Wandering Gone

"Happy Road" Chapter 2

As her hand reached out for the emerald-hued wooden door that had stood before her mere moments ago, a surge of bewilderment coursed through her veins as she discovered its sudden disappearance. Utterly confused, she cast her gaze around, her senses thrown into disarray by the stark contrast of the open air against the confines of the cave she had just emerged from. Standing in the midst of a seemingly interminable road, a minuscule sign nestled amidst the peppermint green grass caught her attention. Its message, cryptic and enigmatic, simply read, "Don't Wonder." Perplexed by its meaning, she chose to disregard it, opting instead to embark upon this boundless path. In her mind, she reasoned that this illuminated thoroughfare held more promise than the dreary cave, and surely it must lead to some semblance of civilization.

Approximately two and a half kilometers down the road, another sign appeared before her eyes. It bore the words, "Happy Road." The reality of the situation was not lost on her; she knew instinctively that this was no ordinary road. She understood that her journey home was far from over. The sky above displayed a curious blend of dawn and early morning hues, devoid of any trace of clouds. Determined, she pressed on. Another half kilometer passed, and a faint structure emerged in the distance, igniting a flicker of hope within her weary heart. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she sprinted towards the humble abode. Yet, the closer she drew, the further it seemed to recede, until it vanished from her sight altogether. Desperation began to consume her. Suddenly, a whisper brushed against her ear, causing her to startle. She turned her head, scanning her surroundings, until her gaze settled upon a colossal, dark crimson creature lurking in the distance along the endless road. With an enormous grin stretching across its face and its eyes bulging out of their sockets, the creature's proportions were utterly startling. Its head dwarfed its body, creating a stark contrast against the surrounding scenery, almost resembling the grim reaper himself.

As the shack vanished into thin air, the Road seemed to stretch on endlessly. In a desperate attempt, she sprinted back, hoping that the door might have reset itself. For just a fleeting moment, she tore her gaze away from the creature, only to determine which direction to flee. Yet, to her bewilderment, it now stood on the curb of the road beside her. Desperate to escape, she veered towards the opposite side, running through the vast expanse of grassy fields, yearning to find solace within a forest far away. But much like the never-ending road, the fields seemed to stretch infinitely. After a frantic 30 seconds of sprinting, she glanced back, only to find the creature had vanished. Fearful that it might still be in pursuit, she continued to run until exhaustion overcame her. Collapsing onto the ground, she scanned her surroundings, but found nothing. Determined to regain her strength, she lay down, hoping to gather enough stamina to press forward. Unbeknownst to her, she had been running towards the vanished shack all along, traversing the grassy terrain.

As she opened her eyes after a brief respite, she was met with a horrifying sight. A dark blue monstrosity, identical in build to the red creature, stood about 30 yards away. Instead of a smile, it wore a frown so deep that it should have revealed its very chin bone, while its eyes were as black as the night sky. Both creatures exuded an aura of anger. She fled, ensuring to keep a vigilant eye on the motionless creature. She continued to gaze upon the distant creature, its presence seemed to slowly dissipate. She looked ahead of her with the time she accumulated, the fields of grass were meticulously cut short, resembling a precipice with no end in sight, an eternal abyss. She peered ahead of her which appeared as a void, merging seamlessly with the surroundings of the sky. As she turned her head to locate the creature, she caught a glimpse of the very thing she yearned to escape, its breath lingering in her ears. Face to face, the girl and the creature stood, locked in a silent battle of wills. With unwavering focus, she held its gaze, refusing to succumb to the temptation of a blink. Swiftly, she retreated towards the road, her eyes fixed on the spot where the creature had vanished from her sight, redirecting her attention to the path ahead.

And there it materialized, the road revealing its secrets. Stepping onto its surface, she glanced back, only to find the absence of the blue creature. However, further down the road, where her gaze had previously lingered, stood the red creature. Tentatively, she stepped back onto the grass, and like a mirage, it vanished, leaving a distance of approximately 200 yards between her and the blue creature. She had unraveled the enigma of these beasts, realizing that the red creature confined itself to the road, while the blue creature seemed incapable of enduring her presence upon it. Determined, she resolved to sprint past the red creature, her unwavering stare piercing its very essence, ensuring she never lost sight of it. After what felt like an eternity of running, constantly shifting between the grass and the road, narrowly avoiding encounters with these relentless pursuers, she finally caught sight of the sign she had initially spotted - the "Happy Road" sign.

As she passed it, she glanced back, only to discover the absence of the red creature. Stepping onto the grass once more, the blue creature had vanished as well. The two grotesque beings that had relentlessly chased her were now nowhere to be found, their presence dissipating into thin air. She pressed on, forging ahead with determination, until she stumbled upon the enigmatic "Don't Wonder" sign. Taking its message quite literally, she decided to make herself at home right there, refusing to budge an inch. She reclined, seeking solace in slumber, only to awaken and find the once motionless sky gradually surrendering to the encroaching darkness. Suddenly, her vision distorted, her equilibrium faltered, and her sight plunged into an abyss of blackness. As she regained consciousness, a peculiar paralysis gripped her, confining her within the confines of her own mind. Bound to a bed, she watched as a grandmotherly figure entered the room, bearing a tray of delectable cookies. The granny departed, leaving her immobilized, a helpless observer of it all. Though not in physical agony, she couldn't shake the overwhelming terror that permeated her being. Even in this comparatively serene state, it felt like a haunting nightmare.