Chapter six
822 Words
The sun poured down on the paths below and scorched everything it's ray's touched.
Desmond stood under a crooked looking Mango tree, sweat beads were running down his forehead and he repeatedly used his sleeves to wipe it off. He felt so stuffy that he wanted to take off his shirt.
Sighing he looked out before him at the house in the distance, his mother had told him that the house belonged to Santiago. He looked at it and scratched his chin, the house looked like nothing had inhabited it for years, it's walls were cracked and Desmond could see holes poked in the roof.
Sig
Suddenly someone came by and immediately stopped on sighting him.
"Excuse me, who are you looking for?".
Desmond turned startled, he almost expected to see an ancient looking man but instead a young man was standing on the path with a puzzled expression on his face.
" Good afternoon, I was looking for one Santiago".
" Oh, well he no longer lives here".
Desmond sighed and asked, " do you know where he might have gone to?"
The man sighed and pointed behind him.
"He lives in the evil forest".
"Evil- why?". He asked perplexed.
" You don't know?", " He was chased out of the village by the zanga clan, for reasons unknown to us...that's all I know anyways". The man said making to leave.
" So sorry, but if you could please point me in the direction of the evil forest, I will be very grateful.
"Ok, just go straight along this path, then when you get to where the road splits both ways, use the left side, that will take you to the evil forest". The man answered.
" Thanks a-lot". Desmond replied.
"No problem". The man said and walked away.
Desmond sighed and walked away on the path the man had pointed out for him. After walking for a while, he arrived at a spot where the road split both ways. The right path looked smooth and wide like it was constantly being used. But in contrast the left path looked bushy and ragged, tufts of grass sticking out here and there. Sighing again he took the left path and soon the vegetation began to thicken until he was deep inside the forest.
" Why would a normal person come and live here?". He thought as he searched for any signs of habitation amidst the cacophony of unseen creatures and weird looking trees.
A short while later, he slumped beside a tree and rested his legs. And sighing he reclined against the tree trunk and closed his eyes.
Right then every where began to get abnormally cold and as he opened his eyes, everywhere was dark, but strangely enough he could see. Alarmed he stood up hyperventilating.
"Desmond...". A voice called.
"Who is that, show yourself!". He screamed terrified.
" Leave this place...get out of here now!....you can't stop me, get out of here!". The voice roared.
Suddenly out of nowhere, two humongous and fierce dog like creatures appeared, each had three heads and three eyes on each head. Their bodies rippled with muscles and a green substance oozed from their mouths which were open and revealing a formidable set of wickedly sharp teeth.
Before he realized it, they began to step towards him, growling with each step they took. Not missing a beat, he burst running away from them as they chased him roaring and growling madly.
"Arrh, help help!!". He shouted as he ran, suddenly he stumbled and fell...he screamed and rolled putting his hands in front of him as the creatures approached him with fierce speed, just as one of the creatures opened it's mouth to bite him, he shut his eyes expecting to feel pain but nothing happened, he opened his eyes and discovered he was alone again, the creatures was gone and so was the darkness. It felt like a dream, a too vivid dream.
"Sometimes our most greatest fear reveals itself as an illusion".
Desmond turned and saw an old man standing with a staff in hand, he was dressed in an ancient looking cloak.
" Sometimes our illusions portray the next step in our destiny". The old man continued.
"Who are you?".
"I am Santiago, your guide, you must be Desmond, the one I've been waiting for".
"Waiting?...I don't understand how did you know my name?". Desmond asked with a puzzled expression on his face as he pulled himself up.
"No time for questions now, it's getting dark, my hut is this way ". Santiago said walking off.
Desmond stood confused, watching the strange old man walk away, he wasn't sure about following him yet he felt as if it was the right thing to do...in the distance he could hear the unearthly howling and strange callings of creatures unknown...and taking a deep breath he walked off following the old man into the growing darkness.
- Writer
