Discover Top Posts Tagged with #straight outta hell

Straight Outta Hell

Tw: Nightmares, hallucinations, panic attack, death, blood and gore, mutilation, body horror, vomiting

Chapter 3: Creature

Late in the night, possibly around midnight, I woke up to wailing. A scream echoed through the walls of our home, loud enough to wake up our neighbors. I jolted upwards recognising whose screams they were. Malory's screams. I threw my blanket off, running through the hall towards Malory's room. Luckily, her room wasn't so far from mine.

I flung the door open to see Malory kicking her feet, flinging her arms in violent spasms. She let out blood-curdling screeches, choking on her long screams. The sight was far from pleasant. It was frightening. Malory's shut eyes indicated she was dreaming. I rushed to her side, shaking her, hoping she would wake up.

"Mal! Malory! It's just a dream! Wake up!" I shook her shoulders, the panic causing my motions to be much more aggressive than I intended. Eventually, Malory woke up. She began gasping for air. Her gasps sounded rushed and choppy. "Alright, breathe with me here! One, two... With me..." I let her rest a hand on my chest, helping her control her choppy breathing. Slowly her breathing was more natural as she tried matching mine.

I made a large inhale, holding my breath. Malory controlled herself, calming down. I exhaled, choking on a sob. "Malory, speak with me? What did you see earlier this day? What just happened now?"

Malory looked at me, uncomfortably. She started weeping, big beady tears falling from her eyes. She scooted closer to me grabbing me by the waist and rested her head on my chest. I could feel her warm thick tears seeping through my clothing. I place my hand on her head, soothingly rubbing her head, my other arm wrapped around her. I looked up at the ceiling, hissing, as I too wept with Malory. I fully embraced her, holding her close, whispering words of encouragement, words to assure her she was safe and alright.

We sat like that in silence for what felt like an eternity.

Feeling better, Malory scooted away from me. "I'm not ready to talk about what happened earlier today... It was just, so... So terrifying. I don't want to remember."

"That's fine. But you can't bottle up everything." I simply tell her, my voice almost hoarse, but as soothing as I could manage.

She finally looked up at me, nodding her head, "I know. I'm sorry for worrying you."

"It's alright. I love and care for you, sis. Okay?"

"I love you too..."

"If you don't mind, I'll stay here and sleep with you." I continue looking at her, forming a small smile.

She nodded her head, mumbling, "I'd like that..."

I stood up from where I was, heading to my room to fetch my blanket and pillow. Returning to her room, Malory's back faced the door that I came through. She was curled up in a feeble-like position and her blanket covered her entire body. I placed my pillow on the ground and wrapped my blanket over myself. I wanted to let Malory have the space she felt she needed but was also ready to jump into action if she needed me.

I stared at the ceiling of her room. The two of us lay in silence. It almost reminded me of how we used to be. Siblings yet distant. Sighing, I shut my eyes. I could hear Malory's soft and rhythmic breathing, indicating she must have fallen asleep. I felt at peace knowing she was asleep already, but hoped nothing would occur again. Slowly, I resorted to falling asleep as well.

...

I awoke to a soft shut of a door. I sat up to look at Malory, who was not there. I assured myself that she was most likely in the bathroom. A clock on Malory's wall indicated that the time was 2:37 AM. It was super early, and all I wanted was some more shut eye. I lay back down, awaiting Malory's return. However, it never came.

Yawning, I stood up. I walked out of Malory's room towards the bathroom. The door was wide open, with zero occupants. I walked down the hall searching my room for Malory. She wasn't there. I peeked in my parents' room. My parents were asleep in bed, but Malory wasn't there. I sped walked to the living room, the kitchen, but no Malory. I looked over to the kitchen counter and the brown package was missing as well. I began sweating. Malory wasn't in the house, and the package was missing. The only thought that came to mind was that she left the house.

Hurriedly I grabbed a coat, some slip on shoes, and keys to the house. I rushed out of the house, beginning my pursue on finding Malory. Given the time it wasn't the best time to be shouting, but I needed to get Malory back inside. So I called her name, shouting like I'd never had, "Malory!"

I kept shouting her name, my voice starting to go hoarse. It hurt to keep yelling, and so early in the morning as well. During my search I headed in the direction of the address I remembered. So far, no luck. Malory was nowhere to be seen. Then I neared the address where the package should be delivered. That's when I saw her, staring at the package. It was dark, making it nearly impossible to see her face, but her expression looked troubled.

Hearing my footsteps she looked up and faced me. "Rue? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here!”

I began walking towards her, "What has gotten into you? What are you doing here? We need to go back home-"

"No! You'll die! I need to get rid of this! I finally understand what those dreams were about... This package needs to be destroyed."

I didn't understand what she meant, but then she began to tear open the package. The cardboard fell on the ground, ripped up in shreds. I was confused. It was like she had gone mental, yet I stood still. She reached inside the package, grabbing the item inside.

The package dropped to the ground revealing a mirror. Malory held onto it, her arms shaking. She looked ready to shatter it, yet she held onto it. The mirror looked incredibly fancy from the distance I could see. It looked to be silver, vine-like ornaments decorating the sides, the handle twisted like some sort of branch.

The two of us stood still. I began walking towards Malory again. She furiously shouted at me, "Stay back!" I stopped moving forward, shocked to hear her yell at me like that.

She glared back down at the mirror. She clenched her teeth. Her expression no longer looked troubled, just furious. I watched and waited for her to do something. But she continued to look at it. Malory spoke again, her voice timid and small, "I... I want to get rid of it, but- I can't stop looking at it..."

"Malory, just set it down..."

"I- But-"

"Set it down, Mal... We can leave it at the doorstep of the addressed house, and then go home. Forget about it."

"But..." She paused, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "I see something..."

"What?" I felt very confused. I walked up to her. She gave up trying to get rid of me now. Looking over her shoulder I could see the mirror's appearance more clearly. It was a hand held mirror, the handle twisting and turning like the roots of a plant or of a tree. From the plant like twists and turns they continued upwards creating swirls and like branches. The top of the mirror had a single floral design of a poppy flower, which the branches connected to. It was quite innocent and beautiful looking. However, the most curious thing about it was that I couldn't see my reflection. No matter what angle I looked at it I couldn't see myself.

Malory continued to stare at it, almost entranced. I couldn't see a thing, but she swore she could. Then she decided to explain what she was seeing to me, "I see myself, but I'm growing older. It's like the future or something. I got married to a man, we had three kids, and I'm growing older. I'm happy..."

I look at Malory's face. She looks like she is crying. It makes me happy to see, but slightly taken aback, especially due to the fact she sees this all in one mirror. I snap out of it when I realize she never looks up at me, but keeps staring at that mirror. I speak up, "Mal?" She doesn't respond nor seem to hear.

"I keep getting older..." Malory whispers.

I stare at the mirror. Still no reflection, however, I see a faint hand-like mark. It's almost as if it was pressed against it on the other side of the glass. "Okay, Mal, you're scaring me. Put it down."

She doesn't listen to my demands. She just keeps looking at the mirror, and mumbles, "Older... Older..."

I grab her hand that gripped tightly on the mirror's handle and try prying it out of her hand. Her grip was stronger than what I imagined. No matter how hard I tried to force the mirror out of her hand, she held on stronger and kept staring at her reflection.

Moving in front of her I decided to yell at her again, "Mal! Listen to me! Put that thing down now! I don't understand what you're seeing, nor how it's happening, but this is freaky and you need to let that thing go! You need to drop it!"

She finally looks up at me, tears in her eyes, "Rue? I'm sorry... I wanted to destroy it..."

I wasn't given any time to react to anything she said as a giant hand broke through the mirror like it was some gateway. The glass shatters falling all over the ground and the huge hand lunges at Malory's face. She continues to hold the mirror, allowing the dark slender and bony hand to keep a hold of her face. I watch in sheer horror as the hand squashes her face like a bug, and her body becomes shriveled up and gray.

Her body falls limp on the ground and so does the mirror. I kick it far away and stumble in shock towards Malory's body. I picked her up, holding her in my arms. She was so light and she didn't even look human. Her face smushed and shattered. I couldn't look at her, for it was too painful to see my baby sister so mutilated. Mortified, I turn my head to the side, vomiting.

"Mal... I'm so sorry... I- I don't understand... Why'd this happen..." I choked on sobs, cradling her dead corpse. All I could really do was scream in the moment. So, I did. I screamed and wept, but nothing would bring her back.

My painful moment was interrupted by alien sounds. From the direction I kicked the mirror in I could hear clicking and growling. I jolted my head upwards, viewing the horror that mirror kept inside it. It was some creature, no, worse, a demon that had come straight up out of hell. It bore a humanoid appearance, but uncannily disproportionate. Its arms and legs were large and slender. Its fingers were sharp and bony. Its body showed its bone structure protruding out, indicating how starved it might be. And its face had no eyes, but a wide grin, with long teeth to rip one to shreds.

It clicked its hands on the ground then began listening to possible sounds. I slowly stood up, still holding Malory's corpse. I inched backwards, slowly and as silent as ever. I held my breath as I watched the creature wandering about.

Clack!

I looked down on the ground. I had stepped on some of the shattered glass from the mirror. Looking back up I watched in horror as the creature looked at where I was then dashed towards me. I didn't react quickly, however, I immediately ran as fast as I could. I ran with Malory in my arms, making it to the end of the street. I looked behind me only to find that the creature was gaining on me.

Regretfully, I decided if I wanted to make it out of here I would need to drop Malory down somewhere. I ran by a house and dropped her down by a tree in the front garden. "I'm sorry, Mal. I'll come back later."

I picked up my pace, running for dear life. The demonic beast continued after me, screeching and growling. Its sounds were unnatural, horrifying even, to listen to. And all the while it chased me it kept on creating these sounds. I ran towards the direction of my house. I could see it in the distance. Sweat and snot plated my face, and I felt disgusting. If I could just reach my house I would be safe, I assured myself. I felt exhausted physically and mentally, and this chase was of no help to me. I looked behind my back, the creature hot on my tail, just an arms length behind me. Again I sped up, feeling like puking for the second time during the night, yet I needed to make it home, safe and sound.

The creature screeched at me as it attempted to slice my back. Fortunately it missed. I wasn't sure how I'd get inside without this being getting inside. I for sure didn't want it getting to my parents as well, but I wasn't sure how to get it away from me. I looked around me hoping to find something of use. My neighbours' houses had gardens, some pebbles. No weapons. However, I remembered how the creature pursued me as soon as it heard me. I thought it could be possible to escape and hide if I distracted it with some sound.

I ran towards one of the houses opposite my house. I grabbed some pebbles and clutched them towards my chest. I held onto one and chucked it at the creature. The pebble made a loud sound, but the creature kept pursuing me. It did stop, but my heavy breathing caught its attention once again. I then decided to aim a pebble at the glass window of one of the houses. I chucked the heaviest one, causing the glass to crack. Chucking another one the glass shattered. The creature's attention was now focused on the building where I shattered the glass. It walked towards it heading inside. I kept a hold on the pebbles then crept towards my house. Dropping the pebbles I hurriedly searched my pockets for the keys. I found them and quickly unlocked the door.

That's when I decided to check if the creature was still in the building. I was wrong to make so much noise now. The creature stood in front of me, face to face, breathing on me. I shuffled into the house, the creature lunging at me, bringing its claws towards my face. It scratched my skin, tearing the paper-like structure. Blood spilled and I could only scream. I kicked and thrashed trying to get it off of me. It kept its grip on me. Despite being such a skinny and slender beast, its strength far exceeded mine.

All I could think about was how I would die. I wished I had never taken that package. I wished that it was never opened, and Malory and I had listened to that blasted old woman. I wished I could've saved Malory. I wish I could've seen that future she had seen.

The creature placed its hand upon my hand, squeezed, and then all I could see was black. The black became a fuzzy white, and it all went out...

Previous…

The story ends here…

#oc #original character #original story #straight outta hell #short novel #writing #angst with a sad ending #angst #horror #thriller #major character death #major character injury #death #blood and gore #body horror #body mutilation #tw vomit #panic