Amnesiac (part 1)
You walk along the slight incline of the road. The wind whips around you, howling and chilling you as if to tell you that you are not welcome. You do not know how long you have been walking. From how cold and red your face is you could wager it’s been at least half an hour, maybe a little longer. You can’t seem to remember where you’re going. You know that she told you to meet her there though. Who is “she” though? You don’t have a name, face, clue or any idea where “there” even is. You just know you’re walking.
Another ten minutes or so go by without any change. The sun is still somehow rising. Or is it setting? You’re not sure. Keep walking. All around is a flat and empty landscape. There are no trees, buildings, hills, landmarks, animals, people, structures of any kind, only the occasional car, each seeming to appear in and out of reality without ever really going anywhere. One such car, a black four door SUV, rushes past, barreling into the endless horizon. When you look away, and it’s already gone, despite the endless stretch of road ahead, it disappears just as every other one before it did. You don’t really take notice of that though, you’re focusing on the birds. Too many to count, just birds and birds and birds all perched on the branches of some hibernating tree, making it seem alive with leaves again. Where did the tree come from? The landscape was flat and devoid of life a moment ago. You keep walking, never taking your eyes off the birds. They’re sparrows, hundreds of them. You don’t know why you can’t look away, there’s just something about it. Is it beautiful? Peaceful? Uncanny? You do not know. You turn away from the birds and notice a turn in the road. The birds begin to chirp.
You didn’t have to turn. You could have kept walking along the same road you were on. You don’t think of that though. You know that “there” is this way. You’re sure of it, not a hint of doubt in your mind, you don’t know how though. You don’t think about how you don’t know. You just keep walking. The wind has died down a bit here. It’s still present but you can feel the warmth return slightly to your face. How long ago did you make the turn? Five minutes? Fifteen? You can’t seem to remember. As you walk, the chirping of the birds doesn’t gradually become more quiet, instead staying the same volume. Trees have also started to sprout around you, not as in you are walking up to them but they are quite literally sprouting and growing rapidly around you, getting denser and denser. The woods have begun to encroach upon the road, and you realize that the sun is setting, it’s gotten darker. Are you scared? You’re not, are you? That’s good. You have a long way to go. You’re sure of this. As you continue down the road, kicking pebbles out of the way, you spot a trail off to your right. It’s separated from the road by a small slope. The trail itself is covered in a thin layer snow though you can’t remember the last time it snowed. It’s still fresh. Not a footprint, human or otherwise, can be seen.
It’s been a little while since you started walking down this trail. Why did you do it? You don’t think it’s down here, do you? Maybe you do. The wind has died off but its but much colder than before. It’s also getting dark now. Or has it been like this for awhile? You don’t know. You don’t care. You keep walking, your boots crunching along the frozen earth, that familiar almost comforting sound. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. The birds are getting louder.
You’re back along the road, the sun has just begun to rise, you are warm and content. How did you get here? Weren’t you in the woods? Don’t stop. You are almost there. You keep walking, cars passing you by infrequently, still disappearing into nothing just as swiftly as they appear. Like torchbugs they blink in and out. You don’t notice them. You’re focusing on nothing. Nothing is focusing, rather intently, on you.
You keep walking. Where are you? Why is it dark? Didn’t the sun just rise? You’ve gone too deep in the woods. Maybe you should turn back. You’re lost. The trees have engulfed the path behind you. Only the one in front remains. You keep walking. You keep walking. You keep walking. What was that sound? Something amidst the birds. You keep walking. There it is again. Did you hear that? You keep walking.
You’re there. You see your friend, waiting outside her car. She waves you down and you both head toward the door of the old house. Your friend opens the door, the scent of mold and dust assault your nostrils. You step inside
How long have you been in these woods?
You’re in a decaying room decorated in the style of the 1950s.
Get out of the woods. Turn back, run through the trees if you have to, something is out here.
You’re tired. Too tired. It feels like you’ve been here for hours. How long have you been in this house?
Keep running. You don’t know what’s behind you but you have to get away.
You reach the end of the path. You’re friend is waiting for you outside her car. She greets you with a smile and the too of you approach it. You remember now, don’t you? It’s that old abandoned home, it’s been empty for years. You both head inside.
It’s getting closer. The trees have completely swallowed the path. You’re running through the woods, unable to navigate so you just run. Aimlessly. You’re getting more lost but it doesn’t matter, you need to get away. Keep running! Run! Run! Run! Run! Don’t look back. Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Don’t look at it. Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! It’s too late, isn’t it? Run!
Where’s your friend?