Chapter XIV
Storm of Embrace


Gigantic and tall. Trees with splendor, but with mystery as well. Everything was shaded in a grayish hue as Alex paced ever so calmly. His head, gazing around and above, eyeing these towering beings which disappeared up into the fog.

Something was here Alex thought. His curiosity was racing to no extent. What bewildering phenomenon lies in this forest, Alex does not know. But something in the sense was leading him along the unbeaten path of grass. No source to identify, but a riddle settled in the fog. A voice which calmly sits and waits, until at last it breaths with a slight whimper. Komm her, bleib hier…Wir sind gut zu dir.

Alex eyed down towards the ground. A look of bewilder came upon him as there was no ground to see. The layer of mist had covered the surface to know signs of identification or notice. As if Alex was now walking on a layer of clouds, flying high in the sky, pierced with towering and majestic trees.

Just what maze has Alex gotten himself into, he does not know. More or less, he didn't know anything. It was all too dubious in knowledge. What a way to go. What a fantastic choice Alex has just made.

Alex eyed behind. A premonition of a certain presence came upon him. Indeed, the sight of mist and fog met his eyes. The sense of a being could only be futile with such a sight, an emptiness to give his eyes. No stalkers to eye upon, or a being to be followed by. A being with intentions of sadistic matters. No, just the sadistic emptiness.

Alex continued to walk forward, giving no regards of a wondering personage in the middle of the woods. Only he is in position of that role, and only he. But why is he wondering here in this place? Perhaps the likeness of that little girl should be here? Yes, that's it, the little girl who ran off in the fog. She has to be here.
Hier.

Alex stopped, he eyed around once again to see if a personage was making a call of attention. Again, no beings to supplement an assumption. An emptiness to picture a sight for this lone soul in the middle of the forest.

He continued to pace at a steady rate. Eager to know what lies in this deep woodland. It wasn't sure of what a wood could hold, but many have known to be at one with nature when set upon such a path. So called assimilated into whatever holding nature possessed. Of what intentions forests has on living beings, no one can really know. But if grass is part of the forest then how can a living being be part of the surroundings of woodland? Well…nature always had its ways when dealing with animals.

Alex continued to pace. His heart rate seemed faster for some reason. He didn't know what reason was behind this, but indeed his heart was in a mood of speed. As if the contents of the air had put something into his blood stream…something to make him tense in a way to expect a happening of extreme shock. But nothing seemed logical to why that would happen, this was just a dark and deep forest right?

Tense, even more tense. What was it? A captivated audience eyeing our young esteem perhaps? Alex looked up. He couldn't help it, but without hesitation he looked up. A being with manipulative hands hidden in that fog? No, that's quite ridiculous. A personage up there, swaying his hands round and round like a puppeteer? Now that's quite contrary.

Ha! Funny! Enough for Alex to sense a crowd's laughter in the background?

He turned aside, and eyed all around. That noise of captivation and humorous reaction. Is that really an audience he hears?

Alex paced back, he circled and circled. Continuing to be bewildered by the sound of an entertained crowd. The noise was faint, but it grew louder and louder to the presence of our young performer. A look of confusion came out, but his mind grew with anticipation. A centered man surrounded by noise of the entertained. He couldn't identify the source, for it was all around. No sense of being to identify the laughter. But they were there.

A strong wind came and covered Alex in a rush. His hair blew back, for the gust was speedy and forceful. The wind was so strong, that Alex couldn't muster up the need to breath. A force so strong that he would've suffocated if he faced forward to the wind.

He drew to the side, eager to grasp a breath. He started to pace, hoping to exit out of the gust that's come upon him. But no, the wind kept its stay with the young boy. Showing the amused crowd a tribulation this boy has to face. More and more laughter grew as the force of wind increased upon Alex. The trees kept still and continued their towering position.

It seemed strange, but a strong fatique overcame Alex. His knees now weak and his chest ever so heavy. Pushing against the wind, he continued to pace. His head raced in circles, and a muffled rumble assembled into his bosom. Alex hunched over, trying to keep a pace and a stature. His hand nestled on to his chest to steady it.

The gust increased, and a slight darkness settled down into the area. The sound of a crowds ammusement and laughter surrounded the boy's ears. Nothing but that could be heard. It was quite ammusing to see such a burden.

Pressure fell, and the supplement of air drew away from the fatiqued being. His breaths grew to more extent to find the needs of air. Yet, his mind became dull, and his vison started to become blurry. But he could still see forms of those towering trees of splendor. Even if they seemed more compact than usual. Indeed, the trees appeared to have drawn closer together.

Alex stumbled, his knees hit the ground as there was no strength left in his feet. The wind grew even more and fell harder upon the boy. His hair flopping around like the very inners inside him. It wasn't aparent, but it felt as if a being above him were using his manipulative hands to embrace him to this chaos.

More darkness made its settlement, isolating Alex even further from the rest of the world.

Alex looked forward, trying to see the trees. They were still there alright, but they seemed to have drawn even closer. Making their fall upon the boy it seems. Yes, that's it.

He looked around in horror. The trees have made a barrier around him! They have caught him in a trap! They are acting as the prison bars. Their foundation, their towering extremities. They have covered him up into darkness. And have imprisoned him here. And yes, they were laughing at him for this damnation!

Alex hands grabbed the ground. His knees tried to move, but they wouldn't budge. Alex had to move. He needed to get out. He needed to do something. Onwards, and onwards he needed to go. He can't die now!

He must live! He must!

"Jessica..." Alex let out slightly. His voice was light and little. Every ounce of air was leaving his body.

He looked up, and once again, saw those tall extremities above him. Closer than ever now. They were upon him indeed. And the setting became ever darker.

From those clouds, came the choir of those makers of his damnation.

Came from those god damn trees.

Entering into the boy's ears: Komm her, bleib hier, Wir sind gut zu dir, Komm her, bleib hier, Wir sind Brüder dir

With this they celebrate. Celebration of happiness now that Alex is here. Happy Birthday...Happy Birthday...

Rest here in you're cradle. Wir sind Brüder dir.

"Jessica..." Alex said with a voice of need, as he continued to stare at that high and endless darkness. That's all he could think of now...

Was that slender girl he has always known since childhood. Cheerful and upright before him, smiling with a smile that beats all smiles. Glad to see Alex and his stature of goodness. Waiting for him to come to her, waiting for them to be happy once again.

And that's all Alex remembered seeing.