Cain tried to remember how it happened. What had happened. Where was he when the screaming started? Was the screaming coming from him, or the woman under the stone rubble of a collapsed wall in front of him? No, it wasn’t him, nor her. She was dead, her empty eyes staring into him. Her pale hand that had once reached out to him was flattened, crushed like a pitiful flower. His deep ragged breaths pounded his thoughts, panic coursing through his entire body.  He was hurt, and he had to run. Run far away from here before it comes back. But where? This was his street, his home, right? The collapsed house around him was where he lived. Where his mother and brother lived. He tried to move, but he realized he was stuck too. Just like the woman. It hurt. He couldn’t feel his legs. He was afraid. Where was he again?

“Cain! Cain, where are you? Please!” The choking voice that yelled out for Cain was familiar. So that was where the screaming came from. 

“Abel!” Cain struggled to yell out more, but all he could do was scream out his brother’s name.

“Cain?! Thank god! Just wait!” Abel’s voice filled Cain with relief and hope. He could hear the muffled shuffling of stone. 

“I’ll get you out. I won’t let you die. I swear.” Abel’s voice was a fervent whisper. 

“Thanks…” Cain coughed out, a metallic taste lingering in his mouth. 

“Do you know where mom is?” 

“....” The soulless eyes bored into Cain as he struggled to breath.

“Dead, then?” Abel’s voice was seemingly emotionless as he continued his work, but Cain knew otherwise.

“Either way, I’m glad you…are still safe.” Abel's voice cracked through sniffles and grunts. Cain didn’t know how to reply. All he could really feel was the numbness of his body as what seemed like the weight of the world weighed down his body. However, slowly the stone on him became lighter and lighter. Until there was nothing. 

“It’s done! I got you!” Abel’s voice was now clear for the first time in what seemed like ages. It was filled with both exhaustion and joy. To Cain, it felt like he was finally free. However, before he could relish in his newfound freedom, Abel reached out with a scar covered arm towards Cain, grasping onto his chest and pulling him out of the rubble. 

“Ugh, still heavy as ever huh.” Abel smiled as he flopped down onto the ground, exhausted from the effort. Finding no need for a response, Cain could only look around. What he saw shook him to the core. The only thing that remained of his street was rubble or fire, the plentiful houses that once lined the street were like his own, bloodied stone. It wasn’t just his street either. He could see fire and hear distant roars far north, beyond the forest that once seemed like a boundless barrier.

“Everything’s gone wrong, Cain. There’s monsters everywhere.” Abel pulled himself together, dusting off the rubble from his jeans.

“Can you get up?”

“…” Cain shook his head as he pointed to his legs. They were bloodied and mangled with scratches. 

“It’s fine, I’ll carry you.” Abel smiled warmly, gingerly grabbing onto Cain and pulling him up. Pain suddenly surged through his body, and he involuntarily let out a whimper. 

“I know it hurts. We just have to get through this.” Abel tried his best to be soothing, but the pain was too great. Cain nodded and clenched his teeth, bracing himself. With one quick motion, Abel twisted and pulled Cain up onto his back, putting Cain into a piggyback position. A sharp pain like a knife stabbing into his legs surged throughout Cain, causing him to grunt out loud. 

“You’re good, you’re fine now.”

“It… hurts… so much.” Cain could only grunt out his words as the pain slithered throughout his body, shaking his core.

“We just have to find somewhere safe. Can you?” While the pain was still burning hot, Cain forced himself to nod.

“Just… go.”

“I swear, you’ll make it through.” Abel’s voice was filled with resolve as he started to jog out towards the street. Cain closed his eyes, as the pain consumed his resolve. He faded away to the deep darkness of his consciousness. 

-

“Argh!” Cain awoke to the sharp surge of pain slithering throughout his body, his body involuntarily lurching up and forcing him to sit up. Opening his eyes, Cain could see the warm light of a campfire covering the entirety of his vision. Abel was sitting across the fire, cooking what seemed like a canned piece of food. 

“Awake now, huh?” Abel softly laughed as he took out a large portion of the food and put it onto a plastic plate. He then slid it towards Cain. Peering down, it seemed to be luncheon meat. Deciding to ignore it, Cain inspected himself before doing anything sudden or rash. He was sitting within a camping sleeping bag, and his legs and arms were covered in makeshift bandages, bloodied. But his limbs were miraculously put back together, even if it was slightly haphazardly.

“Thank god the dollar store still had some supplies. I had to scavenge from the rubble over there.” Abel pointed to the left. Cain’s eyes trailed through a dark treeline and landed upon the ruins of the dollar store. A big green sign with the words “Dollar Den” was crumpled like paper on the ground. 

“Still, it saved you.” Abel coughed as he ate from the can, his green eyes bored into Cain. Cain shivered in the cold of the night, but now seeing that he would be okay to move, Cain grabbed the plate and started to scarf his portion of meat down like a wild beast. Abel laughed incredulously as Cain burped in satisfaction, dropping the plate onto the ground.

“Still hungry?” Abel gestured the can out towards Cain, but Cain shook his head. 

“Suit yourself, though we have a couple more to spare.” Abel produced a large pack of the can from the backpack on his side before placing it back. A few moments passed as they both sat in silence, the only noise being Abel eating with the sound of fire crackling.

“Are… we safe?” Cain looked around his surroundings and could only see trees. Judging from their position they didn’t seem that far off from their home. Maybe a couple miles?

“I think so. I haven’t seen any monsters.” Abel’s voice shook. 

“Even then, if they do come, I’ll protect us.” Abel picked up a large metal knife from the ground. That won’t help. Abel probably knew as well, but before Cain could say anything, the slight shaking of ground below him interrupted his thoughts. Cain watched Abel’s eyes widen. Abel suddenly stood up.

“What-”

“Shhh.” Abel’s hand that grasped the silver knife was shaking wildly. Cain watched Abel slowly walk towards Cain. Midway however, the shaking of the ground returned, much more violently and causing Abel to stumble to the ground. The rustling of leaves nearby immediately caught Cain’s attention, his neck twisting to the right. A giant shadow had suddenly appeared beside the dark trees in the forest thirty feet away. It stood ten feet tall, and was shaped like a human, but Cain and anyone sane could tell that it was anything other than a human. It was much larger in size, its limbs were unnaturally long, almost like an ape, and its legs looked shaped to have hooves. 

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“Two innocent lambs. Are you lost?” A perverted and dark whisper impossibly resonated within Cain’s mind, invading his thoughts like a squirming parasite that had somehow dug its way within. Cain tried to ignore it as he attempted to stand up, but his limbs failed him. 

“Abel! Please stand up!” Cain could see Abel struggling to get up in the corner of his vision while he kept the shadow within line of sight. It was watching them now, but the shivers that ran down Cain’s back were telling a different story. 

“Why are you afraid, little lamb? I only wish to help.” The shadow started to quickly move towards the two, the shaking of the ground returning. Panic started to course through Cain, adrenaline pumping. But there wasn’t anything he could do, his limbs were injured beyond belief. Running through the dirt, he found a small rock, to which he weakly threw at the rapidly approaching shadow. It terribly missed, but the shadow suddenly stopped, still barely hidden in the darkness. He could hear the heavy breathing of the creature as scarlet eyes glowed brightly towards him. 

“Go away!” Cain screamed with all his might at it despite knowing it wouldn’t do a single damn thing against the creature. 

“Do you perhaps… understand me?” Cain groaned out in pain as the whisper grew louder in intensity, clutching and covering his ears in an attempt to cancel out the intruding voice. The loud crunching of grass rang out as the shadow took another step towards the campsite. 

“You do! You can understand me!” The voice was now a cacophony of loud shouting and laughter. It was echoing and thumping around his head, drowning out everything. His thoughts and memories were flooded away by the boundless voice that could devour everything. He could only desperately grasp onto a small branch in the darkness of the void.

“Cain! Snap out of it!” Abel’s clear voice suddenly pulled Cain back into reality. Abel was by his side, shaking him in a panic. Cain coughed out, spitting out bits of blood onto the ground. 

“Are you good now?” Cain nodded, but his head ached terribly. It was taking all his will to be awake. The monster was no longer staring at him, instead its focus seemed to be on Abel. Cain could hear loud sniffing come from the direction of the creature.  

“Only one lamb can understand. Unfortunate.” The voice was lighter on Cain’s mind this time. Maybe because it wasn’t focused on him at the current moment.   

“Abel, you need to leave… now. It’s currently distracted and wants me.” Cain coughed as he tried to whisper to his brother, who was attempting to pull Cain up. Abel shook his head.

“I can’t leave you. I promised you’ll make it through.” 

“You need… to. I’m only a burden.”

“Are you? I don’t think that though.” Abel laughed softly as he pulled Cain back into a piggyback. The crunching of grass accompanied by the shaking of the ground silenced the two. The creature finally had stepped into the light, barely illuminated by the campfire. Standing now ten feet away from the two, Cain could see that it was covered entirely in black hair. He realized it had been slouched over the entire time. Fully stretched and standing up, it was at least 13 feet tall, nearly tripling Abel and Cain. It stood on hooves, and had a lion’s head, adorned with a golden mane that flowed from the neck down to its chest. Two horns like a lamb’s protruded from its head, while beady scarlet eyes bored into Cain’s soul. Its lips curved upwards into a false smile, ravenous bloodied teeth bared as drool landed upon the ground.

“Hello, little lambs. Are we going somewhere?” Cain winced as its voice entered directly into his thoughts again. It was less painful this time, as Cain had braced himself for the invading thoughts.

“Run!” Cain shouted out, spurring Abel in action. Abel started to sprint towards the ruins of the dollar store while Cain kept watch of the monster. Its smile disappeared as Abel crossed into the dark forest. 

“Why are you running? There’s no hope.” The voice was tinged with annoyance. Cain watched the creature get into all fours. A loud cracking noise emanated from the beast as it convulsed, before it went quiet. For a brief moment, the only noise that Cain could hear was Abel’s ragged breaths. Then, it moved. It rushed forward like a wild beast, clawing and grasping dirt in rapid succession. Cain could not believe his eyes as the monster closed the distance in mere seconds. 

“Stop. While my patience still lasts.”  It was a threat that chilled Cain to his bones as it breathed down Cain’s neck. The monster could have instantly killed the two already, but it didn’t. It was toying with them, and Cain knew that once its interest in the two was gone, they would be gone as well. Seeing Abel take his first step into the dollar store’s clearing, Cain signaled to Abel to let him down. Abel’s eyes were confused as he met them, but seeing Cain’s resolved eyes, Abel obeyed, letting him down as they approached the dollar store’s rubble. It was a surge of immense pain as Cain forced himself to keep standing, his legs quaking as it threatened to buckle under him. Abel moved to help, but Cain shook his head. He wanted to stand up on his own, and he forced himself to slowly turn towards the monster. He stood defiant as the creature emerged from the treeline, standing tall as its hooves landed upon the pavement. Its beady scarlet eyes stared Cain down, its lion face solemn.

“What do you want from me? Why haven’t you killed us?” Cain’s calm voice could not hide the shaking of his legs, but he had to stand his ground. He needed to be brave. The beady eyes of the monster widened. A low laughter followed suit, echoing in Cain’s head as the creature leaned forward.

“Interesting, so amusing! Little lamb, do you wish to live?” The creature’s heavy breath was hot as it threatened to blow Cain over, but he stood strong. 

“Yes, I do.” Cain tried to calmly reply as he stared down the creature, forcing himself to stand back straight. The creature chuckled.  

“Then, it's simple.” The creature’s smile grew back. This time, it felt much more threatening as the creature stared back into Cain. It felt like Cain was being sucked and swirled into a deep, scarlet abyss. 

“KILL HIM.” 

“What?” Cain could only dumbly gasp aloud as the monster’s voice resonated inside his mind, a roaring ocean tearing through his thoughts. He couldn’t believe it, couldn’t comprehend what it was asking him. Then a dull ringing hit him. 

“TAKE HIS KNIFE.”   

“Cain? What is it doing to you?” Abel’s voice was drowned out as Cain clutched his head. He couldn’t think, couldn’t feel. Everything hurt as he pounded his skull. His eyes flickered towards the silver blade that was shaking in Abel’s hand.

“MURDER HIM LIKE HOW YOU MURDERED YOUR OWN MOTHER.” 

“Get out! RUN!” Cain couldn’t even hear his own screaming as he suddenly lunged at the blade in Abel’s hands. Abel was caught off guard with the sudden change in Cain, and his grip on the weapon was easily overpowered by Cain, who had suddenly turned wild. Cain’s vision was scarlet red as he stared down Abel, his breath ragged like a wild beast. He didn’t know why he was doing this. Why was he feeling an intense hatred for his own brother?

“Cain. You can do it. It’s okay.” Abel looked at Cain with warm eyes. His voice was the same irritating calm as always. It was always so calm, right? Even when the monsters came. Even when he learned that their mother died. Even when he was rescuing Cain. Even now, facing his own death. Why? Why? Why was Cain doing this?

“DO IT.” Cain’s hands struggled. He was struggling. Was this really what he wanted? Yes, it was, right? Those green eyes. Soulless, staring deep into his own. The rubble. No. It wouldn’t be his fault. Nor hers. It was pitiful, the arm that carried his knife, a weapon only needed to commit the sin of murder. He couldn’t look anymore. Cain closed his eyes as he stepped forward. 

“Yes, little lamb. Provide your sacrifice.” The voice that Cain could only hear gleefully whispered inside his mind. It was the only voice he will listen to anymore, right?

“I will always love you, brother.” Words so soft he barely heard it. Cain opened his eyes, meeting face to face with shining, emerald eyes. Tears were falling down Abel’s face. Why was he also crying? 

“No…” What was he doing again? He looked down at his hands. Why were they red? Why was there blood on his hands? 

“It’s…okay.” Abel's voice died out as Cain watched him tumble to the ground. Why was his brother red too?

“No. No. No. This can’t be happening.” Cain clutched onto his eyes, clawing at his face in desperation. He couldn’t think, he couldn’t feel. What had he done? Why did he kill his own brother? As he dug into face, a deep rumbling laughter shook the ground that Cain stood on.

“Amusing! So amusing! You are my favorite toy yet!” Cain turned to see the lion faced creature laughing, so depraved to laugh at a boy killing his own brother. Rage flared within Cain’s core. It slithered out from his heart, and rapidly absorbed him whole. He clutched the knife that drew Abel’s blood from the ground, and walked towards the lion-headed monster. The creature’s laughter stopped as it noticed the approaching Cain, its face losing its amused smile.  

“You dare face me like this after I showed you such benevolence?” The voice was cold as the creature bared its fangs towards Cain, however he barely registered it. The person, the boy that Cain once was, was long gone. What was left was a wild beast consumed by the flames of rage. And all it wanted to do was kill. Cain opened his mouth. At that very moment, an inhumane roar resonated from deep within Cain and burst, so loud it exploded his own eardrums, deafening him. The last thing Cain saw was the lion headed monster stumbling back, before a bright light illuminated the entirety of his vision and consumed his consciousness.