Pandora's Box

Chapter 3

I didn't hesitate, I reached for my seatbelt, unlocking it. I reached for the door handle without thought and the driver shouted at me.

Follow your gut!

I shoved open the door of the cab, ignoring the shouts of the driver, who suddenly came to a jarring halt. In seconds, the driver was out, with a furious shout he came around the car and I moved.

Don't get your fingers caught on the door.

I closed the door as he curled his hand around it and not expecting me to close it so suddenly after opening it, he was yanked forward with the pull. The door slammed in hard and on four of his fingers with a sickening thunk.

He screamed and I didn't waste a second, crawling to the other side and flinging the door and throwing myself out, bag in tow and I started running.

Whatever happens, run. And don't stop running until your safe for now!

I didn't dare slow down, my feet flying over the road and my breathing heavy and chest heavy but I could hear the heavy footfalls behind me and the panic grew.

Oh God, no! Come on, keep running-

A force on my back had me falling forward awkwardly, skidding painfully on my knees and palms. I rolled over quickly and the driver stood over me. Except, he didn't look much like he had before.

In the car's lights, his body seemed to grow a few feet in height and muscle, his clothes hung in stretched and torn rags over his shoulders and hips. His hair ragged and hanging around his head. His eyes glowed a horrible, sickly yellow as he stormed towards me.

Christ!

"Where's the box?"

Hell no!

I quickly turned to my feet and started running. My breath was suddenly cut of as the monster snagged the back of my coats hood, making me gasp from the sudden cut of air and again when my back was slammed on the earth.

I gasped like a fish, begging for air, my lungs aching and my back groaned in frustration from the harshness.

"Bloody...hell..." I gasp but a sudden tightness around my neck lifted me off the ground, my feet dangling a few inches off the ground as the beast stared down at me.

"Where is the box?" His voice boomed quietly, his breath hot and rancid made me gag and my eyes water. His entire face had enlarged, more angled, his lower jaw jutted out and huge yellowed fangs sticking out from his lower jaw.

Oh God, help me.

I scratched at the thick, leathery hide of its hand that gripped my neck tightly, my air coming in shallowly, but the beast didn't budge.

"Where is the box, wretch?" The beast snarled. "Or I pluck out bits and pieces of you until you speak." He shook me slightly, my body swaying like a rag doll. I gasped for air, but the beast repeated his words.

The bastard will kill me without realizing it!

"Where. Is. The. Box?" He shook me harder. "WHERE IS THE BOX, OR I RIP THOSE EYES OUT SLOWLY!?" He raised his other hand, gnarly fingers with dirtied yellow and brown claws moved towards my face.

But with his shaking, once he brought me closer, I struck.

I stabbed it in both eyes with my fingers right back and he shrieked, yellowed eyes glistening and closing and his grip loosened. Dropping to the ground, I tried to ignore the desperation of air and grabbed the first thing I could find. A long arm-thick, branch and swung it around and upwards.