The creature's claw dropped from its left side and landed on its chest with a dull thud. A low, menacing growl escaped its mouth. It had no teeth, but the claws—and the pulsating boils on its back—were more than enough to unsettle anyone in its path.
Its body lowered.
At first, I thought it was retreating—or maybe it couldn't see me. But then I realized: it was preparing to pounce.
I didn't wait.
I crawled backward as best as I could, aiming for the space between the benches. But with only one working arm, I faltered, collapsing onto my left side. Still, I pushed through the pain and kept moving.
And I'm grateful I did—because just as I slipped into the cover of the benches, something slammed into the ground, landing centimeters from my skull.
I shuffled back, eyes locked to the floor, heart pounding. The creature wasn't hiding anymore. I could hear it—splintering wood, low snarls—it was closing in, faster than I could crawl.
Realizing I was seconds away from being caught, I made a choice.
I lunged forward, crawling under the nearest bench, heading for the exit.
But I wasn't fast enough.
Something sharp tore through the upper part of my ankle. The pain was white-hot, blinding—but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
Terror fueled me. The door was my only salvation. I kept going.
Then… silence.
No footsteps. No growl. Nothing.
I froze. Somewhere nearby, the sounds of battle echoed—distant, but not far enough. Still, I didn't dare move. I held my breath, praying. Maybe it gave up… maybe it let me go…
I forced my body to push forward. I was almost there.
But just as my head popped out from beneath one bench, a scalding liquid spilled onto my face.
I screamed. The pain was instant and searing.
A hand gripped my scalp and yanked me upward by my hair. My vision blurred as I tried desperately to wipe away the burning liquid. Through the haze, I made out a hunched figure.
It was him—the creature. The dog-like growl, the stench of rot and filth—it was all the confirmation I needed.
It pulled me close until I couldn't breathe. I choked on the smell. My body convulsed.
Then it threw me.
I hit the wooden backrest of a bench and tumbled to the ground.
I could barely raise my head. Everything was blurry. Sound was muffled. The pain in my leg dulled into a cold numbness. I could feel something wet pooling beneath it.
Through my haze, I saw the creature moving toward me. Its form shifted, its footsteps the only sound I could truly hear.
Beside me, a cold breeze crept into the room. I turned my head.
The exit.
It was only a few feet away.
A tear slid down my cheek. So close… yet so far.
"Someone… anyone…" I whispered. "Laura… please help me…"
But it was too late.
The creature loomed over me again. It flipped me onto my back and pinned my chest with its knee. I turned my head toward the exit, clinging to that last spark of hope.
Its claws dug into my cheek, forcing me to look up.
I couldn't even protest.
With one hand, it reached behind its head and began unwrapping the bandages covering its eyes.
The cloth fell away… revealing two empty sockets.
But in those sockets—a blackness. Deep. Calming. Inviting.
My body felt weightless.
I was no longer in pain. I was floating.
Then came darkness.
But I wasn't afraid.
In front of me was my home. Joy swelled in my chest as I ran toward it.
"No, child."
A voice stopped me.
"No!" another rasped.
"You must leave," a third warned.
"Who are you?" I cried, spinning around.
"You know us."
"Run. You're in danger."
"From who?!"
"Wake up!" they all screamed at once.
The voices surrounded me. I couldn't tell where they came from. I tried running toward the house—faster this time.
"No!" they screeched.
The ground beneath me trembled.
Hands burst from below, grabbing my feet and dragging me down.
"LET ME GO!" I screamed, struggling. I flipped onto my back and freed one leg, but more hands sprang forth—gripping my thighs, my wrists—pinning me.
"Please… please!" I cried.
"No!" they roared.
Then… a different set of hands.
They touched my head—warm, unlike the others.
The voices fell silent.
A familiar whisper met my ear:
"You need to wake up now."
—
I gasped.
The creature was still on top of me. A green light pulsed from its chest, surrounding us. Just inches away, a silhouette of me twitched uncontrollably in the glow.
Its mouth was open, and it was pulling the figure closer.
An emptiness bloomed inside me.
Panicking, I searched the floor until my hand found something solid. Without thinking, I swung it at the creature's face.
Too slow.
The creature caught my arm mid-swing. But its focus broke—the silhouette and the light vanished.
It looked at the object in my hand, then at me.
Its jaw opened wide as it let out a piercing screech.
Suddenly, a massive force slammed into it, knocking it off me.
"Alex, MOVE!" Jayden shouted.
"No! You're my plaything—NOT HIS!" a voice screamed.
"Marcus," Jayden growled.
I forced myself onto my belly, trying to move—but my body refused. I was too drained. And worst of all, the creature was already standing at the doorway, staring at me with its hollow, eyeless gaze.
It took a step forward—then stopped.
It sniffed the air, as if noticing something.
Its growl changed—confused now. It searched the room, then turned toward the exit.
But before it could react, a wave of heat blasted from beyond the door, forcing my face to the floor.
The creature whimpered, snarled. The room grew unbearably hot—then fell silent.
A thud.
Something hit the floor.
"Hey, Alex," a new voice said gently.
I raised my head.
A girl stood before me.
She had long locks, beautiful brown skin. I think… I knew her?
In front of her lay the creature—charred beyond recognition. Behind her stood a second figure I couldn't quite make out.
Then—suddenly—I was yanked into the air. My body jolted.
Jayden was motionless on the floor. Nkosi was beside him, heaving, clearly exhausted.
"Ah… Princess. How unexpected," Marcus said, addressing the newcomers.
The girl stepped forward, ignoring him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a distorted voice echoed through the room. It came from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
"Why not?" she asked calmly, moving closer.
The temperature rose with every step she took.
"Yes, why not?" Marcus added, annoyance in his voice. He glanced upward. "Who dares to interrupt me now?"
"Your time is nearly up," the voice replied.
Marcus's expression shifted. "I can end them all," he said, voice sharp—losing composure for the first time.
"All in due time, sire," the voice said coolly. "We already have what we came for. The mission comes first."
Marcus clicked his tongue in frustration. "Fine."
He looked back at us. "Seems like you were fortunate... little ones."
He walked to a nearby wall, pulled a knife from his belt, and sliced his palm. Blood dripped to the floor.
"Where are you—" the girl started, but stopped as Marcus pressed his bloody hand to the wall.
It cracked.
Dozens of hands burst forth, forming a massive door just large enough for him to walk through.
"I guess I'll be seeing you around… Princess," he said, stepping inside.
"Wait—who are you?" she called.
"I'll let your friends explain," Marcus replied. "That's why I'm leaving them alive. For now."
He turned his head slightly—though he never looked at me.
"And you… the girl who clings to life. Live, grow, love, and be happy all you want… but just know this: someday—soon or later—I'll take it all from you."
His voice was cold.
Then he vanished into the rift.
As he disappeared, the ground began to shake. More hands erupted around the stone box and the charred remains of the creature, clawing and pulling them down into the abyss.
Until all that remained… was a gaping hole.
My body began to fall.
But someone caught me.
"I know you're not dead, Jayden," the girl whispered.
"He's out," Nkosi replied. "You take care of him—I'll get her somewhere safe."
She knelt, lifted me onto her back, and walked toward the door.
She was warm.
Did I survive? I thought.
Just beyond the exit, a faint glow rose on the horizon.
I guess I did…
I let go.
Darkness returned.