A Creature In The Dark

I walked down the street, my heart thudding in my chest. I didn't know where I was going, all I knew was that I had to get out of there. My parents had been arguing yet again, and dad was getting violent. My younger sister had gone to her friend's place for the night, so I knew she was safe, but I knew that if I stayed, I would've been hurt. Sighing deeply, I continued my walk down the street, hands tucked into my pockets and my hood over my head, shoes tapping ever so slightly when my feet hit the cold, solid concrete below my feet. I glanced up, coming to a fork in the road. Despite watching several horror movies, where people had chosen the right path and had ended up being killed, I continued to walk down the right side of the road, the rocks, bark and leaves crunching underfoot. I had heard about the horrible killings that had been committed recently, but it didn't bother me. In my mind, I would've preferred to be dead than with my parents at this particular time.

With a heavy heart and a deep sigh of frustration, I continued my journey towards a forest which I knew was a haven for all sorts of animals. I loved animals, and I had always wanted to work with animals, but my parents wouldn't let me. Something about needing to get a real job and be a real man. I never listened to what they said. I looked up at the sound of rustling, my hood uncovering my head. I sighed and fixed my hair, then looked around to see what was near me. I caught glimpse of what I thought was a kangaroo, and smiled shyly, walking towards the seemingly friendly animal. Getting closer, I could see that the creature had blood around its mouth and on its chest. Shrugging and brushing it off, I approached the kangaroo slowly, thinking it had either been in a fight with another kangaroo or an animal or that it had been injured. Getting closer, I could see the animal stand up on its hind legs, using its thick tail to support itself. A blood-curdling, ear piercing screech erupted, causing me to cover my ears in an attempt to shut out the sound, my eyes closed tightly and body curing into a fetal-like position while I was standing.

Once the sound had stopped, I looked up to see if the kangaroo was still there, which I had hoped it was. However I had been let down yet again, and standing where the kangaroo once stood, was a creature, standing about six foot, and covered in what appeared to be blood and other bodily fluids. I gagged, the stench of rotting flesh and decaying corpses finally hitting my nose, eyes now watering and throat dry. I stepped back, hoping that the creature hadn't seen me and that I would be able to get away. With a very slight intake of air, I moved my foot backwards and ended up standing on a tree branch, which cracks. The bloody creature turned its abnormally large head in my direction, eyes glowing blood red and fangs protruding from his sickly-looking lips. I yelped and gagged again, seeing bits of burnt, rotten flesh on the creatures slimy, scaly skin. Looking at the creature, I could tell in an instant it wasn't a human, and I could see that there were several tentacles sprouting from its green, sickly skin, stretching out to reach for my legs.

I looked down, feeling something cold wrapped around my ankle, I screamed shrilly, hoping that it was just my imagination. Trembling and gagging from the stench, I bit my lip, knowing that this wouldn't end well. I stared at the slimy tentacle around my leg and felt myself be dragged to the ground with a quick, harsh tug. I felt my head connect with the ground, pain flooding my body. Blood flowed from the back of my head, and I was surprised I was still conscious, but my vision was hazy, and my breathing was shallow and painful. I stared up at the night sky, feeling needle like pricks at my arms, legs and body. Trying to fight back, I began to lose strength and movements in my legs and arms, and with one final, involuntary movement, I hit the creature in the chest, then fell limp. Still able to feel pain, when the creature began to sink its large fangs into my flesh, I screamed in pain, hoping that someone would hear me. Soon enough, I lost all consciousness as the creature continuously attacked me, blood, chunks of flesh and muscle being strewn across the leaves and rocks.

By the time morning came around, nothing was left of the young boy's body, aside from blood splatters, small chunks of flesh and a kangaroo lying contently under the shade of a tree, small stains of blood on its chest and mouth. No one ever found out what happened to Jayden or the other three victims of the night, and no remains were ever found.