Nikolai thrashed wildly, struggling to escape from the grasping branches.  All around him, the forest underwent a horrible change, as if corrupted by his terror.  This was no longer a familiar fairy tale setting.  Something had transformed it into a dark and grotesque nightmare.<br/><br/>Unsurprisingly, some of the people nearby began running.  Nikolai didn’t blame them for fleeing -- didn’t even think of it as cowardice.  However, his eyes filled with panic as he watched each one vanish, leaving him behind.<span style="font-style: italic">Wait!</span>he tried to scream.<span style="font-style: italic"> Help me!</span>But the words wouldn’t come, not in English nor in Russian.  He was panting too hard, nearly hyperventilating as he fought against the malevolent trees.<br/><br/>Then the boy Nikolai had first seen ran over, kicking some of the branches that held Nikolai.  For a moment, hope flared up in Nikolai’s heart as their grip loosened, allowing him to yank one leg free.  But he still couldn’t break away completely.  And the boy didn’t stick around to finish the job he’d begun.<br/><br/>In the end, it was a woman who saved him.  As the boy had done, she spoke to Nikolai in English, although her voice was heavily accented, like a dish flavored by some exotic spice that he couldn’t quite identify.  Perhaps Nikolai found women to be more comforting than men, or perhaps her mane of fiery red hair simply distracted him from his fear -- whatever the reason, something about her calmed him down a little and he ceased his mindless flailing.  When she seized his arm, he grasped hers in return, coordinating his efforts to escape with her efforts to free him.<br/><br/>Reluctantly, the branches released their prisoner.  But Nikolai didn’t release his grip on her arm, staying close to his rescuer as she steered him through the maze of writhing trees.  By now, he’d regained enough breath to speak a little, and felt that he owed the woman a few words.  “My name is Nikolai,” he gasped, introducing himself in English.  “And I am thanking you most gratefully.”