Howls in the Night

As I awoke, my lungs quenched as air flushed through my body. My hands tied behind my back, the rough splintered wood of the stake scarring my back. My eyes blinked in the evening fog, I found myself in a clearing of trees, scorched earth and runic stones created an aura of terror and suspense.

Cloaked figures, each carrying a candle lit with a purple flame, walk in circles around a central pillar, of which me and Myrin stand tied. Our limbs were bound by chains of rope, Myrin’s head drooped low, his back torn with marks and scars.

The dark figures then halted, their chant fading as silence fell upon all around. A path led into the shadow of the forested canopy, the light of a fiery torch leading the way of an ornately decorated preacher. The light of the moon peeked through the treetops, the stars shining in their celestial majesty.

“Heed my words” the preacher bellowed. “The moon shall reveal the truth among these hallowed men.”

“I’ve never done anything,” I cried in terror, ”You have the wrong person.”

“May the flame condemn you to your end, and the bloodshed of an innocent awake the monster amongst us!”

The torch bearer knelt down, the flames engulfing the wood pile we stood upon. The fire crept up, heat drenching my brow in sweat. Myrin then awoke, startled, trying to release his body from our bonds.

“What is happening!” Myrin screamed.

“I don’t know,” I replied, “but we have to get out of here!” 

The fire charred the foundational logs of the stake, and the height of the flames grew taller and the heat became more intense. I wiggled my hands free of their bonds, the splintered wood of the central pillar sinking deep into my skin. Blood began to drip from my hands, which let my feet slip out, free. On the other side of the same pillar, Myrin wriggled and shook, trying to release himself. I untied his legs, but couldn’t release his hands.

“Ok, Myrin.” I said. “Here’s what we’re gonna do.”

“Don’t say this is gonna hurt Darvin,” he whimpered. “I’ve been hurt enough today!”

“Just get on my shoulders, and we’ll at least get the rope up over the top of this stake, but you’ll still be bound. It’ll be fine.”

“If you say so.” Myrin winced as he rose, standing on my shoulders. The rope got loose as it came over the top of the stake.

I stumbled as I tried to get down from our former death pit. I fell, and dropped Myrin. He rolled as he impacted the ground, and wriggled in pain. I rolled over to him, picked him up saying:

“Come on man, we gotta go!”

He rose, putting his arm over my shoulder for some extra support. We now stood face to face with the cloaked figures. They swiped their cloaks, revealing jagged blades of bone, coursing with the glow of dark magic.

“Uh…run!” I exclaimed.

Myrin and myself dashed for the path, the darkness of the forest ahead acting as a shroud for our escape. A dark chant began as nothing but a whisper from the figures, and then the preacher shouted: 

“Our ritual has begun! The monster will show his true self in due time.”

We ran for what seemed like ages, the jumping of rocks and roots through this unknown land. I gasped for breath, the weight of Myrin became unbearable. We eventually settled in a ditch to rest, roots outgrown from an eroded hill providing cover, a good resting spot to lie beneath. Myrin scavenged berries from bushes around us, gathering good sized rocks, some leaves, and sticks to build a contemporary fire for warmth.

“There, this should do.” I sighed, tying a piece of torn cloth around my hand to stop my bleeding. 

Myrin then started to trim his shorts, applying pressure to the scars and cuts across his back. I’d never seen the Myrin’s back. It was covered in tattoos of animalistic scars, eyes, and a crescent moon.

“What do those marks on your back mean?” I asked.

“Oh,” he sighed, “they’re to remind me of my heritage, and of what makes me different from everyone else.”

I laid to rest, the moonlight above crossed over the shadowed canopy of the forest trees, and the sounds of nature was the perfect backdrop to fall asleep to. The warmth of a burning flame healed and comforted me, and I fell asleep within moments.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but I eventually began to hear this grunting and snarling of a beast. I sat up, and saw Myrin sitting at the edge of our makeshift camp, curled up, whimpering.

“Hey man, are you ok?” I asked. I crawled over to him, and put my hand on his back. His scars had disappeared, and he had grown a profound amount of stringy, dark hair. I began to back up, terrified of what my friend had become.

“Go…away, before I…” he growled. The figure I once knew as Myrin Nae turned its head towards me, a terrifying snout of fangs and sharp teeth snarled in my direction.

“O…k…” I said.

I dashed from the site. The smoke from the fire distanced itself from me as I ran. Forested shadows made vision hard, and travel tiresome. I noticed a road of dirt and rocks, and began to follow it along the sides. The howls of the monster my friend had become rushed through the bushes behind me. The lantern light of a village emanated ahead, and I bolted for it. I left the forest, running on the road.

I was almost there, then…THUD!! I tripped on rocks and roots sticking up from the road. I began to crawl, screaming for help. I turned back, and saw the glooming eyes of death in the shadows of the trees. The sound of midnight howls and deadly claws had caught up to me, and then… NOTHING!

Featured Image: “Cemetary_Angel” by Tracy O is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.