Devil's Creation

Chapter 9

I could feel the dirt between my toes, as I sprinted through the forest barefoot. The slight breeze caused my hair to whip across my face and through the branches of reaching trees, while I jumped over roots and logs. Adrenaline courses through my entire body, the only thing keeping me from stopping.

I could hear screaming all around me, both male and female. They scream bloody murder, and I realize I'm trying to run away from the noise. But no matter how far or which way I ran, the screeches became louder and more desperate.

I suddenly tripped over a root that was sticking out of the ground and fell face-first onto the hard surface. The screams now sounded as though they were coming from within my own head. I clamped my hands over my ears in a desperate attempt to shut out the noises. It didn't help one bit, but I continued to stay in that position.

After a few minutes of this - lying on the hard ground with my hands covering my ears - I realized the screaming had stopped. But I also noticed that I was now the one screaming. I carefully took my hands away from my head, and closed my open mouth and then looked around at my surroundings.

I'm in the middle of a clumpy grass clearing, large dark green trees circled the area, but beyond the first few rings of trees there was just pure darkness. I then looked up to the sky and saw the moon full and hovering right over top, stars sprinkled around the edges. The moon casted an eerie glow onto my skin and the grass around me.

I then finally looked down at the root that had tripped me, and let out a small scream which only lasted a second because my voice cut off from fright. Down right in front of me was a bloody leg sticking out of the ground. I wasn't quite sure whether the leg had been chopped off or even buried there with the rest of the body, but I didn't want to wait around to find out.

I backed up as fast as I could and away from the limb, while hot tears started streaming down my face. I then bumped into something. I turned slowly around, hoping to god I had just hit a tree trunk, but behind me there was absolutely nothing. Turning back around, my brows furrowed in confusion. I then stopped and held my breath.

Standing right in front of me, stood a very tall monster looking thing. It didn't look remotely human. It's greyish skin was pulled tightly over it's elongated skeleton. It's arms were just as long as its legs and at the end of each hand, had five long, sharp, and dirty claws. Black, ripped fabric circled the monster.

I looked slowly up from its body and into its large red eyes. The eyes had been sunken into the skull. It didn't even have a mouth or nose, just the glowing red eyes. I then finally let out the scream that was building its way out of my throat. The trees started to disappear, along with the monster. Leaving me in complete darkness.

* * *

I woke up with a scream, which cut off as soon as I realized I'm in my small, cramped room. My familiar white, popcorn ceiling and the off-white walls. My phone, sketchbook and pencils, littering the edges of my bed and the floor.

I sat up slowly as I took in deep breaths to calm myself, and then looked over at my clock. It's 4:03. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, knowing I wont be able to get back to sleep.

I then suddenly stopped what I was doing, remembering my parents in the other room. My scream had to have woken them up. I listened intently for any sign that I may have woken one or both of them up. But silence was the only thing that followed, along with the slight ringing in my ears.

They must still be at work. I thought, as I threw the covers off myself.

I then let out a gasp and froze.

I am covered in dirt.