Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 6 of Intergalactic Mind Games:
While those in the palace rest, the frightening Corpse Jungle
is welcoming its newest visitor. After a hazardous swim in the river, a
treacherous climb up the trench, and now painfully hiking through the
jungle, Dean bravely greets his fate. He landed awkwardly when falling
from the trap door to the river, severely spraining his right ankle on impact. However, he somehow managed to keep his head afloat even though he struggled to swim. He used his upper body strength to power up the trench, and now at the top, he limps through the eerie jungle.
Dean looks around the woeful woods. The hair on his arms stand
up as he finds himself in a jungle he could not imagine in his worst
nightmare – a jungle that, he feels, has pre-judged everyone as guilty prior to them surrendering to its creepy clutches.
Trees like those on Earth are scattered everywhere. Some are thick
while others are thin, but they all have purple leaves of different shades— some light and others dark. The trees that grow in between the tall trees are squiggly with white trunks and blue leaves. Bright-coloured flowers and plants are absent from the jungle because of the jungle’s intolerance to vivid colours. All that can be seen by the forgotten souls exiled here are giant brown shrubs, big black ominous plants, and trees that tower toward the clouds.
The wild plant life grows uncontrollably, creating a darkness deep
within the woods. A thick fog looms through most of the jungle, with
constant storm clouds weaving in and out of the sky. Daylight can only
be captured in the glades, which are few and far between.
Various animal sounds can be heard throughout the darkness, from
howls and screeches to chomping and chewing. Then there are sounds that Dean does not recognize—sounds of grunts and deep, menacing growls.
The soil is soft and damp as though the ground could consume anyone
whole who dares to walk on it. Various footprints are imprinted in the
moist land ranging in size; however, Dean also notices tracks made by
another two-legged life form. He stops to take a closer look and sees the imprints are fresh.
The presence of someone watching or following Dean sticks with him.
Every time he considers sitting to rest his ankle, the fear of what lurks
behind the thick fog deters him.
An intense and poignant odour of decomposing trees, plants, and
bodies fill the air so much that Dean can taste the stench. His heart starts racing and sweat starts to flow through his pores as the sensation of fear takes over. Dean is hungry, thirsty, and in extreme pain but continues, hoping to find a place to rest.
After trekking through the jungle for hours, Dean collapses in
exhaustion. He tries to get to his feet, but the pain is too much, and his
right ankle gives out, causing him to fall back down. Dean starts to fade, trying desperately to stay awake but eventually, he loses consciousness.
