At Oakwood - Cameron Wilde

9: A Nightmare

The two glowing yellow eyes never blinked as they watched Rocky and I.

That's all the did.

They just watched.

They hovered in place, it was terrifying as they twinkled dimly every few moments. They were two yellow mirrors to an empty soul.

We were all shrouded in silence again. I was holding my breath for who knows how long. I could catch what Rocky was doing in the corner of my eye, and I really don't think she was thinking her actions through very well.

Rocky had got all defensive against the yellow beams. She grimaced and held her fists up, getting ready to strike whatever the phantom in the dark was.

Rocky was making me so uneasy. I start to shake uncontrollably, half out of anxiety and half out of anticipation. Was Rocky really going to strike?

I didn't want to watch, but I didn't want to look away. I was mesmerized by the sunflowery colour of the eyes. I was also intimidated and afraid. But then again it seemed rather... Harmless.

It felt like that figure in the dark was The Reaper, waiting for me to die from being trapped in here. Waiting for me to die from starvation, or even insanity.

But... I was feeling that safe feeling.

Like I had felt earlier when I was with-
Wait... Is that... Erin?

It couldn't be!

How would it be possible?

Erin's eyes were a deep blue, deeper than Rocky's, and always had an almost depressed look about them. Erin's eyes always looked like portals, portals that lead to a blue heaven... Or watery hell... His eyes were shaped like diamonds.

But these eyes... They were golden and empty. Like two dim light bulbs. There was no emotion or expression being shown. Almost as if it were dead. Yet the eyes were shaped like trapeziums.

And the voice too. It was so familiar, it could be Erin. It must be Erin. He must have tracked us down. But how? We weren't like Hansel and Gretel leaving bread crumbs as a trail.

I couldn't speak and I felt stuck in place, as if I was frozen. Rocky on the other hand was brave and prepared to swing a fist and knock the figure (Unlike earlier with the spider webs. Lol).

The eyes examined us blankly. Growing more uneasiness among us both. After a while I found myself wanting something to happen, the suspense was devouring me by now.

That's when Rocky, pretty much on queue, charged forward, flying fists and feet swirling from her like a crazy tornado. She thrashed and kicked as she approached the glowing lamp eyes.

Until she was suddenly pulled into the dark and seized by the unknown creature. It was like she had just vanished in the blink of an eye, almost as instantly as she had approached.

Rocky was screaming and trying to get away. Her bloodcurdling screaming terrified me, but my feet were rooted to the ground. I couldn't help her! I couldn't run away either! I was stuck on the spot.

"Hush now..." Came the voice from the dark. It sounded male now that I think of it, still monotonous and deep. Even as it spoke there was the distant yet noticeable clacking of teeth against each other as it spoke.

There was some muffled groans and whines from Rocky before she eventually did quiet down, but resorted to hyperventilating instead.

My heart was throbbing in my ears and I started to feel dizzy. This was all too much for me, I couldn't take it anymore. It was too insane for me.

It was dead quiet for a few minutes, until it starts to speak again. The rusty voice tearing through the darkness, almost seeming tangible.

"What are you two doing here? I was looking for Cameron, but I guess I found you too..."

I heard Rocky huff, quite agitated.

"E-Erin?" I stutter, I found my voice.

The lifeless yellow eyes turn and look at me now. They shone and I swear I saw my own reflection for a split second.

I freeze...

I literally couldn't move, well duh, as if I haven't budged for the past ten or so minutes... I was like a stiff machine that needed oil to function. Turning and running seemed impossible.

The creature in the dark let go of Rocky, whom landed on the ground with a loud thud followed by a sharp gasp from her.

The thing walked to me, as soon as it had reached me the dim light seemed to turn on again rather voluntarily. The dim light illuminated on the creature and I finally saw who it was: That blue fur, those familiar saber teeth, that spiky hair of his. I couldn't believe it.

"Erin!" I say again.

The machine has been oiled. I ran to him. Bliss had literally swooped over me and picked me up, flying away to a wonderful land of joy with me. I ran to him, forgetting all the pain in my foot and hand.

This wasn't The Reaper waiting for my death! It wasn't a monster in the dark!

It was Erin!

Erin!

I stop in front of him and look up at him... I think the bliss dropped me 'by accident'. And the pain springs back.

His eyes still looked dead, but were fixed on mine. I didn't understand this. His eyes were black and hollow, as if torn from the sockets, the yellow illuminating from them. Why are his eyes yellow in the first place? What happened to the beautiful blue gaze of his that he had back at the alley?

His flesh, it was peeling from the lips and mouth, it was like he was rotting. He looked decayed and distorted. His fur was a deeper shade of blue, bordering the colour navy blue, but not that dark. What happened to that warm, soft, face of his?

It looked like his fur was a darker shade and not because of the lighting here. I swear, it was as dark as the night sky. As well has his teeth being sharper than they usually were (which were extremely sharp already), as well as being accompanied by four more layers of teeth.

Long talons were stabbing out of each finger, looking like Freddy Krueger's. He looked nightmarish and... Scarier.

Erin seemed to be behaving like a normal anthro would.
I guess.

"Cameron..." Erin said putting a hand on my shoulder.

His hand was icy, icy cold. Usually his fur is cool, but this was beyond his normal cold temperature. He felt like he was dead.

I flinch and move away from how cold it was. A bit of frost had even grown on my shoulder, making it numb.

"Erin..." I look at him, panic stricken.

"Yes, Cameron, it's just me." Erin withdrew his hand to be at his side, his claws reflecting the very little light around here, "Let's get you and your friend out of here."

Rocky had gotten up to her feet, angry. She attempts to attack Erin again by swinging a fist, but Erin was way too fast for Rocky.

Erin grabs Rocky by the wrist and holds her up off her feet. She was dangling 9 feet up in the air.

"P-Put me down!" Rocky starts kicking the air frantically, trying to touch the ground.

Erin chuckles, and gently presses a claw against Rocky's neck, "You're a fiesty one, aren't you..."

Even while he's got a claw gently on Rocky's neck, a long trail of blood had begun leaking from her neck. She whined and tried harder to get away.

Erin puts down Rocky, who instantly starts gripping her neck. She had just felt the pain of what seemed like a million needles stabbing a very fragile nerve. It left her in silent.

Erin focuses on me again. I cower as he gently runs a talon down my arm, slitting it open with such ease it seemed unreal.

When his claws reached my elbow I scream and jump back. This wasn't the feline I knew and loved.

This was a nightmare.