The New Old World

Chapter 5 "I'm no coward!"

I was on the street my body numb as I was being dragged by my leg down the dark street. I could feel the dry leathery hands wrapped harshly onto my leg and could feel sharp claws digging into my skin. I whimpered when a few clouds parted, and it revealed that ghastly figure from before. It was huge and monstrous, it had a dark purple leathery skin, with bleached bone head of an antelope for a head and it had thick coarse strands of black hair in odd places as if it placed them there. Several parts were raw red muscle and skin as it looked like chunks were torn out, but this creature was not in pain at all.

I looked to my side as I heard more dragging and could see more of these creatures in the dead of night carrying many bodies some alive and whimpering or crying, while others seemed lifeless or in pieces. I was up against an old brick wall a stream of sunshine coming through some boards up above was my only source of light and this hellish nightmare was just like my dream. There were pieces of bodies strewn everywhere and puddles of blood covering the entire floor. A strong stench of sewage came from everywhere masking the rotting bodies as flies buzzed by the thousands. I saw my bag just in arms reach and I reached for it just as a monster stepped where it would have been. It heard the dragging sound from the material and I quickly shut my eyes tight as it turned to me. I suddenly smelt the most god-awful stench as its mouth was inches from me, but I remained as still as possible and soon it left.

A screech came from ahead and I forced my eyes open expecting someone was being eaten but instead one of the creatures was pushed into the beam of light as it tried taking a leg from another monster. The flesh melted and spilled onto the floor with a plop in a matter of seconds. I pushed myself as far back as possible as the monsters came from eating and surrounded their injured beast. Another screech came from the beast as its brothers and sisters each took a limb and pulled him through the beam of light. They all began screeching as it final died and they ripped the body apart devouring it like rabid animals.

I covered my mouth as I starred in shock, they are cannibals oh my god, I looked around trying to find an exit as they were all occupied. I spotted a tunnel just to my right and I started crawling. I quickly made my way to edge as quietly as possible, but a whimper made me turn around, I saw Robert near one a pile of bodies that seemed to be paralyzed as I saw their eyes dart everywhere. Their breathing was silent but the fear that I could see in their eyes told me that were aware of everything happening around them.

You cant leave them Kimmy! Not again. You must be brave and save them, I quickly looked around trying to find something or anything that could help.

The light I whispered to myself as my eyes trailed to the light finding the source again. The boarded-up space seemed to come from drainage opening and I saw a ladder going to it.

I swallowed the fear coursing through my body and steadied my breathing, I turned around crawling silently again. Quickly I made my way across climbing over trash and limbs lying around. I was so close but a mistaken step on a broken glass bottle in the darkness alerted all the creatures to me.

I turned around as they all stood up and screeched their horrifying scream and they started running and climbing over each other to get to me. I quickly crouched down hoping that bottle was somewhat intact so I could use it as a weapon. I felt the neck of the bottle and grabbed it swinging it up in front of me connecting to the neck of one of the creatures.

Screaming I pulled back feeling its claws dig into my shoulder and stabbed again and again, blood squirted out onto my face and I pushed it back. It fell into the arms of its family and they ripped it apart grabbing onto the skin of the wound and pulling it apart. The stuffed it into their mouths screeching at each other, though the rest of the monsters came from around them on all fours and they snarled at me.

I jumped onto the ladders and climbed as my life depended on it, a strong hand wrapped itself onto my leg and before it could pull, I kicked with the other wrapping my arms around the ladders and holding tightly. I screamed and screamed kicking until I felt it let go and climbed up finally reaching the top, I smacked my head against the wooden board. I stole a quick glance seeing the creatures jump and swipe at the bottom of my shoes, some trying to climb the ladder but quickly being pulled down as others tried taking their place.

I pushed and pushed at the board but on the edges, I could see big nails holding it down though the center seemed to be brittle as I could see water stains on it. The bit of sunshine was getting stronger as I pushed and punched at the board. I stretched my arm out using the bottle to punch at the brittle part and it easily came apart.

Yes! Yes! I kept striking at it hearing the screeching below descend deeper into the darkness. When I finally made a large hole, it shown directly at my face and I let go of the bottle. Smiling I used my hand to start pulling it apart and luckily most of it came apart with a better grip.

I looked down smiling as I saw the sunshine land on most of the people. Climbing up I continued kicking and pulling apart the board ignoring my bloody hands, I saved them I saved them all. I looked down again seeing everyones face tearing up and some even started moving slightly smiling up at me.

I saved them. I did it and I will save us all from this island too. Ill save everyone I have too. Tears of happiness fell from my eyes and as I looked up at the sun high up in the sky with magical winged creatures flying high above not fighting at all finally just calmly going to and forth.