Roads To Hell: A Horror Anthology

Part 6 - The Anointed One

The winter sun had long since set in a spectacular display of colour, light refracting off the day's pollution in gaudy opulence. The price of progress – to suffocate in poisonous fumes but be mesmerised by its aurora metropolis.

Danny had missed it. Somehow he'd gotten turned around in the old forest, just across the bay from the city of Vancouver. He'd wandered away, confident that he would catch up with the group later on. And then he'd been sure he would find his way back. Somehow, he'd only managed to go deeper into the heart of the forest.

Bright green moss covered the trees, from the trunk to the lower hanging leaves, drinking in the mist swirling through the undergrowth. The leaves of the ancient trees blocked out the sky, except for a few patches were a hint of moonlight trickled through. The air itself felt moist and heavy; Danny could almost feel it in his lungs with each rasping breath.

There was no denying it now. He was lost. And – he checked his near depleted phone – there was no reception. Fuckity fuck. Well, he reasoned, he had a couple of choices. Sit tight and hope someone found him (unlikely) or keep walking and reach the other side. How big could the forest be?

Danny kept going in the same direction, stumbling over thick roots and slipping on the slimy leaves that coated the forest floor. He swore loudly each time, but even his own voice seemed muffled by the evergreen canopy. He paused to lean against a tree with one hand, and wiped away the sweat that had beaded on his face with the other. The neck and wrists of his ratty long sleeved shirt were soaked, despite the chilly air.

He looked back at where he had come from and let out a sound of disgust – from his new angle, it was clear he'd been climbing up a goddamn hill for the last hour or so, without noticing the gradual incline. Just mindlessly walking. Ugh. I'm such a fucking dumbass. He let out a growl of frustration and peered into the inky darkness ahead. It seemed to flatten out a little further on – maybe it would be high enough to get mobile reception? Only one way to find out.

Danny straightened and scrubbed his moss-covered hand against his dirty jeans with a sound of disgust. Then he continued up the hill, making his way slowly, carefully. Danny concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, heart beating rapidly in his chest – from physical exertion or the rising primordial panic of being alone in a dark forest, he wasn't sure. He imagined that behind the thick line of trees ahead, he would finally be at the edge. After walking for so many hours he had to be.

Then the soles of his sneakers slipped on a flat rock. A surge of pain exploded in his knee as he hit the ground with a crack. The palms of his hands were scraped raw as he scrambled for purchase. Shards of shale rock broken by his fall dug into his flesh.

"Fu-uck!" he yelled, breathing harshly. Fear clenched his stomach – had someone heard him? Then he relaxed – so what? If someone had heard him he might actually get out of the forest before he grew old and died there.

He pushed himself off the ground, testing his still smarting knee, and then he heard it. A sort of wet snuffling noise, like a sick horse. Riiiight. Danny hoped it was just a horse. He squinted into the dark. Please let it not be a bear...

It sounded close. Unable to stand not knowing, he crept toward it. There it was again. Then – a low, rhythmic sound. People too? Were they singing? He couldn't understand the words. He heard them, but no matter how hard he strained, the words slipped away just when he thought he understood them. Probably some hipster neo-pagan Earth Mother worshippers.

But even neo-pagans into naked dancing and organic food might have a mobile phone? Or a car? Worth a shot. But since there was also a chance that they were gun-toting rednecks out for a midnight hunt, he decided not just burst into the centre of whatever it was they were doing, and instead crept closer in an awkward half-crouch.

Danny wasn't sure what he expected to see when he peeked out. But what he found was definitely not a group of neo-pagans worshipping benign earth spirits. Heart thumping so hard he could hear the blood rushing in his ears, Danny was froze, jaw clenched tight. Every muscle in his body tensed, stuck between fright and flight.

In the clearing beyond the tree line was a circle of hooded figures, each with one hand raised in adulation, the other holding a large crystal that burned with sickly light. All chanted, tempo quickening. As Danny watched, unable to move, another emerged from the shadows beyond the unholy circle, dragging a limp figure into the centre. A girl – unwashed blonde hair a complete mess, eyes glassy from whatever drugs they'd fed her. Her cotton dress was near translucent.

She was thrown at the feet a colossal beast crowned with huge antlers, dark fur and milky eyes. She didn't move as it lowered its head to scent her, snuffling and snorting. It looked up and seemed to meet the eyes of the centre cultist. Danny couldn't help but see a dark sentience in it, a sort of terrible knowledge. Whatever the hell it was. It stepped back, hooves digging into the wet earth. It waited, raising its head like a prince preparing to be crowned.

The chant became louder and the central figure drew a long knife out of his robe. With a practiced movement, he eviscerated the helpless sacrifice in a single thrust and stepped back, joining his fellows. Blood began to pool around the girl. The hellish creature snorted, and dove forward.

The beast had been called. The song had been sung. Now came the hunt of the anointed one.

Tilting his massive head, he dipped the tip of each antler into the dying girl – ripping her open with each jerk of its head – anointing itself in the lifeblood of the chosen sacrifice. The great beast's crown glistened wetly in the fading light of the crystals. As the light died away, Danny wondered if he was quite insane.

Danny stared at the thing, trying to make sense of it. The creature flickered – for a moment, a tall man, his long dark hair slicked back with the blood covering his head and powerful torso – then returned. As one, the cultists turned and looked directly at Danny. The beast blinked slowly. Did they see him? Fuck, he was made. Had they known he was there the entire time? The wind changed direction, and the tangy scent of copper burnt the lost boy's nostrils.

I'm so fucked.

Danny ran.