If I Stay

Chapter 1 - Other Dangers

You often dreamt of a life away from here, the village you called home rather drab and boring in comparison to books you read. The buildings were run down, the sky grey and sad, the winters harsh and unforgiving - especially for those who lived off the agriculture - which was... well, everyone. The winter nights left you starving and cold, the only thing giving you hope being Mother Miranda. She would save us if things got too dire, she had saved us once before, providing us with a bounty of things from the outside world. But you strived to be free from this place, and it often left you daydreaming instead of doing your daily chores.

A firm hand grasping your shoulder caused you to startle. "They're here..." Your mother whispered.

Them. The lycans.

It wasn't often they appeared; but when they did, the village suffered. Terrorized in the streets and in their homes, there was no other choice but to run or hide.

You heard them before you saw them, their claws scraping on the roof outside. Silently, you trailed behind your mother as you made your way to the cellar entrance, where you kept the harvest and other produce to last you through the barren months. It was frigid and devoid of light, but anything to protect yourselves from them.

The pair of you stumbled through the doorway and froze, three lycans, their hands caked in gore and blood. Some poor bastard's remains lay atop the trap door in the floor. Each head snapped in your direction, joints cracking as they let disgusting hisses leave their mouths, teeth bared. Slowly, you shifted your foot back, the floorboard groaning under your weight.

Your mother swallowed hard. "Run."

Ready to protest, you opened your mouth, but you were quickly spun around and shoved. You gasped, but your body carried you with a fervor you didn't know you possessed. Their inhuman cries filled the air, ringing in your ears as the home was destroyed behind you; glass breaking and wood snapping, what few belongings you had thrown or trampled over in a desperate attempt to reach you.

But you ran.

Bursting out the front door, you had to make a quick decision - go further into the town and hope to find safety with any other survivors, or go through the woods and attempt to return tomorrow... if you survive the night. If I stay here, I'll die.

The sound of feet pounding into the earth in your direction decided for you as you ran for the distance trees. Your blood was rushing in your ears, your heart thudding heavily in your chest, but you still heard the steps approaching. Willing your body to carry you faster, your lungs were beginning to burn -

A scream of agony ripped from your throat as the monster's claws caught you across the ribs, tearing your clothes and flesh. Warmth bloomed there, but you kept pushing, the lycan snarling and taunting you now, keeping right at your heels.

The distance between you seems to grow as you continue pushing, running for your life. This beast must not enjoy the chase as much as another might have. You finally broke through the threshold of the trees, the ground beneath you growing mossy and covered in various vines, making it harder to traverse. But nevertheless, you persisted. Your pace has slowed, your limbs were sore and the white hot pain in your side hadn't ceased, in fact, it throbbed then. With each stride a small burst of heat pulsed there. It wasn't unbearable, but it needed to be tended to soon.

A river bisected the path you'd determined for yourself. You could follow it upstream, unsure where it would lead you. But following it downstream meant going back to town... You stopped for only a moment, taking in the severity of your wound, and to catch your breath. Grasping onto your side, you panted, a sharp pain in your lungs accompanied by the thundering rhythm of your heart. You stared at the water ahead of you, weighing out your options.