The Forgotten Eden (23 page)

“
Pinned, the stone in my outstretched hand touched the tiger’s chest. Instantly, it disappeared. I stood up in disbelief and looked around, but the tiger was truly
gone
!
Smiling in surprise I started to relax, until I heard the cottonmouth slither through the ferns and thistles. I looked up in time to see the spider’s body cast its enormous shadow near the path’s fork and knew I couldn’t fend them both off.

“
In desperation I turned to the wall and waved the stone. It melted away! Ecstatic, I scurried through to the other side, just as the snake and spider arrived. A terrible screech abruptly ceased behind me. When I turned around the wall was intact again, without any sign of the snake and spider. All that remained was the serene beauty of the garden, resting quiet on the other side.

“
The noise from the busy plaza soon returned. I noticed then that I’d been hurt; the tiger tore a painful gash in my shoulder. I had to keep moving, regardless. Genovene and her siblings still congregated at the other end, facing the very spot where I’d jumped from earlier, as if time had stood still. I tiptoed across the plaza and began to climb the golden road’s steep incline. But then my sneakers squeaked, alerting Genovene to my new location, her grotesque head whipping around.

“‘
Grab him!!!
’
she screamed.
‘
Hurry, he’s getting away!!!
’

“
I scrambled up the hill, hooking my fingers and the front edge of my shoes in between the cobblestones to keep from tumbling back down into the plaza. Once the road leveled out and I could stand up straight, I raced to the top of the hill. The crowd from the plaza chased after me, making weird chirping noises as they scaled the incline.

“
Near the plaza’s staircase, Genovene and her four siblings stood in a slight arc facing the statue called Morylan. She performed some sort of spell with her hands while Malacai pointed a long black wand at the statue. The jets of water stopped and the massive warrior began to move, bending his head down to the five monsters as if listening. Morylan then turned his head toward me, drawing the golden sword noisily from the sheath tied to his side. He jumped down into the plaza from his pedestal, shaking the ground beneath him. He also chased after me, trampling and crushing the villagers in his way and leaving a trail of gory footprints.

“
I knew he’d be upon me in a matter of seconds. I sprinted to the closest shop on the right side of the road and hid behind that building. The crystal wall stood less than a hundred feet away. My chances of reaching the main gates safely seemed better if I stayed behind the shops, contrary to my mother’s instructions to stay on the road. I prayed my close proximity to the preferred path would be enough in the end.

“
I darted from shop to shop while staying low to the ground, thankful the areas in front of me were deserted. The thunderous footsteps of Morylan grew ever closer, along with the cicada-like noises from the villagers in pursuit. The ground shook terribly and I hid along the back wall of the closest shop.

“
The footsteps stopped in front of that very building. An enormous shadow loomed over the two-story structure and thickened as Morylan bent down toward me. He knew I was there.

“‘
What the hell do I do now?’

“
I embraced the wall tightly in an effort to further conceal myself, trying to remain calm. One of the warrior’s giant hands crept toward the rear of the shop. The fingers probed through the grass and bushes, pulling them out by their dirt-clod roots like I would a small dandelion. Two fingers brushed noisily near me, crouched in a vain attempt to merge with the wall. Beyond terrified, I stayed still and quiet, though my pulse throbbed angrily in my chest and neck. The fingers moved even closer…to within a few inches.

“
Prepared once more for the very worst, luckily it never came. The fingers pulled back and the hand lifted, disappearing from my view. A moment later, Morylan’s shadow lengthened as he stood up. The ground soon shook, again and again, decreasing as the warrior moved up the road toward the gates.

“
Listening to the fading footfalls, I wondered what time it was and pulled out my watch. Just after three-thirty that afternoon. Several hours left until nightfall, but I’d miss Grandpa’s four o’clock deadline. It got me moving and just in time, as shrill clicking noises came up fast from behind. I glanced over my shoulder and slid my watch back inside my pocket. No one visible yet. I peered around the building’s edge where Morylan’s fingers had been only moments ago. The area before me lay deserted.

“
I ran to the rear of the next shop, concealing myself behind a ledge. I still didn’t see anyone behind me, but I heard a lot more chirps coming from the road. I moved over to the far edge of the shop…the immense golden gates stood less than a quarter mile away.

“
Morylan was already there. He stood in front of the gates with his back to the entrance. He frowned while scanning the area. Looking for me? Likely. Small bands of villagers were also on the lookout. It was just a matter of time before they extended their search behind the shops.

“‘
What are you all standing around for??
Tear this place apart and find him!! NOW!!!
’

“
Genovene’s shrill anger got me moving. I scurried away from the back wall of the building and concealed myself within a magnolia tree where the leaves were thick and reached the ground. No sooner than I did, a group of villagers appeared behind the shop. They moved over to my hiding place from a moment ago, and for the first time I noticed their skin had begun to peel away. Some peeled along their legs and others along their torsos and faces. The same pink and gray gelatinous substance I’d seen pulsing beneath Genovene’s skin pulsed hideously beneath their skin as well.

The group walked around my immediate area, making their god-awful noises and sniffing the air as they came up to the very magnolia I hid within. One of them appeared directly in front of me. I crouched, completely still, afraid to even blink. Until I realized the bastard couldn’t see me, though it stared right at me while it sniffed the air in front of the tree. Nearly half of its face was gone. While looking absently toward me, it pulled the rest of its face off by the hair first and casually dropped it onto the grass. The noxious odor and the ripping sound of the skin detaching from the creature’s body were real nasty. It really made me want to retch.

“
At least I now knew what their real faces looked like. Deep vacant slants for eyes and their mouths nothing more than small slits, it sort of explained the weird noises they communicated with. Such an incredible contrast to the beautiful smiles and faces I’d seen earlier…I could scarcely believe the transformation. Their bodies bore the same gnarled characteristics as Genovene, with that slimy goo and all. But they were nowhere near as tall as her, even though they were taller than her earlier. Nor did they have long fingers and claws.

“
I heard a sharp ‘crack’ from somewhere to my left, and the entire group moved swiftly in that direction. A larger magnolia stood maybe eighty feet away, and my best chance to find another spot closer to the gates. I bolted for it, staying low to the ground and sliding under the bottom foliage of this bigger tree. A fortuitous move, since a second band of villagers converged on the other magnolia. They peered and poked through the leaves and flowers, and surely would’ve discovered me despite their poor eyesight.

“
I had to keep moving. About twenty yards away sat one of the last remaining shops I could use for cover and then reach the village gates. I remembered seeing its tall sign when I first entered the village. The marketplace wasn’t far, and would be the very last building separating me from my intended destination. I reached into my pocket to make sure the stone was still there. It was. Just then, two more villagers came around the corner. But they acted like they suddenly heard something behind them, and raced back to where they came from. I didn’t wait to see if they’d be back my way again, sprinting from the tree’s protection to the shop’s back wall.

“
The pesky pair did return. The branches of the magnolia still moving from where I’d just been drew their attention. They trotted over to investigate and I moved quietly away. I didn’t stop until I’d moved past the next two shops.

“
Nearly three buildings away, I watched them sniff the air and look over at where I presently crouched. At first I wasn’t sure if they could see me hiding behind a thick shrub. They sniffed the air again, and then their vacant eyes locked onto my location. After exchanging another glance they sprinted toward the shrub.

“
Panicked, I scrambled over to the next building, the second to last one I had to get past. Rather than check on the pair’s progress, I kept moving until I reached the far edge of the back wall.

“
The marketplace was maybe a hundred feet away. A large flower garden sat between it and me. Loaded with a bigger variety of flowers than I’d seen anywhere else in the village, I decided to make a run for this garden, hoping it provided enough cover for me to rest and catch my breath.

“
I heard my pursuers’ excited chirping and their approaching footsteps coming up fast. So I ran and dove headfirst between a row of chrysanthemums and large sunflowers, hurriedly concealing myself.

“
The ground cool and moist, it felt really good against my scrapes. Yet, the tear in my shoulder’s muscle throbbed with every heartbeat as it continued to seep blood. I didn’t think I’d get an opportunity to properly care for it any time soon. Nonetheless, I was extremely thankful to be sheltered from the sun’s unforgiving heat, even if temporary.

“
I peered through the leaves and flowers just as the pair arrived. They sniffed the air while stalking my newest hideout. When they reached the garden’s edge, they separated and circled it. Crouched low, they chirped like harvest crickets looking for mates. All of a sudden they stopped. They stood back up and looked across the garden at each other, and then ran away, their chirps even more excited. I wasn’t sure how to interpret this. While I hoped they’d lost track of me, that possibility seemed too good to be true. More likely, they ran off to report my whereabouts to Genovene. Utterly exhausted, I didn’t have the strength to move on.

“
When I regained my breath some, I thought about what happened and began to worry more. Genovene was probably on her way, and I needed to reach the gates before that happened. While figuring out my next step I laid flat on my stomach, since it might be harder for anyone to detect my presence if I stayed close to the ground. So grateful for coolness touching my skin, I’d allow myself a few more seconds to regain some strength and then resume my journey.

“
Suddenly the ground shook, violent, and the moist earth began to crumble and break apart around me. Amazingly, the plants remained stable despite their roots soon exposed throughout the garden. The skeletal remains of several human beings began to rise up on either side of me.
‘
Oh shit
!’
I whispered, paralyzed by terrible fear again. My arms and legs were seized upon by vice-like grips from four bony hands. I screamed.

“
I screamed as loud as I possibly could. I didn’t give a damn if all the villagers and Genovene heard me or not, as I was way beyond rational fear. I didn’t care if Morylan heard me either, even if it meant he’d come over and crush me into mulch for the garden. On the cusp of losing all sanity, my mind and spirit teetered dangerously after the continual bombardment I’d endured the past few hours.

“
More and more skeletons began to fill the garden floor, and as they populated the area beneath the plants and flowers, a stranger thing happened. The bones took on the soft earth as flesh and even as clothing! I couldn’t believe my eyes, and for the moment ceased screaming, much to the relief of my weary throat and ringing ears. A soothing breeze moved along the garden floor carrying a sound with it. Melodious voices.

“
They were faint at first, perhaps on account of the stress I’d just delivered to my eardrums. As I laid there listening, the voices grew louder and much clearer. They were speaking to me, or rather
singing
to me.

“‘
He’s here! It’s Jack! The
honored
one! The
anointed
one!! Our
sa-a-a-av-i-i-or
!!!’

“
The voices continued their strange song while the hands held me securely on the ground. Then, as appendages became warm and fleshed out, they steadily loosened their grip; finally releasing me altogether once they’d completed their bizarre metamorphoses. I slowly sat up on my hands and knees, surveying the garden floor. The entire area now filled with completely fleshed-out bodies of people from a variety of time periods, cultures, races, ages, and sexes. Their moist-earth faces were turned toward me, anxious, as they sang their song. Rather than the stark fear I felt just moments ago, I was now filled with bewilderment.

“
The earthen flesh and apparel of these people seemed so real—so much like normal skin, muscles, eyes, lips, teeth, hair, and even clothes! From underneath me the skeleton of a young child transformed itself before me. A little earthen girl wearing pig tails and an embroidered nightgown. She smiled up at me.