Immoral Morels

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Everything was black, it felt as though I was tipping over. I know that's not true, I haven't even moved yet. My eyes grew wider and wider trying to pick up even the faintest silhouette of something. What was happening? 

I slowly pushed my hands out to my sides, they connected with nothing. I felt my stomach sink as I forced bile back down my burning throat. Where am I? 

I slowly stood on trembling legs when a jolt went down my spine as I fell back to the ground by force. My hand shook as it brought it to my head; it made a squishing sound, like stepping in mud. I don’t doubt that if I could see, my hand would be red. What did I just hit my head on?

I got on all fours and started to crawl, this seemed to work better. The ground was cool and packed, sending shivers up my arms — dirt? I dug my fingers further into the ground confirming my theory. At least nothing smashed my head this time. My breath was ragged and shallow as I forced myself not to cry, I could only seem to breath outwards. My aching head spidered to my eyes and lungs. As I kept crawling my head connected with something hard again. What was that?

I let my body lay on the hard ground. My breathing was coming easier now. It felt like I was spinning, my head was pounding. I let my hand wander back to my head, it was hot and damp. Slowly, I brought my hand to my lips. It tasted metallic, blood. Images of half heads and bloody holes full my head, or what's left of it. I lay one arm after another, army crawling forward. Where am I going?

My eyes finally adjusted to the area and I could see the silhouette of trees. My eyes darted to the side, landing on a figure, tall and lanky standing there like a statue. My eyes turned to slits focusing more on the details of the figure. Then something in my head screamed at me to run. This person had holes in it, giant unruly holes. What is that? 

I slowly started crawling away from the figure. Light was emanating to my left, my heart hammered in my chest — I hope they can't hear it. I crawled faster now, putting as much distance between me and that thing as possible. My knees and hands burned with cuts from rocks and sticks. As I got closer to the light it was easier to see, the ground, the cuts on my knobby knees, the dirt under my fingernails, the blood on my hands. My blood, I had to remind myself. How is there so much of it? 

I choked down a gag and continued to the light. I blinked the darkness away and focused on the source. The light shone from the holes of a giant, mushroom? No. The figure stood tall, covered in massive holes. The shape of a body encased in a mushroom towered before me. Hundreds of them behind it, looking at me. My heart beat outside my chest, I was sure they could hear it.  Deciding if I’m a threat, I suppose. 

I stood motionless, hoping that if I don’t move they wouldn’t hurt me. I was wrong. The person inside hung motionless as the holes spun towards me. A scream ripped its way through my lungs and echoed into the void. Where do I go?

They all lunged at me, chasing me back to where I came. There was no time to think of anything, only one question jumped into my mind. How did I get here? 

My knees burned with my lungs and my head pounded with my feet. Every step I took was another towards nothingness. I tried to think of how I had gotten there, but it was in vain, I can’t remember anything. My mind split, pain shot down my spine and I crumpled on the dirt floor. What is happening?  

My breath came ragged at the thought of those things catching up with me. That I had no defence. Feet pounded in the distance, causing the dirt to shift under me. My legs burned and my lungs were on fire. I brought my hand over my mouth in an attempt to quiet myself. My eyes blurred and my face heated with every passing second. I wish I could say goodbye to those I loved, if I can remember them; I can’t even remember myself. The thought stuck in my mind like my hair on my sweat. Curling, creating nothing but a spiral of emotions. Who am I?

I watched paralyzed as the figures approached slowly. They know I’m here. My eyes bore into them with an exhausted bliss. Morels, they look like they are encased in the mushroom morels. My eyebrows fell as my head tilted, staring at them with wonder and fear. How did they become like this?

The one that was glowing dimmed as it approached, “Joahna,” it said in a gargled voice. “you have something that belongs to us.”

My mind was rushed. My name is Joahna? I have something of theirs? What is it? If I give it to them would they leave me alone? My lungs hollowed as it became harder to breathe, its foot was on my chest. Pushing me, forcing me to stay on the ground. The holes in its body became clearer and I could see the smile that was split by sharpened teeth. Would they let me go?

“Give it to us, or we will pry it from your corpse,” another figure hissed. I watched paralized as he licked his sharp teeth with a forked tongue. My mouth grew dry, I didn’t know it was open. The one before me held open its hand, expecting me to give it something. What do they think I have?

“What?” I croaked. My eyes were wide and my mouth was still a jar. I swallowed a lump and slowly sat up. My breathing was slow and forced. What are they?

“Your soul,” it spat, as though I had stolen it from them. 

“My-my soul?”  

The creature before me slammed his fist on the dirt. “Where is it!” He gargled while baring his teeth. Saliva flew from his mouth and rushed down it, almost as if he were constantly drowning in it. 

“I-I don’t, I don’t,” I stammered. 

“Don’t play coy! I know you took it. It doesn’t belong to you, not anymore. It’s ours!” he said, gesturing to the others. “And we’re hungry.” 

Hungry? My mind echoed. For what? The creature reached its hand through one of the holes trapping it inside. It found my wrist and wound its fingers around it, my skin burned. A hideous smell followed, ripping a gag out of me. How is it doing that?

Pain shot up my arm, the world was spinning and I wanted to vomit. “I don’t know!” I cried. Just make it stop, my other hand clawed at the thing, begging for a release. Blood stained my eyes and ears, dripping down my face. Is this what death feels like?

The thing crouched down in front of me. “If you wont tell me, I’ll rip it from you,” he whispered, spitting at me.

My stomach churned, and my palms grew wet and cold. Rip it from me? 

“Wait,” I breathed out, “Tell me why, why, why do you want my soul. Tell me what I did!” I said through broken sobbs. If this was my last few minutes, I needed answers. Answers to what?

The creature clicked its tongue. “Humans, you are all such tedious creatures. What if I say no?” A smile split its face, as its hand wrapped around my neck lifting me off of the ground. A fire lit my whole body as his eyes of darkness bore into my own. Panic rippled down my spine as everything slowed, blurring my vision. “I want you to know one thing, and one thing only. Just because you ask, or yell or beg. Doesn’t mean that I am required to give it to you. But you, you will have no choice in handing over your soul. Then, nothing is stopping me from doing the same to everyone else.”

I watched with lidded eyes as his cage drew back and his mouth flew open. The void stretched on within it, nothingness was a lot bigger than I thought it to be. A white light I didn’t know had left me and flew into it, like it was a vacuum, always wanting.  

The creature quickly shut its mouth and the cage snapped back into place. The next moment the forest lit with the brightest light mimicking day, emanating from the creature.