Head bashed, car destroyed, this overbearing ringing fogs my head. Fading in and out of consciousness I saw a glimpse of the creatures that took my daughter into dark. The shadows with red eyes.
How the HELL did I end-up here? Sitting ducks on route 666.
Shaniya laying back mouth just open and slobbering. She knocked out like Nate Robinson in the passenger seat. In all her 14 years salting this earth she's never seen me scared, not once.
How could I? A father is suppose to be like Superman in their daughters eyes. Able to shield her from harm and protect her heart. My fears and I have always been oil and water.
Although right about now I looked more scared than that pastor they found tipping out the Ho-House.
One thing I know for sure is we got to get out of here.
The bass cello thumping in my heart hits a jazz beat after I get out the car. Locking the car and trekking down the road to ET phone home our way out of here.
All the while still being within eyesight of the car where she's sleeping. No need to wake her up and gift her the shakes of panic. Lord knows that's the last thing I need right now.
All these thoughts running across my head while looking down at my phone, trying to see if I can get a signal out here in the sticks.
Then, a screeching glass shattering scream from the car grabbed the night. With all I'm worth I damn near floated back to the car I ran so fast.
Only to discover the vehicle's been ripped and torn apart. I don't understand, how all this carnage happen in the blink of an eye. It looked like a pride of lions molested the car.
Who could have done this? Who Or what took my daughter?
As every possible emotion ran through my body I saw their was a note on the there was a note on the shredded seats with chaotic writing in fresh blood smelling of rotten eggs. It says, "BACK IN BLOOD." Stepping back taking this all in I studied the note absorbing the bloodlust behind it.
I've been a wildlife expert for over 25 years and I've tangoed with the best of them.
The slithering death that is The Black Mamba, the man-eating tigers of India to the homicidal murder horses, the African hippo. I even danced with the indomitable African lion. One day I thought I saw the last deep in the mouth of a Nile crocodile, but no I survived, no I thrives from each tight-rope encounter.
Though never..EVER have I ever felt this suffocating level of fear reverberating through-out every atom of my body.
Whatever left this note is not of this place...
Examining the mangled car parts I see claw marks I've never come across before. It looked like it was melting as it slashed its marks.
I step back with frightful confused feet to get the bigger picture. A trail of blood unveils itself leading into the woods off the side of the road reflecting the light off the full moon.
The dreadful thought of it being hers...I denied the offer as I couldn't harbor the thought, though waves of fear and panic washed over me.
Taking what feels like an eternity getting my mind and soul right I start to intensely track the trail of blood hoping and praying it's not Shaniya.
Trekking through the uneasy silence of the forest, the moonlight uncovers the path of blood. I can't help but notice the trail gives the illusion of sprinkled droppings of pure red ruby jewels blessing this forest with its shine.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I shouldn't be surprised if it came from my little dove, she's the kindest and most kindred spirit on this ball of rock.
As I follow the red ruby road I slowly start to notice changes in the flora and fauna. From full, lushes, and vibrant, to dark, dismembered, decomposed. It felt lifeless, the feeling of life ripped out of all the surrounding area is an undeniable fact.
The tumor of fear the size of a blue whale in my soul keeps growing. I quite literally piss down the side of my leg. The only thing keeping me going is the thought of my dove at the end of this trail.
I hear a whisper of music, me exhilarated by the sound of it. Whoever this Pied Piper is, he's gone be performing for the almighty after I'm done with him. Eventually the cursed sound leads me to a clearing in the forest and there it was...
The House.
____________________________________
Read with headphones or earbuds theirs music and it makes the experience better.
