The Raven

Unpleasant surprise

Strangely enough, the ravens started gathering around a nearby school, a small building surrounded trees. There were so many of them gathered on the trees that it was impossible to see the leaves; only the ominous black shapes of ravens.

They were waiting for something, but I wasn't sure what since we were already easy prey. It was as if they were waiting for the right moment to attack, to cause maximum damage.

I couldn't stand the waiting, especially having in mind that they stopped shrieking and there was just this eerie silence that fell upon us. It was too quiet and that was somehow worse than the ear-piercing noise - it was unnerving, and we were all on edge, waiting to see what would happen next.

As we were all waiting for something to happen, transfixed by the sheer number of ravens - not to mention not being able to comprehend that those were all different demons we were facing, a man started approaching me. 

I took him to be one of the villagers, but he seemed somehow familiar, like someone who I have seen long ago for a brief moment and didn't have a chance to memorize his face.

As he came closer and closer I could feel this strange tingling feeling in my hands that I couldn't really understand. It was as if my body had a very strange reaction to this person who seemed to be just a regular guy.

When he was close enough to see his eyes, warning bells started ringing in the depths of my mind. There was something very wrong there, I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I was in danger.

That feeling came from such a distant part of my mind that I thought it was just a fear-induced overreaction. How could I of all people dismiss a gut feeling? I am not sure, but I did.

Assuming he was just a frightened villager, I asked him if the secret weapon was ready.

"Do you really think any mortal weapons can hurt us!? That you, lowly humans, can cause us any harm!? Muahahahaha," he said laughing maniacally.

I was confused by what he said and didn't know how to respond. At first, I thought that the man had just gone crazy from fear, but suddenly it hit me.

I knew those eyes; oh, I knew them too well, even if they were masked in some way. I still remembered.

Those were the same eyes I stared at ten years ago. But that couldn't be, could it? How could the raven now be a human and a relatively normal-looking human at that?

All these thoughts ran through my mind and anger started taking over.

Before I had any time to react or say anything, the demon in human form continued: "It has been such an immense pleasure torturing you. 

I have always preferred just killing humans quickly and painfully, but this, mmm, this is so much better. I almost killed you that night, you know? Your blood was so intoxicating that I just wanted to bleed you dry, but then I got an idea. 

A perfect torturing idea, to make killing you so much more satisfying - I tore your flesh, and then I went away and left you to stew in fear and your own blood. And the funniest thing of all is that I came back. Ahahahhahaha!" he started laughing so hard as if he just heard the funniest story ever.

"I came back and saved you," he said, offhandedly wiping away tears caused by laughter.

"The best trick I have ever done! You were grateful to me, you thought I'd saved your life, but I actually took your life away!

From that day on, your life became mine. Every time you shivered in fear when seeing a big bird - it was me sending them as a reminder. Every time you had a nightmare - it was me sending it to you. Your whole life was colored by my control.

That time you didn't go to the village feast because there were too many birds; that time you didn't go to your friend's house to enjoy a home-cooked meal - it was me. I was controlling your actions without you knowing it.

There is no secret weapon, and your power is not as important as you think. It was just me having fun ruining your life."

During the whole speech, I stood there, frozen, unable to move from shock. It was true; it was all true- I have never actually lived my life. I was always afraid of my own shadow and I distanced myself even from my best friend Dolores.

No matter how much she tried to get closer to me I found a way to avoid getting too attached because one part of my mind had always doubted I would live long.

What now? How do you fight a lost battle?