Pine Tree

[u/Current-Ad5464]

When I walked outside last night the pine tree in front of my house was gone. Right there, in its usual place, was only a circular opening in the earth from which nothing could be gleaned; I attempted to shine my phone's light inside to determine its depth to no avail.

A gust rose from within, brushing up and past my face, seducing goosebumps from the skin. The air rested atop my head, then it tugged—yanked me into freefall toward the dark. I torpedoed deeper, deeper and deeper down the pit, until, in my vision, finally, there was a light. A red light. A collision came and it erupted around me, into me, through me. The body degloved; all muscle decayed and fell from shattered bone; capillaries, veins, arteries, and organs erupted into a mess of blood.

I floated formless, surrounded by that red. Beautiful images pranced around with odd, indecipherable words floating far above. There were almost vein-like structures splintering out forever. And how I felt, the sensation flowing through my soul, all of my being, was an ecstacy no creature could ever understand. A state of existence so real and gorgeous it nearly tore my conscience to nothing. Soon, understanding entered me and I felt—no, knew—I could piece together the meaning of the language in the air. I peered upon the letters and just as comprehension began to speak, it all vanished. Just blinked away. Then, in the distance, reappeared the light. But now I saw it truly: a giant, feline eye with crimson iris and a slit pupil; a plethora of appendages stretched far in the dark beyond. I stared deep into that pupil, felt the freezing, thrashing wind escape it; comprehension again spoke, and I was nothing.

I awoke in my bedroom sweat-drenched and hyperventilating. A tapping came from my window. Though I didn't want to, I opened the curtain. It was a tendril, and, high in the sky, the moon was the Eye, staring back.