The Marked Guardian

Creature of Death

Blackness was surrounding all around and her heart raced faster and faster each moment; the girls hair was whipping around as she ran against the wind, scared for her life. The sounds of shrieks and pounding against the ground was the last thing she wanted to hear, especially when they were getting closer. The girl wanted to stop and cry and let the monsters behind her tear into her flesh; but she didn't. A sudden heat in her chest rose and her fear vanish.

Turning around, she faced the creature that was pursuing her. The heat rose and cracked in lack of confidence as she stared into eyes of obsidian. The sight of it was truly frightening and not even because it resembled so much of like a human. It was tall and pale with its ribs peeking through torn clothing and its teeth breaking through its cheek so easy as if it were wet paper.

The creature stopped with the girl and licked the blood off its lips; whether it was its own or another, no one would ever know. Then it suddenly smiled and lunged towards her.

» «

Gasping, Jennia sat up and threw the covers off herself. They were too tight around her body, as if grabbing Jennia like in the dream.

I really wish I'd stop having these dreams.. she sighed.

Sitting up, Jennia looked out the window and slumped her shoulders, realizing it was still dark. In a couple hours it would brighten up - which meant she'd only slept about 4 hours this time.

I don't know how much more I can take of this with the nightmares showing up every night for the past month. I'm going to drop to the ground and die someday from exhaustion.

Knowing she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, Jennia threw her legs out of bed and got shivers as her feet touch the cool marble floor. Even the chill was a better feeling than being terrified. The birds were singing and it sounded beautiful, like a small melody; but it didn't last long. Outside the window, distance shrieks were heard.

Getting up, she walked to the window and saw it. The creature of death was limping around and clawed at the outside stone wall and thought idiot. Back then the mansion they lived in now was lived in by others, and the wall was just for appearance; because rich people like doing that. On the inner part of the stone wall, Jennia's father had built a metal one. It was well built, but sometimes if you stared too long, you could see some parts of the wall bending and everyone in the mansion would doubt how the mother of the house said it would be up for another decade.

Looking more along the wall, Jennia could still see at least a dozen creatures pushing against the wall and it made her skin crawl.

Knock knock knock.

Jennia let out a small yelp and straightened the curtains then walked to the door. Maria stood there with two cups of tea on a platter with toast and a side of red honey.

"I heard you walking about from downstairs and I thought I'd bring you your morning tea," she smiled, "I didn't mean to frighten you."

Every morning, Jennia was required to drink some tea; it was for her health, Maria claimed.

"Thank you," Jennia smiled back. She let Maria in and sat at the small table in the corner as she placed them on the table. About to grab the tea on the left, Maria quickly took it from her hands and said, "No no, dear, this one is mine."

"What's so special about your tea, Maria? Maybe I want to be as old as you are someday."

Laughing, she pushed Jennia's tea and toast towards her and said, "And you will be if you continue drinking your own; your body is already used to it. I would join you, but I'm going to grab some more food from the cellar. We're running low again."