Darkness for miles. That was all I could see. It enhanced my other senses, like if I was blind. I could hear the waterfall I had passed hours ago. Smell the greenery of the outside world. Taste the drafty, humid environment of the labyrinth of tunnels I was trekking through. Feel the edges of the cramped caves. It was miserable. But it would all be worth it. It would all be worth it when I got that flower, the only thing strong enough to heal my sister's virus. Nobody knew exactly what it was, but whatever it was, it was fatal. After hours and hours at the library, searching for a possible cure, I'd come across the flower. Beautiful and golden and shining, the book warned me that it was near impossible to brave the maze and get to the end, where the flower was perched on the highest branch of the oldest willow tree. But the book also said it could cure anything. That was all I had, as I trekked through the darkness. Nothing was stopping me. Not the darkness, not the speck of light shining ahead, not the... Wait? Light shining ahead? "This must be the end" I thought joyfully. My light jog quickly shifted into a sprint. The small dot got bigger as I got closer. And before I knew it, I was out. Around me stood beautiful flowers, luscious fruits, and plants I couldn't even begin to name. But in front of me, surrounded by the greenest of grass, stood a willow tree larger than 100 full-grown men stacked on top of each other, and then some. The legend said the flower was at the tallest branch. My face drained of color, leaving me pale like a ghost. I hated heights. When they said 'oldest willow' I had pictured some shriveled 7-foot high tree. Not this! "Do it for Katy" I told myself over and over as I made my way up the tree, clumsily clinging to the branches and hauling myself up. Finally, there it was. Right in my grasp. I carefully plucked it and cradled it against my chest, made my way down the tree, and returned into the tunnels, darkness swallowing me once again. ┗━━━━ The End ━━━━┛ Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it, but I couldn't have done it without help from these people: Thumbnail: Google Writing: Me, Duh Music: @ebh2009 (It is kind of rushed because I had to make it short) (If I win, can the followers go too @Dat-Rando-Hooman?)