FellPoth Short Stories and One-Shots

When One Door Closes: Chapter 1

This story's a sequel-prequel to The Road to Hell detailing the pair's initial meeting. This can be read on its own, but the next chapter will make more sense if you read the other story first. Enjoy~

Chapter Warning: Injuries, blood (marrow)

***

Lotus ducked into the alcove of an alley, covering his mouth with his hands and willing his breathing to calm so as not to give away his hiding spot.

Why was he so stupid?! He should have known running away would be yet another dumb idea added to the extensive list of bad ideas and stupid decisions that culminated in his existence. Why did he ever think living on the streets would be any better than living at home? His parents had always drilled into him the cruelty of the world, but he had refused to listen; he didn't even make it two damn days before one of the local gangs came after him!

Now here he was, a sixteen-year-old skeleton monster crouched behind a pile of moldy cardboard boxes in a dirty alley, hiding from a group of monsters while his right shoulder steadily leaked marrow. He made a mental note to take a look at the damage and treat it later... if he managed to survive that long.

As the thrumming of his soul began to slow, he took in the silence surrounding him; did he actually lose them? Risking a glance, Lotus poked his skull out of his hiding spot; both ends of the alley looked empty. Breathing a sigh of relief, he stood from his crouch and slowly approached the mouth of the alley. Before he could even check around the corner, a hand shot toward him; it wrenched his injured shoulder as the owner slammed him back into a brick wall. He gasped as the pain from his injury and the impact hit him simultaneously, sending stars dancing through his vision as his legs buckled under him.

"Now that wasn't very smart," a deep voice growled as Lotus slid down the wall, unable to hold himself up.

"Heh... tell me something I don't know...," he mumbled through gritted teeth, focusing his eye light enough to make out the leader of the gang that had been chasing him; a dark blue, large lizard monster carrying a baseball bat.

"You invaded our territory, then ran instead of accepting the fees; you brought this on yourself," the leader punched his fist into his palm, indicating what 'this' entailed as his lackeys formed a semicircle around the skeleton.

Of course Lotus couldn't accept the fees, he had nothing to pay with! He had left his home spur of the moment without his parents knowing, so he was only able to pack a few things he had been hoping to pawn off in his backpack. Unsurprisingly, the shop owner had been a cheapskate who was unwilling to pay near the amount the items were worth; not that it mattered much anymore. That bag and the contents were long gone now, so now he only had the clothes on his back... and he had a sinking feeling he wasn't even going to have that for much longer.

A single kick to the left side of his ribs started the punishment, sending him fully to the ground as the rest joined in with feet, tails, and weapons. Lotus curled up as tightly as possible, using his thin arms and legs to protect his skull and body the best he could from the half-dozen monsters pummeling him; it was a vain attempt since the blows easily broke through his meager defenses. His body was riddled with pain, all culminating in a sharp snap as one of his ribs finally gave way and fractured completely.

He gasped sharply, unconsciously moving his left arm toward the injured bone as the surge of pain overwhelmed him; the action created enough of an opening for another strike to connect with the side of his skull, resulting in another sickening crack and another cry of pain. He could feel marrow leaking from the cracks in his skull and rib as he tried to blink past the shock-induced haze; even if he could see clearly, he wasn't sure he wanted to see the extent of the damage. A whimper slipped out as the assault continued and more injuries piled up. He tucked tighter into himself, closing his sockets despite knowing it wouldn't erase the pain or cause his attackers to vanish; as if something so wonderful would happen.

The group stepped back to admire their handiwork, laughing and jeering at the bloody and broken victim who laid shivering before them. Lotus no longer had the strength to run or defend himself, merely waiting for his aggressors to finish him off. His sockets clenched harder as dull footfalls echoed against the alley walls; his time was up... but instead of death, shouting and screams rang out.

Uncurling slightly from his ball of agony, Lotus opened his left socket just in time to see the lizard fly over him and slam against one of the walls in a leathery heap before collapsing into a pile of dust. The footsteps echoed behind his skull this time; the skeleton forced himself to rotate his damaged skull and glance up. A dark figure towered over him, their only visible trait being two glowing orange-yellow stars that made up their eyes... no, eye lights; was this a skeleton, like him? Lotus couldn't make out anything more through the light shining at the newcomer's back and his own fading vision.

The only thing he knew for sure... this was where it all ended for him. His parents had been right all along; he couldn't handle the real world... well, at least he got to see something pretty in the end. A choked, wet laugh slipped out; he was... so stupid... 

In that moment, pain stole what was left of his awareness and he surrendered to the cold and lonely oblivion.

***

Word Count: 954