Restless

I walked through a dark hallway. The walls were pulsing flesh. Blood could be smelled. Sickly metallic scent perfumed the enclosed space. My feet made a gross squelch with every step forward. I didn’t know where I was. Just that I never should have been here. I walked until I came upon a thin layer of flesh that blocked my path. Using my sword I cut it down and entered the open space. Inside a saw hearts beating surrounded by broken ribs. The veins connected to them through the floor of flesh. In the center sat a heart the size of my shed. Its pulse vibrated the entire space. I approached it and with every step the squelch got more and more crunchy until I realized I was walking upon a sea of broken and discarded bones. I placed a hand upon the heart and suddenly the walls became eyes. Each once locked upon me and stared. A mouth of jaws opened along the floor behind me.

“Found you.” It growled.

Suddenly thousands of burrowers erupted from its maw. Each with the intent to find me, Use me, Consume me. I tried to scream but the veins of the heart wrapped around me like tendrils. Connected me to it. I saw my body torn apart used to make more of them. More creatures. My womb intact to make cross breeds. My heart placed inside a rib cage and attached to the floor. Where I sat in agony for eons. My burrower children black as the sky. Where they hunted through the night unlike those not born of me.

“Prized possession.” I heard the voice again.

I sat up panting drenched in sweat. Though the room was freezing I was hot and sticky. I looked at the alarm where it read 4:07am I laid back down into the bed. Thinking about the nightmare. My heart thumped loudly in my chest.

“What the fuck man.” I swore thinking about it.

That night I couldn’t sleep anymore. I laid in bed thinking about the events yesterday. Who left the gift? Why did those creatures know my name?

I placed my hand upon my lower stomach. My abs were tense and my pubes and happy trail were wet from sweat. Thinking about my womb from the dream. Knowing it rested someplace below my muscles and palm.

“I’d rather cut you out.” I stated quietly.

I could hear my father snoring loudly in the other room. Though I hated him it brought some comfort to know I wasn’t alone in the house. Sneaking downstairs I grabbed my bag and took it back to my room. I drew the place from my dream. Shivering at the accurate representation. I felt a small pang of anxiety someplace. I focused on being okay and soon it felt comforted. That day I wandered around the barrier looking for any odd things. When I noticed it. A large hole had been dug about 10 feet outside the barrier. I stared for several moments when I heard a large snap.

Looking up into the tree I spotted the large black creature from yesterday. It stared at me and I stared back. My legs felt like jelly. It watched me hungry.

With a leap it hopped onto the ground and approached me. I wanted to be brave. It came up and stood just outside the barrier 5 feet separated us. It placed a claw on the field and with a sizzle it stayed there. It noticed the sword had appeared in my hand before even I did. Staring amused? Tears streamed down my face. I was scared. It knew that. Dread settled into my chest and I felt fear appear someplace other than myself. Suddenly the barrier expanded quickly smacking the creature like a brick wall throwing it back. The trees snapped as it hit them. I fell back frightened by the sudden movements. The barrier quickly moved back into place. As if it had never moved to begin with. The creature sat up. Shaking off the attack. It let out what could be a laugh.

“Sad…little moon spawn.” It growled. Before slowly moving past the tree line away from me.

It was several minutes before I found the strength again to move. When I did I sprinted back to the house. Running inside and slamming the door closed behind me. I knew this was gonna make father upset but I didn’t care. I heard the recliner move but before he had the chance to bellow I spoke first.

“The burrowers are trying to get inside. They’re digging something 10 feet away from the barrier. They’ve been placing their claws onto it in an attempt to do….something. There’s this big black one it can speak to the others I heard it. It knows we’re inside.”

My fathers eyes grew like saucers. The anger left his posture.

“Show me.” He stated.

I walked us to where it had been. He could see the hole in the dirt and the now broken tree.

“Where did you see the black one?” He asked calmly

I pointed up in the tree telling him that it landed down and approached me. How its claw sizzled on the barrier. How the barrier had grown and attacked it making it break the tree where it shook off and left too.

“What did it say?”

“I couldn’t understand its language but…..it definitely said my name…..and moon spawn.” I said quietly.

He nodded. Without looking he asked.

“Where did you get the ring and necklace?” He asked quietly.

“They were in a box left for me at the shoreline. I uh…don’t know who left them just that it had a card saying it’s for me.” Finding my voice trembling.

He sighed. Walking away back to the house.

“I knew it was a matter of time before HE started making himself known to you again.” His voice dripped with venom as he said the word he.

“Who?” You asked quietly.

Your father stoped dead in his track his eyes were narrow as he turned and looked at you. He walked back to and slapped me as hard as he could. My cheek stung from the contact.

“Ask me again. I’ll kill you myself.” He said seething. thunder rattled above us suddenly in the clouds light drips of rain began to fall. He quickly made his way back towards the house inside.

Not wanting to be here anymore I walked to the other end of the grove. To the shore. I sat on the log frustrated. I had my sword. Why didn’t I attack. Tears steamed down my face. I could have launched it at the creature.

“IM SUCH A FUCKING COWARD!” I screamed.

I’ve let my father **** me my whole life. Couldn’t fight with a weapon in my hand. Feel guilty for killing and eating a rabbit when I’m starving. Scared in my dreams. I’m weak. I hate it. I curled up in a ball and cried my eyes out. Until I felt numb. Until it stopped hurting.

Then I heard it. The sizzling. Looking up I saw the creatures pacing. Taunting me. Letting out what sounded like little laughs. Their grey skin was taught and pulled back in snarls. Amused.

“Stop laughing.” I said quietly.

They let their cackles out louder.

“Stop.” I said louder. Anger and shame flaring.

They let their cackles out even louder. I stood up. I wanted them to stop. I wanted them dead. Gone. I wanted it all gone. The pain. The suffering.

“Please stop!” I said even louder.

I heard the black one someplace in the trees. Laughing.

“Please stop.” It said. It’s voice a vicious mockery of my own.

“I. SAID. STOP!!!” I screamed.

As I did I screamed at the top of my lungs in their direction. The world seemed to stop for a moment. The lakes current followed my scream as the tide erupted into a massive wave of ice and spikes. The air around me became freezing as it whipped and lashed out from me. The ice stream met the burrowers head on. Spikes pierced their skin. In a Moment the entire lake moved to the side swallowing the land looking for the source of my anger. Lashing out against it. It climbed the trees like vines. The water ebbed and flowed. I heard screeching the tendrils had found the black one. Throwing it into the pool at my control. I wanted it dead. In an instant the blue water became black and red. Meat moved in the liquid and as if the water hated the taste spit it out into the trees.

“STILL LAUGHING!” I screamed.

“WHOS LAUGHING NOW FUCKERS!” I laughed loudly.

Suddenly a a piercing pain throbbed in my head. My vision went blurry. I watched at the dirt approached my vision and everything went black.

Cold.

Cold.

This place is cold.

The thought ran through my head.

I heard water dripping somewhere.

“It’s okay to be gentle and soft” I heard the familiar smooth voice say.

A source of warmth was around me. Hugging me tightly. I felt a kiss on my cheek.

“We Alphas make the aggressive actions so you don’t normally have to.” He said.

“What I did was pretty aggressive.” My voice was quiet.

“Maybe, but necessary. I wouldn’t say that that’s an example of what I’m talking about. It’s okay to feel guilt for killing a small animal. You didn’t do it for fun.” He stated.

“Yeah that’s true.” You said calmly

“It’s okay to be scared. Especially of the unknown. Yes you could have used the blade but you just got it. You don’t know it’s full potential yet. Nor your own. Fear of the unknown is normal.” He said comforting me.

“I just was so scared.”

“The strongest Alpha would be too. Though he may not show it. It’s called fight and flight for a reason. An Alphas first instinct is fight. A Beta’s first is flight. You can’t be blamed. It’s how we designed it. It’s to ensure If any young are in your womb they have the highest chance of survival. In time it won’t be a choice in your hands but your Mates.” He stated

“I don’t even know who my Alphas are or how far they are.” I said sadly

“Mark my words I chose your Alphas wisely. They’re some Mean boys. Colder than any ice we can make. Wicked swings and sharp as razor attack instincts. Yet softer than anything in creation for you though. You haven’t bonded yet still they’re connected through more than the orb to you. When I made your bond myself I made it so strong. Your feelings are already connected. It’s a gradual process.” He said quietly.

“As for Cody.” He said with a sigh.

“He failed you, me, and your deceased dad. A shitty substitute.” He grumbled.

“His **** will be answered for and punished.” He said pulling me closer to him.

“Oh my precious boy. My beautiful Dean. It’s time to wake up.” He said kissing my cheek again.

My eyes fluttered open. The cloak had been summoned and wrapped around me while I was asleep. Standing up my legs were a little wobbly. Looking over I saw the remnants of the ice mostly dripped away. The water had receded and back into the lake. A few pieces of ice remained in the water. Now mostly melted. I made my way back to the house. It was strangely quiet when I entered. I saw the living room was empty. Going upstairs my fathers door was closed. I heard rummaging inside. I went into my room closing the door stripping myself to nude. Climbed into bed and nursed my aching head. Though restless. I did what I’ve been doing a lot of lately and I fell into a dreamless sleep.