Leyland Adventures Chapter Ten: Part Six

It felt as if hours were running by, seconds within the forest could very much be entire days if one were to lose their soul. Aradressa stood close by her beloved hero with her observant eyes wandering over the trees.

"So, Aradressa, what happens when the sun comes up?"

"The illusions disappear, the creatures run from the light, and Flora covers her body in vines and bark which blooms beautiful pale flowers. Essentially, the forest becomes inactive." Her eyes removed themselves from the trees to view Tysashi.

"I see...so Flora controls the forest?"

"Not exactly, she does have control over some of the attributes of the forest like the plant growth and the creatures but the spirits are their own being."

Once her explanation was completed, a trail of sparkling dust along with the shape of a boot could be seen splitting towards the right pathway. With their eyes locked on the dust and footprints, an important decision had to be made. Either ignore the path and forge ahead or take a chance at beating the forest at its own game. Having a rush of confidence flow through her, Aradressa firmly snatched his hand and entered the right path.

His words were silent, it was better to leave any questions related to her decision unasked. It feels like the trees were closing in as the dust became frequent. Just then, the strong scent of a crimson liquid entered their noses, puddles of the substance dripped from their footwear. A tsunami of thoughts and chills washed over them, however, she stayed afloat. More dust and puddles built up the deeper they traveled.

The scent grew more pungent, almost impossible to breathe in. Similar to being trapped in a burning building, the air was contaminated. The puddles soon evolved into unavoidable pools. Though with a stern expression painted on her, it failed to faze her.

Reaching a dead end closed off by trees, the two encountered a damaged skeleton swarming with insects consuming the fragile remands. Her eyes stood frozen as Tysashi refused to look at the figure any longer. A brown, tattered journal sat next to the book bag that laid right beside the skeleton. Buried in regret and apologies, she read from the journal.

⊱⋅ ────── ⋆★⋆────── ⋅⊰

"It's been four hours since I entered this hellish nightmare. I've already lost my supplies, map, and even my lover. Damn it, why?! Why did I insist on finding all of the three treasures, why didn't I talk myself out of it?! No no...I have to calm down. This is what the forest wants, for me to go insane. I won't let her win!"

"I've constantly been searching for Ani for as long as I can remember, I shouted her name but received a laugh from the dead. Screw them. I don't understand, we went down the same path, she was right behind me. Where could she have gone? I began banging my fist against the solid bark of the trees, letting my anger get the better of me. I managed to find a key...my thoughts are scrambled and I couldn't decide what path to take. The forest laughed at me again. I won't let her win."

"Searching for Ani made me extremely exhausted and hungry. All I had to drink was the water that flowed from the stream but there's no way I'm drinking it. In terms of food, all I could eat were Lumi Mushrooms and whatever I could. I stumbled upon multiple food sources but since my map was taken, there was no way to tell if they were poisonous as I failed to remember. Why am I such an idiot? The forest laughed at me for my forgetfulness, nearly causing my emotions to erupt. I won't let her win."

"I can't take it anymore. I need to see if these berries are edible. I never thought I would do this, but I drew a Hobbit in to consume a few of the berries, my eyes stood silent as I watched it eat. Second later, its stomach began to dissolve from the inside out, leaving a disgusting image in my head. I had a rotten feeling in my gut, that poor thing was only hungry and I served it death. I'm so sorry...but I won't let her win...no matter the cost."

"I'm getting thirsty and there are few options to quench my thirst. The water wasn't an option, so I was low on ideas that is until I saw Heaven in a plastic bottle, a perfectly good water bottle just laying near a bush. It sounded too good to be true, but I didn't care anymore, I needed it. I snatched the bottle and chugged the colorless liquid down my throat, completely refreshing...until...I realized something grim. The bottle of water...was actually blood...blood from an unknown organism. Immediately, I felt a sickness ravaging my insides. I attempted vomiting the liquid out but no dice. My breathing became unnatural as I panted, somehow still having the courage to repeat myself...I won't let her win."

"My mind was screaming at me, Ani's voice echoed around me and I tried to follow it the best way I could. Eventually, after countless hours of dead ends, I stumbled upon a heartbreaking discovery...her stiff corpse hanging from a noose. Her eyes were lifeless as dried tears continued to fall. Her smile replaced with a depressing mope. I fell to my knees. Tears of my own began making their way down my cheek. I know crying won't bring her back to life, but damn it! She did nothing to deserve this. She didn't even want to come, but I pushed her to come along anyway because I was glued to my high horse. That horse ran away. I swallowed my guilt and prepared myself for the meal of vengeance. There's no way in hell I'll let her get away with this, I won't let her win!"

"It felt like days since I last saw Ani's soulless body, the forest taunted me by making her corpse reappear over and over again. Why her...why not me? It feels like I've been walking down the same path, my wings began to decay, I've been here for far too long. Why...why did my greed and curiosity lead me here...why did Ani have to suffer for my actions? No...I promise I'll defeat Flora and get the treasures; I have to, for Ani. I...won't...let...her...win."

"I'm sorry...it's just too much. I've been walking for nearly a week and I haven't gotten anywhere substantial. My wings have completely decayed, and the whispers are getting into my head. Minute by minute, I continue to see illusions of Ani blaming me for her death and not fulfilling my promise. The sickness finally took its toll as I uncontrollably vomited my own blood and the one I drank. The vomiting progressively grew worse as I began to spew pools of blood. It didn't disappear either, blood was just painted all over the grass to exemplify how dangerous this place is. Unable to push my body further, I collapsed on a tree with my book bag mimicking the same action. The air tightened as my vision began to get hazy...am I going to die? I'm sorry, Ani, I wanted to be strong. If I'm going to die...at least I didn't die the way the forest wanted me to by committing suicide. So in a way...I didn't let her win...sure I didn't get the treasures or defeat Flora...or find the purpose of this key, but I didn't take my own life. I...wi-"

The rest of the entry was incomplete.

⊱⋅ ────── ⋆★⋆────── ⋅⊰

The bag contained a shining object, a key infected with rust that covered a majority of its golden hue.

"I apologize, I'm sure Ani would've been very proud of your efforts." She left the unfortunate man with his journal but kept the key. Without another word, the princess was heading back while Tysashi followed her.

"Give...it...back..."

Simultaneously, they turned, seeing no source of the mysterious whisper. Before any further progress could be made, a perturbing, glacial grasp was set on Tysashi's leg. "Give it back!" The aggressive chills forced a silent reaction from him as his thoughts became unhinged. The bony fingers steadily crept up his leg like a caterpillar, just before he broke out of this frozen state, Aradressa smashed its skull with the tip of her heel. The graphic crunching sound played on loop as her breaths stabilized.

"Tysashi, are you o-" Without a second thought, his plump lips pressed against hers. Her azure eyes became an explosive supernova as she gripped his warm cheek lightly. It didn't take long for his tongue to slip in and wrestle with hers. She fought back, slamming him to the side of her mouth before he retorted impatiently with wrapping around her like a cobra.

It felt as if reality paused just for them, all of her dreams were declassified as being dreams. An expansive grin appeared as his hands led themselves to clasp her b-cup bra. Her feelings of euphoria were interrupted by repelling his excited hands.

"I'm sorry...it's just that...maybe now isn't the proper time..." Blushes consumed her face.

Dissatisfied with her reaction, he forced himself upon her, fondling her breasts while pushing her against the tree.

"T- Tysashi, please tell me this isn't you!" Her innocent scream didn't reach him. It only increased his lust to an staggering amount.

Despite the moans that broke out her mouth, she rose her blazing fist and struck him with incredible power. Taking time to let the lust abandon her system; she turned to him with blushes still painted on her face, still refusing to believe the events that occurred.

"Tysashi, what lewd thoughts took over your sanity?!" Surprisingly, she wasn't furious, only concerned as she knows this was far from his normal behavior.

"Heh...all I could think about is your delicious body...and all the naughty things I'd do to you." He inched closer to her, removing his clothing.

Her gleaming blade was drawn, holding it firmly while pointing the tip towards him. "Please, stay back."

"What's wrong, I thought you loved me."

"I do, but I don't love this version of you!"

"Then I'll make you!" he bolted towards her with a lusty grin.

Convinced that it was a clone, the blade ignited as she viciously swung it towards his abdomen, cleaving him in half as blood got spattered around her. His giggling corpse disappeared with one final message.

"He never loved you."

Tears dropped down on her crimson painted weapon, this of course meant that the real Tysashi was stranded and so was she. A pleasant smile crept across her face as she knew that he would never act in such a way and so she returned to the original path, screaming his name with unmeasured hope that wouldn't survive long with most visitors of the forest.