the steeper areas. All while going in the direction of this black pillar of smoke, no… black pillar of death.

It was further away than I first thought. I passed through a valley with steep cliffs in both sides, and with a beautiful river in the middle. The grass was fresh and had a powerful, yet calm, green color.

I turned my gaze from side to side, to take in the entire scenario. Suddenly I stopped. My gaze had fallen to a cave and for a moment, it had seemed as if someone had stood there. I traced my steps back, but the cave was empty. There were no signs of the one I had, or thought I had, seen. Yet I couldn't shake of the feeling someone was watching me.

Suddenly the hairs on my neck stood at attention, and I spun around. For a minimal moment, I thought I saw the shape of something tall and slender; then it was gone.

Fear began to find its way in my body, and my hands began shaking ever so slightly.

I shook my head, and began running, both towards the smoke, and away from the cave.

I began to lose my breath, I began to feel the sweat running down my back. I suddenly stopped, in front of me was a burning house. From within I heard a noise, someone was hitting to the door, trying to get out!

I ran around the house and saw a heavy wooden door, someone was definitely hitting it. As lady luck would have it, the fire had yet to reach the door. I grapped the handle and pulled with all my might. The door came off its hinges and I fell back and landed lying down with the door over me. A second later, something heavy landed on the door with a thump. The door pressed down on me, and I couldn't get it off me.

"Hey, think you could get off?" I said with a slightly pained voice. No response, except for a deep rough moan. Panic began filling my body. Suddenly the sound of singeing flesh came from above me, and suddenly a hand pressed to the ground besides my head.

The hand, wrist and lower arm, had no flesh. It was just rotten muscle with burning embers.

I screamed in terror and began to flip the door to the side, tilting it, and the thing on it, over. I stood up from the ground. I still couldn't see what it was. I could only see more of the arm.

Another groan came from beside me, in the direction of the now open door.

With fear, I turned my head. What could not be described as anything but a walking corpse, lit on fire, was walking towards me. With a soundless scream I began backing away. There were another on its way out of the burning house, and I was convinced I could see several more moving around behind the flames.

My back hit a tree, and more panic and adrenalin filled my body. I looked around me; I had to move quickly before more would come out and surround me.

I quickly grapped a long piece of wood with flames at the end. I held it in front of me as a sword. With a lunge forward I stapped it through the chest of the corpse in front of me.

It only took a second for me to realize that it had no noticeable effect. I grapped tighter on the wood and with a foothold stronger than stone, I began throwing the corpse, making it fall to the ground.

I quickly turned my head. I had a clear escape, and it was an opportunity I wasn't about to let down.

I ran, faster and further than earlier. And I was only able to do so because of a drug called adrenaline. Afterwards, all energy left me, and I literally fell to my knees panting.

The sun had risen further and was shining on my sweat glistening forehead from directly above.