“Help me? It’s a little late for heroism, dearest best friend,” she hisses. This isn’t Rosie. She wouldn’t spew such hatred and accuse me of killing her, so why is it happening?
Her approach is quiet as if air slides beneath her footing, and inmy stumbling retreat, I fall. For an instant, peering through murky eyes, everything dulls except the night’s glinting stars. A few blink in a laughing manner.
Death is watching from up there, enjoying the show.
Rosie growls, baring her teeth with tar-like liquid coating her lips, and I shudder. Her body and face become shrouded in weaving shadows, as though she is behind an ominous veil, and the earlier beast returns. A looming grim reaper.
“The screams came from this way, Detective!” someone yells, and I gasp as the demonic being vanishes.
It’s them.The couple from earlier along with Jacob. It doesn’t take a genius to know what’s coming next. More death and chaos. Discomfort keeps me slow, but I promptly hop to my feet.
“Hey, you need to get out of here,” I demand, shuffling my way across the grass and back on the running track. Hesitant, they eye me with suspicion while Jacob reaches for his weapon. I am on edge, searching between the trees and turning in circles.
“Is someone after you?” the detective asks, moving closer.
Out of breath, I keep a low voice like it’ll make a difference. “You need to leave. It’s not safe.”
His brow furrows. “Calm down. Tell me what’s going on.” But again, I’m too late.
A dark cloud slithers behind the couple and consumes their shadows. Wrapping its arm around the young lady’s neck before her frightened partner can react, tentacles explode from its other arm, swaddling him and restraining his voice.
Their chance of survival is plummeting fast.
“What the fuck is that?” Jacob shouts, turning and raising his shivering pistol.
I step closer. “Rosie, you don’t need to do this. Let them go.”
Squeals come from the young lady as tears trace her cheeks. The dread of watching them die rips my heart and opens unhealed scars.
“Did you say, Rosie?” Jacob finds his resolve enough to assess thesituation. The guy within the foul creature’s hold kicks and screams, but his gaze never leaves his partner.
“There’s no time to explain, Detective. You have a gun, use it,” I huff in irritation. What the fuck is he waiting for? But instead, he remains stiff, frozen in a paralytic state while this creature continues squeezing the life from its two victims.
My blade is still tucked away, and if he’s not helping, I’ll do it myself. I stalled in hopes of savingher,but with other lives at stake, I’m left with one choice. Fight.
I retrieve my knife before charging towards my impending doom, tightening my grip and letting determination guide me. I’m going to kill this monstrosity and send a message to Death, myself.
“Kyra, stop. If that’s Rosie, you could harm her and the others,” Jacob tries reasoning with me, but his warning isn’t welcome. This isn’t my best friend, no matter how many times it persists.
A resounding crack filters through the area, and the guy goes limp before being tossed away like nothing more than trash. I freeze. My jaw slackens in utter shock, and his partner thrashes with painful screams, bellowing to her fallen lover.
“Please, no,” I mouth. My blade should have pierced its body by now, so why can’t I move? What’s keeping me from attacking?
The blighted demon bites her neck, slowing her movements until they cease.Was this supposed to be my fate? Is this why I can’t move?Thinking about my own bite marks, another sting in my shoulder answers back.
She hits the ground beside her deceased lover, and blood pools from beneath her lifeless body. Again, I’m too late.Forced to witness another life taken.
Death’s message is loud and clear. No matter how close I am to helping, I’ll always remain…Helpless.
It snarls, “Your soul will ensure my ascension.” Leaning forward, tar-like smoke glides down its face, revealing Rosie’s once more, but she’s not begging for help. There is no sorrow or regret within herfeatures. Only malice and hate. “I’ll devour your soul and be reborn a God.”
A chain of incendiary blasts results in me ducking as Detective Jacob fires his weapon. Shot after shot enters the being, yet it remains planted and unfazed.
“Run, Kyra!” he demands. “Get out of–”
It takes a fraction of a blink for the demon’s hand to twitch and send tentacles flying into Jacob’s body, silencing him and leaving blood and dismantled parts amidst the air.
“No,” I wail, until the raw muscle within my throat burns.
