The Verieya of the Forest

I must give you a warning, weary traveler

The Forest of which you seek to enter is not for the weak-hearted, nor for the sane

Its Verieya, its aura, its atmosphere will haunt you and break you and will

twist your mind, turn it against you, ‘till you end the agony yourself and

Become one with the Forest. 

A voice, so soothing and warm, will coax you to follow it

Close your eyes and sit cross-legged on the ground.

Again, it will ask and ask and ask and each time the voice will grow colder and colder and colder and so

You must continue to shut your eyes tight or else you will fall prey to the Verieya and

Become one with the Forest.

At night, the moon will disappear, and you will be left in darkness and the shadows will come out to play

You have no choice.

Do as they say.

When the dawn breaks, you will be free from their grasp but try to leave a second before and you will

Suffocate and drown in the Verieya and Become one with the Forest.

Oh, you wish to know about the origin of the Forest? About the evil that lurks there?

Traveler, if I were to utter the tale, you would never believe me.

No, best you see for yourself.

See the Evil. Hear the Evil. Fear the Evil.

You will see the end of your journey, I promise you. You will reap what you will sow.

When your mind withers and your body breaks and you crumble to the ground and

the Verieya of the Forest will surround and devour you and then...

Silence

the Forest breathes again

Farewell, Traveler. 

Flash Issue 8