Serial Micro Fiction – Gears of Myrekal – Part 4

Kezik approached the shimmering portal with aprehension. He held his breath as he drew near, half expecting something to lunge at him from within the darkness. For a minute he just stared. He felt for the pouch attached to his waist, it’s reassuring presence giving him courage. Not knowing how long the portal would remain open, he boldly stepped through.

SLAM!

Pain erupted to his face and his momentum was brought to an immediate halt. In this darkness he failed to see a large object right before him.

“Pillows and doorknowbs!” he cursed quietly, rubbing his sore face with one hand as the other reached forward to see what he had collided with. He could feel the hard, rough surface of what he sensed to be a tree of some sort.

“But what manner of tree would grow in such a dark place?” he asked aloud. “Oh. Right.” He just remembered he had woken from a nightmare, made a quick search of his workshop, and then hurried through the portal. It was night, which explained why it was so dark.

The snap of a twig sounded from behind him. Letting his hands guide him, he circled around the tree, putting it between him and whatever was out there. To his right he heard another broken twig.It was indeed following him.

In a panic, Kezik turned and ran, hoping to escape this hunter. Once more the darkness hid a tree from his sight, and once again he ran into it, this time at full speed. He fell to the ground, sinking quickly into unconsciousness.