I am dead. There's no other explanation. At first I considered it all being a dream and that I would soon wake up but... There is a feeling inside me saying that this is real.

I have been walking around for what feels like hours but I have yet to see any other person. In fact, I haven't seen any animals or insects either. And then there's the sky... There's no sun. Just a purple sky without a single cloud to be seen.

During my short time here I have felt no such thing as hunger or thirst so is it possible that I cannot die? But I seem to still have limited stamina since I feel a bit tired after walking for so long. Sometimes I take a break and sit down, just like now, and stare up into the sky, still not fully able to believe I am dead.

I have been entirely calm this entire time. No, it's more like I don't allow myself to cry or panic. If I did then I would undoubtedly lose my mind. I need to think in order to stay sane. Go through what I have found out.

All the buildings around me are in perfect condition and there's even electricity and tap water. In some places I also found food but I didn't eat anything because I didn't feel any hunger. The apartments are fully equipped with various kinds of furniture, including beds and refrigerators.

This place is like a ghost town, a city everyone suddenly left without taking anything with them.

... It's so quiet. Too quiet. It makes it harder to think. I never thought I would miss the sound off traffic so much...

I put my head between my hands and sigh. What am I supposed to do? Spend the rest of eternity alone in this world?  Eternity is such a long time...

Carefully I touch the lily growing out form my abdomen, giving me a tingling sensation. After careful examination I came to the conclusion it was truly a part of me and not just some flower rooted into my body. The lily is me. I am the lily. What does it mean? Why is it growing from where I was previously stabbed? All of this... does not make sense.

Suddenly a loud roaring sound can be heard. It's like a mix between thunder and the cry of a beast. I flinch before look up and see a crack forming in the sky. It gets larger and larger until... it splits and something falls out of it.

Wh-what is that!?

A large bang can be heard as the thing hits the ground about two blocks away. For a second I just stand there, not knowing what to do. Should I investigate it? But what if it's dangerous? I have no idea what it is!

... But what else can I do? I've got the feeling that if I just continue walking then nothing will ever happen. This could be my one and only chance to figure out... something! I-I have to do this

I start running towards the area where the thing fell, my heart beating fast out of anticipation. I am nearly there! Just a few more meters and behind that corner and then-!

I turn around the corner and immediately freeze. In front of me is a partially collapsed building, dust still rising from the impact a moment before. What could have done this?

Suddenly some of the ruble start to move. I instinctually take a step backwards. The ruble start moving even more until-!

I gasp, trying to catch the breath that suddenly escaped my lungs.

The thing emerging from the ruble is nothing less than a monster. I have no other way of describing it. A tall figure, at least three meters, with long gangly arms and legs stands there. It's figure slightly resemble that of a human being but nothing human could be that dreadful. It's ghostly pale skin is ripped on multiple places and it's face- oh god its face- consists of nothing more than a lipless mouth, revealing two rows of jagged teeth.

I just stand there, unsure what to do, until the creature suddenly lets off a terrifying shriek and starts running straight at me on all four. At that moment my brain starts to work again and I start running.

Luckily I am in a small alleyway, halting the creatures progress, so I get a head start. When I am out on the street I look around for a second before seeing an apartment. I run straight towards it, swinging the door wide open. From behind me I can hear the shrieks of the creature. I start heading up the stairs. The door won't hold it out for long.

With the creature chasing me I need to find somewhere to hide at once. I randomly open one of the apartment doors and head inside, closing the door while doing so.

I can hear the creature hurrying up the stairs. Hide, hide HIDE! I NEED TO HIDE. Desperately I search for a closet of something of the sort. Luckily I immediately spot one. With almost lightning speed I enter the closet and not a moment too late.

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Loud banging can be heard from the door before it suddenly bursts open. Stepping in is the creature.

I hold my breath, afraid that it will hear me. The closest have a tiny hole in it, enabling me to examine it.

The creature looks around, searching for me. Can it see even thou it doesn't have any eyes? I do not dare to test that hypothesis.

While it moves around the apartment the creature makes low clicking sounds, sending chills down my spine.

Suddenly the creature disappears from my vision, going to for to the side for me to see it. I desperately try to find it when-

BANG!

The closet door starts to shake. I am to afraid to scream so when the door is ripped off I can't do anything but stare at the monstrosity standing in front of me. The creature grabs my body and throws me into the wall behind it.

I try to stand up but a sudden pain originating from my chest causes me to collapse. Sh-shit! I think I broke some ribs! I may have even punctuated my lung!

The creature grabs me once again, this time by my head. Ugh! I-It's trying to crush me! I try to tear myself away from its grip but it simply grabs my left arm and then starts to pull. The pain is indescribable. Then it disappears.

I look down at my arm, or at least what used to be my arm. It's no longer there. I stare at the creature and see it holding my severed arm. Instead of letting it got the monster starts chewing on it, tearing of the flesh. The sound, the smellll and the sight... I-I think I am about to throw up...

Its grip around my head tightens and I start blacking out. I can see its mouth getting closer and closer, widening into a terrifying gape. Am I gonna die again? No, I don't want to die! It hurts to die! I don't want to, I don't want to, I DON'T WANT TO!!!

SNAP!

H-Huh? What was that sound? Slowly I open my eyes. The creature's head is split open, with  a tree branch growing out of it leading straight to... No, it cannot be... I look at the place where my missing arm used to be and see the rest of the branch.

The creature releases its grip on me, causing me to fall down on the floor. For a second it just stands there, swaying slightly from side to side before it collapses.

I breathe heavily and puke out of stress, shocked from nearly dying again and... because of THIS. Carefully I bring up my arm, examining it. Because it impaled that things head it is covered in blood but otherwise it's nothing special about it. Simply put it's a regular branch.

But why did it suddenly appear like that? Is it because I was close to dying? Is it the same as the lily? Does that mean plants grow out of my body when I get injured? But how?

I stand up slowly and am surprised to find my previously damaged chest is no longer hurting. Does this ability of mine heal damage faster? Are my insides plants now? I-I can't think clearly. I need to take a shower.

Because my branch arm are so long I have to drag it after me when I walk and it's weight makes me walk slower.

I enter the bathroom, takes of my clothes and step into the shower. The cold water feels good against my skin and I can finally breathe like normal. I-I nearly died again. If not for THAT then I wouldn't be here right now. I killed that thing. I killed it.

My knees suddenly feel weak and fall down on my knees. I have never killed anything before...

I spend a long time cleaning off the blood of the branch arm. Having that things blood on me disgusts me. As I dry off my body I look at my clothes. While my pants are ok my jacket and shirt is no longer wearable. Maybe there's some clothes in the apartment.

I exist the bathroom, wearing only my pants and the towel around my shoulders. The corpse of the monster is still lying there. When I get some clothes I will leave this place immediately. I don't want to be close to that thing longer than necessary.