A horror family

-Please go. Go. Turn on ... Just a little help ...

Jacqueline spoke softly to herself, holding her breath and lighter in a sweaty palm in an attempt to break free of the strings that held her.

No matter the tiredness, the thirst, or the hunger that plagued her, all had to do was get free of the miserable ropes and run away. Or maybe a cigarette. She could easily die from a sip of water and all the urge to smoke was reinforced after a week of abstinence.

There were several factors that had influenced her decision. Suspected unfortunate pregnancy ... Jack closed her eyes with a shudder. Thank God, the result was negative

If she were ..., the thought for a moment startled her with hurt.

-Oh, damn it! - She sighed biting her lips in distress.

The darkness made her nerves more sensitive and she felt exhausted. Nervous, numb fingers tried to grope the uneven floor with difficulty when the lighter slipped from her hand.

-Where's the lighter? God!

Perhaps it was after all tiredness or lack of food. Or maybe everything together made her more miserable and nervous.

Something had come up there in the cemetery ...

Something or someone that looked like Rick and was the impossible. Jack took a deep breath, refusing to give in to the tears that left a dry lump in the throat. She had already managed to lose all sense of time since the sound of footsteps had departed. There was no more screaming and moaning and that was even more frightening ... she was alone and for the first time, wondering if it was a cave.

-Hiiii, is anyone there? she spoke quietly nervously.

What time to drop the damn cigarette.

She cursed even more irritably, trying to cling to anger so as not to give in to fear. How long could an abstinence crisis last because of the damn cigarettes?

She had read anywhere that in general, after a month, things got easier. depending on the person and the number of cigarettes she smoked per day. She couldn't even imagine two or three months without the unfortunate cigarette ...

-But what time to quit the drug! God! The lighter ... Where did the lighter fall?

Her breath caught in her lungs and she shrank, hearing the sound of footsteps and the brightness of a torch lighting up ahead.

God loved it!

Was that back? Jack could feel cold sweat covering her skin, biting her lips hard to keep from screaming. She was just steps away from freaking out in the dark.

-Who's there? she shouted after a moment of unexpected courage. "Do you want to drop the damn rope?" You can't keep me here. It's private prison ... I didn't agree ...

After she had started to complain, the words of revolt welled up with astonishing ease. She hated the dark. And detested above all that they decided her life. Exactly like Rick liked to do ... And besides ...

- Well, I thought you liked the accommodations! - the woman's voice echoed in amusement among the rocks. - It is certainly much better than where it was before. Especially when night falls and you are so stupid to be hanging around with sorcerers hunting us.

"Even more when night falls and you are so stupid to be hanging around with sorcerers hunting us.?"

What do you mean wizards?

-If you don't let go of me right now, I ...

The veiled threat in the words was stuck and never got to be pronounced. She shivered at the cold, repulsive touch of the hand that clutched her throat, making it difficult to breathe.

-Give me a break! What are you going to do? I don't think you noticed the detail that is stuck here and ...

Jack closed her eyes, gathering all breath and her leg kicked the shadow that was advancing on it, making her companion fall to the ground. Adrenaline rushed through the body, rekindling the anger she had before.

"I don't think you noticed ..." Jack fell silent, bewildered.

In the low light of the fallen torch, she could make out the pale features of a very young, small girl. It made her sudden courage grow, swearing to herself that she was going to get out of there.

-You screwed! You barely got here and have already made enmities with Elaine. - the girl laughed amused.

Jack looked her up and down with the certainty that was going crazy. Who the hell was Elaine? Perhaps the mayor had not just been content to defame her before the inner city. Perhaps he wanted to frighten her into the certainty that she would never again approach the Walkers' only heir. Even if Rick was the last man in town, she would have the insanity to trust someone again who hadn't even been able to hear explanations.

-Listen! If it's just another one of ...

A gust of wind passed close to her and Jack was distracted by the rapid movement. In the next instant, it was thrown against the rock wall and all the air escaped from her lungs. There was no air to breathe. Her unsupported feet dangled out of nowhere when she realized was panting the claw that lifted her holding her throat like a handcuff.

-trickery? - Elaine looked at her half-sister with frustration. - I can guarantee that it is not. It's not really an invitation when you're part of the family and the boss decides to get everyone together for a get-together, you know?

That high-pitched voice ...

Jack didn't protest that. Disgusted, she felt the approaching woman show her face against the dim light, and the scream stopped strangled. The silver eyes ...

They were totally silver eyes ... The fear of old children's stories came back renewed. The eyes stopped wide at the sharp teeth that curved in a falsely friendly smile and looked like fangs ready to attack. She could feel the woman's breath on the neck in horror. She lifted it as if it weighed nothing in the air.

-I ... I ... - Jack's hands struggled against the claw that held it.

Your reflection in that creature's eyes ...

"God! My God, these are just stories to scare children. These things don't exist."

They did not exist in a normal world where humans lived their peaceful and quiet lives without being aware of the supernatural world that surrounded them. In a trance, she saw the big tongue ... She now looked at the creature with completely white eyes, smooth and whitish skin with claws where the nails would be. In his mouth there were huge, sharp teeth and a forked tongue, making a sound similar to a "ticking"

That does not exist!

In the torpor that enveloped her mind, old tales emerged. Heads of garlic and holy water ... Her head was beginning to spin. As night falls, those creatures begin the hunt for human blood, chasing their prey in the shadows of their city, neighbourhood, and even their own home.

They were stories that one could easily imagine walking alone down a dark street ... It didn't matter what those stories told. They all agreed that they killed.

Look directly into a person's eyes and if your reflection is upside down, then you've just met an aswang ...

Children's games were no longer funny.

When you hear a 'ticking-ticking' noise coming from the darkness, it means that an aswang has taken on its 'TikTik' form - it's ready to eat you ...

-Wait just until Haru hears the news, girl.- The smile on Elaine's features revealed sadistic pleasure. If what the old healer is telling you around is true ... - Elaine sighed with pleasure. - Ah, my dear and esteemed half-sister ... Haru will not like to know that your youngest daughter has been having fun in bed with her own brother. Isn't a family reunion really amazing? I didn't even know before that Richard Walker is our brother. Not even I would defy family rules with incest ...