Balancing Precariously On The Edge

It had no eyes.

Two dark sockets gaped in its face—or what remained of it—as if its eyes had been violently plucked out. White bone of the skull peeked through the patches of rotting, sloughing flesh.

No nose, no ears either. Grey, gnarled skin stretched taut over a skeletal frame, bones visible from beneath. Its head was crowned with patches of mottled, dark hair, and the wide jaw hung open, revealing hundreds of jagged, thin, blade-like teeth. The creature stood on its hind legs which were bent unnaturally backward, its forelimbs so long, they touched the ground. A pair of razor-sharp claws tipped each limb, one dripping with blood of the guard lying dead by its feet.

Melannia swallowed a scream as the carriage shuddered, nearly overturned by the weight of the creature that had jumped on its roof. She pressed herself into the seat, motioning Lucinda to make no sound as she slowly drew out her knife. Her heart pounded violently, blood going cold as the stench of death settled around her.

Lucinda's wide eyes locked onto Melannia, panic etched across her face. She was visibly rattled, her hand covering her mouth muffling any sounds that might escape. Melannia placed a firm hand on Lucinda's shoulder, pushing her down and moving the seat aside to reveal a hollow compartment under it for storing valuable items and goods. She jestured Lucinda to hide there and held her finger to her lips, reminding her to be silent as the carriage shook once more and a screeching noise echoed from above.

As Melannia turned, Lucinda grabbed her sleeve, mouthing, What about you? Melannia shook her head, fixing Lucinda with a last stern look as she pushed her head down and readjusted the seat to conceal her completely. Her nerves were in a frenzy, but she forced herself to calm down and think. There was no way she could fight that monster. It lacked sensory organs, but its movements betrayed a predatory sharpness—far beyond anything natural.

Suddenly, the carriage lurched violently as something heavy slammed into it. Her heart leapt into her throat. The vehicle careened into a tree, the door bursting open as another of those things pounced on it. Melannia slipped, barely managing to grasp the door handle as she was flung halfway out, her legs dangling over the edge. She looked down and the breath left her in a rush, a cold pit forming in her stomach. The carriage had crashed at the edge of the ridge, a heap of snow tumbling into the abyss below. Only the tree had stopped it from plunging down the slope.

Melannia's throat constricted, her mind conjuring up images of her falling and splitting her skull open, her limbs twisted grotesquely. She would die either way, the creatures above would tear her apart, rending flesh from bones. Her hands trembled and she tried to grip the handle harder as her mind raced, but her gloved fingers were already losing. She couldn't cry for help. She didn't know if Uncle and Aunt were safe or if they had died, mauled down by the monsters hungry for blood. She prayed Lucinda will remain alive, hidden inside the carriage as someone would come and rescue them. Somebody, save them, anyone please, come and help them.

Her hand slipped, and she fell down the ridge, one hand still clutching the knife, the other gripped her necklace-the Ashberne crest-crushing it in her palm. Her body hit rocks and stones, a tangle of branches scratching her. She could hear her clothes tearing as they caught on sturdy branches and jagged edges, her head hitting a few one too many times. Lightening pain shot through her ankle as it twisted, her knees scraping and bleeding as she continued tumbling down the slope with nothing to cushion her fall. She didn't know how much time passed when at last her back hit the cold, snow covered ground.

Every breath hurt as if she was inhaling fire. Her limbs screamed in agony, black spots dancing in her vision while her mind reeled. It felt as though she lay on a bed of nails, and she was sure she had broken many bones. Something warm and sticky trailed down her forehead. She touched her fingers to her head. They came away wet with blood.

With immense effort, Melannia pushed herself to stand on shaky legs, every fiber in her being protested. She put her hand on a nearby trunk to steady herself, blinking her eyes to clear the blurry haze. She managed to take one step forward and froze.

A crunch of a stray branch sounded from behind her. The wood snapping underfoot.

Fear seized her in an unforgiving grip as she turned and saw that monster a few feet from her, jaw gaping, teeth bared. The creature was crouched on its hind legs, poised to leap. It let out a bone-chilling screech. Melannia quivered in her boots as her mind went blank. Then, of their own accord, her legs started moving ignoring the searing pain in her ankle as her body responded to the only instinct for survival. Run.

She didn't look back, mustering up every ounce of strength left in her body. She pushed herself to run, her breath coming in ragged gasps, mouth open and her heart pounding like a drum. The dress on her felt too heavy, the snow dampening the fabric and weighing her down. She was battered and bruised all over, her injured body crying out in pain, but she paid no mind. The creature was right behind her, gaining speed. She continued her mad dash. In the back of her mind, she felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she had run like this before to save herself. No, she had seen herself running like this in the dark, through the thick of woods. In a nightmare.

Her foot caught on a lose branch and she tripped. Her hands bracing the fall as she came crashing down, face hitting the snow, mouth filling with blood as her cheek caught between her teeth. She glanced behind her and let loose the scream she had been holding in since the start.

'SOMEBODY HELP ME!'

The monster was on her. Up close it was even more repulsive. She scrambled backward, dragging herself across the cold, hard floor. Tears were now streaming down her face as she hiccupped.

'SOMEONE, ANYONE, PLEASE HELP ME, PLEASE!'

A stinging pain lanced through her palm, and she yelped. Her mind cleared for a moment. The knife. She had been holding her knife. Melannia held her hand out, a brief burst of desperate energy and hope surged to life as she gripped the handle harder. She angled it upward and waited for the creature to lunge before shoving the blade deep inside its chest. Without a pause, she dragged the blade upwards, tearing the flesh open. Black, gooey liquid oozed out of the creature, splattering all over her.

The monster collapsed beside her with a sickening crunch. Melannia exhaled a shaky breath as she lay there, her body trembling from cold, fear and pain. The knife slipped from her hand, dropping to the floor. She tried to calm herself. I am alive. I am alive. I am alive. She had saved herself. She was still breathing.

A clawed hand seized her neck, choking the air out of her, as the creature pushed itself up. Melannia watched in horror as the wound she had inflicted on it began stitching itself. She clawed at the vise grip on her neck, her vision started turning black as her windpipe was crushed. The creature's jaws opened wide, preparing to bite her head off. Its disgusting breath of rotten flesh assaulted her nostrils. A wet, black slithering mass lolled out of the creature's mouth-its tongue- and swiped across Melannia's forehead, licking the blood. Melannia cringed as she fought off the impulse to gag, the slobbery tongue leaving a sticky trail on her skin. The creature seemed to like the taste and went in for more, almost ravenously so, grip tightening on her neck. She thought she could feel a shift in its powers as if her life essence was flowing to the monster making it stronger. The sharp, jagged teeth closing in on her head.

This wasn't how she wanted to die, her flesh torn and chewed upon, bones left in the middle of nowhere for dogs to find. A shameful death. She closed her eyes.

A low laugh sounded from behind. Amused.

The creature stilled; lifting its head and tilting to check the source of the sound.

Melannia's eyes flashed open, heart racing in an erratic rhythm as she heard the stranger speak.

'Shall I save you?'