Aurora and I ran through the forest, the stench thick, the damp air clinging to our lungs. She stumbled, her grip on my hand slipping until she dropped to her knees, her body shaking. Blood ran from her scraped knees, mixing with mud and dust on her face. She looked at me, her voice breaking, "I… can't go on anymore. Can we stop?" She sniffed.
"Just a moment," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I crouched, my eyes darting into the creeping mist that snaked between the trees, just like in the old stories I used to read.
A sharp stench, like rotting fish, warm and strange, churned my stomach. A sign. The Flood was near. The ground trembled beneath our feet, as if forcing us to run faster.
Mist rose like it had crawled from a grave, tearing through the darkness, looming over us. Aurora shivered, pale and rigid. "Tessa… what is that?" she asked, her hand pointing at the moving mist, fingers trembling.
I gripped her tighter. "We move. Now." Before the demons from the stories arrived—catching, playing. I bit my lip, hands sticky, sweat pouring down, every word I read from the book turning real.
We pressed forward as the warm smoke seemed to grip my ankles, trees groaning, silence swallowing every sound. My chest ached, my heart pounded. I wanted to destroy everything, to burn it all.
"Too dark… I'm scared," she whispered, stumbling, and I pulled her, the decision already made.
"Don't look up. Keep moving," I hissed, my own voice trembling.
Laughter and cries echoed in the darkness, sharp. Aurora clung to me, holding on as if her life depended on it. Her small body, I hugged tight, even as fear gripped me to.
"They… are close," she whimpered, nails digging into my hand. The pain forced a vow from me: protect her.
I tightened my grip, trying to anchor us like a ship moored to the dock. "Don't let go. Now, and forever."
Then—silence. It pierced my bones, freezing my joints. The mist vanished. Cold air crept from my feet up to the back of my neck.
Above, the moon hung shattered, like broken glass. Aurora gripped my hand tighter. "Tessa… look… the moon… it's broken!" she screamed, hysterical.
"I don't know anymore," I admitted, my voice low and trembling. "Stay close." The lies piled up, becoming a shield for her rebellious heart.
Then—a baby's cry shattered the silence, forcing my head to turn. Something crept from the bushes. A swollen head. Empty eyes glinting, hungry. My body froze.
The cry turned into laughter.
Aurora and I stood frozen, stiff, like cornered deer, waiting for predator teeth to tear us apart. We backed away slowly, each step sounding deafening.
Aurora's hand clawed at my shoulder, nails digging in, her breath ragged. My chest heaved, heart pounding so loud the whole forest seemed to hear. Even the air felt like it could kill me.
The demon crept closer, dragging its thin body. Eyes wide, empty—fixed on me.
My lips trembled, my breath short. "So… this is the Flood?"
The demon hissed, the baby's cry twisted into a broken laugh. "Bloo...?"
I looked at Aurora, her chin trembling. I grabbed her hand, dragging her out of there.
Mocking laughter rang behind me, cold against my neck. Tall trees, dry leaves underfoot, a shattered moon in the sky, the dark path ahead, and us running through the darkness
Roots and branches stabbed at my feet as the demon chased us. I felt the cold air on my face, my chest burning, running.
The mocking laughter was close, breathing in my ear— closer— so close.
I glanced back at it, the demon crawling awkwardly. My gaze—drooped
The ground gave way—the slope collapsed. We fell into a pit. Rocks and soil tumbled down. We hit hard, cut and bleeding. I wrapped Aurora in my arms, shielding her with my whole body.
A baby-like head stuck at the rim, thin body twisting like a dry branch, giant hand raked into the hole, but its head, far too big, could not reach us.
The demon pounded the earth, its expression carved with bitter disappointment. Small stones and clumps of soil rained onto my face.
I stared at the demon, carving its face into my memory. Look. Look at me, bastard.
"I swear—I will kill you!" I shouted, voice trembling, pointing at it. "You son of a bitch."
FUCK.
Red eyes blinked at me, a glimmer of sorrow within. Then it backed away, the loud crying fading into the forest.
I turned, unaware that Aurora was curled up in fear. "Papa… Mama…" she cried, making my hands clench tightly.
My entire soul spilled out. Dad? Mom? The world? The demon?
Those names vanished into the cold night. I erased them all from my heart. Nothing remained. I held her, powerless against raw grief. Her small world—home, safe, innocent—torn apart by the Flood.
I would kill you—just watch. The thought ignited within me. Something whispered, reminding me that the world had fallen before. Something whispered.
I stared at the shattered moon. Broken light sliced across my face with arrogance. Burn?
Aurora sob pulled me from my chaotic thoughts. "It's all gone, Tessa," she sniffed, hanging her hands on my shoulders. I drew her closer, her breath ragged.
"I'll protect you," I looked away, unable to face those eyes, questioning even the sound of my own voice.
Tears streamed down her face, chin trembling, hands pressing into my grip so I could feel her fear, raw and real.
I lifted her face gently. "Hey, it's okay. The demon can't get in." I pressed my forehead against hers, meeting her eyes softly. "We can. We must."
Her blue eyes glimmered, yet they pierced through every doubt I held. I bit my lip until it bled.
I laid her head against my chest and closed her eyes. "It's alright, rest now—that thing won't come."
I leaned my back against the stone, letting her sleep in my arms.
Her face lifted slightly, then sank back onto me.
"Tessa," she breathed, her voice calm, her eyes closing slow.
"Sleep, it's all right," I said softly, my eyes drifting shut. Tomorrow—just wait for tomorrow.
No one saw. No one heard. I swore on my name and my soul: I would obliterate everything.