The moon peered behind the embrace of the clouds. Murders squawked hauntingly behind the comfort of leaves, screaming terrors of the night. I know it is them, it must be them!
My heart ran a quarter mile away from me, but my legs failed to reach the distance. I stopped when I saw my only escape. I dropped below the depths of the once reflection of the sky, only for it to become the sister of Nyx under the shining moon.
I held my breath. Shadowed footsteps walked over the reflection. Howls of the night reached the shallow depths of my ears—they sounded like drowning lions. I quivered, and the water moved with me. In the dead of silence, I resurfaced with a few breaths to spare.
I lived by myself in the cabin obscured by towering branches. I am in my legal age now, so I left home to find another one suitable for me. Nature expunged the toxic air I inhaled back in the city. The sound of wind echoing behind the trees was my sole consort.
I would go hunting wolves for sport from time to time. After all, they never whine when they are dead. Gunshots from my trusty revolver would always echo throughout the forest. Ah, music to my ears. Now, I shall feast with them. A dinner fit for a king, I must say.
I was not quite sure how these all happened. All I knew was that I was sitting comfortably on the steps. The stars twinkled brightly outside my wooden cabin. Then the leaves rustled behind the dried trees. It must have been the wind. Soon, the sounds multiplied—low snarls were followed by heavy metal.
I stood up and grabbed my light. Flames illuminated the narrow paths trees could allow. As I walked deeper into the darkness, sets of red eyes reflected ahead of me. My heart wanted to escape my chest and my mind screamed for me to run.
Suddenly, I felt something burning within my veins. I looked at my arm. Three ragged lines snagged some of my flesh. Air pushed against the wall of my lungs. My skin itched, especially on the scratched area, but I could not resist it—the itch was maddening.
My clothes stretched out every fiber until they could not bear the pressure any longer. I instinctively ripped the remaining piece of cloth restraining my body. I roared up to the limit of my lungs. I could have sworn it was not mine. What is happening to me?
My nose burned at the beating flesh concealed by the looming trees. The wind whispered me their approach. Hairs on my back stood stiff as stick and my body convulsed uncontrollably. I pushed away my urges, but they strongly pushed back.
A tall, dark shadow appeared before me. It smelled like aging onions fermented in blood. I held my nose from the intense stench. Its stare flared with ice. I felt my eyes twitch as I awaited its approach.
“You must embrace your true nature,” a husky voice surfaced from the darkness.
“I do not know who you are. Leave this place at once before I regret it!” My claws barely snatched his throat.
“I have come to warn you. Resistance is futile. You must give in to the calling,” he stomped his iron rod.
“What did I do to deserve this? How shall I undo this? Please tell me! I would do anything.”
“You should have stayed in the city. Accept your true nature or else it will consume your entirety.”
“I refuse to accept this,” I pulled at my overly extended hair as I scowled at him. “This is not who I am! Change me back, you bearded old man.”
“If that is your choice then I must take my leave.”
“Wait! Come back here! Change me back! I cannot live like this.”
No reply returned from him. My head became heavy after a few moments of silence. It was worse than waking up from a morning hang. I gritted my teeth until the bitter taste of liquid filled my mouth. I could not bear this any longer.
He pulled back into the darkness. Iron clanking against the loamy earth replaced his presence. A sudden glint of light flashed a millimeter away from my ear. Then a man in royal brown armor emerged and pointed its weapon towards my chest.
I snarled at the wafting smell of premium meat. Water flowed out of my mouth like an open faucet. He glared at me with quivering eyes. Still, he had the stature of a man with honor. I envisioned sinking my teeth into those lean arms.
“Beast! Your foul mouth reeks worse than the air you breathe. Surrender yourself at once!” the man howled louder than his hounds.
“I can smell through your soul. It is far too foul than the sewers of the city,” I retorted with my fully broadened chest.
“Such are the words befitting of the beast. I shall end you with my spear!”
He brandished his titanium rod through my chest. An electric surge reached my eyes. The vision of his meat dangling in my teeth magnified the sound of my growling stomach. His sweat tasted like the most expensive perfume that I could not afford with my current allowance.
My blood boiled, and I bent the piercing instrument around his neck. That was all I remembered before my consciousness left me. Sharp screams sounded so close, but I was not sure where they came from. Somebody, please help me! I cannot stop myself. Then a demonic laugh accompanied the screams.
Finally, the red that clouded my vision dissipated. What have I done? The smell of fresh kill lingered on my chest. Bones and flesh dangled all over my body. When I looked at my bloody hands, I howled. My voice was not mine anymore.
The old man’s words resonated in my ears like a broken record. The salty, sweet taste of blood stung into the deepest core of my memory. The wolves tasted pale in comparison to that man. That warrior flesh is what I need, I must have it once more! No human food tastes like it. I want more, more of it, I say!
My nerves jumped at the sight of the moon. My other consciousness attempted to reemerge like a human clawing his way to the surface from his earthen grave. I do not know how much longer I could hold on. Soon, my instincts took over me.
I looked for the remainder of its troop—maybe then will I be fully satisfied. My human senses faded as if they never existed inside this body. What have I become?
Like a man forcefully sat on the front row of a theatre, I saw the monstrosity of that demon. The screams and the howls felt so real. Finally, the curtains closed, and I was left inside this dark room. All was silent except from the rustling leaves.
I awakened on a crimson morning. Red filled the lens of my eyes. My mouth tasted bitter, like I drank a gallon of strong liquor, and the rancid aftertaste threatened to emerge.
Bones bathed in crimson littered the place. Flies buzzed above my head as I walked towards the nearest water. I ended up looking at my reflection. Tiny scratches and pointed teeth reflected from it. What was it that took over me last night?I looked above the clouds and screamed at the top of my lungs. This can’t be happening! Somebody, please tell me this is just a dream. Somebody, please wake me up. Won’t somebody... please. I can’t live my life like this.My body slumped by the side of the clear lake, staring miles deep within it. Sud
“You thought you are safe with that little girl under your wing?” he let out a throaty laugh. “Stop tickling my bones, silly boy.”“What do you want from me,” the burning urge receded.“I came here to warn you. Once the ray of moonlight touches your skin, the inevitable will overcome you.”“What can I do to stop this?”
When I came to, I would always have my hands covered in red. I wondered when the castle would send more people in search of their own. I feared that my house would crumble to dust one day. We were lucky that the house still stood steadily on its feet.I would wash away the crimson that showered my body every night before I got home. Eventually, I got used to the taste of blood—that bitter, but rich liquid comparable to drinking some cheap wine. Bodies of various wild animals slumped bare above my feet.I lost track of time and that became a common s
Blinding signs in various shades of color blinked in different rhythms. The darkened tall structures rose infinitely towards the starless night. They had yellow spots of light beaming out from every floor. A handful of trees branched out from the concrete streets.As my eyes wandered around this majestic place, the white convertible vanished out of my sight. Then hysterical laughing and loud slapping sounded so close. In a split second, I slid myself through one of the darkest areas sandwiched between two bricked structures.“Dang, that chick sped o
I kicked the panel until it gave way. The heaviness of the cold air filled my head. I inspected the whites, making sure of my sanity. As if crossing the street, my head constantly turned from left to right. Finally, I reached the white door to freedom.It led me to the open dark sky looming over the parked cars. The moon was not yet in sight, but a group of clouds huddled together to form a thick line. I stood there for who knows how long, but no hair populated my bare skin. Fine drops of rain evaporated upon contact.My attention turned to the blazing re
At the flash of lightning, his mouth opened, “Before we begin, I ask you this. How does crimson taste like?”“Uhh, bitter?”“Exactly. I remember clearly the day when I had my first blood. But no blood was tastier than burning blood exhausted from the pursuit. It is when the richness of it reaches its peak.”“How did you tame it?”
The clouds cleared the next day. I pulled the violet curtain of my room, blocking the light of night. At least, it kept the beast at bay, but the constant crave for blood plagued my mind. Pork’s blood was the closest I could get, but I wasn’t enough to satisfy me.I constantly reminded myself of what I did to Florice. The image of the girl I saw in that convertible circulated along with it. Countless questions outweighed my hunger. I hoped to meet her again someday. Maybe then will the questions be answered.Dad entrusted me with the groceries
“Good morning Crimson Stone,” a man in tight, grayish white suit sternly looked at the screen of our flat TV, “Six months have passed, but the police have found no leads to the untimely death of two boys a few months ago.” The camera panned to the sharply dressed woman, “Another incident happened at the small town of Crimson Stone during the week. The residents feared of a possible crazy man on the loose or worse, another Tyrone Netherwell incident.”