Hood

CHAPTER V: Piercing the Shroud

I wish this nightmare would end right away, but bad news; this is not even a nightmare.

                As minutes pass by, Terrarium gets more overrun by monsters. Hunters are either getting killed or killing themselves. With no orders from the Corporal or the Commander, we’re practically sitting ducks here.

              I can’t think straight, now that I know that she is dead. Out of all people, who does it have to be her? Memories of her flashed in my mind. From the first day we met, until our last run, which was just yesterday. The carefree and simple lass that was my closest friend, besides Maria, is gone.

                Now I literally can’t think at all. Beasts started to attack me, my mind went blank. Kill, kill, kill, I thought, as my body moved like its controlling itself. I did movements I never did before. Blood splattered everywhere, even on me, as my swords cut through even in the thickest flesh. Out of nowhere, a sword tried to stab me from behind.

DIE.

                I turned and stabbed my sword in the stomach of the thing that tried to attack me. My head was faced down so what I see from the thing I just killed were its feet. But I realized they weren’t human feet or ogre feet. They were goat feet. I looked up and saw the face of a satyr, its mouth gaping with blood dripping on his long brown beard, eyes painted white all over. I pushed my sword deeper into its abdomen, as hot blood fall from his mouth and onto my fingers.  I gritted my teeth as I detached my sword, thick crimson liquid coated all over the blade. I panted heavily as saw dead and dislocated bodies of Outcasts around me. I smirked as I admired my work, which I don’t know why. All that I know is that I am hungry, hungry for revenge.

Outcasts kept on pouring in as we fight. Soon, we got reports that all the survivors were already transported underground and we also got an order to retreat or they will close the gates to the underground and leave us here to perish. I started to run to the entrance of the underground city, which was located inside a cave in the woods, about a hundred meters away from my house, or maybe more. My legs are getting heavier by the second, but I managed to run fast enough so I can make it in time.

I sighed in relief as I saw the cave beyond the horizon that it gave me enough motivation to keep on running. Just a few meters more, but I was getting slower and slower.

60 meters more… 55, 54, 53… 43, 42… 30…

“AH!” I screamed as a sudden sharp pain hit my right thigh. I stumbled and fell down as I gripped my thigh, looking at the long arrow stuck deep in it. I averted my gaze from my wound and towards the cave, clenching my fists and pounding them against the ground, cursing in my head realizing how close I was.

I hear stomping and roaring from behind me. They’re coming.

 This is the end, right?

The sounds are getting clearer. Tears rolled down from my eyes.

I'm going to get eaten by those monstrosities?

They’re nearer now. And my vision is getting blurry.

How pathetic.

I close my eyes.

Father?

He was standing there, with his black hair dancing with the breeze. His back was turned, facing the beautiful sunset that was in front of him. “Esperanza…” he sighed.

What?

He took out a small golden frame that was adorned with silver and bronze flowers. I looked at the picture that was in it, and I felt like my stomach turned when I saw a face of a beautiful woman, brown hair, peridot-colored eyes, and a very warm smile. “Esperanza…” he said, “… how can I live without you?”

“Father!” a high-pitched voice yelled. My and father and I looked back and saw a young girl with a wide grin on her face. My father quickly hid the frame in his coat while I continued to stare at the girl. She looks exactly like me. Hold on…

That girl is me.

“Father!” my younger self ran towards and passed through me, as I dissolved and formed back like a cloud of mist. I hugged my father’s leg, giggling and looking up to my father with happiness. My father was at first surprised, but calmed down in less than a second. He picked me up in his arms, chuckling and kissing me in the forehead and cheek. “I missed you, father! I really did!” I said.

“I missed you too…” he answered. We stood there for a while, looking at the sky painted in red, orange and blue. I remembered how we love doing this. Looking at the sunset, talking about things that we like, and sometimes, staying there as long as we like until I fall asleep. My father would carry me inside and place me in my bed, sometimes, maybe even sleep next to me. But that was in the past, and I was very young.

But what am I doing here? Am I dead? Or am I just dreaming this fragment of my memory?

I wish to know but, I will enjoy this memory while it lasts.

I woke up, and above me, all I see is darkness. I sat up straight, but hissed in pain when I moved my sore body. I realized that I was lying down on some white cloth with a pillow under my head while I was unconscious. I turned my head around the area, and realized I’m in some kind of tent. At the foot of where I was resting is my red cloak, which is folded neatly, and on top were Yin and Yang. I noticed that my right thigh was wrapped up in bandages, and all my wounds were tended. So, everything that had happened was real, after all. But, how on earth did I get here?

                All of the sudden, bright light shone across the room when someone opened up the tent. A girl with curly short blond hair appeared, she was covered in bandages too, but her blue eyes were exquisite. Could it be, Maria?!?

                “Thank god, you’re awake!” she shouted in relief before she rushed in and hugged me.

                “M-Maria? Is that you?” I asked. She placed her hands on my shoulders and said, “Of course, it’s me! I knew it that no one would recognize me because I cut my hair short. But, are you alright?” I nodded in response, “Wh-Where are we? I don’t understand. I should be dead by now. You saved me?”

Maria shook her head, “Jacob did. He carried you all the way here.”

I frowned, "Maria, I have bad news... Bliss is-"

"-is dead. I know." Maria tried to hold back the tears, "Lucas told me..." At least she knows...

“How long was I unconscious?”

“A day.”

“Is everyone alright?”

I suddenly saw the miserable look in her eyes, “Why don’t you take a look?”

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A/N: Thanks for the 100 views!! So here is the fifth chapter and as I promised it’s longer than the last one… Hehehehe…

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