Dark Aura (under editing)

Wolf's Den Finale

I felt cold, unbearably cold. My limbs had no feeling to them, and my body ached from the inside. The aching and weak feeling took over my strength, or what was left of it. It was like the life was being sucked out of me! I looked around me and saw nothing but darkness...

My feet were on the ground, and I was in a forest. All the trees were black and dead. Unlike many forests, I didn't hear any animals or see other signs of life?

The sky was covered in gray clouds adding to the dreary atmosphere. It was awfully quiet, the sound of my heavy breathing echoed all around me. As I moved through the forest, whispers came from all around me, goosebumps raked over my cold and frail body. I ignored them and continued walking. The faint whispers soon grew to be louder, I whipped around to see if anything was near me.

My heart was hammering against my chest. There was nothing in sight... Even when they became louder, I couldn't make out a single thing any of them said. All I was certain of was their nature, they didn't like being ignored... And they knew full well that I couldn't make them stop if I wanted to. They wanted me to do something. Or They wanted to evoke fear out of me?

Suddenly they stopped... with the malicious voices gone, I had nothing but uneasiness. A sick feeling came over me and my stomach was churning. I attempted to calm myself and inhale deep breaths. I didn't know where I was or if I was alone or not. But the worst thing to do is stay in one spot. So, I kept moving, each step I took, an unsettling notion that I was being watched by someone washed over me.

A shiver raked over me, I swallowed hard and kept moving. The deeper I moved into the forest, the stronger the unsettling feeling grew. Pushing me to walk faster and cover more ground. Maybe I could lose them?

My heart was thudding against my eardrums and my whole body was shaking. It felt like the longer I stayed here, the lesser my chances were for me to survive. I began moving faster, well aware that whoever was watching me was doing the same thing. I had a sense that whoever was following me could've caught me by now. And that my running was only delaying the inevitable.

It was toying with me, giving me a false hope of me surviving. I pedaled my feet hard against the ground doing my best to cover more distance. Fog came into my vision. I waved through the fog and kept moving. Now I had no idea where I was going, nor could make out a thing in front of me. An inhuman shriek echoed from around me. I whipped my head to the direction of the shriek.

Fog hovered around me blocking my vision. I stood shakily, with my heart hammering against my chest. Hyperventilating headed the opposite direction of the shriek. I bumped into a tree; I brushed myself off the ground. I need to move before that creature catches up with me! There was an ominous sense that came over me. I looked up at the tree and saw a grotesque-looking creature.

It had the face and body like a human. Except for the large, skinny hands with nails long and pointy enough to be used as claws. Its body was shrouded in black. The ribs were poking out of its chest. The bones were so visible the outline of bones was shown through a see-through layer of skin.

The creature had no legs, instead; it had long black tentacles. That's when fear got the best of me. I shrieked an agony filled scream a black, large hand slammed down, nearly missing me. I dodged it and rolled, using the opportunity to unleash magic. Only... I felt nothing!

The creature smirked at me. I have nothing... I got up and ran, only to be yanked back! I screamed and clawed at the ground. Which did nothing to prevent the pull. "No! No! No!" I cried. I don't want to know what a creature like this will do to me! The creature cackled as it yanked me closer. I struggled and fought against the grip of its nails dug into my flesh, earning a grit at my expense.

I fought back tears as I fought even more. Knowing that I've already lost, and I was only delaying the inevitable. The creature wasn't using its full force. I don't want to die at the likes of her! If I have to spend the rest of eternity in this godforsaken place, then I will! I didn't suffer to only find myself at death's door by another! Even my own kind! My own kind betrayed me! Is death patiently waiting for me? Have I cheated myself twice? Is this my punishment? No... I only have myself to blame.

I was reckless and careless... and I showed mercy... I gave mercy to a world that does nothing but hold it against you. I'm weak... and only the weak get beaten, fall and die. If they think I'm weak, I've already lost... I don't want to be weak... If I survive, I'll strengthen myself! A growl emerged from the woods. I catch a glint of glowing amber eyes.

I faced Eloise and smirked at her. "Constance was right, you do belong in hell." She shrieked and stabbed her claws in my flesh. I grimaced. "AHHHHH!" I screamed. I panted and looked at her again. "If only your children can see what you've become..." I grit. She lifted me in the air shrieking abnormally. "I guess it was for the best you never returned." I said struggling in her grip.

She plunged her hand deep in my chest. "AHHHHH!" Tears flowed free as I grimaced from the sharp piercing pains. Her claws scratched and clawed on the inside of my flesh. Tearing and ripping at it, blood gushed and oozed out. Before her hand could reach my heart, Xavier leaped and bit off her hand. I was released with a thud.

Eloise shrieked in pain. Black blood stained his canines, his wolf form changed into a shadowy cloaked one. His back grew wider, and his form grew taller, nearly reaching a tree's height.

His amber eyes morphed into a hellish red. She lunged at him; he moved back swiftly; took advantage of her tentacles and flung her against a tree. She coughed out black blood and looked at him with rage. I sat up holding my sides and gritting through the immense sharp pain.

I could hardly move...one of her tentacles wrapped around my torso and squeezed. "AHHHHHH!" Xavier grabbed a hold of her hair and yanked on it. She clawed at his face, but he did nothing but hold on tighter and crush my sore and sensitive ribs.

Then the squeezing stopped. I hyperventilated, in taking in oxygen, then looked for Xavier.

Eloise's head lay detached from her body. My eyelids became heavy and covered my sight with void. I struggle to pick myself up. A force yank me down. I should've never trusted her! Xavier shifts into his wolf form. Excruciating pain tingles through my body. Her magic seeps through me taking control of my movements.

Suddenly I feel weightless, my feet can't feel the ground! I look down and see the ground far from me. Xavier is in a trance himself, growling and clawing at the ground.

His growls morph into yelped whimpers. Come on Xavier! I need you alive! She's using magic on both of us! Surely, she's losing energy... Xavier lets out another yelp. His eyes turned a ghostly white. No! I'm losing him! I can't take her down! She's a ghost! The only thing living is- Her soul? I concentrate on Eloise, there must be something that I can use to connect to her soul...

"Eloise!" I call out. Whether or not she responds, I know she's listening. "I know you're angry and resentful. And being stuck in this torment for eternity isn't a life you want to endure! I suggest you let go of all your burdens. And only then will you be free." She grits.

"And how do you suppose I do that!"

"Simple, think of all the harboring emotions." I can sense her hold on me get a little weaker.

"Think of the excruciating moments you were put through! The humiliation, the beating." She cries out an unholy scream. "And worst of all... the suffering they put your children through. Of living life without a mother to guide them through life."

Xavier howls in pain and growls, his gray eyes turn a fiery orange. A black flame devours Eloise. I'm released to the ground, and Xavier is no longer in a trance. The flame burns and ignites her soul. Eloise screams once more, breaking into shards of black pieces which disperse.