Dedicated to: My two editors. Thanks so much for encouraging me, even when it's late at night.
Song: From The Ground, by Hollywood Undead
I breathed heavily as I ran. It was so bad, you could hear the wheeze clearly and spit ran down my chin from violent coughing. My head felt as if it were to expload should I cough one more time, or my lungs would pop like a balloon, or I was to black out if i took one more step. One..more...step...
I had been running too long, I had lost too much blood, I had lost too much in general.
I fell face first into the mud. As soon as I stopped, I couldn't even fathom getting up, or hardly moving for that matter. Rain pelted around me and my labored breaths spewed steam into the cold dark air. I winced, clutching the wound on my side.
Dear God, please let me live, I thought desperately, then stopped. With all that's been lost to me in this world...was life even worth fighting for? Would it even be worth it to try, to try to continue living?
I could hear it, closing in, and warm blood oozed between my fingers.
I suspected that it was done playing with me, and that I could finally stop fighting, let go of this pain.
I was so wrong.
The snarling creature's eyes were a deep, blood red, as dark as the liquid that drenched my ripped side. Its breath fanned my face as its claws- dripping in my blood- brushed away the matted hair framing my face.
"Ah, my dear Althea," the beast growled, it's voice deep like thunder. "Shouldn't have come out," with each word its grisly mouth neared my face, saliva dripping onto my throat. "To play."
For a second I wondered how it could speak. It looked like a giant wolf, and a giant man. Was it possible, or am I just some crazy person hallucinating before I die? No, this was real and I knew it.
Should I give up now, let the pain consume me and succumb to a horrible death?
My sister came to mind. "If I don't fight it's like being buried alive."
I pushed myself to lean up, propping myself on my elbow. "I am not," with each word I felt my voice rise, "your ANYTHING!" I screamed into the air, my own roar tearing through my throat.
The wolf like creature stumbled back, covering his ears. Then he looked up with a malicious grin and grabbed me by the throat.
"No!"
I cut of in a harsh cough, and I could taste blood as it's hand squeezed, causing dark spots to appear in my vision.
He threw me, and my back cracked against the trunk of a tree.
I could take no more. I shook with the effort of breathing and I writhed in pain. But I refused to be his plaything, I refused to be this monster's prey.
He raised his arm, preparing to strike, the silvery moonlight glinting off his long, scarlet covered claws.
"Go to Hell, dog," I spat, lifting my head to meet my murderer's gaze.
And that's when bright eyes appeared in the trees, multiple pairs surrounding us.
The thing turned around to face the snarls, whatever was hiding in the shadows having caught his attention.
And suddenly, I was being picked up, and I cried out in pain. I kept my head towards the beast as these giant wolves leaped out of the shadows and onto my attacker, engaging in a brutal fight.
There were so many, I was sure the creature would be killed as they beared down on him, clumps of fur flying.
A terrifying scream pierced the air and I felt my head fill will fuzz, forcing me to close my eyes.
I could only wonder...
Was the beast the only fatality, or did he make it? More importantly, am I ever going to wake up?
~~~
Everything was in slow motion. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears, like a gigantic river. Panic laced my veins and I was shaky, so shaky and terrified.
"Please!" I sobbed. I was scared for my life. I had no control of my body, and i felt like i couldn't breathe. I rapidly gasped, inhaling as much oxygen as i could, but it wasnt enough.
What was wrong with me? I couldn't see, it was pitch black.
And then I saw it.
It was a naked man, crouched in the cover of the shadows made by the thick, intertwined branches of the dead trees...the whole forest was dead. There were no stars, just the big full moon. Its light just had to make every detail more menacing.
I could hear the man's bones crack sickeningly, and I could hear the beastly growls erupting from his throat.
Curiosity struck me, and I wanted to brush the hair covering his face so I could see what he looked like, but that was stupid. Definitely where 'curiosity killed the cat' applies. I was the cat, and he was curiosity.
The man started to convulse, unrecognizable shrieks filled the air.
My feet refused to move, my lungs refused to calm, my eyes refused to shut and spare me this god awful sight.
When will it end? Was all i could think.
It was torture, cruel and horrific torture, to witness this.
I choked on tears as the scene unfolded. The man...wasn't even a man anymore. It had claws like knives and teeth like razors, elongated canines dripping stringy saliva.
It stood, his red glare landing hatefully on mine. It then traveled down...to my neck.
He wanted to tear my throat out. I could already imagine him gleefully ripping me, limb from limb, and possibly devouring my bruised, bloody, and incredibly dead flesh, for God's sake! And all I could do is sit there and just wait for him to murder me.
I willed myself to scream or to run, but nothing worked. I swear i'm not tasty! I wanted to shout. I'm not worth this much trouble for your dinner!
And then something flashed in the back of my mind. I remembered that the wolves killed this creature, i remembered being dragged away and blacking out. This was a dream. No, a nightmare.
I finally got to scream as the beast tore into my throat, and i saw my own blood spray into the air.
It felt so real, except I felt no pain when he tore into me...
My body collapsed to the cold, hard ground, and I awoke screaming my throat raw.
Aye, nothing like starting out a story with some good old gore. But what do you all think? Please leave your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to vote if you liked!
P.s:
Sorry for such a short chapter! (I didn't quite reach my 2,000 word limit)
