Chapter 5:

My Racing Heart, Soul and Mind

Hearth Heart


As Hiro forced through the dense bush, he couldn't shake the sensation that something was observing him. The forest had grown eerily quiet, and even the rustling of leaves beneath his feet seemed to be muffled by an invisible force. His heart pounded in his chest, and a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.

He paused for a moment, taking in his surroundings. The trees loomed above him, their limbs forming an awning that blotted out the daylight. The air was stale with the fragrance of pine and clammy earth. He strained his ears, expecting to hear some signal of life, but all he could hear was the sound of his own clingy shoes in the moss.

As he shoved on, the intent of foreboding grew stronger. The woods seemed to be closing in around him, and every shadow seemed to suppress a remote danger. He had come too far to turn back now, but the weight of the curse felt almost palpable.

The path ahead swerved and twisted, leading him deeper into the inner heart of the grove. The light grew fainter, and the air grew chillier. He tensed his cloak tighter around himself, trying to keep warm. His hand grazed against something rough, and he darted down to see a rough-hewn stone.

As he studied the stone more closely, he realized that it was impressed with an unknown emblem. He couldn't make out what it meant, but something about it sent a shudder down his spine. He lurched the stone into his pocket and resumed on, his senses on high vigilance.

The trees began to thin out, and he could see a faint gleam of light in the distance. He quickened his pace, driven by a necessity to reach his terminus. As he drew closer, he could hear the sound of vocalising and the flickering light of fire.

He inched closer, trying to stay obscured in the shadows. The clearing was sufficed with hooded figures; their faces hazed by the darkness. They stood in a circle around a monumental pebble altar, chanting in a language that Hiro could not comprehend.

One of the figures curled and filed in his direction. Hiro froze, his heart beating; the figure began to progress towards him, their footsteps tolling out in the silence.

With a flurry of adrenaline, Hiro twisted and jogged back into the forest. He could hear the sounds of intent behind him, but he compelled himself to run faster, his breaths coming in craggy gasps.

Just as he thought he was secure, something collided with his side, sending him plunging to the ground. He strumbled to get back up, but he was cocooned by the hooded figures, their faces revolved into grotesque masks.

The leader stepped forward, a glint of madness in his eyes. "Thou art not welcometh h're knave", he hissed. "Thee shouldst has't nev'r hath brought yourself h're, thee shouldst've did stay home, blanket'd in thy sleep chamber, distemperate as thou art, thy nev'r going to achieveth aught!."

Hiro felt the cold embrace of gloom..he felt..dead? Was that right? 

His desire was hushed, just the chanting..and a blaze being produced...

No...

NO!

Yuuki
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MehmetDeroiv
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