A Collection Of Short Stories

The Filth.

Don't do it. Don't turn around.You know it's there. It's always there. It lurks in the shadows. Of course it's watching you. You know it's watching you. Don't do it. Don't turn around.The slightest motion and it'll pounce. The heavy breathing.

A click of impatient claws. A menacing growl. Don't do it. Don't turn around. You're trapped. It's got you trapped. It can smell fear you know. Desperately trying to think of an escape. You can't. It lurks in the corner. Watching. Waiting. Don't do it. Don't turn around.

You can't keep it up much longer. It comes closer. Should it pounce? Should you run? The rank breath climbs into your nostrils. You try not to gag. Breathe through your mouth. It's the only way. Make your mind up. It won't expect it. You've got a head start. Go. Don't do it. Don't turn around.

Eyes forward. Chin up. Don't trip. Run! It snarls at you. It's not happy. You've outsmarted it. Lowering itself onto four legs; it can run faster than you. It's catching up with you. Run!

The dim glow of the hallway illuminates your path. Up. It's the only way. Click. Plunged into darkness you tremble. Up. It's the only way. A few more steps.

You can see the top. One. Two. Three. Down the landing. A murderous snarl. A loud crash as it skids round the corner. It's still following you. It's right on your heels. Keep running. Don't do it. Don't turn around. The door in front of you flings open. The darkness swallows you whole.

The door doesn't close quick enough. You thought you were safe. You're not safe. Not yet. Don't do it. Don't turn around.

"I know you're in here." The voice was cold as ice and sent tendrils of ghostly cold shivers down my spine.
"I know you're scared." I felt the voice inching closer and closer.
"You don't need to be scared though." The slight tease in its voice catches me on a hook.
"I won't hurt you." The creature whispered, taunting me.

It laughs suddenly; a deep mysterious sort of laugh, then slowly it becomes a crazed laugh, like one of a mad man. Getting closer and closer. Closer and closer. I shake myself. Closer and closer. It's coming to get me, no; coming to kill me.

Don't do it. Don't turn around. I knelt down. Feeling the cold, hard, slimy floor on my finger tips. I turned my head to the left, if I had come from the left, then the only way forward was right. So right I went. I stood up and ran, right into a solid brick wall.

I battle with my bones and the ache in my head to stay conscious. They want to stop. To lie down. I've been running my whole life. Now it's time to stop.

But no. There's something inside of me - something that wants to keep going and struggle free.

Hope.

With a force of aggression which surprises even the most able of my limbs, I stand up.

"Ah... The solider struggles on."

I'd almost forgotten the creature.

Almost.

"How..." It pauses for effect making me think it's been waiting to make this speech for a while now.
"Noble" he finishes. The sound echoes around the darkness of the room. It echoes. Meaning walls. Walls that can only mean one thing.
I'm trapped.

Trapped? I can't be trapped with this thing, I can't! Fear winds itself tight around my stomach, squeezing me until I feel like I'm about to throw up, and I do. It burns my throat and sends chills down my spine.

I am trapped.

I am dead.