The silence and darkness inside the hidden space were suffocating, pressing down on Valeria like a heavy blanket. She had no way of knowing how much time had passed since her mother had hidden her away. Minutes? Hours? It all blurred together in the oppressive blackness. The only sounds were the rapid beating of her heart and the small, stifled hiccups she struggled to suppress. Each one felt like a betrayal of her promise to remain quiet. She clutched the bag her mother had given her, the rough fabric a small comfort against the overwhelming fear that threatened to consume her.
“They’ll come back soon,” she whispered to herself, a desperate attempt to believe her own words. “They promised…”
But as the minutes dragged on, that desperate hope began to wane. The quiet that had surrounded her for what felt like an eternity started to shift, turning into something far more terrifying. At first, it was just a distant noise—a low murmur, barely audible through the thick walls of the house. But then it grew louder, the sounds sharpening into something unmistakable: screams. Horrible, piercing screams that sent a chill down Valeria’s spine.
Her small body trembled as the screams mixed with other noises—groans of agony, the clash of metal, and something else, something guttural and inhuman. The kind of sound that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Monsters. Valeria had never seen one, but she had heard stories. The kind of stories that made her nights restless with fear. And now, those monsters were closer than she had ever imagined they could be.
The sound of the creatures grew louder, more distinct. She could hear their growls, deep and menacing, accompanied by the horrible sounds of their movement—thuds and crashes as they tore through the village. Valeria’s hands tightened around the bag, her knuckles turning white as she tried to block out the noise, tried to pretend it wasn’t real. But there was no escaping it. The noise seeped into every corner of her mind, a chaotic symphony of despair that drowned out any hope she had left.
Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps as she fought to stay quiet, to keep the promise she had made to her mother. But it was becoming harder with each passing second. The growls were getting closer, the sounds of destruction more vivid. She could almost feel the vibrations through the floorboards as the monsters moved nearer, their presence a palpable force in the air.
Mom, Dad, where are you? The thought echoed in her mind, over and over, a silent plea that went unanswered. Fear tightened its grip on her, making her small body shake uncontrollably. She wanted to call out for them, to scream, but she knew she couldn’t. She had promised. She had to be a good girl and stay quiet.
The growling was so close now, just outside the walls of the house. Valeria squeezed her eyes shut, as if that could block out the terrifying reality. Her breaths came faster, ragged and uneven, her small chest heaving as she tried to keep herself from making a sound. But the fear was too much, too overwhelming. It filled her up, leaving no room for anything else.
Then, without warning, everything started to blur. Her vision darkened at the edges, the sounds around her growing muffled and distant, as if they were fading away. The terror that had gripped her heart began to slip into a strange, heavy numbness. The last thing she was aware of was the sound of her own heartbeat, loud and frantic in her ears, before everything went black.
Valeria awoke to the sound of loud, jarring noises that shattered the oppressive silence. Her heart leaped in her chest as she tried to make sense of the chaos. The growls and roars of monsters echoed through the walls, each sound a terrifying reminder that the nightmare was far from over. The noise was different now, more rhythmic, more deliberate. It wasn’t just the wild, frenzied sounds of the monsters anymore—there was something else, something more controlled and purposeful.
She could hear the clash of metal, sharp and ringing, mixed with guttural snarls and the dull thud of heavy impacts. The noises overlapped and intertwined, a violent sound that made her heart race. It was as if the air itself was vibrating with the intensity of the battle raging outside. But Valeria’s young mind struggled to process what was happening. She was too scared, too overwhelmed to recognize the sounds for what they were. All she knew was that something—or someone—was fighting the monsters, but it was impossible to tell who or what was winning.
The growls of the monsters were close, their feral sounds vibrating through the floorboards, and Valeria could feel them in her bones. But there was another sound, one she couldn’t place—almost like a hum or a whisper, a strange, otherworldly noise that seemed to pulse through the air. The clash of metal continued, each strike accompanied by a burst of that strange humming sound.
But no matter how hard she tried, Valeria couldn’t focus. Her mind was a fog of fear and confusion, and she couldn’t stop her body from trembling. She wanted to believe that this was all just a horrible dream, that she would wake up and find herself back on the rock by the lake, with the sun shining down on her. But the cold, hard reality was inescapable. Her energy was drained, her stomach twisted in hunger, and every sound made her flinch in terror.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the noise started to fade. The growls that had haunted her mind began to die down, replaced by a deep, unsettling quiet. The rhythmic clashes of metal and the strange humming sound grew less frequent, then stopped altogether. Silence returned, heavy and unnatural, pressing in on her from all sides. The only sound left was the pounding of her own heartbeat, loud in her ears.
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But before she could take a breath of relief, another noise cut through the quiet—a sound that sent a fresh wave of fear crashing over her. Footsteps. Urgent, heavy footsteps, growing louder and closer with each passing second.
Valeria’s breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively held it, as if even the smallest sound would give her away. She clutched the bag in her hands, squeezing it so tightly that her fingers ached, trying to keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. The footsteps were right outside the hiding place now, the floorboards creaking under the weight of whoever—or whatever—was there.
With a loud crash, the cabinet that had concealed her hiding spot was torn away, and light flooded the small space, blinding her. Valeria winced, her eyes squeezing shut against the sudden brightness. Her heart was racing, her mind spinning, too overwhelmed to process what was happening.
In the midst of the blinding light, a soft, unfamiliar voice reached her ears, gentle and comforting in a way that contrasted sharply with the terror she felt. “Please hang in there…” the voice murmured, the words wrapping around her like a blanket, warm and reassuring.
But before Valeria could respond, before she could even make sense of the situation, her mind began to drift again. The exhaustion, the fear, the overwhelming sensory overload—it was all too much for her small body to handle. Her consciousness slipped away once more, the voice was the last thing she heard before darkness claimed her again.
Valeria opened her eyes, the world slowly coming back into focus. Above her, the sky was a vast canvas of twinkling stars, the gentle rustling of branches in the night breeze a soft backdrop to the stillness around her. For a moment, she let out a shaky breath, her mind grasping at the remnants of what she thought was a terrible nightmare. It was just a dream, she told herself, but it's late! I have to get back home. Mom and Dad will be worried.
But as she tried to push herself up, her limbs trembled, weak and unsteady. Something was wrong. She wasn't at the familiar rock by the lake, and there was no sign of her village anywhere. The comforting sights of home were replaced by unfamiliar woods and the flickering glow of a campfire in the distance. Panic began to rise in her chest as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Before she could gather her thoughts, a soft voice broke through the fog.
“You’re awake.”
Valeria turned toward the sound and saw a young woman near the campfire, her face partly obscured by bandages. The woman moved quickly, filling a bowl with soup from a pot that simmered over the flames. The fire was the only light besides the soft glow of the moon, casting long, dancing shadows around them.
“Are you feeling better?” the woman asked, her voice calm, though her eyes were full of concern. “It seems like you aren’t injured—just famished.”
As the woman approached with the bowl, Valeria’s instinct was to retreat. She slid back, her body tense, her mind still struggling to catch up with everything that had happened. But the moment the woman knelt down and offered the bowl, Valeria’s stomach growled in protest, overriding the fear in her heart. Without thinking, she snatched the bowl from the woman’s hands and gulped the soup down as fast as she could, the warm broth soothing her aching hunger.
“Thank goodness I cooled it down already…” the woman murmured, watching with gentle concern as Valeria emptied the bowl. “Don’t choke yourself. There’s plenty more.” She gestured toward the pot, offering a small smile.
Valeria didn’t hesitate, going through bowl after bowl of soup as her hunger finally began to fade. The young woman, who had been sitting beside her, patted her back gently, her voice soft. “Poor thing… that bag you’re carrying has rations in it too.”
It took a few moments, but eventually, Valeria’s stomach settled. She sat still, her body finally starting to calm, but her mind—her mind was racing. Questions flooded her, pushing away the fleeting comfort the food had given her.
“Where… where am I?” Valeria asked, her voice trembling as the reality of her situation began to set in.
“Somewhere safe… for now,” the woman replied, her tone cautious. “Don’t worry.”
But that wasn’t the answer Valeria needed. The fear that had gripped her heart came rushing back as the next question spilled out of her mouth. “Where are my Mom and Dad? And Alex?” She looked up at the woman, her eyes wide, desperate for some kind of reassurance.
The young woman hesitated, her expression pained as she struggled for words. She shook her head gently, unable to meet Valeria’s gaze. “There’s no one left at the village…” she began, her voice barely a whisper. “You’re lucky that hiding spot was enchanted.”
Valeria’s heart sank as the woman’s words slowly sank in. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she struggled to breathe. “What do you mean?” she cried, her voice cracking with panic. “Where’s Mom and Dad? I want my Mom and Dad!”
The young woman knelt beside her, pulling Valeria into a tight embrace as her cries grew louder, more desperate. “I’m so sorry…” the woman whispered, her own voice trembling with guilt. “I’m sorry I was late.”
But Valeria pushed her away, her body shaking with sobs. “I want to see my Mom and Dad!” she screamed, her small hands balled into fists. The young woman looked away, the weight of her guilt hanging in the air. Her voice was soft, full of regret. “I’ve buried all the people I found,” she said, pausing before adding, “but if you insist… I could go back to check. Maybe there’s a chance someone escaped came back.”
The offer hung between them, fragile and uncertain. The young woman moved to set aside Valeria’s blanket before draping her own cloak around the girl’s small shoulders. “Here. This will help keep you hidden, just in case. I’ve checked the area, but…” Her voice trailed off as she gently patted Valeria’s head. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
But those words—I’ll be back soon—struck fear into Valeria’s heart, and she grasped the young woman’s arm with trembling hands. “No… no, don’t leave me alone!” Her voice cracked with panic, her tears falling freely again.
The young woman’s eyes softened as she knelt back down and wrapped her arms around Valeria. “I won’t,” she promised, her voice steady and soothing. “Let’s rest first. You must be so tired. I’ll stay right here with you.”
The warmth of the woman’s embrace was enough to quiet Valeria’s sobs, if only for a moment. Exhausted from the fear, the crying, and the confusion, Valeria’s body began to relax, her head resting against the woman’s chest. Even though her heart still ached with an unbearable sadness, the steady heartbeat beneath her ear lulled her into a fragile sense of security.
Valeria’s eyelids grew heavy, and though the pain in her chest remained, sleep slowly began to pull her under once again. The last thing she heard was the soft murmur of the young woman’s voice, whispering reassurances that, for now, kept the darkness at bay.