Death Looms

Screeching, it was all that we heard outside as Anthony and I are ushered into a small crack hidden behind some foliage at the back part of the bunker. "In here, hurry!" We hear a loud crash behind us and we turn our heads to see the nameless man impales by what seed to be a plant similar to a vine. It was alive, wriggling its way through his open chest, blood and guts spilling out onto the floor. He was wrenching, his body twitching as we have no choice but to leave him behind as the life slowly drains out of him.

"Keep going! Don't look back!" I scream out towards Anthony in front of me, our bodies desperately scampering onwards as the terror of what was behind us grew heavy. After minutes of running, we finally find ourselves outside, the sky above us was riddled with stars, ironically calm compared to what was lurking behind. It was dark, my eyes barely able to see anything as all I could make out in the distance were the shadows of the trees around us. They were breathing. "Anthony, we need to run."

In an instant, we burst into sprints as we watch the branches overhead sway above us. I feel a rise in panic as I jump over rock and bush, ducking my head away from being grabbed by God knows what. Anthony was way ahead of me now, my breath suddenly short as a sudden wave of exhaustion overcomes my entire body. What the fuck is happening?

"Michael!" I hear Anthony scream in the distance, firing shots as I feel something thud on the ground behind me. My legs were growing heavy as I hear a faint buzzing floating around my ear. Venom. A bee-like creature found its way to my neck and stung me, my skin now feeling the late onslaught of the pain spreading towards my chest. My body has now refused to move as all I can do is watch myself fall onto the ground, paralyzed. "Shit!"

Another shot zooms overhead as I hear something splatter. A dark, sticky goo splashes on my face as the buzzing fades. I beg for my body to move as I feel something wriggling its way over my leg. Its motion abruptly stops as Anthony hacks at something behind me. He puts my arm around his shoulder as he struggles to carry the weight of my motionless body. "Leave me…" I manage to mutter. I will not allow him to lose his life just for the sake of mine. "Go, you idiot…"

"Shut up. We're both getting out of here!" My feet scrape the ground as he basically drags me across the forest floor, shooting shots in between heaves. "I can see the rift! We're almost there." A screeching can be heard above us as a Fowl is seen fluttering in the skies. Its grotesque wings squirming as it circles around us, waiting for a chance to swoop down. We were only inches away, just a bit longer. If only I could move.

I feel movement come back to my arm and with all the strength I could muster, I push Anthony into the rift just in time as I feel a sharp grip on my back, talons digging into my skin. "No!" I hear Anthony shout as I watch his body disintegrate into the darkness, my body getting higher and higher as I hear a loud screech echo throughout the forest.

It hurts. Everything hurts, I feel the flesh on my back where the nails dug in scream in pain. I was suspended in the air, hundreds of feet above the ground and now at the mercy of this monstrosity. Am I going to die?

I suddenly find myself back at the desk of my office, a messy pile of paperwork lying in front of me as I feel nostalgic. I watch Anthony, young and looking hopeful, as he enters through the glass door. His eyes were sharp behind his glasses, his hair kempt a bit too much. He was a rookie back then, nervous and uncertain. "Good morning, Mister Graves." He holds out a hand, inviting me to a handshake. Anthony was expectant, and I remember smiling because of the way he was.

"Please, just call me Michael." I would respond in the sarcastic tone I always have since the start. Is my life flashing before my eyes? Another memory surfaces, replaced by our first field operation together. It was a case of an alleged haunting in a place whose name I could no longer remember. Anthony was the one who was always on his toes, overly prepared for any situation that might head our way. In contrast, I was reckless, a lot more than I should have been.

"According to the reports…" He would ramble on about the details that were present and then proceed to the different strategies he thought were the best. I admit, I usually never listen, but he knew how to get the job done as efficiently as possible. The case was a fluke. I remember having a laugh at the ridiculousness of everything that surrounded it which pissed him off. He was young, but he was way more capable than I ever will be.

Now that I think about it, we've been through a lot in the span we've been assigned as partners. Although, I don't think we've ever found ourselves in shit as deep as the one we were in now. My mind was getting hazy as the pain now seeps back in, my only moment of clarity now disappearing as I am reminded of the circumstance I am currently in. Well, shit. I don't know where Anthony is right now, and I don't know if he was in a safer situation than the one I was in. However, the only thing in my mind right now as I'm growing nearer and nearer to Death is the hope that he is safe. If anybody could make it out of here, it would be him. I'll see you soon, partner.