The Amber Infestation

puncakbukit (78)in #photography • 6 days ago

5% of the rewards of this post are for @steem.amal

(Effect by DeepArtEffects

The golden spires of the Candelabra bush don’t glow with sunlight in this dream; they pulse with a rhythmic, sickly heat. You stand paralyzed by the water’s edge as the vibrant orange buds begin to twitch. They aren't flowers at all, but the chitinous carapaces of a thousand dormant wasps, fused together in a mimicry of nature. The air grows heavy with a low, vibrating hum that vibrates through your very marrow.

Suddenly, the massive, compound leaves snap shut like iron traps, pinning your limbs against the coarse bark. You watch in terror as the "petals" peel back to reveal dripping, jagged mandibles. The water behind you turns to black ink, and the sky bruises into a deep, unnatural violet. There is no wind, yet the tree shudders with a ravenous, collective hunger that seems to echo your own heartbeat.

As the first golden husk splits open, a thick, honey-like musk fills your lungs, making your head swim. You realize the tree isn't just killing you; it’s turning you into part of the grove. Your skin begins to take on a dull, waxy green sheen, and your fingers stiffen into new, ribbed leaflets. You try to scream, but only a cloud of yellow pollen drifts from your lips as the forest falls silent.

Assisted by https://gemini.google.com/.