The meeting had been pure coincidence. After feasting on everyone inside the bus, something gently stepped off, leaving the spectacle to inevitably be found. It didn’t matter. This place didn’t have much time left anyways. Walking down the long road, the beast saw the massive building growing into its gaze. The idea that it was perhaps filled with more people caused its heart to stir. Perfect, satiation for its endless hunger. A hunger that was more painful than any other sensation imaginable, a constant starvation that couldn’t be quelled. Its hands clenched up tight as it carefully made its way ahead, sticking to the shadows and bushes. Locking in on the building’s doors, the thing notices someone standing out front, its face twitching and looking rather displeased.
The beast’s hunger made its heart swell at the sight of the person. The perfect shape for its tastes, the right mix of fat and meat to give it the impeccable taste that could surely cure its hunger. That one, yes, the one he needs to eat above all others is that one! An excitement courses through its joints as it watches the person walking inside. The beast curses itself for taking so long, holding its screeching stomach. No, this doesn’t matter. It’ll get in there, it’ll find them, and it’ll devour them. With this goal centered in its head, it begins its hunt for a discreet entrance.
…
Uh, yeah, something about this definitely feels wrong. Did I do something to upset her? She certainly doesn’t seem pleased to be perceived, but I guess she doesn’t look pissed either. I’d say, above anything else, she looks worryingly curious. She walks up to me and, without warning, reaches out and touches my cheek. She seems surprised when her finger collides with my cheek. Oh god, have I somehow gotten myself involved with someone terrifying? I sincerely hope not, that’s the absolute last thing I need today. Looking around for any way to escape, I find nothing, no weapon or distraction. Ughh, noo, please!
“Interesting. I can touch you too. I think that pretty much settles it then.” She takes a deep sigh before squatting, making her just a little shorter than my perspective. She places some fingers on her chin as she goes deep into thought. My chance appears to try and run, but not knowing what she’s capable of terrifies me enough to keep me still. “Alright. Hello there. Would you mind telling me your name?” Huh? My name? Yeah, I have one of those, but why do you wanna know it? Despite that, though, I hesitantly spit out my first name, satisfying her. “Christopher. Okay, Christopher, do you recall seeing anything strange today?”
Strange? What the hell is she talking about? I gulp, trying to consider the events of the day, but nothing…comes…wait. Wait a second, the news alert! Does that count? If I tell her about that will she leave me alone?! Enthusiastically, I explain to her all about the dead body that was found in the tree. In response, she stands up, nodding her head. She doesn’t seem surprised at all. Did she already know about that? That isn’t too surprising, I can’t be the only one who got that alert, but, still, something about that fact was sending a vibrantly terrible chill down my spine.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Yes, I’ve definitely heard about that already. Awful, it’s my fault for not getting there in time…” A look of genuine mourning appears on her face. For some reason, seeing her look so upset for another person makes my fear lessen a little. Surely if she can care that much about another person, she can’t be that bad. I…assure her that it couldn’t have been her fault. She looks back at me and gives a small smile. “You’re sweet. Don’t worry, I won’t let the same thing happen to you.” Her smile doesn’t make those words go down any easier. Noticing my heightened unease, she clears her throat, as if that actually clears the air in this situation.
“Alright, how do I say this…” She sighs, before just saying it outright. “If you can see me, well, I’m sorry to say kid, but you’re done for.”
…
Slipping through an open window, the thing gently stands on an empty table. Now inside, the thing snickers. It doesn’t have forever if it wants to eat that special one. So, with a swiftness, it hops off the table and slides along the floor, through the set of double doors into the hall. A person stops, surprised by the beast, but is quick to have their body smashed into the wall, leaving a horrifically vile imprint upon the brick. Quickly, quickly, the only thing racing through the beast’s mind was that one word. Find the one, eat the one, become free. Become free! BECOME FREE!
With that one desire racing through its mind, the beast found itself struck by a feeling. A faint one. Trying to lead it in a direction. That’s it. That must be where it is. The beast’s hyperactive muscles sent it into a maddening sprint, towards the stairs. Every soul that ignorantly came within its range was promptly grabbed and devoured, in one horrific way or another. The already hunger driven beast had finally fallen completely to its collar, and if it was hungry, then it was going to EAT. Eat eat eat, until every single soul has been liberated from this place. Until there’s nothing left in this world.
Until this hunger is finally gone.
…
Done for? Are you kidding? She has to be joking. There’s….there’s no way this is real. Oh god, god please, I just wanna leave. I wanna leave and be free from my mess of a life, why…why is this happening to me?! I grit my teeth as I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I’m gonna die I’m gonna die I’m gonna die I’m gonna die! I stand up. I don’t care about her anymore, I just need to get the hell out of here. I grab my phone and charger with shaky hands and shove them into my bag when the girl grabs my arm and forces me to stay where I’m standing, looking her dead in the eye.
“Hey. Look at me. I’m going to keep you safe, okay? I need you to stay with me.” She moves her hand from my arm to my head and ruffles my hair, giving me the most confident smile she can. “I won’t let you die. That’s my promise.” Her comforting words do set me a bit at ease. At least, enough to stop my shaking. If whatever did the tree thing really is after me, then…then I guess it would be better to be with someone. I don’t know her, but…it’s a safer bet then going alone. Just as I’m thinking that, she looks away from me, toward the stairs. I follow her gaze and feel my heart almost stop. A being, long, and lanky, pure white, with long and twitching fingers, stands at the top of the stairs, coated in the blood of someone. Someones? Oh god.
Oh god…