Beyond the Veil

Chapter 36

Sera stood in the rain-soaked street, surrounded by an assembly of ethereal figures. The restless spirits seemed to sense her presence, their translucent eyes turning toward her. An intense mixture of terror and wonder gripped her, but there was no time to linger in this spectral congregation.

Fear gripped her tightly as she heard the monster behind her apartment door stirring, cracking the fragile wooden door that held it at bay. She had seconds at most.

As she shifted her gaze from the eerie apparitions, a bone-chilling sound reached her ears—a sinister scratching and thudding, accompanied by low growls. The monster was attempting to break free, and it was growing more frantic by the second.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Sera dashed toward her car, fumbling for her keys. Rain poured down in torrents as the world blurred around her.

She could hear the spirits calling her name, their voices like distant echoes, urging her to face the terror behind her.

She had to escape.

She flung herself into the car, her hands trembling as she jammed the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life, and she sped away from the apartment building. In her rearview mirror, she saw the door splinter, and the grotesque form of the monster pushed its way into the outside world.

The creature craned its neck in her direction, hyperfocused on her car. In seconds it was gaining ground, its malevolent presence creeping closer, and the rain-slicked streets turned into a battleground for survival.

Sera slammed her foot on the gas and drove haphazardly through the grass onto the empty street, the monster relentless in its pursuit.

The chase was an adrenaline-fueled nightmare, with the world of the living and the spirit world colliding in a terrifying collision.

Sera's breaths came in ragged gasps as she swerved and skidded through the rain-soaked streets, hearing loud growls rumbling from behind her.

The chase was a tumultuous clash of worlds, a visceral manifestation of her newfound sight. As Sera barreled through the rain, haunted by the spirits and pursued by the abominable creature, she wasn't sure if she would make it to the forest in time before it caught her.

The car hydroplaned and jerked wildly to the right, Sera pulled the wheel with all of her strength to get it back on course. The beast caught up and lept wildly, aiming for the car, it jumped too far and landed in front of the vehicle.

Sera slammed on the gas, revving the car straight towards the monster. At impact it was thrown to the right, crashing into a street light, bringing it down in its wake.

Sera accelerated, praying the car would make it before the street light fell and blocked the road. The car propelled forward and the streetlight fell and crashed onto the trunk of the car, ricocheting off of the back of the vehicle, ripping off one of the brake lights.

She could hear the sound of the active wires falling into the wet street, it was a loud electric rumble and a crackle that ran all the way up to the power lines.

The power lines shorted in a large flurry of electricity that lit up the darkest depths of the sky. One by one the street lamps along the road began to go out.

Sera could barely see past the torrenting rain and the shoddy headlights of her old car. She didn't hear anymore growls, and desperately wished to know if the monster was dead or had retreated.

She drove wildly until she arrived in her familiar parking spot. She whipped the car into the spot and threw herself out of the vehicle.

She really saw for the first time that the forest was a very dark place. A spiritual breeding ground.