The Beast

The Beast (22)

I always thought that I knew how true pain sounded like.  Hearing my mother being beaten, being killed just beyond the doors that covered me, was the worst thing I thought I've ever heard.

That was...until now...

I could hear the wails of pain and the cries for mercy below me, the gut-wrenching sounds reaching my ears as my knees shook out of terror. It took everything in me to keep still and stay where I was.

"Please... No, please! Have mercy on-" The deep voice let out a loud, pain-filled cry before it suddenly disappeared, and a new wave of yelling started soon after.

I could hear flesh upon flesh being torn apart, I could hear bones cracking, objects smashing and even something splattering onto the ground. But I remained blind to the true bloodbath that was happening beneath me.

The true monster Adrian really was.

I could even smell it. That rotten, somewhat metallic smell that filled the air, bringing tears into my eyes as the heavy, intense smell assaulted me. It smelt like blood... It smelt like death.

I whimpered everytime I would hear someone plead desperately for forgiveness, to be spared from his end and I could feel the tears streaming down my face whenever a frightened voice grew silent amongst the raging, terrified crowd.

What really was happening?

Was Adrian alright? What is he doing? Fighting them?

It was terrifying, hearing the horrible cries but never truly knowing what really was happening. It was an agonizing torture that scarred me for life. An experience I would never want tog o through ever again.

Soon, the cries began to lessen and lessen until there was only one left that I could hear. And this one... He made me cry out the most as I struggled to keep my eyes closed. Ifelt my heart still as he started to beg.

Yet there was nothing I could do.

"Please spare me. I won't do it again! Please, I...I'll be you eternal slave! I'll do anything you wish for me to do! I'll even leave the girl alone! Please... Plea-" He choked, coughing hysterically and I could almost picture some man gurgling up blood onto the ground. He was still pleading, through his hacking and I could even hear him crying through it all.

My grip on the branch beneath me tightened as I prepared for what was to come, even when I didn't want it to happen...

"No! Wait, please! No! NO-"

Silence...

The sounds of my heavy breathing were all that was left for me to hear and I couldn't help but break down into loud sobs, my eyes remaining shut as I tried to process what was happening. It was all too painful, all too horrible for me to hear and I couldn't help the fear and shock as it surged through my veins.

Why...

Warm fingertips tracing across my cheek had me jerking my head up, pressing myself further into the tree's trunk. Warm breath tickled my face, and I took in a deep breath...

"It's me, Raine. It's me..." Adrian whispered, his hand cupping my cheek in such a tender way as I could feel him scanning me from head to toe again, most likely checking for injuries.

But somehow, knowing it was him just scared me even more. If he was here and alive, then does that mean that he was... the one who did it? Who killed all of them?

The cause of all that terror?

It suddenly dawned on me that I knew practically nothing about him.