Feather and Gold

The harsh wind broke through all sides. Capturing the sounds of the night, it permeated fear through veins. Pushing the dead leaves, it picked up some parts and performed the last dance of death with them. The echoes of the sneakers were reminiscent of a terrifying shooting. It spread far and wide, over branches and thick grass. The blades of grass cut the wind, letting out the blood-curdling whistle. The forest swayed, each tree trampling its rival. They struggled with dominance, launching their bodies as close to the road as possible. The washed-out road intertwined with darkness penetrated into the far-off heavens. It led everywhere and nowhere, evoking fear and melting desires. Various stories surrounded it, some about his infinity and others about its wickedness. The road kept many secrets, giving the key only to those brave enough.

Her golden hair was the only noticeable thing. It was scattered, appearing as if it were floating in the air on its own. Each strand full of honey, the wind pampered and dragged it in various directions. Surrounded by a gloomy and monotonous space, her hair was the only thing that the stars followed.

Shining brighter, the stars followed the desperate race. They made suggestions on who would win, who would survive. Death was approaching, and it was only a matter of time before it came. For centuries, they have never enjoyed a memorable scene like this in front of them. The monster figure, the harsh shadow of night, the legend of the surrounding villages, ran after the golden dot. The road became filled with sounds of his agonized screams, angry shouts, and the creaking of claws. Every slight sound triggered new fear and stifled hope of young heart. She heard her heartbeats rushing. Endlessly pumping blood, but every new scream would instantly freeze any drop.

The ominous silence of the birds did not last long. Some would hum the songs of death, summoning a raging storm to disperse this outburst in front of them. Some called on the raw earth to strike, to take this unrest as far as possible. For years, they would sing a song of a glorious destiny, calling upon at least the dust of a change for their safety. However, amongst them was a courageous bird, flying over the crooked road. He watched the desperate struggle for life with his sinful eyes. The distance offered him a feeling of security. When he heard the vicious howls of the beast, his wings would fold for a moment, almost falling right into the hands of a predator.

Lightning bolts of pain stroked her. As she ran, feeling of less and less air crept up on her as if the fierce wind was blowing towards her on purpose. It didn't allow her to breathe the summer air. The pain spread until she couldn't feel a part of her body that didn't ache with thorns of agony. The golden dot tried, with all her strength not to cry; only a few tears would escape her grasp. She couldn't even feel them well; the wind fluttered them away like a cruel enemy. She heard nothing but her erratic heartbeat. Her whole body shook to its beat. It was long since she lost hearing of her feet clashing with the ground. Only the pain prompted her to move. She was aware of her breathing only because of the frosty air and the irritation it left in her burning throat. The golden girl didn't dare stop.

The eerie sky was reminiscent of the overwhelming chaos the current situation held. It could captivate the viewer, and just as easily lead him astray. In some moments, she would wonder what the purpose of her running was. She could let go, sink into the crushing grip of the vicious beast, but that would be too easy. Nobody answered the question. It all happened too fast. At one point, she was on a salty beach, emptying her happiness into a sea full of secrets. It all ended when she heard mysterious screams coming from the formless shadows. There was restlessness in her, adrenaline forcing a move to continue. The web of fears was enlarging, each sounding more dangerous than the other.

In a moment, overwhelmed with chaos, she heard calm waves. They collided, again and again, complementing the constant orchestra that was playing. The ache knocked her down, she couldn't get up, exhales were faster, and the eyes of the deep forest rushed around. She ran her burning gaze to see the world around her. Then, her eyes noticed the sky, and it was ignited with brilliant flames. The yellow stars played on the top of the fire, waiting for the burning desire to flare up even more. 

Her head throbbed, everything around her lost focus, fleeing in all directions. The shadows of the night hid behind the towering trees as if they sensed the arrival of something. For a moment, the world fell silent. The cold wind stopped, and the sudden heat embraced her tired body. Everything seemed unreal, like a dreadful dream that didn’t stop.

The birds could never be silent for too long. As the golden dot fell, they felt the terrible end of the game. A dark shadow approached, slamming his feet into the floor. The cracking of the ground became too familiar, awakening the awareness of the young heart. Inhumanly bright eyes lowered their gaze over the sweet honey broken on the road. Loud breathe pierced and passed through the branches of the deep forest. Now, the crooked trees moved as far away from the scene as possible. An abnormal force knocked them back, as if it did not want to have witnesses. The waves raged, damaging the beach. They felt the effects of the tremendous storm, imitating the vortex in the burning sky. Sharp ice drops fell, cutting off any hope left. They broke when in contact with the surface, echoing and spreading their presence. The sky soon darkened, spreading a vortex around it. The sickening sounds of thunder aroused a nameless feeling of horror in nature.

The piercing echo of the crushing blow triggered unknown courage. The ground shook, and the hand of the lumbering monster broke deep in the road. Dark spring eyes were stiff as her motionless body fell on the ground. She was still breathing the joy of life awakening her. The cruel beast's hand was so close it almost broke her to pieces. She laughed, placing a hand over her heart and enjoyed the familiar beat. Joyous laughter hugged the miserable surroundings, pushing the storm that came. Wet hair rose into the air, and soon the laughter died down. Besides the screams of a storm, the whole field shook with mysterious vibration.

His expanded wings did not tire, wet or dry they found their goal. The bird was still flying in the dank air above the golden dot. Sharp needles of rain struck his wings, but they didn't drown him. The eyes of the mysterious black recognized the only bright dot, and regardless of the circumstance, followed it. Seeing her rise, he thought she had mighty wings. To fly like him, away from this haunted place.

As the blaring thunder appeared, everyone gazed at the golden girl. She stood levitating full of pride. A lake of blood surrounded her, the overwhelming smell of iron spreading along the road. The surroundings calmed down once more and only heard a slight fluttering of the wings. His blue body landed peacefully on his master's shoulder.

Silver eyes stared at the dead red passage. In the middle was a pale strand, melting in eternal agony. Over it, a long black feather burned in eternal fire.