Chapter 2
After tracing the car down, we arrived at a very old-looking house. It was a small, abandoned building with a distinct, rusty appearance. The once-bright paint was peeling and faded, revealing layers of corroded metal beneath, giving the house a sinister vibe. Jagged edges and rusty nails protruded from the decaying wood, which was covered in patches of moss and grime, making it look even more foreboding.
Mr. Benjamine and I, along with some others, held our guns tightly as we cautiously approached the front door, which hung crookedly on its hinges, creaking ominously with every gust of wind. The atmosphere was thick with neglect, and the air had a musty, damp smell as if the house itself was holding onto decades of secrets. Tall, yellow grass surrounded the property, swaying gently as if whispering warnings about the horrors that might lie within. It was clear that this place had not been inhabited for a very long time, and the unsettling stillness only added to the spooky aura encasing the house.
We knocked on the door, the sound reverberating in the still air, but silence hung like a weight. Something told me this was far from over. Adrenaline surged as we forced the door open, stepping into the shadows of the house. Just then, I caught a glimpse of movement—a figure darting out the window.
"Go!" I shouted, my heart pounding as we raced to our cars. He had to be stopped. We tore down the rough, off-road path, the trees blurring past in a chaotic rush. Ahead of us, the forest loomed, and my pulse quickened.
When we reached the clearing, his vehicle had crashed into a tree, a tire was punctured, and smoke was rising ominously. My heart sank—would he get away? But before we could assess the wreck, he was gone, swallowed by the woods.
"Let's split up," I said to Mr. Benjamin, urgency painted across my face. "We'll corner him."
I could feel the weight of my determination. "STOP!!!" I yelled into the trees, my voice echoing back in defiance. This was more than just a chase; it was personal. I had to solve this case. I couldn't let him slip away—not now, not ever.
I chased after him as if my life depended on it. By the time I caught up, we were back in an open area where the grass was a burnt yellow, dry and brittle underfoot. He stood just a few steps ahead, his back turned to me, huffing heavily. My heart pounded with adrenaline and a rush of excitement. I glanced back, hoping to see Mr. Benjamine following, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Huff, huff," I gasped, turning my focus back to the man. "Drop any weapon you have, put your hands up, and slowly turn around." I attempted to steady my breathing, the weight of the moment hanging thick in the air.
The man complied, reaching for a sharp-looking object that gleamed ominously in the fading light. He set it down with an unsettling nonchalance before slowly pivoting to face me. As he turned, I took in his appearance—he looked to be in his late thirties, a seemingly average man. But then, I noticed his smile.
It stretched unnaturally across his face, wide and unsettling, as if he were harboring some twisted secret. The grin was anything but friendly; it was the kind of smile that sent icy tendrils of fear creeping down my spine. It reminded me disturbingly of the one from my nightmares—the very same that had haunted my sleep for weeks, lurking in the shadows of my mind.
"Stop smiling," I demanded, my voice shaking slightly. "What's so funny?"
The words felt inadequate in the face of his unsettling demeanor, but I needed him to drop that grin, to peel away the layers of his unsettling facade. I didn't want to be in this moment, this place where dreams and reality collided in such a horrific way. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and run, yet here I stood, rooted in place by his haunting smile.
My hands began to tremble, my grip on the cold metal of the gun faltering as fear coursed through me. I hated feeling this vulnerable, my heart racing like a drum in my chest. The man knelt, his movements deliberate, and retrieved a jagged shard of glass from the ground.
I could see the crimson droplets pooling in the palm of his hand, a stark contrast against his pale skin, evidence of his reckless grip on the dangerous object. That piece of glass must have been the very weapon he had discarded moments before, a reminder of the perilous situation we found ourselves in. I took a deep breath, my laced voice steadying as I warned him not to make any reckless moves, every word with urgency. But just as I said that, he plunged it into his cheek.
"NO!!" I shouted, but he only widened his smile, a grotesque expression that sent chills down my spine. As he began to mimic the same twisted gesture on the other side of his mouth, panic surged through me. I warned him again, my voice trembling, yet I felt an overwhelming determination to stop whatever dark fate awaited me. The more I confronted him, the more he reveled in my fear, his smile stretching unnaturally across his face. He didn't flinch, didn't even blink; it was as if he enjoyed this sick game. I started to question my grip on reality, wondering if I had plunged into a nightmare where the lines between dreams and waking life had blurred completely. What was happening to me in these past few weeks? The shadows in the room seemed to pulse around him, mocking my every thought. Was I truly awake, or was I trapped in some horrifying dreamscape from which I might never escape?.
He stepped closer, his face a grotesque mask of hunger and intent. I instinctively backed away, but he pursued, relentless. His eyes began to glow a stark white, reminiscent of the creature that haunted my dreams. A wave of fear washed over me.
No, it was more than fear; I was deep within fight-or-flight mode, and the weight of my recent struggles had drained my resolve. I chose the flight. With trembling hands, I fired a few shots into his legs, hoping to slow his advance as I retreated into the shadowy embrace of the forest.
It was clear now; no amount of denial could mask the truth—he wasn't human.
As I sprinted into the forest, fear clawed at my chest. I glanced back; the creature was inches away, a shadow in the twilight. Panic fueled my legs, but the ground felt soft, as if trying to trip me. My heart raced as its breath echoed behind me.
Ducking between trees, I thought I'd found a moment of peace. "Am I… safe?" I whispered, but as I turned, it stood before me—not the man, but the beast from my nightmares, its grotesque smile haunting.
I stumbled, then ran deeper into the woods. Branches clawed at me, but I couldn't stop; the footsteps grew closer. Desperation surged as I spotted a narrow crevice between trees and dove through, feeling its hot breath behind me.
I pressed against the bark, heart pounding. The growl vibrated around me. Will I ever escape this forest?…. I turned to run away, tears streaming down my face. I can't believe this is happening; I don't want to die! I've just turned twenty-six! I have so much left to do—I need to solve my parents' case, I want to get married, have children, and live happily.
Please, I want to live!.
"I want to LIVE!."