The forest of no return.

This is an entry for CONTEST: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - 6/25/2021 by @freewritehouse.

"Run Terry. Run." That was the last time Terry heard his mother voice before he ran into the forest behind their home. Carrying with him a beautiful carved wooden box that his mother hand over to him before she asked him to run and hide in the forest of no return.

While he was running, he can hear an explosion and thunder-like sound behind him. He can also hear the sounds of footstep running behind him. He kept on running and running until he can run no more. At the time he stops for a breath, he felt like he is done for.

"This is the end of me." He thought to himself. He stood in the silence. There were no sounds behind him. No more footsteps. He took a deep breath and sit down on a fallen tree nearby. He is relieved but then he is also puzzled. "What just happen?" He thought to himself.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar sound.

"Terry... Terry..."

It is his mother voice. He was so elated that he quickly stands up. As he took a step toward the sound of his mother calling, he fell. He fell into a deep hole and hit the bottom with a bang.

"Terry, are you alright?" He hears his mother voice again. "It is time for school. Take your bath and come down for breakfast."

As he opened his eyes, he was back in his bedroom, lying down on the floor. "I will be right there mom" he replied and he heard her mother footsteps going down the stairs.

It was just a dream. He falls asleep watching a movie last night and end up dreaming about it. He stands up grab his towel and walk toward his bathroom door.

As he opened the door, there it is again. The forest of no return.

Is it really a dream?