CHAPTER 7: THE TEST

I shook my head once more because of the thoughts that comes in to my head. My dream can possibly be real, however I shouldn't be expecting it. Expectations can lead to disappointment, they say. Well, I believe in that saying, since I have been disappointed for the third time out here. Yet, that doesn't last long enough than I expected. For some reason that, something occurs unexpectedly, like it did not turned out the way I anticipated.

I closed my eyes as I sighed and open it again. At the moment I stepped inside the door, the light had began to swallow me. I heard the door shut close when I'm already inside.

I don't know where I am. I just curiously stand in an all white place, with no trees, no flowers, no water, no sand or soil, no animals or even insects. It looks like I am inside the light. A creased form in my forehead when I realized that this is some kind of a strange place. I wander around like I'm just walking in circles. I halted as I rolled my eyes and pulled my hair. "What in the world am I doing?" I uttered as I groaned. I should have followed that insolent guy earlier. Now I don't know where to go next. I stomped my feet and did not notice the hole. I accidentally fall in it. I began to scream as I am falling deep and deep down the hollow, after that I land into something.

My eyes widened when I perceived that it is a gigantic green leaf. I looked down, and I sighed out of relief when I see that it is not that high. I stood up and exhaled as I clutched my bag and roamed my eyes around the surrounding. I'm amazed when I recognize the beauteous scenery in my dream. The land is full of trees, and it is surrounded by lots of flowers. I am about to climb down, when suddenly the leaf started moving slowly. My eyebrows furrowed as I looked down again. I became perplexed to why the leaf is suddenly moving. But then I gasped when it gets higher and higher. Something is wrong, I need to get down here. I actually trembled in fear while I am looking down. "I'm brave, but I have a phobia to heights." I said then I almost cried my self out. I tried to ask for help, but no one is around.

Instantaneously, the leaf began to slope down and I nearly fall, but gladly I hold unto a sharp thing. I gasped as I heard the leaf growl loudly that made me let go and descend to its other leaf. My jaw just dropped when I turned my head above. I perceived its big mouth, in which it is wide open showing its sharp teeth. Then I realized that the one I am sitting on is not just a mere leaf, but it was typically its head. This thing is obviously an enormous plant monster.

I froze in shock when the monster's head faced downwards and is heading towards me. It came closer and closer to me. I don't know what to do, I can't think clearly, but then I just pointed my fingers to the monster's face. "Hey y--you! Don't try to eat me you hideous monster!" I shouted as I stared intensely to it.

My eyebrows creases when the monster abruptly mewled and put me down, as it slowly drops to the ground. Oneself gaze at the plant, then I carefully came closer to it. I closed my eyes as I slowly touch its head. Then I was surprised when it didn't try to bit me like earlier. Instead, it just behaved.

As I am stroking the monster's head like a pet, I suddenly hear someone clapping from behind. I turned my head and I spotted an old man walking towards me.

"Congratulations, you just passed the first test, young lady." He instantly said showing me his genuine smile.

I bemusedly gaped at him as I questioned. "What test?" I asked with my bewildered look.

"All of your questions will be answered when you will be able to pass the two test." He just say. "Follow me." He added as he ambled. I followed him as I kept on staring at him with full of wonder. Also I somehow find him familiar, I think I have met him before somewhere.

"Uhm--can I ask you something, s-Sir?" I uttered as we were walking.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Have we met before?" I query. He just chuckled as he looks at me.

"Yes, the old man in the bus." He said as he laughed. "Call me, Mr. Elliot."

"I knew it!" I gasped as I covered my mouth. I knew that he is the old man I've met on the bus. I wonder what he's doing here. And why he didn't ask for my name? Maybe he already knows? But that's impossible. I did not even introduce my self.

"So uhm--where are we going?" I confusedly ask while I was tailing him.

"You will know if we got there." He just shortly responded as he sauntered first. I nodded as we tread together. I quietly followed him as I stopped from asking too many questions although I'm really perplexed, for some reason that it might annoy him or probably there's a secret that should not be revealed on the way.

Minutes later, we arrived into a forest. I have no idea what we are doing in here, maybe this is the entrance towards a certain place.

"Welcome to the second test." Mr. Elliot said as he halted in front of the forest. My eyebrows furrowed when I stared the dark forest. What would I be doing in there? Is this some kind of a joke? This place is scary

"You might be wondering what you will be doing in there?" He asked as he eyed me. I just nod my head as I am looking around the surrounding. "It is simple, you are just going to find the entrance of the hidden place." He speaks as he grinned.

"Aren't you going to escort me, sir?" I posed a question, while wondering. He chuckled once more as he smiled.

"No. This is a test, young lady. You should pass this second test to finally enter the hidden place." He stated as he started to turned his back. "And oh, I forgot. Be careful on your way out. There are wild animals and monsters that you will need to fight. Good luck!" He said.

I was not able to ask another question when he just swiftly vanished like a bolt of lightning. Is there no other way towards the hidden place? I sigh, then I turned to the forest as I breathed heavily. "Here we go." I murmured as I entered the forest as the dark began to engulfed me.

As I was ambling down the dingy forest, I stared above as I sight the moonlight began to shine through the lattice of leaves from the trees. It's started to get dark, I presume. Then I roamed my eyes around as I perceived the dark tree trunks and the lump of bushes. I heard the wind slipping through the leaves that made it rustle, the cracking of twigs as I step in. I continue to saunter without fear when I suddenly hear the wolves howling. I began to walk fast when instantly I caught a glimpse of something that ran fast on the side. I halted for a second as I grabbed my flashlight inside my bag. Then, I carry on walking as I turned on my torch. "I should have done this earlier." I whispered to myself.

As I am walking along the way, I felt cold, the wet leaves were sliding across my sweater. I walk and walk when the wolves were howling again, but this time, they were closer. My heart started to pump faster as I felt that the wolves were walking out from the back of the trees. I am eyeing the wolves as they were slowly walking towards my spot. They were snarling and are ready to attack.

Is this what Mr. Elliot have said? I needed to fight these wild animals? And some possible monsters? "Oh, what should I do? Why this test is so hard and dangerous?" I asked myself as I looked for something useful to fight these wolves.