Man and Tree

Nathaniel, a horse-riding traveler in eighteenth century Europe, emerges from a vast forest to see a field of golden wheat. At the centre of the field is a large tree and, at its base, a man. Strangely, the man appears to be talking to the tree.<br><br>At the village inn, Nathaniel asks the barman about the man and tree. The barman refuses to tell him anything, so Nathaniel decides to visit the man himself. The following morning he rides back to the field, where he notices the man is still there, talking to the tree.<br><br>He introduces himself to the man, whose name is Adam. When questioned about why he sits beside the tree, talking to it, Adam reveals a story so amazing, it borders on being unbelievable. Nathaniel, too, has a similar tale, the conclusion of which is just as bizarre and shocking as Adam’s.

Wayne Mansfield · LGBT+

Not enough ratings

16 Chs

Chapter 15

Nathaniel gasped as he dodged splinters of wood. He aimed his gun and fired. The shadowy figure of the witch fell to the ground. Wasting no time, he leapt onto her, tearing the hood from the old woman’s head.

“We meet again,” he snarled.

The witch struggled, surprising Nathaniel with her strength.

“Oh no, you don’t,” he said,

He inched his knees forward, pinning the old woman’s arms to the ground, then taking his knife, he stabbed her in the heart.

“Once for Ferdinand,” he said, pulling the knife clear of her chest. “And twice…” He plunged the knife in again. “…for Ruben.”

He left the knife in her and watched the old woman’s hate-filled eyes slowly close.

“Rot in the pits of hell, hag,” he snarled.

He let his body go limp and was about to stand when the old woman thrust up with her hips, knocking him off her.

“You think you’d win so easily?” croaked the witch.

In an instant, she was on her feet. She raised her hands to the sky and began to mumble her mysterious incantation.

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