There were dark shadows creeping behind me as I ran frantically as I could towards the single ray of light that falls from the sky in the direction I am running. I happen to caught sight of it while escaping, finding a way out of this misery. However far I've run, I feel trapped in this bizarre forest, filled with mist so thick that seem to stretch endlessly covering my entire vision. Even a few steps forward and you could not tell where you've stood before. There were total absence of moonlight, as if the wickedness and evil entities are lurking everywhere within the cloud of mists trying to devour me whole.

My body begins to weaken. My legs are getting weak. I could feel strength leaving my body with every step I take forward. How long has it been since I have been running. I forced myself to be compose to steadily run in one direction, opposite where those shadows that seems to be following my lead. The ground that is thickly covered by dead leaves and branches, I sweep through them on my way and frequently jumping several thick roots that might cause me to trip if I weren't careful with my steps. As I grasped for air with my  opened mouth, I could taste the death in the air that's getting my lungs to feel dry. I reflexively coughed and tried to swallow my saliva to give moisture.

As I looked up and gaze again at the ray of light in distance, I realize there was no difference from where I first spot it earlier. I was sure that I have made some distance having running for a long time. It made me thought of a story I was told in one of my nursery days about the man who heard that they would find a pot of gold a sitting the end of the rainbows to only find that it disappears or appeared somewhere else as they have gotten closer. It makes me feel like I'm chasing the end of a rainbow in this situation. Certainly, the reason it's hard to reach the end of the rainbow is due to an optical effect which depends on the location of viewer. But I believe it shouldn't be the same with this ray of light since its a clear streak of light, or at least, that's what I want to believe. I do not know what I could do to get out of this ordeal. Strange noises fills my ears. Unnatural screeching sounds made by some strange birds more sinister than crows and the shadows behind that reeks of many soft voices seemingly trying to temp me to their side. I had a feeling that those voices were the souls those shadows has devoured. I certainly do not want to be one of them.

My fear is growing by the seconds and the ever increasing amount of sweat began trickling down my foreheads rolling in and stinging my eyes. It feels like its never going to end, and to top my insecurities, the ray of light from afar I noticed it begins to dim. I prayed to God or whoever it is, to please save me from this torment. Although over the years I have grown to detest religions, me, humans are after all weak beings. I now seek  your guidance, strength, hope or whatever. Even so, deep down I know, that Gods are just our wilful human imaginations and creations for us to cling on, and religions are piled up stories being exaggerated to gain interests and followers. Over the years, even once an entire made up story could actually become something prone to believing as long as there were some apparent evidential connections, even coincidence may do so long you twist the story right. The glorifying of Gods, legends and mythical beings are difficult to prove, however you think about it, helps serve the purpose of these so-called priests who does not need much to justify as to authenticity, but simply pointing their proclamations in the holy book they so say was actual facts written over the course of centuries. I truly believe that those professors are blinded or brainwashed into not seeing the truth. However, that debate does not matter right now. I will throw away the pride or ego I so hold, even detestable thoughts against those religions, I would pray and ask for help. Whoever it is, human's made-up God, mythical God, God's representative, God's son, Holy Spirit or Higher Beings, please, by all means, save and enlighten this foolish me.

After what feels like a good few minutes had went by as I continue running while breathing heavily. I kept on holding in my heart wishing some sort of miracle might happen, but to no avail. I realize there truly was no hope left for me. As the famous quote by Friedrich Nietzsche has said, God Is Dead!

My footsteps has slowed in pace, my eyes devoid of living like those of a dead man. Then, I stopped my steps, bending slightly my sweat-drenched body, grasping hard for air, as I gaze at the bottomless pitch-black abyss. I now stand at the edge of a cliff and there is no path that connects to the opposite land that is divided with the length of two trees. As I look around for any possible hope left, at this moment, I thought to myself, Ahh...so this is it, huh. No way in hell, damn it! Even though I knew that this is the end, my rebellious nature can't help but to want to go against and struggle with this fate I was put in. I will not die a coward! Bring it on, you damned beings! I'll at least go down this abyss with one of you!

At this moment, what appears to an incidental timing the wind blew strongly above the skies, pushing the clouds that has enveloped the moon away to the sides. Finally, some moonlight enlightens where I stood at the cliff with few trees, giving a clearer visual than in that damned misty forest of nothingness. As seconds goes by, I could finally see the shadows that's approaching with its unbelievable speed that has pursued me since from the beginning. Relying mostly on it's withered hands, its horrifying appearance begins to come to light. There is a dark red illumination that seems to be its eyes flickers in the empty skull adds to it being wicked. The lower half of its body does not exist in flesh or bones but the appearance of an apparition with mist-like shadows. This is truly an advent of nightmare. If only someone would wake me up. How I wished that all of this was not true, that this is just a dream.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

It did not stop in its track even against me in front of it standing at the end of the cliff. There were three in total sprinting fast towards me as I prepare throwing a barrage of fist, which is the most I can do with no weapons. The middle wicked shadow unhesitatingly clench the ground and forcefully thrusts itself in air and its skull opening its jaws ready for a piece of its prey. Truly, a ruthless and vicious creature that strikes without sparing a moment for its prey to even properly resign oneself.

What seem like a slow motion where time comes to a standstill, the creature is in the air trajectory propelling towards me, I bravely sprint forward, lowering my head and body, thinking to grab by its ribs to throw it down the cliff behind me. The evil thing did not jump far enough and clasped my back, it burrowed its claws deep in my flesh and blood came spurting out as I struggled to rid it off me on the side of the cliff. My left hand trying hard to push away the damned thing to gain a little distance, as my right fist pounded the side of the skull as it attempts to chomp my neck. With all the strength I have remaining, I roared like it was the last declaration of my will and swing my upper body abusively as I pushed with force with the right timing the damned thing's weakened grip came off me and successfully falls down the cliff. Just when I felt slightly accomplished at the sight of the creature in the air about to slowly descend and free fall to its death, when I turned my sights back to the front again to see the two remaining evils, one of the shadow skull was already covering the sight of my eyes. By the time I want to resist, the second came leaping along and both the force pushed me to falter backwards falling down the cliff into the pitch-black void.

The very strange insecure feelings of free falling and the two horrifying creatures chomping my neck and side of my body, I can't help but to let out my screams. All of a sudden, I went up straight from bed with my hands trying to grasp for something to gain balance and I opened my eyes.

[What the hell!!? It's just a dream!]

[That's one heck of a bad one. God damn, can't they give me a better one?]

[Onii-chan~ It's time to wake up or you're gonna be late!]

[Huh, what time is it now?]

[Oh my gosh, it's already this hour! Gotta go get ready, no time to waste or I'll have to skip classes like I've usually gotten used to.]

[Onii-chan, that's why I told you to set two alarms yesterday since you slept so late!]

[Ah, sorry. I'll be sure to be careful now on. It's all the fault of the new novel, it's so good I can't help but to finish it in one go!]

[Mo.., you're always like this, getting so engrossed and hooked when you start reading your novels. You're gonna miss out on life!]

[Hahaha. Thanks for the worry, Misaki. But I always manage both. I still keep up a sociable front and my hobbies separate. What about you? Don't you have your student council meetings today?]

[You always say that, haven't you lost a few friends because you ignored them for a couple months while you shut-in in your world?]

Like an arrow that strikes true and penetrates my heart. Some of the past bitter memories flashes my mind. OUCH! Dear, Imouto yo...please stop, please stop and grant me mercy.

While she noticed that I didn't gave an immediate reply, she sense that she might have spoken a little too much and continues to forward the conversation from the topic.

[The student council meeting is in the afternoon, so its fine even if I go to school a little later. Onii-chan, you should really dress up fast and there's some porridge for breakfast in the kitchen.]

[Alright, I will. Shoo shoo, I'm going to get changed now.]

As I put on my clothes, my mind wandered about the bad dream I just had. I felt a little proud of myself for not giving up on surviving and gave a fight to the death, even though it was only a dream. The world, whether if its fantasy or not, rule on survival of the fittest remains true. If you are weak, you're bound to lose out, and if you could be strong, you might at least attain something even if you lost. The essence is to give your best and not back down.

With a little sense of illusionary feelings of achievement, I headed down to have my quick breakfast and attend lectures for the day.