Post by The Chronic Dragon on Dec 16, 2008 1:11:22 GMT -5
The night was clear, and the moon was clearly visible. Despite these conditions, the cloaked man sprinted through the forest barely able to see. His shaking hands nervously clenched the shotgun as he proceeded quickly through the dense growth. Suddenly he heard a twig snap behind him. He wheeled around and shot. There, dying, was a red squirrel.
"I'm sorry little friend." the man said apologetically.
He turned to keep going only to face the creature he truly feared. He jumped back and took aim at the creature.
"Stay back Phantom unless you wish to lose your head!!"
The creature wore a tattered dragging black cloak that covered its entire body, opening in the front. The hood/mask over its head left openings for its glowing red, spade shaped eyes and its large mouth that was overgrown with razor sharp teeth. The claws that emerged from the sleeves were likewise razor sharp, and retractable scythe-like projections extended from the wrist. Its back was littered with recurved spikes that punctured the cloth.
The creature looked at the man and smiled suddenly, revealing row upon row of teeth that protruded slightly outward.
"You cannot kill me human."
The voice emptied the man of all happiness only adding to his fear.
"Your fear, your doubt, your insecurity, it is all delicious."
A forked black tongue licked the teeth. "But not as delicious as you'll be I'm sure."
The man quivered. Then, trails of shadow circled the path and impacted the ground, revealing ten more creatures. He spun deciding which to shoot. He shot at the first that blocked his path in the face. Sending brain, and skull fragments exploding outward, hitting many other creatures in the face. The figure fell over backwards, allowing the man to completely haul ass. The remaining creatures emmited a shriek, something mixed between a woman's shriek of agony and a dying bird's cry.
Still the man did not turn back, he saw the trails of smoky shadow follow him and trying to attack him. From the insubstantial forms sythes lunged, carving deep gashes into the man's back. He was losing strength, yet he could see the temple in the distance. On his chest was suspended a baby.
"I must get this child within reach of the temple."
"You'll never suceed human. We will devour that baby along with you." this was followed by another slash.
He was losing blood fast. And, merely six yards of the temple, he fell. With the last of his strength he reached across the marked line and placed the baby on the inside.
"NO!!" Came the combined shriek of the Phantoms. They materialized. One stepped forward, "This makes no difference human, you have failed." he reached for the baby.
The others shouted, "NO!!" , but it was to late, the Phantom reached across the line and screamed in agony as his hand began to dissintegrate. The process spread to his entire body.
"NO. NO! NOOOO!!! NOOOooo..." he shouted and then was gone.
The phantoms turned on the man.
"You have slain two of our brethren human. And you have thwarted our master's plan. Your flesh will be consumed to atone for this." Then they all dislocated their jaws with a sickly cracking sound.
They lunged. Sharp teeth and claws ripping the sinous muscle and skin. Organs and blood were devoured without hestitation. Not even the bones were left. Crushed and mashed into a pulp and then swallowed. The phantoms lapped up the blood with their long flexible tongues. Finally they were finished. No trace of the man remained, the blood on his clothes had been siphoned off. The phantoms became shadows and flew off into the night.
All that was left was a small baby. Who, surprisingly, had seen all of it. The baby had grey eyes and silver hair and a strange silvery marking across his left hand, it was wrapped in a small blanket that had a note attached to it. The baby yawned and fell asleep.
"I'm sorry little friend." the man said apologetically.
He turned to keep going only to face the creature he truly feared. He jumped back and took aim at the creature.
"Stay back Phantom unless you wish to lose your head!!"
The creature wore a tattered dragging black cloak that covered its entire body, opening in the front. The hood/mask over its head left openings for its glowing red, spade shaped eyes and its large mouth that was overgrown with razor sharp teeth. The claws that emerged from the sleeves were likewise razor sharp, and retractable scythe-like projections extended from the wrist. Its back was littered with recurved spikes that punctured the cloth.
The creature looked at the man and smiled suddenly, revealing row upon row of teeth that protruded slightly outward.
"You cannot kill me human."
The voice emptied the man of all happiness only adding to his fear.
"Your fear, your doubt, your insecurity, it is all delicious."
A forked black tongue licked the teeth. "But not as delicious as you'll be I'm sure."
The man quivered. Then, trails of shadow circled the path and impacted the ground, revealing ten more creatures. He spun deciding which to shoot. He shot at the first that blocked his path in the face. Sending brain, and skull fragments exploding outward, hitting many other creatures in the face. The figure fell over backwards, allowing the man to completely haul ass. The remaining creatures emmited a shriek, something mixed between a woman's shriek of agony and a dying bird's cry.
Still the man did not turn back, he saw the trails of smoky shadow follow him and trying to attack him. From the insubstantial forms sythes lunged, carving deep gashes into the man's back. He was losing strength, yet he could see the temple in the distance. On his chest was suspended a baby.
"I must get this child within reach of the temple."
"You'll never suceed human. We will devour that baby along with you." this was followed by another slash.
He was losing blood fast. And, merely six yards of the temple, he fell. With the last of his strength he reached across the marked line and placed the baby on the inside.
"NO!!" Came the combined shriek of the Phantoms. They materialized. One stepped forward, "This makes no difference human, you have failed." he reached for the baby.
The others shouted, "NO!!" , but it was to late, the Phantom reached across the line and screamed in agony as his hand began to dissintegrate. The process spread to his entire body.
"NO. NO! NOOOO!!! NOOOooo..." he shouted and then was gone.
The phantoms turned on the man.
"You have slain two of our brethren human. And you have thwarted our master's plan. Your flesh will be consumed to atone for this." Then they all dislocated their jaws with a sickly cracking sound.
They lunged. Sharp teeth and claws ripping the sinous muscle and skin. Organs and blood were devoured without hestitation. Not even the bones were left. Crushed and mashed into a pulp and then swallowed. The phantoms lapped up the blood with their long flexible tongues. Finally they were finished. No trace of the man remained, the blood on his clothes had been siphoned off. The phantoms became shadows and flew off into the night.
All that was left was a small baby. Who, surprisingly, had seen all of it. The baby had grey eyes and silver hair and a strange silvery marking across his left hand, it was wrapped in a small blanket that had a note attached to it. The baby yawned and fell asleep.