RUN

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Devil's Pursuit

The darkness poured out of me like a tidal wave, crashing into the sleepy town of Ravenswood. Windows shattered, doors splintered, and screams echoed through the night as I rampaged unchecked. The entity's power coursed through my veins, fueling my twisted limbs and warped mind. I was no longer human, but a vessel for the abyssal horror that had consumed me. And yet, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of awareness flickered within. A spark of my former self, trapped deep beneath the monster's surface, screamed in terror, helpless to stop the destruction.

I tore through the streets, leaving a trail of devastation in my wake. Cars crumpled like paper, buildings shuddered, and the screams of the terrified townsfolk filled the air. The entity's power surged with each destruction, feeding on the chaos. My mind, now a distant echo, recoiled in horror as I watched myself commit unspeakable atrocities. A child's toy, abandoned on the sidewalk, caught my attention. I picked it up, and for an instant, a fleeting memory of innocence and joy flickered. The entity snuffed it out, replacing it with an insatiable hunger for destruction. The toy shattered in my grasp, its plastic fragments scattered like tiny bones.

A figure emerged from the shadows, a fleeting glimpse of determination in her eyes. Sarah, my sister, stood tall, her voice piercing the chaos. "Alex, stop! Fight it!" She reached out, as if her touch could shatter the entity's hold. For an instant, our gazes locked, and a spark of recognition flickered. The entity sneered, its presence surging to snuff out the glimmer of hope. I raised a twisted hand, and Sarah stumbled back, her eyes wide with terror. "Run!" she screamed, turning to flee. But I was already upon her, the entity's power propelling me forward with an otherworldly speed.

Sarah's feet pounded the pavement, her breathless screams echoing off the buildings. I gained on her, my twisted legs carrying me with an unnatural speed. The entity's power coursed through me, reveling in the hunt. Sarah darted into a narrow alley, hoping to lose me in its darkness. But I followed, my eyes glowing with an otherworldly light, illuminating the shadows. She stumbled, her foot catching on a discarded trash can. As she fell, I loomed over her, my hands reaching out like claws. Sarah's eyes locked onto mine, searching for any remnants of her brother. For a fleeting instant, I hesitated.

In that moment of hesitation, Sarah saw an opportunity. She reached out, her hand grasping for mine, her eyes pleading. "Alex, come back to me!" she screamed, her voice piercing the darkness. The entity snarled, its power surging to resist. But I felt a tremor, a faint crack in its hold. Memories flooded my mind: laughter, tears, and whispers of childhood secrets shared with Sarah. The entity raged against the intrusion, but I clung to the memories, my grip on them tenuous. Sarah's hand touched mine, and a jolt of humanity sparked within. For an instant, I was Alex again, not a monster.

The entity shrieked in fury, its hold on me faltering. I felt its grip loosen, like chains slipping from my wrists. Sarah's hand tightened around mine, her eyes burning with tears. "Alex, fight it!" she screamed, her voice a battle cry. I stumbled backward, the entity's power receding like a retreating tide. My vision cleared, and I saw the devastation around me - shattered buildings, shattered lives. Horror dawned on me, and I collapsed to my knees, Sarah's hand still clasped in mine. For a moment, we just breathed, the only sound our ragged gasps.

But the entity would not relinquish its hold without a fight. It stirred, its presence churning like a maelstrom in my mind. I felt its anger, its hunger, its malevolent intent. Sarah's hand tightened around mine, a lifeline to sanity. "Don't let it win, Alex," she whispered, her voice a steady anchor. I gritted my teeth, steeling myself for the battle ahead. The entity unleashed a torrent of visions, each one a twisted nightmare: ravaged streets, screams, and death. I stumbled, my grip on reality faltering. Sarah's voice cut through the chaos, "Alex, focus! You are stronger!"