The Branch

Part 1: Original Auctor Short story

I work with trees. I have for fifteen years. People call me about overgrown bushes, trees they want cut down or trimmed, and I come do it. Today, I got a call from an old man, saying he wanted a 100 year old oak tree to be trimmed so that it didn't bother his neighbors. When I got there, he was the only house for miles. He had no neighbors to bother. I thought it was weird, but I'd get fired for questioning a customer.

The old man watched me from his attic window. I tried my best to ignore him, but I could feel his burning stare. I decided I would try to get this done as fast as possible, so I could leave this barren land. I pulled out my tools and began to saw the first branch off. Just like any normal branch, it quickly fell to the ground, ready to be picked up by me in a bit. I turned around to see if the old man was still staring at me. He wasn't.

Weird.

But when I turned back to the branch, a dark blue liquid was oozing from it.

"Ahh! What the heck?!" I stared at it for a second, wondering what mess I had gotten myself into. Then I heard a door slam open. The only person it could be was the old man, right? But when I turned around to see the door, it was swinging wide open, and the old man was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm getting out of here. No way, no. I am not gonna see what happens next." I quickly climbed down my ladder and ran to my truck, not picking up my tools or anything. I could come up with an explanation later. As I jammed the keys into the start, I saw the old man. Covered in blue ooze. He looked disoriented, but he was running at my car.

"Drive, drive, drive, you stupid truck!" The truck had always been slow, but it couldn't fail on him now.

The wheels finally started to turn, finally started to drive me away from whatever mess I left behind. I looked in my rearview mirror to see if the old man was still chasing me.

It was definitely NOT an old man.

"What the frickin heck is happening?!" I shouted. My heart was beating so fast I could hear it pounding in my head, even above the noise of my truck engine. A wretched creature, with wings and claws and fangs was chasing him. It's eyes, all four of them, glowed bright blue. The noise that came out of its mouth... I have no way to describe it. But my ears rang for days after.

It was flying so fast, even at 90 miles per hour, it was slowly catching up with me. I didn't know where I was, or where I was going. Only one thought repeated in my head:

Get away, fast.

It was so close. I'm surprised I didn't pass out from fear right then and there. I kept driving, but it was no use.

My car went out of control. It skidded across the road, flipping upside down. My arm was stuck under something, but I didn't know what. It didn't matter. That thing was right behind me. I could see it in more detail, now. It's skin looked like old paper, black and torn in places. It had four eyes, all glowing blue. Its claws were out, ready to slice me in half.

Suddenly, it jumped at me.

***

I don't remember anything after that. I don't know where I am, and i doubt that I'll ever see home again. If you are reading this, I am probably dead. I'm writing this to warn the people of planet Earth. They are coming. They are planning a war beyond your imagination, and you're running out of time to prepare. I wish I could explain more but I'm running out of time. So, be ready.

Author's note: Thank you for winning again! It blows my mind. Sorry this story was shorter than the others I've done. I hope you liked it!