Mako's Surreal Journey

Time lost its meaning for a moment

The universe too.

Life moves, like mere matter, like mere information. Incomprehensible. Flowing like wind in the sky, formless.

But soon, everything falls into place, striking like a lightning.

He slowly gains consciousness, the damp fabric of his blue hoodie clinging to his body. Something buzzes in the distance, soft, low and resonant. The nature calls on to Mako, telling him to wake up

Everything looks blurry and feels heavy to him, almost like his body shut down for a moment, and doesn’t seem to realize what the heck is happening or what happened.

His dark green eyes clear up, his iris blending with a neon glowing color.

The sky is violet and bright, the gray, tall grass frames it perfectly, it feels different than regular nature, familiar but different. Then, he notices the first trees, with their olive green, twisted trunks and marine blue treetops.

Breathes in, a new smell finds him, between the sweetness of melon, the freshness of mint and the sourness of some herbs.

There’s much life nearby, or at least it seems like, the environment is almost timid. Although, everything seems vivid, almost like an lucid dream, a very psychedelic but beautiful one.

— What am I doing here...? Must be a dream — He wants to wake up already, he pinches his arm.

The truth becomes a painfully realistic feeling, too real.

— ...what? — He chokes in a gasp, realization hits him, he pinches himself again.

Again.

— Nah nah nah! — He traces his face with his trembling fingers, recognizing all of his features, nose, chin, he Even slaps himself a few times.

Mako shakes his head in denial, completely freaking out. Quickly, he reaches for his pocket and pulls out his phone.

Tries to open the maps app, but just finds dissapointment, no signal here, no GPS.

— Where am I? ...I am Mako... I am 19.... Today is thursday... I am awake... What happened? Did we crash? Am I dead? — He repeats to himself, as if questioning how aware he Is right now.

Mako turns on the flashlight of his phone, glancing everywhere.

— Hello...? — He calls out, as a first instinct.

What is this place? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen. Ever. Not even in series.

An abrupt sound of bushes moving turns on his senses. Mako spins around quickly, flashing his light.

Then, something crashes against a tree loudly. His vision catches motion blur, he picks up a piece of wood from the floor, holding against his chest, shaking in uncertainty

Even if he thinks he’s being a coward, he just runs away. As he does, the warmth of the twilight increases by with each meter, and so, the air stillness too.

The trees grow taller and poder with each step. Pale fruits begin to decorate the floor, with increasing long red desaturated flowers, some of them rubbing against his feet. Even their softness feels off.

He stops for a moment, shaking his head while he begins to feel the air turning more sour.

Where is everyone?

Until, a luminous green cloud appears, pulsing in the depths of the slender trees. Its path it’s almost claustrophobic, almost daring him to come closer.

Hesitantly, walks closer, his shoulders slumping in relief at the flicker of hope in his eyes. Could be a village, a warm campfire , even some traveler’s torch, or well, just fireflies.

But his flashlight reveals otherwise. A deep cave, with lots of glowing fungus spreading on the floors and red mush and dark creepers on the wall.

Holy shit. What is this citadel of microorganisms?

His heart asks him politely to pick a taxi and go, but his curious brain can’t help but find amazing this beautiful gloomy nature in this place, an paradise of research, and something that would defy what he believes.

Checking out a bit won’t do harm.

Mako was about to enter when sharp clicking noises come from the background, mixed with the drips of some thick liquid.

Or maybe it does.

Before leaving, he takes a picture of the place. But as he does, he hears how leaves fall behind him, lots of leaves.

When he turns around, his eyes widen instantly.

A shape emerges from among the trees, its bones creaking with each heavy footstep, while breathing with an unnerving heavy, slow grace.

Until, the tall silhouette reveals itself, a glimpse of sunlight barely lightens up its legs.

The forest falls silent.

Mako backs away, his legs moving on their own, weakly supporting his body. Unfortunately, he slips in a mud puddle and ends up on a shrub.

The flashlight finally shows the whole body of the creature.

A blue horse-like, at least six meters, towering over him, with huge neck, axe-shaped tail, and a big, wide jaw, the rest is indescribable.

It lowers its face to Mako’s level, staring at him with its deep, glowing honey eyes, humming a distorted curious sound with its nose.

Mako’s curiosity vanishes, replaced by a deep genuine shock, and he didn’t hesitate to flee desperately, the wind crashing fiercely against his face.

The image is so realistically terrifying that he can’t help but hyperventilate. Soon, his lungs become tired, he stops and glances behind him.

No trace of the creature, he wipes the sweat on his forehead and collapses on the floor with a deep sigh of relief, still glancing around nervously.

So there’s creatures living in this place?

Chills run around his body, things could have watched him, even now they might be preying for him. Also, was that creature the only one following him?

He doesn’t know what to do, he never has been in a survival situation and he has no resources, nor any knowledge of the environment that surrounds him.

Sudden screeches make him squirm, he doesn’t know if those were real or not, there’s only paranoia, and questions, and fear, and despair.

— I’m lost here forever. What am I doing? I gotta find water or something. — Mako mutters, while playing with his hands, Then he gets up and walk aimlessly.

However, that cold breeze keeps running in the place, it makes him gag. His shoes drag on the ground, everything sounds intense to him.

— I got to move on... I don’t belong to whatever this is...

...But ...Do I really want to keep going?

Then he stops in his track, and holds his head, massaging his temples with vigor, taking deep breaths, his heart bumping his chest like a drill.

But he feels her warm hand cupping his cheek.

“Beep...”

“Beep... Beep...”

“M...M...ako...”

“...hey”

“Just... promise me something.”

“Don’t give... up.”

" ...If you don’t want... to do it for your...self, at least... do it for me...”

Auntie.

Those words that meant everything to him when things were going from bad to worse.

One of the few people who truly believed in him, he knows that she wouldn’t want him to give up.

One last time, okay.

Eventually, after some minutes of going in a straight line, he ends up near a hill descent, he grabs his phone to take a photo of the surroundings so he can remember this place just in case he gets lost.

However, hesitation floods him, the ground too slippery and low, he still feels somewhat clumsy after what happened.

But the pressure in the moment becomes too much, going back is not a good option.

There is no time to think right now.

A deep breath, and he succumbs, the deeper he gets, the more it increases the density of the grass, trees, bushes and even the sounds from some insects around.

The ground of the place begins to stabilize after a while, the flat terrain freezing cold, and darker than that cave.

Life appears in here already, blue glowing rings, little phosphorescent insects floating above a rock with holes, the landscape changes a little; now it’s an area with intertwined paths. There’s even a kind of damp feel covering his feet, like a layer of cold.

Mako didn’t even have to bother exploring, mumbles can be heard from his left already. However, he thinks it’s better to move on. What if it’s a trap? What if it was just his mind?

What if there’s some company to me?

After a little bit of thought, he decides to be brave and go take a look. So, he follows the sound, guided by a trail of ashes on the floor and the faint smell of fresh fire.

But it only took a moment for his clumsy nature to make him trip and crash his back against a tree. The sound vibrates through all the forest disgustingly loud.

The mumbles stop abruptly, and that small silence quickly breaks by some small footsteps, each time closer. He turns off the flashlight, hiding behind a tree from the incoming creatures, praying so they don’t find him

Four small entities walk near him, one of them holding a torch, which reveals the form of its body. A meter tall, dark-gray creature, with circular big ears and two pointy horns.

They communicate between themselves in a strange unknown language, pointing to his footprints. Meanwhile Mako peeks out, his heart banging inside his throat.

The eyed tail of the creature looks at his direction suspiciously, Mako’s heart stops by a split second.

The entity whispers with its group, and points to his hiding spot.

They step closer, raising their weapons, their bodies reflecting some uncertainty, which makes it more creepy.

His palms begin to sweat as he grasps the stick tightly. Suddenly, the light of the flame enlightens him.

Instantly, both of their bodies petrify in fear, the goblins expressions tense and uneasy, waiting for him to make a move.

In the end, they aren’t too different, they’re two species who don’t know each other, who are afraid and want to survive.

Mako forces his tone, even while stutter comes out of his mouth, he makes effort to seem strong, but not threatening.

— Hey? I.. I.. I don’t wanna fight.... o...okay?

The unknown creatures don’t seem to understand english or directly, Mako’s intention with what he said, In fact, they seem more restless.

But in their eyes, whatever he seems to be, could be dangerous but unique and exotic.

They begin to murmur among themselves, while two of them slowly approach him, and suddenly, their faces change.

— Wait, stop! Don’t...

Their yellow and sharp teeth twist into wicked, sadistic grins, as they begin to corner him. His face is pale.

Adrenaline rush kicks in. Mako screams and crashes his stick on the face of a goblin, before charging at him and running away.

Now, maniacal laughs chase him, even some small explosions. Far from calming down, Mako continues, each time more dizzy.

He was so desperate that, without realizing it, it was too late, he finds himself on a huge field of fungus. Before he could even realize, he steps on a mushrooms, the spores explode. Then steps on another. And another.

Eventually, his body loses stability and balance. In seconds, he finds himself rolling onto mud and slippery grass, until he skids down across the rocky ground.

After the painful descent, Mako curls into a fetal position as warm, dark blood now spreads around his forehead.

The creatures are gone, but a new problem arises, he is completely lost.