Chapter 3: The Inevitable
The dust turned moist, wet from the dripping drool. Eager, the mouth twitched. Groaned as it craved for the savoury meal before its unfocused eyes. As if instinct was all that was left within the pair of pale white.
It wasn’t just the staggering movements. The stench of decay churned my stomach, while maggots that crawled between rotten intestines made me frown. But no matter how ill, no matter how much the urge to vomit were. I was unable to peel my constricted pupils away from the once human creature, wounded as if other kin alike had ripped the bloody person apart.
I had to move. I needed to crawl away, but I couldn’t. Each time my chest pounded as I laid helpless on the floor. I repeated the very same question. What do I do?
Desperation crept closer. Accursed thoughts couldn’t find an answer. And while bones crackled for each baby stride, I have yet to move a single muscle.
But then it registered. The realization that my fate, that my death was sealed, it blurred the world behind tears. Never had I imagined that my will was so fragile, the pillar that kept my torch burning.
Deep inside, I still prayed for a miracle. Who wouldn’t? I rather die without knowing, not be chewed alive piece by piece. But who’s here to lend a hand? No one, nothing from miles away. For who knew my location, when even I did not?
I wanted to laugh. What if all of this was staged? What if- I sighed. Truth laid bare before my very sight. Why deny it? All I could do was awaited my death, and watch as the creature narrowed the gap. Watch as the world lost all of its colors. Watch as each breaths of mine I exhaled, echoed and distorted my sense of time.
Before long, everything had slowed to the point which they moved according to my beating heart. Flies, particles of dust, and even time itself. As if a greater being mocked me, gave me time to ponder about my past mistakes.
Yet even so… Why… Why is life so unfair?
...
“What’s the matter?” She asked. Yet when I recognized her tender voice, my eyes had already met with her emerald honesty. I curled up, and bursted into tears on my wet kneecaps once again.
Of all people, why her?
She spoke, presumably to cheer me up. But all I heard was one word, then a sigh, and a few more words before grass rustled from each of her distancing steps. Suffice to say, I payed no heed to any of them, only my sobs and tears I brushed away.
With the passing of time, a quarter perhaps. A distant bell high above rang its musical chimes. Melodies which calmed my tears. Maybe coincidence was the word, or a hunch, but when I peeked over my wet forearms at the river bank. A pink dual popsicle covered my blurred scenery.
I avoided her, looked elsewhere as I scraped my wet cheeks dry, and leaned against the crunchy bark. Why, why did you come back? I sniffed. But my thoughts never reached her, never did, and never will.
She tugged her skirt between her pale thighs, and sat beside me within the shadows. Tongue licking the cold chill, as her mind wandered towards the skyscrapers, which reflected the summer skies.
The bumblebees took flight, dandelions’ fragrance had them dance, and as she swept her fringe sideways, her crimson hair fluttered with the breeze. Our eyes met, the pair of calm green like the leaves that rustled above.
Silence was all we needed, and the way she snapped the popsicle into two, confessed it all. She smiled, and I looked away, cheeks burning yet fingers icy cold. For curiosity had caught the best of me once again.
“Here,” she said, and I hesitated. But eventually a sigh relieved the weight on my shoulders. I accepted the wet popsicle, and before any second thoughts could ever change my mind. Regret had me already shivering from the burning chill.
She giggled. A gentle smile which melted my pain away. Sour yet sweet. The cold and juicy taste which froze her kindness within me.
Before I knew, my cheeks became moist once again.
...
How could I have forgotten? If creatures like these exist, wouldn’t- It dawned upon me. I had to Move. Fingers, toes, legs, body or anything at all! FUCKING MOVE YOU PIECE OF USELESS SHIT!
A finger flinched, and a spark relit my torch of hope. However, even something tiny can grow in size.
I gasped for air, forced my blood to circulate quicker, faster, and fiercer. Even though it may not work. At least, as the groans raised my goosebumps, while spine itched from crackling bones that grew louder. My toes finally scratched the surface of the dust.
Only a few more- I shuddered. A cold shade bathed over me, and a river of warm glue tingled down my back. No matter how much I wanted to shriek and fling my arm, patience held me back. I needed every second I could buy.
The fangs extended, vanished behind my line of sight, and when a warm breath tingled my sweaty pores. I knew it was my que.
My arm rocketed backwards from the floor, with a sheer force that sent the creature crashing down back first, scattering teeth and maggots around.
Suffice to say, a price had to be paid. A scream which my bolt of adrenaline clashed against to keep at bay. But I bit my lips. Grit my teeth, and savoured the rustic blood, as I silenced my wail.
After escaping the thin ice. I don’t know what went through my chaotic mind. Next move nor plans. But I never looked back, never glanced anywhere. Not at the hoarse groans that asked for an apology. Not even my naked skin gathering dust from ceramic tiles, and especially not the groove of my dislocated shoulder.
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All I heard was lungs gasping for the strangling air, and beating heart about to erupt like a volcano.
I heaved forth, dragged limp arm and body straight towards the light. Perhaps the injection had something to do with it. But even with the stabbing pain, and weight taking its toll on my arm. My strides got me further with each crawl forward in the dim corridor filled with- I couldn’t believe it. Did not want to believe it. Stasis chambers straight from a sci-fi movie. Either they were tucked inside or suspended from the metallic wall.
However, what caught my curiosity was after the third chamber. Dried blood hidden beneath the thick dust, and three deep crevices carved across the wall of steel.
My body stiffened, and silence befell me as my wide gaze rested upon the mangled chamber. Jagged sharp and deep red, an enormous rupture, as if some monster shoved their claws inside and ripped it open. No… At first, it teased with its claws. Let the wall beside wail its siren shriek, while each step brought it closer to the chamber, and nearer to the one unable to move.
What if that person was me?
A groan snapped me back to my senses, and I crawled. The thoughts alone hastened my pace, while at the same time could only be described as selfish, regardless of how I wished. Fortunately, from the clues of the built up dust, a lot of time must have passed since then.
I grabbed the edge of the door and pulled myself out towards the left. I knew there was something of importance over- How did I know my way around?
Screw the questions! I reminded myself, and pulled myself forth. Ugly groans growing weaker as I followed my guts past walls and corners dyed in blood.
Eventually, as time passed, or rather around 2 minutes. My lungs already gasped for the strangling air, while I found myself in a large room with two stories tall walls. One guess would be the dining room, yet because of the knocked over tables and chairs, blocking my vision of the back end. Uncertainty found its way inside my mind.
One thing for sure, the flickering lamps, and the walls of steel gave the eerie shudders of a prison. To add, no windows could be seen anywhere. Which lead me to believe, that something had to be kept out, or maybe kept inside. Whatever it may be, the shattered plates and glass, including culinaries scattered around the floor, told the stories of the struggles.
A growl roared across the room. Instantly I laid low, and threw my glance everywhere… By the time I confirmed that the coast was clear, I sighed. Somehow, my guts was actually in search for food.
Either way, before going anywhere, there is one thing I had to do to increase my chances of success.
I made way towards a nearby standing chair. Threw my arm over it, and pulled myself up. Veins popped and arms trembled mad as I fought against gravity. Comon! My inner soul cheered, while sweat stung my eyes, and fueled my soul with fire.
But the chair tilted, and I guarded my dislocated shoulder. Cheek smacked against the floor. It hurt, and like a tide, it raged, the eagerness to break the chair apart. If only it had not already slid further away from my clenched grasp.
I took a deep breath, a pause to say. This time, I’ll make sure that it won’t happen- I choked on my breath, silenced my beating heart, and quickly yet quiet I forced my cheeks against the cold floor, breathing in the tingling dust.
Where did it come from? I focused all my senses into my ear, searched for the noise. The banging noise as if something was moving through a small metallic space. It was not slow, rather it accelerated, as if something of interest have been found… Behind? No above!
Bam! The fans and the grill of the ventilation clattered against the floor, echoed from the center across the room.
Slowly, I traced backwards and hid next to a knocked over table. But before holding my breath to minimize my noises. I brushed away all nearby dust to make sure a sneeze wouldn’t blow my cover.
Whatever it was, it landed on chairs and tables. Did not scream nor trip, but broke them apart with its sheer weight.
I looked towards the exit where I came from. Body irked for an immediate sprint, while my instinct screamed through loss of strength that it was not a wise choice, especially the state I am at now.
The shards of grass crackled, tensed my muscles from the unnerving sound alone. And while a peculiar weight could be heard being dragged along by the creature across the floor. It shrieked, a weak and docile wail.
Nevertheless that does not mean I could outrun it. Unlike the withered corpse eaten alive by parasites. The comparison between this one, is like comparing a rifle and a knife. Not only could it walk and force anything to slide away from its path, the sheer speed through the ventilation, had my imagination chain me in place.
It was then I heard a groan, and I saw it. The creature with a broken neck, crawling with a leg bent 90 degrees.
Death finally had me cornered.
Shit...
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Phew, finally I'm done <.<... Took a while. But still a bit unsatisfied. Might update this later on as I progress with the next chapter!
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Updated :> It's better than before at least!