Hello Traveler

                                                     Written by Closetdweller

You could have everything you’ve ever wanted, but something would switch the signs on you and send you astray onto a path not bargained. Without even knowing, you take a darkened road feared by many. Hikers have been known to die on this trail, but paradoxically enough, the trial is not the one doing the killing.

Hello traveler, the road stretches and curves like a long white snake into the thick fog before you. With every step you take, the fog follows close behind, preventing you from turning back, you have to see it through for it is all you can do. It is also best to think at every fork in the road, one wrong decision can send you spiraling off course and into disarray. Every time you stop to think or to take a break, you could clearly hear voices buzzing in your ears, egging you to go on or telling you that it’s not that bad and that it’s going to be over soon.Despite the constant and annoying encouragement, but you’ve only just begun your odyssey.

Hello traveler, as you keep trudging on and on into the void, the fog grows even thicker when you thought it could not.It is getting difficult to remain aware of the direction you’re heading.

Hello traveler, it is now nighttime forever for some reason. Unable to regain your bearings, you stoop to your knees and let the disembodied voices turn from a buzz to a frustrated scream.

Just when you thought all is lost, a hanging lantern flickered to life in the  distance  and provided a rare and merciful beam of light.

Hello traveler, you stand in the yellow circle cast by the lantern that hangs just outside of your reach. You attempt to continue the journey only to trip over a metal object, you felt it to discover it is a flashlight dropped by some past traveler. You flick it on to notice that the path is now becoming thinner.  A fog or swamp of sorts sits on either side of the thin stretch of the path, you do not know what lies below and do not want to know. using the newly acquired item well, you continue your trek.

Hello traveler, you soon sight a fancy-looking car sinking headfirst into the swamp.It looked as if it had been going at an intense speed. it’s dangerous and reckless to live life in the fast lane after all. you then see something completely new,  a platform not too far down the path. You jerked into motion, driven by the force of a possible hope. You rush to the platform

Hello traveler, upon the platform of a crude dais with a door sitting atop.  It was slightly ajar and let some light through, but it slammed shut as soon as you got close to its position. You try to open it only to find that it was locked and therefore needed a key.

Hello traveler, you trudge on and on at the pitch-black plains turn into Forest. But this is most definitely not a pretty forest,  many very tall birch trees reach up into the never-seen sky above the thick roof of fog. In the distance, you could see something hanging off of a tree limb, a limp body hanging off of a rope. You then notice that there are many of these, but you originally thought they're just clumps of leaves or animals.

Hello traveler, you ran down the path frightened by the morbid sight and sighted another traveler not too far down the path. You soon notice that this fellow was muttering some very dark things about himself and his life, you too felt an overwhelming aura of hopelessness and self-loathing.

But your better judgment knew that something was pulling the strings here, you were then proven right and wish you didn't see what did. A long rope with a loop at the end slithers down from the fog above and tightens itself around the fellow’s neck in a fatal embrace. As the very unfortunate traveler was zipped upward, he dropped something small from his pockets.

Hello traveler, you find that the dropped object was a key, you knew exactly what it was for. You ignored the hopeless thoughts and journeyed further and the forest soon thins.

Hello traveler, the path is now an even thinner strip of land with perilous cliffs on either side. You did not want to know what is far below. You get exhausted and collapse, allowing the dark thoughts to get even stronger. They beckon you to throw yourself over the edge to end it all, but a stubborn and more hopeful side of you forced you to pick yourself up and keep going.

Hello traveler, you could now hear something following you. You sighted a platform not too far down the trail, a door sat upon it. You made a break for it and heard the bellowing of something horrible and very old. You made it to the door, jammed the key into the lock and burst through.

Hello survivor, you step outside of your house into the bright, beautiful, new day. A loved one holds your hand as you could hear the birds singing. You think it is all over, but one day, someone would come along and destroy it all. I know that for I have been in that scenario.