He ran, faster than he ever ran, heart beating so hard it felt it would burst at any moment. He wasn't scared. The terror that filled him was so much closer to madness than merely fear.
And for all his effort, he knew it was still right behind him, waiting for the soldier to turn around for a look. It's warm breath brushed against his neck, the smell of rotten flesh filling his nose. he could infact feel it's hunger, its need to........devour.
It almost had him. Its massive jaws opening, preparing to consume it's prey. But it stopped suddenly, and before Cratty could wonder why, he felt the land under his feet disappear.
Cratty fell forward, tumbling, rolling down the steep hill. He finally stopped as he smashed back first into a massive boulder. Pain filled his body in a way it never had before. It seemed to hurt....his..soul? No, that made no no sense at all. But it sort of did.
God, the soldier was tired, so tired of the running. Tired of this whole foresaken place. It felt like the air itself wanted to kill him. Hated him for being here somehow. Death seemed to follow him ever since he found himself in this strange place, hunting him evey moment.
Cratty looked up wearily, trying to see if it was still there. Despite the fear that told him to close his eyes, not to look, he scanned uphill. For a moment, it wasn't there. For a moment, hope returned to him. But then it re-appeared, jumping atop a fallen tree, then leaping down the hill. It chareged on, its maw opening, revealing countless razor sharp fangs.
And the soldier was filled with despair. To hell with it, he hadn;t the energy to fight anymore, nor did he have the strength to pull himself up and run, the strength to cling on to hope in this hopeless place. Soon it would be upon him, and despite the momentary agony, he would be free.
Yet his mind returned to her, as it always had. Her face...she was so beautiful to him. The memories were foggy, just as were most of his thoughts since he....after he....
What the hell was "here"? How did he get "here"? It was all distorted and hazey. Except....the faces. An older man...his father? No almost but, not, not....And another, one so friendly, so kind.....Sister? But it was....different some way. And then her. His heart wept when he thought of her face.
She was beautiful, her face white and angelic. Yet her eyes seemed.....sad. Why? He couldn't remember a name, and it angered him. But he knew.....he knew he...he loved her. Yearned to hold her......again? Yes, he had! He had held her once at least. And he looked into her eyes and he saw...he saw......what? It was the same thing he felt when he......when they...kissed. Love, yes, yes. He loved.....
"Jenae!" he yelled out, as if professing to this vile place that he remembered.
A flood of rage filled him. They wouldn't stop him, they couldn't. He would find then. He would find her. Death be damned! He lept to his feet and charged it. He was the hunter now.......
Cratty awoke from his sleep, and immeadiately sat up in his chair, Desert Leet in hand as he scanned the dark appartment. He moved the pistol left to right, looking, listening. Finally, assured it was just a dream, he put the weapon back under the pillow. He looked upon her as she slept peacefully in bed. It was good he hadn't waken her. Jenae needed the rest. They needed the rest. The soldier, however, would need some help if he wanted to rest tonight.
Malcom walked into the kitchen, and went to a cabinet. He pulled out a half drak bottle of Hit the Floor Jack and a small shot glass. Queitly, he pulled a chair from the small tabe and sat down. It wasn;t till he had opened the bottle had he relized it was odd that he should remember where a bottle of liquor in his appartment was, when only hours ago, Jenae had to show him where he lived. He played with the thought a moment in his mind, then finally poured a shot and slammed it back.
He thought about the dreams. It seemed as though he had them for years. Yet somehow he knew it started after he.....lost his way. She told him he had been gone for two months. But is seemed longer and shorter two at the same time. But if today was certainly his first day back, how could he have been dreaming so long? Maybe he had the dreams while he was gone. But where had he gone?
THe questions tore at his mind as he tried so hard to remember. But it was still so....faded, like the fleeting memory of a dream that is forgotten shorty after waking up. Just traces.
He pulled out a cigar and lit it. Then as he was about to pour another shot, paused and considered the tiny glass a moment. It was then flung across the table as drank deeply from the bottle itself.
It didn't matter. The dreams, the lost time, the memories that were unexplainably not there. All that mattered was what she told him. He knew inside he had struggled to return home, to be with her. And finally he was. But again, fate stepped in to challenge them once more, to deny them happiness. But no, he hadn;t given up yet. And nor would he now. Nor would he if should have to fight till the end of time. Somethings were worth that much. Jenae was to him.
They could fight this battle together now, at least. THey could find the answers and finally be free, be happy. Or at least spend the little time they had left together.
Malcom slammed back another gulp of wiskey, then puffed his cigar. He would find him. He would beat him untill he told them the answers they needed. He was the hunter now.....
A little more relaxed now, Malcom stubbed out his cigar and went back to the bedroom. He sank back down into his chair and looked upon her a moment. Despite everything, he was happy. He knew that whatever he went through to come home was more difficult than anything he ever faced before. Yet this one moment in time made it all worth it.
re: Yay!
- AO webcomics for the sake of being silly
