Not Your Usual Scary Stories

Filth - Part 2

"Get up! Get up! They're here!" Shouts Jim, the first sentry of the evening.

"Who's here?" I ask as I burst to my feet, flashlight already in hand. Jim doesn't respond, but he doesn't need to. The answer is obvious the moment I leave the tent.

I can see them out there in the darkness, lightly silhouetted shadows creeping in through the endless fog. They seem to be everywhere, all around us, waiting just out of sight. My flashlight cuts through the night towards the closest figure, but I only see the scurrying of something fleshy and hear the sound of footsteps on garbage.

The others surround me now. No one dares make a sound while our brains furiously try to catch up. I'm still bleary-eyed, almost more tired than I was when I fell asleep, but the adrenaline is already pumping through my veins. My skin flushes hot while my heart begins to beat so loudly that I can feel it in my chest. Somehow, I'm ready. I feel like I've known this was coming since the moment I saw that first human settlement.

"Run," I order my men. I don't have to say it twice.

We turn tail, facing the only direction that seems lacking in shadowy figures, and make a dash, grabbing only what we can reach on the path. It isn't much, but there wasn't much left anyway. The explosion of noise around us makes any thoughts of future safety pointless. They're on the move. I can hear them all around.

I madly dash forwards into the darkness, the slight beam of my light the only thing keeping me from sudden impalement. It's not enough. I slip and stumble with almost every step on the heaps of garbage that reach out from the ground, but I have bigger concerns than footing at the moment.

What must be dozens of soft feet patter along behind us. They're more experienced at moving through the refuse. Each of their steps is quieter than one of ours, though they drown out all noise with the sheer number. I chance a look to the left with my flashlight, something resembling a man runs on all fours along the ground. I catch a glimpse of a second set of eyes staring back at me from a large lump on his neck.

It's better to focus on the path. I think I'll just focus on the path.

I have a general idea of where I'm going until we go around the first hill. Suddenly the darkness presses in heavier than ever leaving me lost and confused. I've been plunged into an ocean of uncertainty. Where is the path? Is there a path?

I lose all awareness of everything besides the tiny sliver of light before me and the ever-present pressure of footsteps behind. I can do nothing more than move my legs forward one step at a time. We don't seem to be gaining any ground on them, but they haven't caught us yet.

Somehow, somehow, we might still make it out of this alive.

A sudden scream cuts through the night, disagreeing with me.

I turn to my companions still by my side, but someone's missing. Did he fall? Did he get caught on something? Did no one notice? Another scream echoes from behind but cuts off suddenly.

That tells me everything I need to know. There's nothing I can do to help him. I will likely be joining him very soon. I'm already panting heavily, the days of exhaustion taking their toll on my stamina.

I make one more push, climbing a mountain of trash bags on hands and knees before I feel my legs go weak. I slip to my belly as I pass the peak and slide helplessly down the other side. It's not a fun trip. Mold and ooze splatter up into my face penetrating every orifice. I hit a bump hard and flip completely over, something sharp suddenly piercing my flesh on impact. There's no time to see what it was as my forward momentum rips it clean out of my back. Finally, I slam into some sort of wall, tipping the top and showering me with empty plastic cups and old magazines.