Apodidraskinda

Depleting Thread

Its near rotting skin covering twitching muscle as the body weakly attempted to crawl its way to a nearby door. What's behind it? I took a step back, frankly, I was repulsed by it. Willow crouched down for a reason I can only assume to be examine it closer. Her hand was quivering as it hovered over the struggling body, almost as if she were going to touch it. She quickly pulled back and stood up again, clearly uncomfortable. 

"Where do you think it's trying to go?" She said, eyeing a door directly in front of it. We both knew where it was heading, though neither of us had the courage to point it out. 

"Oh, here by the way." I say in an attempt to break tension, handing Willow her weapon back.

 "Thanks," she said, dully. I failed to lighten the mood, miserably. 

I step over the half alive corpse, preparing myself to see what's inside of such an ominous room. Shakily, I grab the handle. Peeking into the room, I saw blood. Walls, the welcome mat, and even the screen monitors were dyed a crimson red. I push the door completely open. 

The room highly resembled something from a horror movie. Blood, a rotting stench, and a static screen on all monitors but one. A corpse of what looked like a baby was on the floor behind a chair. I refuse to go in, I wouldn't have had the strength to come back out if I had entered. A child. Some poor child had died in this room. To think that, even after death, that this mother, father—this thing—is still trying to protect its baby is petrifying. Maybe we should end it's suffering here—no... that would be cruel.

"That's horrifying..." Willow says with wary eyes. I pull the door as shut as I can manage, leaving a small opening for the poor undead soul that had been cursed to such torment to enter, to let it cradle its baby for the rest of eternity. We turned our backs to that building and made our way through the doors. I looked back pitifully at the corpse that sat still a foot away from where we had found it. It didn't manage to reach the room.

We didn't need to speak to agree that we'd rather risk it with the General than stay in there any longer. I step outside, only to be greeted by nothing but the heat of the warm sun above us.

"Maybe it returned to its post?" I said, both hopeful and nervous. 

"Most likely, though we should still be on edge." Willow pauses to hear for any cues, which there are none. 

"We should rest and make camp somewhere else. This place is unsafe." Willow says, I agree. I really wouldn't mind camping close so we can keep an eye on them but whatever makes her comfortable is more than fine with me. 

As I laid on the cold dirt with nothing more than a jacket to keep me warm, I lost myself in thought. I hadn't realized how our time had been depleting, like thread from a ball of yarn. Our time as kids, our time alive, even our time in this world is draining. Will we ever escape this world? It's alright though. I'll be okay. 

I'll be just fine, just as long as Willow stays with me, as I will with her.