Veneer 4/5/2017

I awoke, surroundings of green invigorated me. A nearby bird broke the momentary silence around, fluttering from its nest above.
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A nearby waterfall had caught my attention as I descended down the long path. A soft gushing sounded as the waterfalls current grew stronger.

The forest seemed to feed off its own energy. Pulsating as if it were a living being. It matched my heartbeat, the steady rhythm of the birds, the hot gaze of the sun down on the land, the gentle breeze moving my hair.

This felt like a dream, one that I had had several times before. One that was welcome rather than my dreadful nightmares, or rather my reality.

I knew this dream would end soon enough, the gaze of the sun dying, the breeze fading away and the waterfall slowing it's pace. I knew that this was a temporary happiness.

The forest became dark; consuming yet calm. I welcomed the night as well as the day. The night suited me better anyway.

I looked in my backpack, checking I had brought the hatchet. It sat in my bag, nestled alongside some light snacks, my canteen full of whiskey and my cigarettes. I was planning on getting blackout drunk yet again.

My mind was fragile. I knew this peacefulness had yet to break. The thin mask of this reality had yet to slip, the thin veneer of normality to shatter.

I heard movement close by, it was pitch black too. I could see boots; hikers.

I grabbed the whiskey from my bag and took a swig, quenching my thirst. My sight had become impaired but i could still see the hikers vaguely. I could smell them too, the thick smell of iron hit my nostrils, blood; they must have injured themselves.
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I grabbed the hatchet from my bag and moved towards them. It was hunting season after all and this sort of game was rare in these parts.