The Unknown

The Unknown

We've been here for months in this underground bunker. Twenty to twenty-eight feet of metal was all there was that prevented us from being caught. Caught by what exactly? Now, that's a mystery to us all. All we know is that we've been stuck here for a long time, and that we may be the only ones left. It's just been me, my mom, and my uncle Thomas. I don't know where my dad is. My mom says that he's out there, hidden just like us, trying to to hold onto the last bit of hope that he'll make it out alive. But I don't believe her. I know she's only saying that to protect me from the fact that he's not here anymore. The world outside, whether you live in the most mundane of country areas or the advanced urban cities, it's all the same. There's no one. There's nothing. Only silence.

"Honey, please, eat your spam." My mom encouraged me to eat the horrifying pink blob on my plate. I scrunched my face disgust.

"Mom, spam tastes like fried thick bologna, which is disgusting might I add. It's a combination of different meats and meat by-products. I hate it. It looks like a giant tongue that could swallow me whole." I stared at the abomination resting on the table in front of me, and it stared right back.

"Honey, you know that we don't have a lot. I mean, just by looking at our food supply, I feel we have to start eating a lot less."

"But we already ar-"

I paused and looked at the rusty shelves. All they held were a few cans of chicken, cream styled corn, peas, apricots, and of course, spam. For drinks we had powdered milk and water that came from a pipe, Mom says the pipe is connected to a nearby stream outside. She was right. We'd have to cut our eating short. Again.

"This is just how it's going to be, Sam." Uncle Thomas said. This is the first he's spoken all day. Mom says he doesn't like to speak much but I think he's depressed. Being ripped away from everything you love with no choice. I don't blame him. He was finally getting somewhere. He had a wife, Iris, and two twin daughters, Isabelle and Olivia. Thomas had just became a physician's assistant. He would diagnose and treat patients with illnesses and diseases. He had it good. I only grieved for him.

Out of nowhere, sounds were heard. Mom immediately rushed me and Uncle Thomas into the secret closet that was behind an old, metal shelf. It was small, just enough for the three of us to fit.

Creak.

The sound of feet walking on the floor was abundantly loud. The footsteps almost neared the shelf that was covering our hiding spot.

Creak.

Louder it grew as it drew closer. I took a deep breath, fearful of making any sound. The old metal smelled of dust and age, the planks uneven beneath my feet. I stood with my knees slightly bent, so I wouldn't faint. The small closet we stood in was cramped. The short amount of time and humidity had warped the wooden floor to the point where the door didn't shut fully. It stood, an inch from the door frame, paint peeling and rust showing. The wooden handle sat sagging in it's spot, threatening to fall out and give away our position.

I breathed in through my nose so I wouldn't make noise. With each breath, the smell of mold and sweat reminded me how long I had been here. I wore simple clothes: black running shoes, black, loose sweats, and a black t-shirt with a sweater over it. My Glock was sitting in the pocket of my sweats. The pressure of it against my thigh made me feel kind of safe.

Creak.

Uncle Thomas, not aware of the cleaning supplies behind him, fell into it creating a loud ruckus. The supplies falling over was impossibly loud as the creature turned towards our hiding place.

Creak.

It's feet hitting the floor, drawing near us by the second, made my heart beat faster. The smell of stale sweat and rotten egg encountered my senses as it came close. There was no reasoning with it. When it comes here, it becomes angry that it can't find us. It knows we're here and it's never going to let us leave. And when it becomes angry, it trashes the place. Everything. The table, chairs, cans of food.

But tonight was the night. I felt it, mom felt it, and so did Uncle Thomas.
We wanted to leave, to get out. To feel fresh air against our skin. Oh, I've forgotten how that felt.

Finally, we heard it's footsteps getting distant, and more distant, and more distant. Mom slowly pushed the door, only enough to see a small crack. Making sure it was gone, she tip toed out, followed by Uncle Thomas and I.

We quickly grabbed things of importance and turned around to get to the exit. But when we turned around, we saw it.

It was staring right at us, growling. The beast was vicious. It came out of the shadows to reveal it's hideous face. We finally saw the face of what had kept us prisoned all this long.

It had large yellow eyes and demonic horns on his forehead. It's snout looked like the one of a giant bull. It's entire face was covered in thick green scales. It then opened his mouth to reveal rows of large pincer like teeth. It's body was bulbous and had thorns sticking out randomly from it's scaly skin. Piercing eyes looked at us right in the face. The floor thumped loudly with every step it took closer to us, and we stood still. It's huge body was probably much larger and heavier than an african elephant. I almost didn't notice his slimy green tail until it swung over my head missing it by mere inches.

Mom shrieked and ran, while me and Uncle Thomas whipped out our Glocks and shot it. But that didn't seem to harm it.

"Sam run!"

He didn't have to tell me twice. I bolted out the room, trying to find mom. She was no where in sight.

Running back to my uncle, I let out a scream when I realized what I was seeing. The creature's tail went straight through Uncle Thomas's heart.

It snapped it's gaze to me and it's eyes changed to a glowing ruby red. Out of rage, I used up all the strength I could muster up and slammed it onto the ugly beast.

It lay still. I turned and looked around.

"Mom!" I hadn't even realized my tear stained cheeks until I felt a tear drop onto my forearm. There was no response. I looked at Uncle Thomas and let out a strangled sob.

Then I heard shuffling. The creature was still alive. I needed to leave.

I saw that this was my only and best chance so I took it, with a last look down I made for the beckoning door and out to freedom.