Demonic - The Gathering (ON HOLD)

Chapter One

One – Lucy

I opened my eyes. Darkness surrounded me, I couldn’t see a thing. I lifted my hand and rubbed my left eye. I seemed…lighter. I felt lighter. Like I was about to float up into the sky. If there was a sky. I forced my leg forward and stepped one. Under my foot, a crack echoed. It sounded like it was a twig that snapped. Where the hell was I? I took a deep breath in. I was in a pitch black, unknown place that had twigs on the ground. It must be a large place if loud sounds echo. I took another step. This time I crunched what sounded like leaf litter. Perhaps I’m in a forest. The one that surrounded my house? Probably. But how did I end up there? Here…there…I don’t know anything anymore. I risked another step forward and halted abruptly, gasping. Everything turned a dark pink-red and black. I could see the black trunks of trees and the pink mist that loomed around them and the reddish sky about my head as well as the leaf litter when I looked down at my feet.

                A slight breeze blew in my long jet black hair across my face and off my shoulders. I slid my hands over my bare shoulders. I wish I was wearing something better than a white singlet and short, black shorts. Wait…why was I in my pyjamas? Confusion struck me. Where was I? I felt my heart rate quicken and I started to inhale and exhale faster. I slowly began to walk forward, glancing worriedly at the dark trees around me.

                “Hello?” I called, desperate for anyone to hear me. “Mum? Dad? Toby?” Maybe I should try to find my house. It shouldn’t be that far away from here.

I began to run through the tight trees. I squeezed through two of them and cut my arms attempting. I yelped out loud and clung to my exposed arms and cursed. Why did it look like the trees were starting to grow closer together? They don’t normally do this. Maybe I was in another part of the forest. Far away from the safety and warmth of my house. I never wanted my parents so badly. Even my little brother! And then something clicked on in my brain. The trees weren’t normally black. And there was never pink mist around and the sky was definitely not red! There was something wrong with this scene.

                Fear struck me hard. Where was I? Where the hell was I?! tears started running down my face. I wanted to run into my mother’s arms. That would never be something I’d do, but when your this frightened I would do anything to be safe. I was so confused and shocked and scared! I have never felt so many emotions before all at once. I actually wished that I was at school.   

                “Help!” I shouted loudly. “Somebody! Help me!”

                But suddenly my voice cracked and dropped and before I knew it, I could not speak. I tried to scream but only a soft choke emerged from my throat. More hot tears ran down my face. I silently cried out and held my face. My tears were so hot! They literally burned my face! Why was this happening to me? Why me? This lost confusion only caused me to shed more tears, which resulted in much pain as my tears were extremely hot. Wait a minute…my hand! It has been on my face since I started crying. I tried to pull it away from my face but it was stuck. I couldn’t move it.

                What the fuck is happening to me! I took a deep breath in. I had to calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down Lucy. Calm down. I inhaled and exhaled slowly. My heart gradually slowed to a steady pace and my burning tears stopped rolling down my face. I attempted to pulled my hand away from my face once more. It wouldn’t budge. Slight panic struck me but I just kept breathing slowly and it soon faded. I closed my eyes. When I opened them the same scenery surrounded me. I was still confused but I had calmed down a lot. Maybe if I just walk around for a bit I’ll find out where I am. Cautiously stepping forward, I stopped and listened. I don’t know why, but there was a funny feeling sitting in the back of my head, telling me that there was danger nearby.  My fear was starting to rise again. But faster that it should’ve been. The hairs at the back of my neck stood straight up and my brain was constantly telling my legs to move faster and to run far away from this place. And I didn’t stop them. My hand still attached to my face, I pumped my legs and ran as fast as I could go, ducking under low branches and dodging thick, smoky black bushes.