"Are you lost, little one? Lost in your mind, with no way out. Are you afraid, little one? Afraid to move, to wake up? Does this unassuming fog block your view? Well then, let me clear it for you."
The speaker sounded kind and intelligent. The only question that remained was could she trust him?
The fog surrounding the area dissipated, leaving behind what Mimi could only assume was a man. Was he a man or a tree masquerading as a man in a suit? The creature had a mask for a face with three slits. The two bigger slits were located where one could assume the eyes were. The eyes' slits appeared painted a jade green with a small shiny effect. The last remaining slot was his mouth. There was nothing special about it. It was just a circle barely outlined. If that was the creature's mouth, then how was he talking? Mimi pondered. The creature had long branch-like arms that sprouted out into hands; his legs were the same way with feet that had little green leaves to mark the toes.
"As you ponder my appearance, perhaps you should ask yourself, am I dreaming? No, could he be real? What logic does he follow?" The strange creature moved his branch fingers up to stroke his chin. "Perhaps you should think what his name is? My name is Woody by the way."
Mimi lifted an eyebrow up. "So, you are a tree man named Woody? That isn't very imaginative."
Woody shrugged and responded. "Well, you were never a very clever child, Mimi."
"Wait, how do you know my name? Where am I and how are you talking without a proper mouth?" Mimi scratched the back of her head, as her mouth tilted to the side.
Woody sighed, "It is called telepathy. I thought you would have recognized this place after all." He looked around. "We are in your mind, little one."
"I am not little!" Mimi shouted as her face scrunched up.
Woody raised his shoulders and shouted back at her. "You have always been little to me! Now direct your attention behind me."
Mimi directed her attention to the area behind Woody. She noticed a tight group of trees, alive and dead. The live trees had brown bark and branches that stretched out; the leaves, a bright green color. The dead trees had ash-colored bark with drooping branches; the leaves, colored a pure black, would fall every once in a while hitting the barely visible ground.
"That is where I live. Do not go there!" Woody pointed to Mimi's left. "You see that area down that path where all the trees are dead? Yeah, that's where you go. Tata." Woody waved, and suddenly disappeared.
A thick fog came rolling in from the right.
Mimi's eyes widened as her jaw dropped. "Oh, no, no!" Mimi looked around while the fog suddenly swooshed in. The area that was in front of her and the path to the right were unclear. The thick grey fog puffed up. Mimi pressed her hands against the fluffy mass. The mass gave equal resistance by pushing her hand back. Her eyes widened. She remained motionless. A hand reached out and grabbed her hand. A person stepped through the fog.
Mimi leaned in, then quickly leaned out. She half circled the individual. No way, she thought. It is a perfect replica of me. She has my purple boy short hair, my brown eyes, my nose, and my full lips; even the clothes, a leather jacket, t-shirt, and blue jeans.
The replica smirked. "I am Egos, the better you. I am so much better at everything, even the things I can't do. Egos drew out its words. "I don't need anyone. I can fend for myself. I don't have to listen, to obey because I already know what is best."
Mimi blinked retreating into her mind. Have I felt that way? A few times, yeah.
Egos's mouth split open, going from ear to ear. Teeth pushed through the newly-formed space. Blood started to drip. The blood hit the ground, splashing lightly.
Mimi returned from her thoughts when she heard bones cracking.
What once looked like her, now looked different. Egos appeared hunched over. Its limbs became longer, breaking out of the flesh that encased them. Blood and skin lay scattered on the ground. Egos's spine erupted out. The spine grew several feet, but still remained connected to the bottom half. It leaned over, huffing in Mimi's face.
Mimi leaned away, holding her mouth shut. She huffed in and out through her nose. The beat of Mimi's heart tripled, pounding against her rib cage.
"Run," Egos snarled into Mimi's face.
Mimi clenched her hands as she turned around. She started running to the dead woods. Mimi could hear the pounding of Egos's feet behind her.
I have to be faster. I don't want to die. Someone help me. Those thoughts cycled through Mimi's head. She pushed herself harder and harder until she tripped and fell. She hit the ground rolling. When Mimi finished rolling, she landed on her stomach. Mimi laid there for a few seconds catching her breath. Then she flipped around.
Egos thumped and stomped over to Mimi. It unhinged its jaws, lowered its head and scooped up her feet. Egos made a gulping sound every few seconds, sliding further up.
Mimi raised her arms over her eyes. She did not want to look. "I'm going to die! I am going to die!" She screamed, as her body froze.
Stray tears slid out of her eyes. She did not want to look at the creature's face as it devoured her. Mimi arched her body and looked toward the forest, lowering her arms.
A young boy and a young girl appeared, holding hands. They resembled each other.