Coven

Chapter Eight (The Present)

Like A Drug

You hear them before you see them. The soft footfalls and even softer breathing is hard to pick out from behind the drawn-out cries and screams, but you know they're there. They aren't the council's hunters, because hunters won't waste time. They'd be on you in seconds; too eager for payment to actually entertain the idea of making a scene. It can't be the police either. The screams are blood curdling. Beyond anything a mere human can cause.

You can only imagine the worst thing to be causing the sound. Something worthy of a nightmare, or even a feature length horror film. Maybe it will be revealed to be a Lovecraftian monster that breaks the minds of those in its forest. It could be a creature you've yet to meet, a werewolf or one of those harpies Adam said went extinct so many years ago. Unfortunately, you know that isn't the case. That would have been too much of a blessing.

The stench of blood stings your nose. It's fresh, but full of fear and bitter adrenaline. Some of it's old, most of it young, and all of it is from the people you've come to know over these few weeks. It's hard to wrap your mind around just how many have fallen, how many smells and sounds are individuals rather than just one or two people with rotten qualities. However, you know the reality of the situation when the heartbeats of the camps begin to dwindle out, the breaths disappearing as people die. Their scents begin to fade into new, mingled smells. Something you guess to be a by-product of blood mixing amongst the fallen.

A sense of newfound dread washes over your body as you take in the execution from afar. You heard from the resurrected that death was peaceful. That even in fire and pain, it would feel more like a relief than a true end. You can't see how that applies here. The woods radiate slaughter, not something serene. There's no beauty, only the terrifying reality of finality and how brutal it can be.

The smell of death overwhelms you, squeezing your lungs as if you'd inhaled smoke. You gasp for air, but can't get anything past the terror that rips through you. Your body is torn between throwing up and crying. It splits the difference, with choked sobs pouring from your throat as the few remaining screams begin to fade out in the background. The air goes still for a moment afterwards. Even with the silence, you know it's not over. It never is.

"Hello," You hear from off to the side. The voice is smooth, cold, and unfeeling. You're reluctant to turn towards the male offering the greeting. You know why he's here. A wishful part of you believes that perhaps just forgetting to address him will erase all that. Will make him forget you, and make you forget him. Yet, you know avoiding the confrontation will not make this go away. So, amongst the chaos, you meet their gazes.

You don't act strong as you face them. It's not like that was possible anyways. You'd be lying to yourself, and you know they wouldn't shy from this fact. If it was Adam, he would degrade you for your false sense of strength. Micheal might call you cute and you know Grant wouldn't even acknowledge it in favor of fretting over your state of disrepair. However, you can't tell who is with you now. Without initially seeing their forms, it's nearly impossible due to the scent coverings they're obviously wearing. It doesn't matter anyways. Whoever they are, they'd most likely use your facade to their advantage.

"It's good to see you again, (Y/n)," The petite male says, brown eyes softening upon catching your form. The monster before you is drenched; covered head to toe in gore. He is almost unrecognizable behind all the red, but you know Fai's face anywhere. Especially in blood, "I'm happy to see you're okay."

Your breath grows rapidly, torn between terror and anger when you realize just exactly which of your pursuers has taken a spot in front of you. All you can do is shout, "What were you thinking? These people were innocent! And you killed them all!"