Insanity is a game of foul notion and a creation of none but he who seeks the moment’s loss of normal notion towards the gambling game of life. I sat complacent at the table, staring at the bright flame as it slowly burned the wick away. The solid wax melted into red liquid and dripped down the side of the candle—only to harden again once the flame was at proper distance. A chilling breeze blew in through the opened window and the flame began to waltz with only ignorant grace to guide its fare dance. The flame went out and the wax hardened almost instantaneously as smoke began to rise from the flames abode. It rose into the creaking ceiling and leaked through the cracks of the ancient house and I sat in darkness—no device to ignite the flame again.

A faint noise came from outside of the window and I quickly stared into the twilight night. The wind blew again and this time I watched as the trees swayed with the breeze—as leaves fell from their dead branches and the old wood of the trunks cracked under pressure, resonating brilliant echoes throughout the atmosphere. Another noise, this time inside the house, caused my breath to quicken and my head to cock towards the door. The noise grew louder and louder. My heart pumped blood quicker than it ever had before throughout my body before my face was drained of every drop. I cannot discern the noise, but it sounds like footsteps slowly making their way up the stairs. I found a large painting of a previous owner and hid myself, holding the gold frame to steady my body then pushing the back of the painting to keep it from falling backwards.

The footsteps stopped and the wind blew again, this time rummaging things throughout the attic floor. Papers began to fly into the air, but I did not budge. The trees whisper with the wind—they use it to play their vile games and trap fools that dared to cross through the ancient forest. The wind can breathe; it can manifest itself into a beast that will crush the body of those fools. A different noise suddenly began, a breathing noise…much closer than the footsteps. Where is it coming from?—foul games to play with a mortal man! I slowed my own breathing and listened hard. The breathing is steady, but difficult. As if the breath is from a throat clogged with phlegm. I lifted my body and peered my eyes over the gold frame of the painting. My eyes widened as I saw the horrible creature searching the attic room. I moved my eyes downwards and hid again, but the floorboards creaked. My breathing stopped entirely as I awaited my death.

I closed my eyes in suspense; I could not handle the thought of the pain of every bone in my body being momentously crushed. My heart began to pound harder and faster, I could hear it as if it were outside of my chest! My breathing grew louder—I could care less now. The beast can kill me! Then I squalled a vile screech heard all throughout the house. No pain. No crushing wind. I peered again over the gold frame and saw no creature across the attic floor. A light suddenly flashed onto the door and I looked outside of the window, pulling myself back in ignorant fear. The sun slowly began to rise its pinnacle over the daunting trees. The darkness left the house and I sat behind that painting in sheer agony. Such golden glory! Such a vile place that I dare not meet my own end inside. Dare or not I will never set one foot nor hair inside this place again!

My face contorted to anger and I lifted myself off the ground. I grabbed a lantern sitting inside of the attic and made my way downstairs, making sure the echoes could be heard by the trees themselves. That forest will burn! I shall destroy the trees myself and save any future arrogance that thinks they can stand this place! I lit the lantern and walked to the forest’s edge, passing patches of flowers and mushrooms with every few steps. I stared into the darkness of the forest and laughed. I will conquer you with mine own savage breath! This fire will burn to the core of every disgusting tree that crawls this forest and the only sounds you will hear will be my ridicule and the flames that will mobilize through every inch of this vile wood! I hurled the lantern into the woods and laughed, but I could see no terrible flames. No smoke rose from inside the forest. Only the wind blew its silent song through the leaves. The realization came slowly, but I noticed when my eyes would allow it. The path leading out of the forest has gone. The trees have swept it from my sight!

Soon enough night will fall and the darkness will come again. The wind will whisper through the trees of blood and crushing bones. There will be no dying words for me, only the writhing pain and screams of terror as the wind finds me hiding on the attic floor.