MARLEY // Max Mayfield

ʞɔnʇs

"Fuck it...just, goddamn fuck it all."

Marley was trudging through the wood leading to her home, without her bike, left somewhere at the school in a hurry to get away from Troy and his mom. They had been waiting for her, the principal stood by the woman's side with his hands on his hips, no doubt, itching at the excuse to exclude a Harrington. It would get him praises from his friends and he would relish in it, oblivious to the fact that he'd just sent a student off to her demise. So, she dodged them. Running across the pitch and into the wooded area that surrounded the school.

That's why she was there, kicking up dead leaves and punching any unfortunate trees that got in her path. She didn't know why people wanted to be popular, didn't see the point of being famous, being anything of significance in this world. Those roles are always filled with high expectations. Constantly watched, silently judged, no matter how perfect you presented yourself to be. No matter how fake you acted.

"Fuck..." she whispered desperately, holding her head in her hands. She was done for, all of those years down the drain in a single day. All because of some stupid little comment that she shouldn't have let get to her. But it did. It really did.

*Crunch*

She looked up and spun around, peering through the trees, "Who's there!?" No response, only the wind biting at her face, "Troy, if that's you!" It wasn't. She grabbed for the pocket knife she had on her keys and flipped it open, spinning around as loud heavy footsteps approached her, but still, there was nobody in sight. Another sound, like ragged and wet breathing. Then another, this one like footsteps. And finally a feeling, not a sound but a feeling this time. A heavy droplet of something fell against Marley's shoulder, freezing her stiff. She slowly turned her head to look at the gooey substance that had dressed her jacket feeling a hot disgusting air blow down the back of her neck.

Something was behind her. Something big and inhuman. A sharp pain jabbed into her shoulder and she let out a cry of agony, stumbling forward as whatever it was let go of her. She spun around, tripping up on a root and falling to her behind. Her eyes darted around, trying to look for what had hurt her. Nothing was there. She reached up and felt at the wound, feeling a liquid, unlike the goo, decorating her fingers. It was red and thick. Thick like--

"Blood..." A hard force, like a post, hit her back, halting Marley's train of thought altogether. She froze, staring dead ahead as she carefully listened to the gargled breathing behind her, only just sounding over the beats of her own heart, pounding at her ribcage. It was a strange sound, like a wet chatter of the throat. Whatever it was, it destroyed Marley's rational thinking because she did not run, she didn't even move, instead, she slowly turned around, her head lifting only just to stare up at the creature.

Her breathing hitched, her eyes went wide and before she could get out even a sound an ear-piercing screech erupted from the monster's mouth, its entire head opening up like a flower. Its insides were lined with serrated thorns, a blood-like red wetting its walls. It lunged forward and Marley lurched to a start, crawling at first before picking herself up and darting through the trees, loud heavy footsteps chasing after her.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" She continued, over and over as she jumped over a fallen tree, positioning her legs so she could slide down the bank she had unfortunately lined herself up with. She hadn't taken the drop into account went she jumped over the log, she just knew she needed to run, however, she also knew she couldn't keep it up forever. A hand lunged out and grabbed her from a tree, violently tugging her towards the bark, the patterned brown the last thing she saw before her head smacked against its surface.