Stygian Heart

PROLOGUE

"Hey...hey..keep your eyes open," he said, fear and urgency lacing his voice

"Too.. tired" I smiled, even though I could feel my eyes struggling to keep open. "I just... want to sleep"

To which he replied "NO", making me flinch.

"I'm- I'm sorry. But s-seriously try to stay awake... please." His voice trembled, making my chest tighten'

I looked into his eyes which seemed to be glowing against the falling snow and the dreary sky

The snow in his hair made it look like the star-filled night sky.

"I... I don't think I can do it. So.. can you say it? One last time?" I asked noticing the spreading red near my chest.

"We- we're going to make it..." A sob erupted from him "So please... hang on... please" his voice was now trembling, tears slipping down from his eyes, mixing with the blood on his face.

I touched his face, that one action setting my whole body on fire.

He stopped in the middle of the snow-filled field, bloodied tears slipping down his face

"I... really don't think I can hold on..." I gave a weak laugh "So please?"

I felt the tears, cold on my face.

"...I love you" he sobbed. The tears, now falling more urgently, more freely .

I felt the quiet darkness calling me, with open arms.

I knew this would be the last time I would see those radiant eyes. I tried to catch all the small details on his face, how his arms around me felt. How his heartbeat sounded, how his chest rose as he breathed. How his tears fell on me, along with the snow, its mix igniting something painful in me.

I felt it pulling me back, its dark tendrils wrapping around me. And finally, I gave in to the darkness. And just before it wholly consumed me I heard the most heart-wrenching wail I've heard, making me struggle against the neverending darkness.

But it pulled me into its depth, making me its own.

.

.

.

.

.

*Gasp*

my breath came out as clouds against the dark sky, the cold earth biting into my skin. Fear crept into me as I took in my surroundings.

The moonlight, the only source of light that illuminated my vision. The trees around the clearing crowded together, absorbing almost all other lights into its darkness.

I checked for my phone only to come up bare-handed. Questions flowed through my mind. All revolved around where I am and how I got here.

Every survival video I saw at 3 am should've helped me survive being in a forest, at night, all alone... but I don't remember shit.

Guess. I'm gonna die.

First things first, examine your surroundings and look for any weapons. I walked around the clearing looking for anything that could protect me. My unending inspection of the clearing led me to the discovery of a fallen tree branch and tried to lift it. Nop. Too weak for that.

Should probably hit the gym. If I survive.

A few seconds later as I kept on looking I heard a rustle behind me. I ran to the fallen tree branch and tried to lift it