The Tree of Life

Character thoughts are expressed with italics.

Chapter 1: The Tree of Life

Elias groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. The sky, it was all around him. He was surprised to see the curvature of the Earth. Man, Elias thought to himself, I must be really high up... wait a min-OH GOD I’M FALLING!

Elias looked down to find out that he was indeed, falling.Elias tried to scream but nothing came out. he continued his freefall for a couple of minutes. As Elias got close enough to the ground to where he could see where he was going to land, He realized he was zeroed in on landing on a mountain.

“Does the universe fucking hate me!” Elias yelled as he got closer, and closer. Until Elias hit the mountain with a resounding boom. As Elias laid  in the center of a twenty foot wide crater he made, he commented to himself, ”How are my limbs not halfway to Asia right now?” Hell, for all I know, this is Asia!”

After Elias had gathered his strength, he tried to sit up. He eventually got to a sitting position and checked his things. My food is a little squished, and my pack is torn, but other than that, everything appears to be in good condition. Elias thought to himself as he stood up. He did a quick spin around at the crater he had made. Elias slowly whistled as he saw how large it was. He walked to the edge and tried to climb up, only to slide down to the bottom. Elias tried again, but this time, got a running start. As he scrambled up the side, he grabbed for the edge. As Elias pulled himself over the side, he felt objects press into his side. When he looked down he saw his trusty beretta m9s, all dirty and grimed up. he could faintly read the inscriptions on the guns. One was labeled “Judgement”, while the other was inscribed with “Vindication” He smiled faintly from the feel of having them.

Elias stood up and looked around. He saw a bridge leading up. Seeing nowhere else to go, Elias walked up the bridge. When he got to the end, he saw an island, floating, with another bridge. As Elias stepped onto the island, mist moved in and obscured his view except for the island and the bridge ahead. Elias walked across the bridge to a slightly larger island, with a rock on in, and another bridge. Looking at the rock, Elias noticed an inscription, “The path of gods which mortals sought, a single fruit over which they fought. They killed each other with arrow and knife. But all for a fruit from the Tree of Life” seeing nothing else of interest, Elias walked across the next bridge.

What was on the next island was awe inspiring. a giant tree covered with thousands of fruit. The sight of all the food reminded Elias of how hungry he was. Seeing no harm in the action, Elias picked a fruit at random. Elias quickly devoured the fruit. Elias was about to grab another fruit, when he was suddenly propelled backwards. Confused Elias got up and reached for the fruit again, only to be propelled backwards, again. Taking the hint Elias backed away from the tree and started walking towards the bridge.

Elias’s brain suddenly exploded with memories, but they weren’t his. He heard in his brain. .....617 has been spotted in the area..... Elias stopped and looked around, wide eyed, looking for and explanation. His eyes fell upon the core of the fruit. His memory flashed back to the rock with the inscription. it mentioned the tree of life. Elias looked back at the giant tree. Could that fruit have been someone’s life? Elias looked around, shocked. Seeing nothing else to do, he continued across the bridge. on the next island was a stream. Next to the stream was an inscribed rock. The inscription said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Wet your hands and face for you must be cleansed of the spirit.” Elias closed his eyes and complied. Immediately the memories stopped flashing at him. It was like they became his. Elias opened his eyes and stared at his reflection. His eyes, instead of their normal blue, were dark red with black flecks in them. numbed by everything that had happened, Elias continued to the end of the Island, at the edge laid a stone with a simple command. “Jump!” Elias backed up, ran forwards, and jumped into the mist.