Chapter 13

Escape into Darkness

I was now very close to the big House, less than a quarter of a mile away. I tried to stop, but my feet kept moving forward. I could not control them. Suddenly, the animal with the face of a pig turned its head and saw me. Its small eyes became thin and its ears stood up straight. The animal opened its wide mouth. A deep sound broke the quiet of this strange world. My heart started to beat faster, and my hands began to shake.

Then I saw the animal running toward me. It moved quickly but made no sound as it ran. In just seconds, it was near. I wanted to run away, but I could not move my body how I wanted. I kept walking toward certain danger. The animal was now very close. I could see its face clearly—it had cold eyes. My legs felt like they had no power. I wanted to cry out but could not make a sound.

Just when I felt most afraid, something strange happened. My feet lifted off the ground. I began to rise into the air! I moved up faster and faster, like I was being pulled by a line that I could not see. Within seconds, I was hundreds of feet above the ground.

Looking down, I saw the animal stop where I had been standing. It dropped to the ground and moved like a real pig searching for food. Then it stood up on two legs again. It reached its arms up toward me and made a bad face. I had to look away.

I continued rising higher into the air. After a few minutes, I was above the tops of the mountains. Below me, the open area looked small, and the green House was just a small spot. The animal was too small to see.

Soon, I passed over the mountains and could see the huge empty land again. Far away, near the sun, I noticed a dark spot. My body felt tired and heavy. I looked up at the large ring of fire. As I watched, a bright light shot out from the black center of the ring. It was hot and strong.

Then everything around me started to change. The scene below became red. After a while, even this red color went away. I was alone in complete dark. What would happen to me now? Would I return home, or was I traveling to somewhere new?