The Awakened

Chapter 11

In an instant, I had clambered onto my feet and began sprinting towards the outline of trees off in the distance. Chase followed suit, his shoes making loud crunches as we ran. As we moved deeper into the never-ending darkness, I could see the figure of my brother closely, but he always seemed barely out of reach.

"Jackson!" I yelled out. "Where are you going?" No response. He wasn't running, yet I still couldn't reach him. I had begun to heave in breaths of air, the forest growing closely knit together. The branches dug deeply into my skin like thorns. Deep lacerations, along with purple blotches littered my skin by now. I needed to get to him. In an instant, he vanished from sight, I began to struggle against the branches. Each one tearing me backward.

An eternity later, we had finally made our way out of the dense tree wall and into a large clearing. The wall of trees formed a perfect circle of life. However, the ones opposite us were all dead and decaying, a black gooey substance tainting them all. To my horror within the clearing was Jackson absentmindedly making his way towards a figure. It had pale white skin that was stark against the black trees behind it. The fingers it had were long and filthy, its claws reaching out towards my brother, caressing him. Its teeth were ragged, sharp a very disturbing shade of reddish brown coating them.

My heart was in my throat, my lungs were clenched, I couldn't find oxygen to breathe. I ran towards the center of the circle trying to make it to Jackson, before its mouth- Chomp. The crunch of flesh and bones could be heard from where I stood. The eerie sound of his scream penetrated my ears. The creature had taken Jackson into his arms, ripping out his entrails with its crooked smile. It looked like it enjoyed ripping him apart, Jackson's blood began seeping into the grass. I screamed, making the creature look up at me. As soon as it saw me, it dropped his body onto the ground, fleeing from the scene. The world was blank, all I could see was Jackson lying on the ground heaving in breaths. I ran the rest of the way to him, collapsing to the crimson-stained grass, I pulled him into my lap. The smell of copper was everywhere, blood stark against my clothing along with Jackson's.

"K-kayla," He gasped, blood trickling out of his mouth as he coughed up more of the crimson liquid, heaving in shaky breaths, "I-I'm scared," I pulled him close to my chest, tears staining my face and stinging a deep cut near my eye. I could feel Chase's presence beside me as he gently stroked Jackson's hair.

"It's okay bubba, it'll be okay, you're going to be fine," I choked out, caressing his face gently. Blood continued to flow out of the large wound across his stomach. I began to cry harder knowing that there was nothing I could do to help.

"Don't cry Kayla," he spoke softly looking at me, his blue-green eyes growing darker. "K-kayla where did you go? p-please don't leave me-"

I grabbed his hand, holding it to my chest. "I'm still here bubba, I promise I-I'd never leave you." I pulled him closer as a weak smile crossed his face one last time. My stomach heaved, as I screamed his name, tears choking my words, closing my throat. Chase kneeled beside me, his hands squeezing my shoulders in an attempt to comfort me. I sobbed harder against Jackson's forehead.

"Makayla, I-" I looked at Chase, my eyes stung, my heart was shattered. A pained expression crossed his face. "It isn't your fault; I don't want you to think it-."

"It is my fault," I pulled Jackson's corpse closer, "I wasn't paying attention, I-I couldn't get-" my voice cracked as hot tears streamed down my face. Chase pulled me into his arms, I sobbed, my chest feeling tight. Jackson lay on me, still, his eyes void of life, body pale. Off in the distance, I heard the loud howl of sirens. I could only assume that Chase had called the ambulance as I lay with my brother. His hands were cold against my own.

The next three hours were a complete blur, an ambulance took us to the hospital. By the time they arrived, it was already much too late to help him. Sometime later, we were in a car with my parents who had arrived not much later than the ambulance at the hospital. Nobody said anything the entire drive, at least if they had, I wasn't paying attention to them. The day's carnage soaked my clothes, my heart felt empty. I was numb.

We arrived home sometime later. My parents seemed fine as I stole a glance their way. Not a hair out of place, no redness in the whites of their eyes to portray they felt a thing. The car door opened, startling me out of my thoughts. Chase carefully grabbed my hand, helping me up as he led me to the front door, making sure I stood upright. I felt as though I'd collapse, my body shook uncontrollably. He took me to my room, grabbed me new clothes from my wardrobe to change into then made his way into the bathroom. I heard the familiar tap of water against tile begin before he exited the room and walked my way.

"Makayla," Chase stood in front of me, speaking quietly, "I know you probably don't want to do anything right now, and that's very understandable. However, you need to clean up so you can sleep. I'll be waiting for you out here, then we can talk. Okay?" I glanced up at him, my eyes still burned with a familiar sting, all I could do was nod my head. I avoided his gaze as I stood and shakily made my way to the bathroom.

The steam from the shower had already fogged up the mirrors in the room. I shut the door behind me and began to take off my crimson-stained clothes. The scent of metal had become all too apparent as I stood by myself. I gagged, running to the toilet where I threw up my lunch along with bile. I heard the sound of footsteps followed by a quick set of knocks.

"Are you alright?" The voice on the other side asked, concern controlling their voice. I continued to vomit before I was able to speak.

I struggled with the words; however, I got them out fast enough to prevent him from entering. "I'm fine Chase, I'll-I'll, ugh." I dry heaved this time, my stomach empty.

"Are you sure, you don't-"

"I'm fine." I heard a thud against the floor which I could only assume was Chase sitting down. The water still ran within the shower, but even so I could make out his faint broken voice.

"I'm so sorry."