Captive

Impaled

We have been trudging through the snowy forest for what seems like days, made longer from the thick snow. Surely only a few hours had gone by but time seemed to hardly pass as we walked through the hibernating trees. All we had was the general area the creature had been spotted after some hikers got attacked by it, leaving one of them in critical condition.

Crunching of branches has our heads whipping to the side. A large horse-like figure trampling through the snow in the distance. It's huge. Tree branches snap like twigs against the chest of the beast as it presses forwards before stopping to graze. We both freeze in place looking at the unicorn. Its coat is a pale white that glows slightly within the darkness, black splotches cover its shoulder and legs almost as if absorbing the light around it. As it pushes the snow around on the forest floor, a flick of gold catches my eye drawing my attention to the glimpses of horn I can see through the brush. I lean to the side trying to get a better view. *Crunch*

It whips its head towards us and lets out a high pitch scream that cuts the night's air before charging. The thunderous hove beats pound towards us, branches snapping as it rushes us.

"Move!" Lucas yells.

I start running, legs pumping and heart threatening to crawl up my throat. His footsteps follow but soon are getting farther and farther behind me. My feet skid to a stop as I turn to see him booking it towards me. The Unicorn catching on his moving figure. Before I can think better of it I am dashing towards him. The beast ducks its head aiming its pointed horn towards his back.

"Run Rose, what are you doing?!"

It takes no time to reach him and I push at his shoulder throwing him out of the way of the angered creature. Piercing pain lances through my chest, shooting through my body. A scream tears out of me. My legs dangle, hands going to the horn impaling my chest. Blood flows from the base at where the horn is lodged inside me. A cough jolts me, crimson spraying onto the white maine of the animal. The animal trots a few more paces then turns its head to the side before flinging it in the opposite direction. I'm weightless for mere seconds before my body hits a tree. *Snap*

My screech splits the air, thundering through my own ears. White scalding pain explodes through my back. My now broken back. All I can do is lay there watching the mythical being lumber forward to me. It lifts a hooved leg bringing it down on my hip, splintering the bone with one hit. Another scream wrenches from me. The pain scorches my veins, vision blurring in and out as the pain tries to take me under. A loud pop sounds, the ear shattering cry of the beast causing my ears to ring. Two more identical pops ring before the unicorn falls with a hard thump, shaking the ground beneath my body.

"Fucking dumb girl! Fucking idiotic!" Lucas' tone is harsh with anger and worry, rushing to my broken body.

He shakes his head, fumbling with the bag on his back. Trembling fingers undo the pack and to pull out blood bags.

"You are so lucky I went to get these this morning. I had a nagging feeling something like this would happen." His tone is clipped.

Hands pull me up into a sitting position against the tree, making me cry out in pain. The wounds have started to heal a bit but not enough to stop the gush of blood from my chest. He tears off his winter jacket pulling off his sweater before putting it to my chest to try to staunch the flow.

"Hold this." His hands place mine on the fabric.

Blood floods past my dry lips and down my throat. One bag after another until I finish three. I can feel the tissue of my chest mending itself, fusing the hole back together. My back is the first thing that heals fully. Whimpers push past my lips as minutes pass. I keep my eyes pinched closed waiting for the pain to fade. Waiting for the unnerving feeling of my skin and bones rebuilding themselves.