Knowing that this forest is on my side adds peace to my mind. An unfamiliar feeling that has long lost to my mind. Since the day we got the diagnosis of Evelyn's sickness, peace has been lost to fear. I should have been more conscious of time.
Now, look. I've all but lost her and the hope to free her from sickness and death.
I shake my head and continue to walk towards the city, following a path that I have made for myself. There is no dirt trail which will lead me back to the city, no. I walk an invisible tread that is pulling me towards a fight which I know will claim my life. The roots from the trees seem to burrow themselves into the ground and clear my way. The branches that rise above me make a canopy that arches over me like a ceiling. The moon pulls me along like the tides of the ocean, as the trees comfort me and try to give me hope.
I listen to the owls but cannot see their beauty. They call to each other like lovers and friends, oblivious to the terror that lies in my heart and in the city that I push towards. The eyes of the forest watch my every step. I know they fear the monster inside me. That which I fear is myself.
Time seems to crawl along while I run freely towards doom and despair. I lose my mind with each step, getting lost in thoughts that circle a drain.
A crunch.
I turn around and see nothing but darkness and shadow, hear nothing that should cause an alarm. Yet, I feel eyes on me. Not the eyes of the forest, no, something much darker. Something with intent. The feeling is driven deep into my bones.
I shake my head and continue forward.
I finger the pistol that wraps around my hip. I feel the steel of the sword across my back. I see the dagger that hugs my thighs. If something is following me, then it will meet its end.
Another crunch.
I do nothing, just continuing to walk forward. My hand is now wrapped around the handle of the pistol; it's loaded. It's cold against my fingers but provides a wave of calm that washes me like holy water.
Another crunch, this one much closer. The leaves to the left rustle and stir. The trees seem to move away, giving birth to the fight that will surely ensue.
As if I had a sixth sense, I turn to face the creature that is emerging from the shadows. I watch it leap from beyond a bush, talons and fangs. On instinct, I draw the pistol and fire.
A crack of thunder.
Blood leaks from the beast as it falls from the air and smacks into the ground with a thud. Quickly, it's back to it's feet. Standing on two legs like a human but hunched like a dog. It's a mass of darkness without distinct features to make out.
It lets out a deafening screech that pierces my ears. They ring and bleed, but my eyes do not leave my beats. I've loaded the pistol once more and unlatched the sword from my back. I fire another shot into the beast, holster the pistol, and grasp the sword as it falls to the ground.
The beast is quick and evades the shot with a quick sidestep, almost like it flashed in and out of reality to move its position. My eyes deceive me; nothing could be that fast.
It strikes.
A gash emerges across my chest, and pain races from the area in every direction, while blood runs to meet the dirt at my feet. I did not see the beast move. I've now lost it to the shadows. I swing the sword, cutting through the air like cake.
Another gash, this time across my back. I spin like a tornado to meet the beast, but see nothing.
"You know what you must do." That voice whispers to me.
I close my eyes and begin to concentrate. I do not know the meaning of the riddle, but I listen to instinct and my gut. When I open my eyes, I see the beast standing in front of me.
It's a pale humanoid creature with long black hair coated with grease. Black robes cover its body. Jagged, sharp teeth line the mouth that snarls at me. Its eyes are red like burning flames, sunken into a pale, lifeless face. Talons extend from its hands, and they drip blood onto the ground. Its feet are more like claws of some mythical beast than those of a human.
I blink. Then, I see it. The horns that protrude from its head and rise towards the heavens. They are not very large, barely noticeable, and could be easily covered by a hat or hair. Though the thin hair of this monster would never be able to do that.
I blink again and feel the heat of my body beginning to rise.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. Do it." The voice says slowly.
I release a hand from the sword and point an open palm at the creature. A whisper of words that are unfamiliar to me comes from my mouth. A ball of fire is hurled towards the monster, but with a swipe of its hand, the ball is dispatched.
The monster laughs and mocks me, extending its own hand but producing nothing. I swing the sword and rush towards the enemy with a flurry of blows. None of which connect; they all slice through the air as the beast floats effortlessly around like a fish in water.
I extend my hand and hurl another ball of fire, this time skipping it like a rock against the ground. As it rushes towards the monster, I follow with fury. I slash and catch the beast with the tip of the sword.
It bleeds.
The fire does nothing. It doesn't even touch the beast, evaporating before it can reach it. The tip of the sword drips a drop of blood onto the ground. I hurl another ball of fire at the beast, this time throwing it like a dart. It closes in on the beast with unimaginable speed. The beast swipes it out of the air. It catches its hand and engulfs it in flame.
If it bleeds, then it will die. That is my only thought as I close the distance between us while the beast is minding the fire.
I impale it through the chest with a sword coated in flames. It spits blood as I drive the sword out of its back and twist.
It let out a shirek before turning to ash with a poof.