Santiago's Apple

It wasn't good to be lost in the jungle, especially if night was falling. Unfortunately for Santiago, he was both lost in the dense wilderness of this quickly darkening jungle. He cursed himself for it. 1

Night fell, and Santiago hastily drooped into a cold fear of the jungle creatures he knew lay all around him, out of sight in the sparsely lit jungle. He could feel their gaze upon him, and it took his last trickle of courage and will power to urge him to continue trudging over the overgrowth. 2

It was about that moment that Santiago noticed a pair of eyes glimmering in the darkness and staring at him. They seemed to float, for whatever beast they belonged to was cloaked in blackness. The orbs somniferously floated a good thirty yards away. 3

Transfixed, Santiago froze and blankly stared into the eyes. 4

The eyes darted off into the jungle, with Santiago chasing behind them. He crashed through the plants, until the eyes came to an abrupt halt about one hundred yards from where they had come. The eyes where staring at a huge metal door encased in a rock. 5

Santiago watched the eyes dart away, leaving him alone in the vast forest. He grabbed the iron handle and pulled with both hands until the door started to open. He heaved it upwards and leaned his head over the empty space. Something hidden in the darkness wrapped around his legs, causing him to trip and fall forward into the blackness. Santiago closed his eyes tightly and tore at his ankles, but the creature was gone. He opened his eyes and saw where he was. He was sitting on a park bench in his local city park. Santiago stood, and promptly sat back down. In front of him, lay coiled a large green-scaled snake staring at him rather evenly. On top of his head was a shiny red apple. 6

"Eat it." The snake slung it at him. 7

Santiago caught it, and for a fleeting moment a look of deep contemplation flashed across his face. Then he took one bite, and fell off the face of the world.