Fronds kept slapping me in the face and vines tripped at my legs as I frantically fled. I could feel it. Something was behind me. Something dark. Something corrupted. Something evil. And it had my scent and was chasing me. It was far beyond my abilities, there was no choice but to flee. I knew it. It knew it. And it savored my terror.
It was far behind me, but the urgency never left. It had my scent. There was no escape. It was going to savor the chase. Take its time, let me desperately grasp for hope so that it could savor its victory that much more when it inevitably caught me.
“Aaah!” I froze, nearly flying off the edge of a cliff as the jungle suddenly stopped behind me. I stared down for a second, immediately discarding climbing down. The cliff face wasn’t just sheer, but it actually looked like I was standing on a slight overhang. Even on my best day, there was zero chance of me making that climb even with the best of equipment. Exhausted, sweaty and terrified? Desperate, I looked to the left and right, to no avail. The cliff extended as far as I could see in both directions, with no escape for me. Turning, I looked back the way I had come.
It knew. I could feel its chuffing laughter. There was no escape. It was a master tracker, though it wouldn’t even need a fraction of its ability with the obvious trail I had left behind me. A blind child could follow that trail. Falling to my knees, I shuddered as I fought the tears.
“Find Argos. Seek.” I froze as I heard the command. Raising my head, I saw my greatest fear. Eric was sauntering forward, following behind Argos. Gone was the blood staining his neck fur, instead it was cleaned and sewn shut.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Don’t worry cousin, I promise to take good care of dear Argos. He’s much more personable now that he’s an undead! And he has several years of wrongs to make up to me! But fear not, you two will be reunited soon. Though if you give up now, I’ll let him tear out your throat quickly. What do you way? Will you let me kill you here and now?”
“Go to hell Eric!” I snarled, standing up and facing him.
“Ooooh, found your spine? Good. GOOD! This wouldn’t be right if you just gave up! I’ve got so many ways that I’m going to torture you Terrance!”
“Why?” I screamed. “Why do this? What did I ever do to you?”
“What did you do?” He asked, and I could see the madness in his eyes. “What did you do? YOU TOOK EVERYTHING! EVEN BEFORE YOU STOLE MY BIRTHRIGHT WITH THAT RING! ALL MY LIFE I’VE LIVED IN YOUR SHADOW AND YOU WILL PAY!”
“Keep telling yourself that. We both know that I was always better.” I chuckled.
“I’m coming Terrance! You’re mine! Argos!”
“Even now, your destiny is disappointment.” I said, turning and flinging myself off the cliff.
“YOU WON’T ESCAPE! I’LL HUNT YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD!”
I tried my best to shield my face as I fell into the canopy of the trees below, but it didn’t help much. Branches tore at my clothes and skin, slamming into me with brutal force. I slammed into a tangle of vines, ripping through some and getting tangled in the rest. They slowed my descent, but wrapped me in a painfully tight embrace. As I lay there, slightly bouncing in their unforgiving embrace, I felt a leaf gently caressing my skin. The jungle quieted, as the wind mocked me with a gentle voice that seemed so familiar. Hauntingly so. But it was so gentle? Almost, loving? Love was taboo in the Necropolis. It would unfailingly get you killed.
“Easy, Terrance. Easy. Ellie’s got you, and she won’t let you go. Wake up for me sweetie.”