Darkness of Dainaria

[Kija]

-The Darkness-

The village of Dainaria, it is a quiet village, filled with peaceful peasants, working diligently at their farms and stables. A small girl dances playfully through the dirt path, a rag doll clenched in her fist. The scent of a warm, fresh, apple pie drafted whimsically in the crisp air. Nothing horrible would ever happen here, such ideas never conjured.

The brightness of the day began to fade, as night loomed over the village, its darkness spanning in all directions. The peasants began to merrily make their way home, happy to be done for today’s work and relax by a cozy fire. It was at this moment, which the nightmare began, something so terrible, so horrible, that no child could ever have dreamt it. It was a nightmare beyond all things, a force that would change things forever.

The sky was gray as the light dimmed, but something else began to suffocate this land, a dark aura, not that of day and night, but of something evil. A low tremble shook the ground beneath the peasants; confusion broke out as they ran for their homes, seeking comfort with their families and the sense of security. Shadows tore from the dark corners, as creatures began to appear. These creatures, they were the wild beasts that surrounded this area, but something, something was wrong. No longer were these beasts the peaceful creatures that inhabited this humble land, they had become twisted, their eyes darker, an evil snarl curled on their lips. A curtly howl echoed from the creatures as they pounced the peasants. Fear, a feeling not too familiar with these people; their emotions had become mute, drowned by the fear of losing their lives. They all ran, ran for lives, nothing else mattered.

Fur bristled, a wolf prowled through the village, a deep hunger inside of it that could only be satisfied by blood drenched human flesh. A young boy, his small legs pulsing back and forth, being carried by the energy of fear, was running away from the terrible place, his once beautiful home, now a dark nightmare. The wolf saw his prey, the young boy speed no match for the hungry beast. Claws dug into the boy, as he fell to the ground, the dirt muffling his small cries as the claws tore his flesh. Fangs chomped down, the fangs biting into the boy, the hunger must be satisfied. Like eating an apple from the orchard, the boy felt his skin peel, the sharp teeth carving into his frail body. A pain like no other, the discipline stick was nothing compared to this pain, the pain of his body tearing, the pain as his bones cracked like twigs, the snapping echoing in his mind. His last breath left his body, only the words “Daddy, save me.” Could softly be heard as his throat was clenched in the wolf’s mouth.

Blood, blood everywhere, like a river, a flooded river that saturated this village. Its crimson colour painted the ground, the walls, the animals, the corpses littered about; nothing was left clean. The village was tainted; it had become evil, a dark aura that now throbbed from its dark heart. Survivors ran, leaving everything behind, the bonds to their home, to their friends, to the wooden carvings made around the fire, all broken, shattered at the instance it began to shower with blood. Many more fell as the wolves pounced upon them. The silky web of the spiders wrapped about their legs, a bristled leg that wrapped them, round and round, the large fangs that punctured them, their world growing dark as the poisonous juices coursed through the veins, mixing with their blood, the blood that would soon be sucked dry.

Fallen corpses, those of the lifeless beings, those who did not escape, these only grew dark, reformed to serve the darkness. The bodies rose, the tangled bodies shambled across the village, hands clawed the dirt as they writhed their way out of the graveyard. A corpse, that of a woman, her body moved only by darkness, no longer by that of life, she dragged her feet across the soaked dirt, making her toward the living others. She hungered, as the wolf, only flesh could satisfy this hunger. Young eyes stared up at the animated corpse, “Mommy, hurry. I am not leaving without you,” a small voice perched, that of a small girl.

Small arms wrapped around the cold, dead body of the mother. The small hands smearing the oozing blood from the gaping wound on her back. Lifeless eyes met with those of the living, but no connection could truly be made. This was no longer a mother; it was driven by darkness now. Cold arms wrapped around the child, the corpse knelt down, a motion of that of a hug, as the corpse brought the child close. Hugging the small girl against her, the corpse licked its chapped lips and feasted on the succulent flesh of the child. “Mommy! Mommy.” Screams of helplessness, as the skin was plucked from the child’s shoulder, the sounds of chewing coming from the dead mouth.

It was this noise, the noise of the chewing that was etched in the child’s mind. All else was quiet, but this chewing, the sound of her own flesh being torn up, being grated against her mother’s teeth. She could not escape from the hug of Mother, from the love that she displayed.

Dainaria had fallen, the village now in ruins. Dark creatures overwhelmed the area as it was consumed in this darkness, corpses rising. The pungent odor of blood and rotting flesh filled the heavy air. A small rag doll laid in a red pool, smiling even now.

[Kija]

-The Scream of Eternity-

A small house stood silently, walls of plastered stone piled high, a thatched roof where the light faintly glistened. Crackling, the wood crackling at the fire, against the wall of the house, its warmth glowed in this small area, with two small children cuddled against each other, staring peacefully into the rhythms of the hypnotic flames. The mother, sitting in a wooden rocking chair, staring happily at her children, rocked back and forth, a warm smile upon her face. It was a beautiful evening, no one was sad, everyone was happy, and soon it would be story time. Sitting close the fire, the father would tell great tales of courage and heroes, something the children always look forward to.

A piercing sound of horror came from outside the house, the sound of fear and the ripping of skin and meat. Something had come; something was attacking this village. Whimpers came from the children as they ran for their mother, holding onto her for comfort, wanting to get away from the sounds of horror. Trying to comfort the small ones, she reassured them they would be safe in the house, that nothing will ever get in. Those bad monsters won’t get in, if you just pray, she told them. Clasping their hands together they prayed for Nexus, for Nexus to save them from whatever was outside.

A pounding struck the door, and the sounds of clawing could be heard, but it could not be known if it was from the creatures or a helpless villager trying to escape, but whatever it was, it was desperate. “Pray! Pray...” The mother said as her voice faded into whisper, as the pounding continued, the door bulging and splintering.

Then there was silence, the door stopped moving, and the sounds of desperation were gone. The mother told the children to stay as she crept near the window, peering out to see the evil that was lurking outside. Nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. There was blood and corpses everywhere, and creatures feasting upon the bodies, many of them still alive, struggling to break free, but to no avail than to feel the cold teeth sinking into their flesh.

Someone was coming, a figure that was familiar to her. It was her husband, and there something else behind him. A dark form of wolf leaping at him, but his home would be his safe haven. Hurriedly he grabbed the door, banging upon it, “Hurry, they are after me! Clara, Clara.” The voice of the husband spouted, the fear of death shaking him.

“Daddy! Daddy! Let Daddy in, let him pray with us, let Nexus save him too,” the children yelled back, their eyes gaping wide.

Clara stood still, her head resting upon the door, tears flowing profusely down her cheek. “Clara! Open the door.” Such fear and desperation came from him, as he began to break and cry, banging so hard upon the door.

A scream, such a loud scream, so piercing and painful, it was a scream that seemed to last eternity. So silent it seemed after the piercing sound of the scream, only faint sounds of someone being dragged away. The children ran up to their mother, beating upon her, fists of sorrow and anger. “Mommy…Mommy, why,” the children cried, their tiny fists the only small avengement they could give.

Tears run down her cheek, Clara turned away and went back to her chair, burying her face into her hands, ignoring the beating of the children. “Why, Mommy, why,” the voices continued to echo, but there was another noise.

Out of the window, a face was watching them, a cold face, a face that seemed dead, but stared with unmoving eyes. Its hands streaked across the dirty glass, pressing its face upon it, staring at them. More came, more corpses of the dead scratching at the door and window. The growls of wolves could be heard, nostrils prying from under the door, sniffing and snorting. “Pray…pray.” Clara slowly said; her throat barely able to speak the words.

Shards of glass flew inside the house, the window shattered, arms twisting about in the gaping hole, blood trickily down as the sharp glass grated against the skin. Bulging greater and greater, the door gave way, splinters shooting out in all directions, staking Clara and the children. Their safe haven was no more, their prays for Nexus had done nothing, all they could do was tightly hug one another and pray more, hoping that some miracle may happen.

A wolf crept nearer to them, its lips dripping with red drool. The children cried, yelling for Daddy and Nexus to save, but the wolf pounced. With such love, Clara jumped in front the children, the wolf landing upon her, satisfied with the meal. They could only watch in horror, their mother being eaten alive, her head turning to them, unable to speak but mouthing the word run.

There was no escape, the entire house surrounded; wolves and the dead walked toward them, grabbing onto their limbs. “No! Nexus…Daddy.” They cried once more, urine streaming down their legs as the teeth sank into them.

A scream, that of eternity could be heard, as the children let out their cries, and there was nothing more.

[Kija]

-The Mind of Craving-

It was dark, the cold touch of soil all about. He was lost, awoken from an endless sleep. Something urged him to push, to claw upwards, something telling that he would be free. Slowly, he clawed and clawed, the dirt crumbling and breaking into little clumps. “Free...” The thought constantly whispering in his mind, the one word that kept pushing him.

A breeze lapped across his hand, he had broken free of the soil prison. More and more he clawed, pushing upwards, soon his entire body...free. A crooked nose slanted across his face, etched out deeply against his burrowed, dried eyes. His jaw slouched sideways as an old tooth tumbled down his chin. Holes and tears of his shirt, withered and molded with age, revealed a chest, the rips poking through the rotted skin and muscle. His stomach was shriveled, the wrinkles bunched up against the ribs and hips. Boney legs kept him standing, the knees bare and yellow, the old pants tattered and thin, slightly covering portions of his thigh and calf. He took a set forward, his foot crunching on the fresh soil and grass, away from his prison; he was free, no longer trapped in the darkness of the cold soil. But there was something else; something else kept him bound, a hunger. Licking his chapped lips, the voices whispered again, “Eat...”

It was hunger like no other, a deep hunger that seemed to shrivel his very essence. The word, the faint whisper, “Eat...” He shambled forward, his head jerking back and forth, so desperate for something to satisfy this urge.

People, everywhere, people running and screaming; they ran for their lives, trying to escape something. Exactly why they were so afraid, he could not comprehend, but as his unmoving eyes stared upon them, the hunger grew so strong. It was pulling him, the craving that held him. “Eat... ”

Cravings for them, for the people that ran, his cravings was for flesh, human flesh. He must satisfy this craving, to purge himself of this deep hunger, to free himself. Slowly, his hand reached out, the bones creaking and cracking, the skin stretched tense as it tore and ripped, as the muscles dangled upon the rotted arm.

Upon the dirt lay a small, helpless man. The man was rather portly, his chubby cheeks swollen red, thin black hair bunched up on his head, tangled and knotted. A large gash streaked down his leg, his tattered pants torn along the wound. The mark of jagged claws had been etched into his leg, the blood running like water into small pools about him. Trembling, the man stretched out his hands, slowly dragging his body forward, his feet writhing about as the slick blood soaked his body.

Such as beautiful sight it was, the crimson blood glistened and streaked down from the torn, succulent flesh. The cravings were never so strong at this moment, “Eat...” He shambled forward, his hands grasping the bloody leg, sliding down it as the blood oozed between his fingers, as his nails dug into the gash and burrowed into the juicy muscle, stopping at the ankle, pulling the man toward him, the cries for help fading into shallow whimpers.

The man’s face stared at him, his tears of fear bled from his puffy eyes, streaming down his cheek, and mingling in the blood of the wound. “Nexus! Someone...save me...” The man cried.

Firmly holding the man, the teeth sank into the flesh of the wound, drinking deeply the dark blood, and pushing into the muscle, tearing off a large piece of the thigh. It felt so good, the blood that ran down his throat, so warm compared to his cold, dead, body. The flesh that he chewed so diligently, it all felt so good; it made him feel so alive once more.

“Daddy! Daddy! Come play.” A voice that of a small boy entered his ears.

In front of him the child waved, his ginger hair down to his chin, waving about as he bounced, a large smile spread across his face. “Daddy!” The child said once more, as he ran up and hugged him, the bloody flesh still hanging from his lips.

“Daddy...play...” The words rang and echoed in his mind; his eyes staring at the small boy, at the large smile.

“Nexus, he is my friend. Nexus, he is my savior. Nexus, he is my god. Oh Nexus, he will bring me to the holy light!” The small boy began to sing and dance around him, leaping over him as he repeated the verse.

“Nexus...my savior...the holy light...” The world slowly began to fade into darkness, the child stood so bright in the background of the darkness.

A woman and a small girl appeared, standing behind the boy, both smiling along. The small girl had golden hair, shining like the sun itself, her round face beaming as she swayed, her brown dress moving right along. Smiling, the woman looked so much like the small girl, but even more beautiful, her hair streaming down to her slim waist like golden threads. “Nexus, he is my friend. Nexus, he is my savior. Nexus, he is my god. Oh Nexus, he will bring me to the holy light!” They all sang together, waving their arms and dancing in circles.

“Sing with us, Daddy!” Both children said, staring at him, their hands upon their knees as they bent down to display their smile.

“Oh children, leave your father alone, he just got back from work, let him rest.” The woman said to the children, “Come, what game do you want to play?”

“Lets sing! Lets sing!” Both children said in union, their voices an eerie rhythm.

All three continued to sing and dance in circles, their smiles never leaving their alive faces. “Daddy...I am Daddy...” Slowly he stood up, the corpse of the man no longer there, vanished to somewhere else.

Soon the darkness began to turn brighter, and the area formed into a house, the wooden floor and walls, and the flickering fire place. “Are you ready to play with us, Daddy? Can you sing with us?” The voices echoed in union once more.

Turning to the children, their faces tilted shyly, the smiles so wide. They ran up and hugged him, their cheeks press against his rotted stomach, but they did not notice that he was dead. The pungent odor of death, the torn, rotted skin that hung from his body, was not really there. He was not dead to them, he was alive; he was always alive.

“Come! Come, Daddy!” The boy waved, and began to dance once more, his left arm severed and lying on the floor; the spouting blood sprayed the entire room as he jumped about, its red mist upon his face and soaked clothes as he continued to smile.

“I am free, I am happy, because Nexus will never let me go. I will die, but I will live, because Nexus will never let me go. Oh Nexus, he will bring me to the holy light!” The children continued to sing, the woman joining in and humming along.

The small girl, she hopped and danced, the large smile spread across her face. Her right leg lying on the floor, her brown dress stained and tattered. She continued to smile, to hop and dance, “I will pray, and he will listen. I will smile, and he will too. Oh Nexus, he will bring me to the holy light!” She sang, the others in harmony.

Brightness filled the room, the fire flickered and its warmth filled his body. “I am alive...I am free...”

“No! No, Daddy! Stop!” The boy suddenly cried, the singing jolting to a halt, the harmonic voices turned into mumbling and faded. The boy cried, the large smile left his face, the tears of fear streaming down his bloody cheek, grasping the gaping hole by his shoulder, crying. “Daddy! Stop!”

Falling to the floor, the girl cried. The bloody spurting from the empty leg, as she stroked the limp limb lying in the red pool. “Daddy...stop.” She cried, and began to claw away, trying to escape.

An axe appeared, its wooden handle grasped firmly in his hand, the iron blade glistening red, strings of skin dangling and slathered red. Turning to the woman, she shook her head, slowly stepping back. “Why...why?” She cried as she press her back against the wall.

Raising the axe, the blade came down upon her, waves of blood bursted out, her shoulder cracking as it snapped and collapsed. The dull blade pushed through her body, stopping at her chest as the pieces of bone slowed its movement. Jerking furiously, her body convulsing with each sharp tug, the axe was freed, and pulled back for another swing, the woman’s arms raising up, crouching against the wall in a small ball. She choked and coughed as she gasped for more air, her cries muffled by the blanket of blood that coated her face and throat. Her limbs dangled and shook about, the bones popping as the fractures grated against one another, turning the fragile stems into a thick meal, desperately tried to hold them up to shield the rest of her body. Hacking and hacking, the axe chopped into her, painting the floor and wall near her in a jagged circle. Her back skidded across the wall as she laid dead, her body in pieces. “Kill...”

Whimpers came from the children as they laid on the dirty floor, too weak to struggle or run anymore. They stared at their bloody reflection in the iron blade of the axe as it rose up and down, the sound of their own body being chopped, like the sound of the cleaver dicing a dead cow. The blood gurgled, the flesh squished as the dull blade pushed into it, over and over. “Kill...”

His throat began to tightened, like he was being strangled; the rough rope pulled tighter as it burned into his neck, the axe falling from his hand, clattering against the floor as droplets of blood splashed upward. Darkness enshrouded the room, the fire disappeared, the walls melted and the stars emerged, the holes of lights gleaming on the stained grass, the dead man lying in front him. People formed from the darkness and they ran, still so afraid; he must kill them, eat them. “I am alive...I must be free...I must eat...I must kill...” He began to feast once more on the corpse.

[Kija]

-Love-

Brendon sat calmly in the old, wooden chair, slowly rocking back and forth as he stared out at the dancing weeds from the porch. After a hard day’s work at the crops, it was comforting to relax in his chair, his faithful dog for forty years, Sayla, at his side, scratching her ears with pleasure. “Sayla, you are the best darn dog anyone could ever ask forth. You know that?” Brendon said as he looked down to her with his gappy grin, “I love you.”

This day was so peaceful and relaxing, as he sat with his dog, happier than he ever could be, happier than if he was with Nexus himself. The weeds swayed gently as the cool breeze swirled by, the petals of small flowers caught in the whispers. It was a beautiful day, like it always was in this village, at the porch with his dog.

Sayla’s ears twitched, a small sound echoing in the distance, she stood and sniffed the air around as her legs began to tremble. “What’s wrong, Sayla, what do you see?” Brendon began to question in a worried tone.

There were screams, the screams of fear and of death, something had come here. Dark, large beasts came from everywhere, lurking among the fields and trees. Rotted corpses began to walk and claw out of graveyards, death no longer a hindrance. These foul creatures of darkness, they slaughtered, hunted these people as they ran in fear, those left to fight brought down as the darkness overwhelmed them. Quickly, Brendon grabbed his pitchfork and ran out to help those in the struggle, ”Come on Sayla, we have some vermin to get rid of.”

With his pitchfork, Brendon melded into the darkness of the fray, ready to help the others save the village. A large wolf growled, its claws scoffing up dirt as it readied to pounced. Brendon placed his pitchfork in front of him, the spikes ready to pierce anything that got close, and ran fiercely at the beast as it leaped up.

Whelping, the spikes impaled it, exploding its heart, Brendon falling backward as the weight of the beast pushed down. More beasts came, pouncing at Brendon, but nothing could get past his pitchfork, and so they fell, the others left behind cheering on, fighting along side. Suddenly, there was another whelping, but it was not like the beasts, it was smaller and lighter. Sayla collapsed on her side kicking slightly as she lost her strength, her stomach spilling out with each jerky motion. “Sayla!” Brendon screamed out as he laid eyes upon his dead dog, the wolves having a feast, the sound of her skull cracking as the fangs bit down, hungry for the juicy brain.

Hate, fear, weakness filled Brendon, its stagnate waters boiling furiously, the pitchfork sliding out of his grip as his arms shook, his knees buckling. Nothing, there was nothing left in Brendon anymore, he was an empty shell. Shivering, Brendon ran, ran from the gruesome sight, to get away from it all; he stumbled back to his small house and down into the dark basement. Brendon sat there, in the darkness, his back against the cold stone in an empty corner, rocking back and forth, crying softly.

“Brendon. Brendon, why do you cry?” A voice whispered in the darkness, a figure forming as it entered the small strands of light from the tiny window.

“Mmm.mmm...Mommy?” Brendon stuttered.

“Yes, that’s right you stupid brat. You know crying is not allowed. Must you be punished again?” The figure answered, the form of a stern, middled aged women appearing.

“Nnn.nnn.no, Mommy.” Brendon managed to stutter out as he wiped his eyes.

“Then, stop. And learn to speak right before I have to sew your mouth shut again, I will not be listening to that garble.” Mother said, her voicing booming with anger.

“Sss.sorry, Mmm...Mommy, Iiii.won’t say anything...eee...else.” Brendon replied, tightly pushing his lips together not to say anymore.

Mother began to slowly fade away, holes appearing in her wrinkled, dirty, face. Another figure stepped out, but in the form of a man, also the same age, his eyes furrowed, and the smell of booze a pungent aura, “Boy, what did I tell you about upsetting her. You say one more thing and I swear I will cut off your other finger. I will make you learn some way.” Brendon just nodded and then bowed his head to stare at his knees. “Boy, you look at me when I am talking to you. You stupid brat, after all we do for you, and we cannot even learn some manners and honour your loving parents! Now get up and get back to work, the plates are still empty and we are hungry, do not have me tell you twice.”

“Nnn.no...I...ddd...don’t...want to. Leave me alone!” Brendon began to yell, his voice loud and shrill, his hands around his head, tucked between his knees.

Father looked even more angry, his veins bulging from his face. Blood trickled down his face, a large hole appearing on the side of his head. “Boy, don’t you strike me, I am your father, you do what I say! You will burn!” Father said, grimacing as he began to fade.

Like the snapping of wood, a small sound echoed in the area, and then there was silence. Brendon began to breathe softly and rose his head once more. There was a low panting, a sound so familiar to him. Brendon began to fill with comfort and happiness, “Sayla, is that you?” He murmured, staring out into the darkness.

Sayla moved into the faint glow of the light, her brown, bristle fur shining, her large nose dripping as her body hopped along with her tail. She made her way to Brendon and snuggled against his out reached hand. “Good girl.” Brendon said as he began to scratch her ear like he always did.

Grunts of delight came from Sayla as she rubbed her head against his hand and then began to lick it. “Ha, ha, ha. That sort of tickles.” Brendon said, letting her lick to her own content.

The blobs of drool dripped in long, thick strands as Sayla’s tongue slid across his palm. Her teeth sank into it, peeling back his skin as it tore with the bits of bone and muscle, its sinews pulling off in tangled cords. “Oh, Sayla.” Brendon said with a gappy grin at Sayla as she slowly gnawed upon his arm, lapping up the warm blood, “I love you.”

[Kija]

-The Light of the Blind-

It is dark in this place. But it is always dark; there is no light, no sparkles of a
candle’s flame. There sits Freddy; he sits upon the wooden bench with a smile upon his face, even in this darkness. His eyes are a milky white, the dark pupils gray and small.

Twiddling his thumbs he sat on the bench, his action so much of eager and happiness. He was waiting for someone, some friend or person to walk on by. His head creaked slowly as foot steps crunched against the dead leaves near by, the sound of children like pebbles in the current. These children were no friend; they were no one of concern to him. His face stretched tighter, the smile too wide to trap all the teeth; his eagerness grew larger; whoever was coming must soon be dropping by.

“Freddy!” A voice called out close by as hurried foot steps made their way to his location.

Freddy tilted his head slightly as he let the familiar voice pour into his ears. “John! Ye finally made it!” His smile spread even wider, if it ever was possible.

“Of course I did, as if I would miss by best friend’s celebration.” John said as he reached out his arms and grappled Freddy in a deep hug, “My wife, Susy, should be arriving soon with the kids. She made her oatmeal cheesecake that you love so much.”

“Oh, that sounds so lovely. Well, why don’t ya sit right over here and relax with me until the little youngins get here.”

“Alright.” John sat down on the old, wooden bench right next to Freddy, his back hunkered down as he rested his arms upon his knees.

A cold wind twirled through as shivers of dark death like poison needles against their spine coiled out. Suddenly, there was silence; the children that were playing off in the distance had disappeared, the sounds of crunching leaves nothing more than a silent breeze. Then, out of the silence, screaming could be heard. It was the sound of mortal fear, the sounds of pain and death that echoed to his house. Freddy’s ears cringed as the noises filled his head, louder and greater than anyone else would have heard. Even at this distance, Freddy could hear the bones cracking and the muffled cries of tears and dirt.

Both jumped to their feet in panic as they jerked back and forth. “Susy...I have to get to Susy!” John yelled as he leapt out from the porch.

“John?! Where are you, John?!”

Quickly, John grabbed Freddy’s wrist and jerked him along. “Come on! We all have to get out of here!”

As they ran, shards of glass and the explosion of wood pulsed out from behind them, growls of hunger howling in the wreckage. Up ahead, the bodies laid crookedly in the red, muddy dirt and grass. Large wounds and gashes gaped wide across the corpses as the blood flowed freely from them. Death was everywhere; men, women, children, small pets, all laid dead in the twisted, bloody pattern. “Susy?! Where are you, Susy?!” John yelled out into the river of bodies in desperate hopes.

Large, dark creatures turned their heads from their feasts as John continue to run through. These creatures were powerful and hungry, their desire to kill only matched by their ability to do it. “J..John...” A faint voice whimpered near him.

Lumps of flesh straggled toward John. “Susy...”

“Th..the..children...they ate them all..John. Run! Please...at least let yourself live...”

Tears streamed down John’s face as he stared at his dying wife, Susy a dark scarlet as the blood soaked her body, her cold face with hopeless tears that stared back. Quickly, John turned and ran, he knew that he must live, that no matter what, he must not die. He always honored Susy’s wishes and this was no exception.

John and Freddy had traveled into the middle of Dainaria; it was going to be hard to escape. To his right, he caught a glimpse of an unbroken building and made a break for it, dragging Freddy behind him. Snatching the door, he swung it open as he leapt inside, slamming it hard back shut as the scrapes of hunger pelted it. No time must be wasted; they could not stay for too long and must find a way out of the village before it was too late, but even then, he did not know where to go. John gripped his head as the pain of the situation took over. “Where...how...”

“The hole...Do ye remember, John? Before I was blind, when we were young, we dug that hole. T’was a very big hole, large enough that both of us could hide there even now.”

“Of course...The hole...Yes, we must get there now.”

His breath was heavy and slow as he stared through the tiny crack, small glimpses of light flashing against the prowling shadows. The last shadow passed by, a brief moment where they would not be seen. “Now...” John whispered, his legs smashing against the floor in a fearful dash.

“Over here...Yes we made...” John’s quiet voice reassured Freddy as he knelt down and placed Freddy in the broken outhouse.

“Oh, John. It feels good to be safe. We can stay here, and we will be safe. We will be safe...” Freddy’s voice trailed off as the calming assurance of the hole wrapped around him.

“I...I will be right back, Freddy. I just have to go get something. But I promise, I will be right back.” The words left John’s lips tight and quick.

I will be safe. Yes, I will be safe. The sentence droned his John’s mind as he rushed off into the fields. They will find Freddy; he will be plenty for a meal. They will not come looking me. I...I will be safe.

There in front him, old bushes tangled together, as if hiding something. Yes, the hole, the hole is here, where I can be safe. John quickly spread about the bushes to squeeze into the hole where he would be safe. Dirt laid scattered and matted where a hole may have once been, the drippings of blood soaked within the brown soil to form a sort of mud.

Dark pupils gray and small stared at him.

[Kija]

-Outside-

I feel as if I am going to die. There is not much time left for me anymore; my body already grows weak. My hands, my arms, they ache. I wish, I pray to Nexus that this never happened.

They had come, those dark creatures, out of the forest. Everyone ran and screamed to escape; a few stayed back and fought, but they are all dead. Those screams, they echo now too as they continue to feast. But sometimes when I hear screaming, I feel as if it is not because of them; it is mostly women that I hear these screams from.

My family, I had loved them so much. Elizabeth, Bradley, Joseph, I miss them all. We were at our home when they struck. Elizabeth was near the stove cooking like she always did in the afternoon, her delicious nut bread baking in the fire that we all loved so much. Its scent still wafts to me when I think about it.

Bradley and Joseph, my two perfect sons, they were both six years old. Even though I loved that nut bread, I could not love more than they did. At dinner time, they would just gobble it all down; it was their favourite treat. When Elizabeth started the baking, they would just jump up and down, ready to do anything to help. I loved them; they had my eyes. Having to stare at my own eyes, it is not a pretty feeling anymore.

I was sitting near the fire on the bench. While the nut bread started to bake, we would all sit on the bench near the fire and tell fun stories. My favourite was from Bradley about Dango the dumb dog. It was such a silly story; we all laughed. But this night, my laughter has turned dark. No matter how many times I close my eyes and remember my smile, I cringe, and my stomach twists from the inside. This night, it all came to an end.

Out of the forests they had come; they did not hesitate in their hunger. I remember it clearly. The night was like all other nights, and we were happy. At the door there was a scratching. Nitty, our lovable dog, would always scratch at the door when she wanted inside, but it was not Nitty this time. Bradley had happily volunteered to let Nitty inside and swung open the door wide with a big smile. In the doorway was not Nitty, but something large and dark. I could not make out its body, but from the shadows I could see the thick drool drip in large globs.

That scream, Bradley’s scream, but I could do nothing. As it leaped upon him and started to devour him, the blood raining, I could do nothing. I felt the blood splatter my face and run down my cheeks, but my body would not move; I could feel my arms tremble, and my trousers suddenly become very wet. He kept screaming and struggling, yelling “daddy...,” “daddy...,” “daddy...” Why could I not move? Why could I not save my son? These questions, I still cannot answer; they haunt me now as the darkness whispers in my ear the echos of my shame.

Gnawing and ripping, I could hear the flesh tear, peeling back to reveal the red. Strips of Bradley’s arms would fling to the side as the creature would jerk his head to rip more meat. Joseph was crying in a corner, a puddle forming under him. Joseph, he loved to play hide and seek. It was how he learned to count. He would stand in the corner and just count away with that smirk on his face, his eyes twitching trying to peek. Eventually, he would get to ten and come running for us. I was usually found first behind some tree. That smile on his face as he would yell “I got you!” it was always nice to see even if I did lose.

The beast, it had sharp long fur and crouched at the size of a goat. Its jagged teeth hung stiffly as the drool dripped a dark red, its lip curled back to reveal them all in a row. I could hear them squeeze, the bone crunching under the heavy force. Bradley’s leg, I could hear it; I could hear the bone. When the beast would snarl, its breath was pungent and filled with the odour of blood and flesh. My stomach was emptied onto the floor with a great heave, the smell filling my lungs with each convulsion.

Elizabeth, she was braver than I could ever be. She gripped a large, lead pan in her hand, smashing against the beast’s skull. It rang with a dull tone, her hand springing back for another swing, her desperate voice raging for her son to be free. Smashing and smashing, the pan would slam into the beast. That beast, it was a strong one; the pan did nothing but irritate it. After a few slams to its skull, it turned on her, leaving Bradley to drown in his own pool of blood, bubbles of the thick goo popping up as he slightly coughed. I was too much of a coward to save Bradley, but how could I let my dear Elizabeth die like this? I just had to do something, just something to get that beast away from her. There was only one thing I could do, and it pains me to even think of it now. I had grabbed my dead Bradley and shook him about, splattering the blood on the beast and then through the corpse out of the window. My son, my little Bradley, I loved him so much. But in the deepest of my heart, I knew he was dead, and he could save Elizabeth.

My plan had worked.. The beast turned his attention back to Bradley as it tore through the window, its feet clawing into the wood walls leaving its evil mark. I stumbled my way to Elizabeth, grasping her in my arms as we sobbed together. Joseph crawled to us as well and huddled with us. We did not have much longer, the beast would be back, but with Elizabeth in my arms, the world was just a dream. It was like the older days, before the creatures came, when we were happy. Oh, when we were happy, when we could smile and eat nut bread. I loved those days; I loved holding Elizabeth in my arms and just smiling.

Her voice was raspy and slow as she cried to me the events that just took place. I knew what happened; we all did, but she had to let it out, to tell someone. I had grabbed her shoulders and hugged her harder, feeling her warm skin against my cheek. Her chest would rise up and down in an uneven pace, still heavy with sorrow and pain. After we all cried and breathed, we stood up to get ready to leave this place, before the beast came again.

We ran for the back door and swung it open quickly, jumping outside. Outside, the wind blew, and the darkness hung like thick blankets against my body. I felt my body be pulled down by its heavy aura, the darkness suffocating me. The eyes, they stared right through and into my pathetic soul. They pierced me, and those few seconds I could not move or even breathe. Dark and black, like staring down into a deep hole, a void of nothingness, a void of pure darkness and evil, the eyes stared. Then the body moved, and the eyes came closer. It was a large beast of a foul nature, with long claws and a gaping mouth. I could see the red droop from its mouth and hang halfway in a bloody swirl. I remember Bradley and the red that covered him, the red that drowned his helpless cries and hung from the jaws of the beast. This was not the same beast, but I could still smell the blood and flesh that wafted from its breath each time it snorted in delight with each step it took closer.

Outside we were now, out in the dark open where the beasts prowled and hid in its corners. We turned and ran as fast as we could. I could hear the pounding of the beast’s large claws dig into the dirt getting closer and closer as we continued to run. No matter how fast we ran, no matter how far we went, the pounding came closer and closer. The pounding, it filled my ears like the song of death; I could no longer hear even my own cries and whimpers as I called out to Nexus to save us.

I was afraid that I was going to die, that the beast would get me. It was this fear that drove my body to keep moving. My body felt completely numb, as if it was no longer there but only an empty soul that flew. There was a house to our right and we took a chance. I motioned to them and we dashed for it. But suddenly, two more beasts appeared and leaped upon Elizabeth and Joseph. Both of them were dragged away, their hands latched to the dirt leaving a trail of desperation. I could not stop now though, there was nothing left I could for them; I could not save them, they were lost, dead. I made it to the house and slammed the door behind, praying the beats would leave for another prey.

I cried again for Elizabeth and Joseph. All of my family was now dead; I was the only one left. All I had were memories now filled with death and the eyes of pain. The beasts, their snorts and snarls could be heard from the other side of the door, but they soon left for something else. I rested against the wall and listened, silent screams echoing from the outside as those who did not escape met death. It was a miracle of Nexus that the beasts did not come inside, that I was still alive.

As long as I stay inside now, they will not get me. But what do I have to live for now? My family is dead and I am but one person lost within the hopeless others who may live or die as well. What chance do I have of ever escaping those beasts? Nexus may have saved me now, but they would be back, and I would suffer the same pain and fate they did.

The outside, it is a dark place where the beasts lurk ready to kill. I can still hear the screams and the ripping of flesh. There is no more hope for me, so I must end it now before they come for me again. I must join Nexus where I can be safe, where the beasts cannot get me. I leave this for those who may live or come here later seeking answers. What ever happens now, whoever reads what I write, know this: always be afraid, for the darkness has come.