MYSTober 2024

31 vignettes based on single-word prompts. One story.

19. Dream

Jacob ran through the woods with his little brother, giggling and laughing. They were deeper than they'd ever been before. Everything was all right though, because they were together. They'd get out the same way they got in.

He rounded a stand of small cedars and was surprised to see a tree he'd never seen before. He thought he'd seen every type of tree on the island, but this one was new. It was only three times as tall as him, and the long, narrow leaves were almost blue. The trunk weaved back and forth in knots and branches in every direction. "Oh. That's strange."

Simon caught up to him and bumped into him from behind. "Whatcha lookin' at?"

"This tree. I've never seen one like it before." It stood in a small clearing, with just grass on the ground for at least four steps in all directions.

His brother ran up to it. "We should climb it!" Before Jacob could respond, Simon was halfway up to the first branch.

"Don't climb it alone, wait for me!" Jacob ran to the base of the trunk and glanced upwards. Simon had almost vanished within the leaves and branches. Only the bottoms of his bare feet were visible.

He followed his brother upwards, trying desperately to catch up to him. No matter how fast he climbed, Simon was always on the verge of being out of sight. He must have climbed his own height twenty times. No matter how high he got, there was always more.

Then, suddenly, there wasn't more. His head poked out above the leaves and he had a full view of the island all around him. It was calm up here. He took a deep breath held it. But where's Simon?

He exhaled and scanned the clearing around the tree for his brother. Simon was waving up at him from the ground. But he wasn't alone. Behind him a tall figure approached, cloaked in shadow. Its limbs were awkward and disproportional. It glanced up at him with the face of the priest.

All of Jacob's wonder was replaced by terror in an instant. He reached down towards them. They were too far. He tried to scream out, to warn his brother of the evil approaching from behind. No sound came out. He tried to jump down. His feet wouldn't move.

The figure reached Simon and wrapped its arms around him. Simon's face fell into shadow. The figure stared up at Jacob and growled in the priest's voice, "What a wonderful day it is." Then he faded backwards into the trees, and his brother was gone.

Jacob awoke, screaming.

MYSTober 2024

Table of Contents

19. Dream