Heaven: A Maiden's Curse

09 - The Red Terror

The air felt heavier as we pressed deeper into the woods. The journal's copies were tucked safely into her bag. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched—not just by the shadows that clung to the edges of our path, but by something far worse.

"I don't like this," I muttered.

"You don't have to like it," she replied coldly, her pace unrelenting. "You just have to survive it."

Before I could retort, the ground beneath us trembled slightly. A grotesque figure emerged from the shadows, its form shifting as if caught between two worlds. It wasn't fully human, nor was it entirely shadow—a bloated, monstrous shape that moved with deliberate slowness. Its skin was a deep, cursed crimson, veins pulsing with inky black.

Its face was unmistakably human, twisted into a permanent sneer. Its eyes burned with a cruel intelligence, and when it spoke, its voice was sharp and grating.

"Well, well, look at you two idiots wandering where you shouldn't," it said, crossing its thick arms over its grotesque torso. "You're just as stupid as the last fools who thought they could outsmart Hyacinth."

The woman stepped forward, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon. "Who are you?"

The creature laughed, a sound like nails scraping against stone. "Who am I? Oh, you sweet, clueless child. I was once a man, cursed like the rest, but I... adapted." It spread its arms mockingly. "Do you like what you see? This is what happens when you meddle in things beyond your understanding."

I clenched my fists, stepping closer. "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" The creature's red face twisted into a grin. "To waste your time, of course. You're doing an excellent job of it yourselves, fighting over scraps of a journal."

His words struck a nerve. "What do you mean, 'waste our time'?"

The creature tilted its head mockingly. "That copy you've been bickering over? It  won't lead you to Hyacinth. It's just riddles, fragments of fragments. But don't worry—it's got just enough crumbs to keep you chasing your tails."

My heart sank. "So you're saying it's useless?"

"Not entirely," it said with a cruel smile. "It holds clues, of course, but you're missing something... something important. And without it, well, let's just say Hyacinth's got nothing to fear from you."

I took a step closer, ignoring the woman's sharp glance. "Then tell us what we're missing."

The creature's smile vanished. "You think I'l| just hand it over? Fool."

Before I could react, it lunged, moving far faster than its bloated form suggested. Its massive fist swung toward me, and l barely had time to throw up my arms before the impact sent me flying. Pain exploded through my body as I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from my lungs.

The woman's voice cut through the haze. "What the hell are you doing?"

I groaned, pushing myself up. "Getting answers."

"By letting it kill you?" she snapped, rushing to my side.

The creature laughed again, its slow, deliberate movements belying its immense strength. "You're amusing, I'l give you that. But this is pointless. You can't beat me. Not as you are."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll find a way."

"Oh, l'm sure you'll try," it said, its tone dripping with mockery. "But just so you know, I'm in no rush. Take your time. Waste it, for all I care. Hyacinth's enjoying the show."

I struggled to my feet, my ribs aching. "If you know where she is, why not tell us? What's the point of this game?"

The creature's grin returned, wider and more menacing. "The point? The point is that I don't answer to you, little boy. But I'll give you one hint, just because I'm feeling generous: if you want to find her, you'll need more than just that journal. You'll need something else... something only she can give you."

"What is it?" I demanded, but the creature only chuckled, shaking its grotesque head.

"That would be telling," it said. "And where's the fun in that?"

Before I could press further, the woman pulled me back. "We need a plan," she hissed. "Charging at this thing isn't going to work."

"He's slow," I said, wincing as I clutched my side. "But strong. If we can outmaneuver him—"

"Outmaneuver him how?" she snapped. "He's got the advantage. And if what he's saying is true, we're already at a disadvantage with this journal nonsense."

The creature watched us with amusement, leaning against a tree like a predator toying with its prey. "Take your time, little ones. I'm not going anywhere."

Her jaw tightened. "We have to kill him. He's not going to let us leave otherwise."

I nodded, wiping the blood from my lip. "Then let's figure out how."

As we strategized in hushed tones, the creature's mocking laughter echoed through the woods. The eerie atmosphere thickened, the oppressive darkness pressing in on us. Every shadow seemed alive, every sound amplified.

We didn't have much time.

And for the first time, I felt the weight of our mission—not just the danger, but the overwhelming odds stacked against us.

But we couldn't give up. Not now.

Not when Hyacinth was so close.