The Final Hope: Awakening

Chapter One

Darkness. That was all there was; but something was tugging at me, telling me to not give up. I didn't know what it was, but I knew that it was right. I had to wake up.

Awakening from what was most certainly a dream, I stood on a vast expanse of nothingness. There was not a single thing here- just a huge stretch of dry, brown land extending past the horizon. Something told me that the world wasn't supposed to be this way; there should be more buildings, more life.

That was when I remembered everything. I recalled every part of my life in a split second. My name was Alvan, and I was supposed to be back home, back in England with my family. Yet confused and at a loss, I stood on a cold, barren wasteland. I couldn't remember how I got here but I knew one thing for certain. Everything was far too vivid to be a dream; I could feel the rocks piercing my bare feet, I could see the starless night sky but most importantly, I could feel the lurking presence of danger.

Deciding to walk, I slowly trudged through the endless land. Hunger, thirst, and exhaustion slowly, but surely, began to swell up inside of me. Despite having walked miles and miles there was an even longer journey ahead. The only thing that kept me from stopping, from taking a break was the sense of a threat lying in wait. Feeling predatory eyes on my back kept me on edge and gave me the strength I needed to carry on walking. 

Just when I began thinking enough was enough, I heard something. A disturbance among the rocks. The type caused by somebody stepping on them except that, here, that was nobody around. Frightened, I began to quicken my pace. Then so did they. I could hear more rocks shuffling yet when I turned around, the world instantly grew quiet.

Whoever was here was prowling in wait- there were plenty of places to do so amidst the numerous boulders and various ledges. Fear turned my walk into a stroll and then into a jog. However, they were keeping up and their numbers seemed to increase the further I went. That was when I saw one of them. 

Straight out of a nightmare was the creature which was stalking me. Walking on two legs, it could have been mistaken for a human from afar. But it was just a few meters behind me, making its body visible in all its hellish glory. The sight of the misshapen monstrosity froze me on the spot. Its flesh had begun to rot, its nails were sticking out like swords from their hilt, its jaws were open like a hungry beast and its eyes carried a desperate thirst for blood- and it was heading straight for me. When it came close, the stench of what should have been a decaying corpse brought me back to my senses. I ran.

Hopelessly, I dashed through the plains. But they were fast. The further I ran, the faster my optimism plummeted. Where was I running to? I hadn't seen a single sign of civilisation so far so where could I escape to? There was one of me and hundreds of them. While my muscles grew weary, theirs didn't. It was only a matter of time...

At that moment, I saw it. It was just a spot on the horizon, but it was there nonetheless. As I ran, the spot transformed into a post, then a long column and finally into a large building. My spirits soared- I could make it! Just as I began to run faster, one of the creatures dug its talons onto my right shoulder. I screamed, pushing it back with my left elbow and connecting with its ribs. Its skin was as hard as iron but it fell back nonetheless. Its legs tangled with my own, causing me to trip. I fell on my face but I got back up just as fast. I ran even faster. I was going to make it. I had to make it. 

Reaching the door, I frantically struggled against the handle, my hands constantly shaking and slipping from the knob. Finally! I managed to get it open and dropped onto the floor. Refusing to stop just yet, I forced myself back onto my feet, closed the door behind me and bolted it shut. I allowed myself to fall onto the ground; I was safe- at least for now.