The Monster From Within

Chapter 1

she looked cold, her skin pale in contrast to the ruby red blood drops tumbling all the way down her body to her toes, where they gathered before falling.

I stared down at the familiar face, unshed tears clouding my vision. Mel disappeared two weeks ago without a trace, and several search parties where sent out to look for her. But, out of everyone who set out to find her, I did. I found her in the forest, hanging from an oak tree with a noose tied around her neck. The only clothing she wore was a pair of lacy black underwear.

I didn’t know what to do. Was I meant to get help?  My heart began to beat as fast as the old plectrum that lies on my dusty piano at home.  Should I get her down?

It was hard to climb up the frozen tree trunk. I slipped several times and the last time I fell. I cut a deep scratch all the way down my shin. The cut stung with a searing pain as it oozed with dark red blood. I watched the droplets fall into the snow leaving splatters of blood across the ground.

I continued reached for the noose which entangled her neck. The knot was tight; my ice cold fingers couldn’t get a grip of the rough rope.

After a few more minutes of trying to untie the rope, it finally gave in and Mel’s body plummeted to the ground. As her body hit the ground I heard a loud thud and a crack. Her fall was obstructed by a thick brown branch, and had broken her leg as she fell on to it. I could see it. A slight image of a bone coming out from under her bruised knee cap. But no blood seemed to come out of her leg. I couldn’t look at her anymore.  At least I thought I could undo the noose that lied around her neck. The rope had blood all over it and it was quite a heavy rope, hard to untie. As I lifted the rope over her head I saw a line of black bruises circling her neck like a necklace would. I took a glance down at my shirt and pants, they were covered in blood.

How long have I been out here? I didn’t know how long I was here for; I knew I arrived here around 10:03am, because I remember checking my watch. I glanced over at the watch leather on my wrist. It had smashed. It must’ve smashed when I fell down the tree. I automatically thought of the cut in my leg and I started to feel the pain again. I had lost more blood than I thought. I felt weak; my hands were almost the colour of the snow below me. Everything became a blur. I took one look at the body next to me and it all went black.