Disclaimer: graphic description of violence. Reader discretion is advised.
The Wizard continued to make his way along the dark path of the forest. When the witch and her guards took the trail that forked right, the Wizard waited until he was alone. Then he took the trail that forked left. It was nearly pitch black in the woods with the full moon being the only source of light. He was incredibly fatigued but knew that he had to keep his eyes open as there was no telling what was lurking along the trail. The trees were devoid of leaves as the Wizard heard a soft coo of an owl. He then noticed a decrepit wood sign along the path that read: Gillikin Country: 25km/15.5 miles.
Just a little bit further, Oscar Diggs…, the Wizard told himself. Just a little bit further…I will be able to get to safety soon…I will be safe soon…I will be safe…
He yawned again. He decided to stop walking as he placed his hands on his lips. His eyes stung and his nose still bothered him. He really wanted to sit for several minutes. But he simply closed his eyes as he stood.
While he did so, he then heard a whistling sound, which was filled with static. He opened his eyes. This noise was coming from several yards in front of the Wizard. He started to walk slowly along the path as the ground ahead of him was littered with dead leaves. He also saw trees that had several leaves on their branches. This was encouraging as he knew that he was slowly making his way out of the Haunted Forest.
The Wizard braced himself for whatever this haunted place was going to throw at him next. He remembered how the woods taunted him with his deceased father. Regardless of what was going to happen, he made a promise to himself that he was not going to react.
I am just going to ignore whatever phantom the forest is going to throw at me, he thought to himself. I am just going to ignore it. I am just going to ignore it. I am just going to ignore it.
Continuing to walk with trepidation in his step, the Wizard then saw the source of the whistling sound. Sitting along the side of the path was a phonograph recorder, one of his favorite inventions that was created by Thomas Edison himself. His face lit up.
Can it be, the Wizard asked himself.He held his hands up as his lips curled into a bright smile. He became excited that one of his favorite inventions from his favorite inventor was sitting right there on the side of the forest path!This equipment was prohibitively expensive to most people in the late nineteenth century and most people in Kansas did not have access to one. Even in 1905, the price of the phonograph had just started to drop considerably, but the Wizard still could not afford one. In fact, he had been saving money when he worked at the circus to buy it, but never got the chance to.
As the Wizard slowly made his way towards the object, the static and whistling sound ceased as it started to play. At first, the recording began with the sound of a jovial, lighthearted, and cheerful male "announcer".
We interrupt this program to bring you an important announcement. Oscar Diggs, also known as the Wizard of Oz, is dead.
His voice then became increasingly ominous.
Almost two days have passed since the gruesome discovery of the Wizard's body. He was most likely walking along a path in the Haunted Forest when he was kidnapped by supernatural forces. Glinda made a public plea for the killers to release the Wizard, but to no avail.
The Wizard's mutilated body was found one week later near the entrance of the forest. He was found by a farmer wearing his favorite three-piece suit—the same garments he had been wearing at the time of the kidnapping. However, both his arms and his head had been detached from his body. It is said that the Wizard was most likely tortured after he was abducted. His severed head was found near his body, with his top hat still resting on his head. His arms were found some distance away. The forest floor was soaked in his blood.
An examination of his body revealed that he was knocked unconscious in the back of his head with a blunt object. It is also believed that the Wizard may have been alive and fully conscious when both of his arms were severed, which could explain why his arms were found further away from his body. The Wizard likely ran around armless for a few minutes calling out for his fellow Ozians to rescue him until he passed out from the loss of blood. That is the point when the killers caught up to him….
…And chopped off his head.
As the "announcer" spoke, the Wizard's eyes grew wider as his mouth contorted into a look of horror and sheer terror. He could not believe what he was hearing. He started to tremble and became light-headed as his heart was beating furiously in his chest.
Many couldn't believe how the illustrious Wizard could perish in such a gruesome manner as he never flew away or used his godly powers. Then it became clear to all: he was a mere mortal. He was nothing but a con artist. A fraud. A phony. A humbug. Ozians could not believe how they were tricked by this charlatan. As a result, he died alone and was buried alone, with his remains being thrown into the Deadly Desert.
The "announcer's" voice then became booming, raspy, and demonic.
Because that is what you get, deceiver!
The Wizard then heard an animalistic roar behind him as a loud thumping sound came closer and closer. Terrified, the Wizard turned his head and saw his armless and decapitated "body" running towards him! His "body" was flailing down the dirt path as jets of blood were squirting and gushing out of his severed limbs and neck.
The Wizard then took off running and sprinted down the dark path as quickly as he could. "Oh god, this is some fucked up shit", he muttered to himself as he began to pant from breathlessness.He briefly glanced back and saw his own headless and armless "body" still chasing him! It was sprinting as fast as he was, and it was catching up to him!
Unfortunately, and in his quick haste and exhaustion, the Wizard had failed to notice that the dirt path began to turn. He darted off the path, tripped over a branch and fell into a nearby narrow ravine. As his body twisted and turned and tumbled violently down the hill, all he could do was helplessly scream. He then hit his head and one of his arms on a rock. He finally landed at the base of the hill and, perhaps mercifully, lost consciousness.
The recorder, and the "body" that chased him, had both vanished.