Chapter 9
~Morgan Vales~
I continued my exploration of the cave, challenging the ominous silence within, and called out to the Imoogi vampire, "Where are you? Show yourself! Why did you save me? What is it that you really want from me?" The echoes of my questions reverberated through the cavernous darkness, but no response came forth. Undeterred, I pressed further into the depths of the cave.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, two of my soldiers wielded torches, casting light into the night. Suddenly, one of them felt dizzy, and blood began to trickle from his nose. His companion, bewildered, exclaimed, "Come on, how could you be so frail?" But before they could comprehend the situation, blood started flowing from the second soldier's nose as well. Panic set in as they glimpsed a shadowy figure, indistinct in the flickering firelight. An attack ensued, leaving one soldier bleeding and the other fleeing for his life.
The surviving soldier, with blood streaming down his neck, reached the quarters of the right-hand man. Bursting into the room, he managed to utter, "Imoogi vampire," before collapsing. The right-hand man, startled from his slumber, hastily grabbed his sword and rushed outside. The scene that greeted him was one of chaos and carnage. Fallen comrades lay strewn across the camp, some burning in mysterious flames, while others desperately fled an unseen assailant.
Surveying the pandemonium, the right-hand man's gaze fell upon a grotesque creature feasting on the blood of a fallen soldier. His fellow soldiers gathered behind him, horrified. Determined, the right-hand man declared, "Listen up, we'll attack it together." Gripping his sword tightly, he steeled himself to confront the malevolent entity.
The creature, sensing the impending threat, stood and stretched its elongated limbs. Its sinister form emerged from the shadows, revealing an otherworldly presence. The right-hand man, though terrified, rallied his soldiers. "Charge!" he commanded, and they lunged at the creature with swords drawn.
As the clash ensued, the creature displayed unnatural agility, evading the soldiers' strikes effortlessly. It retaliated with swift, calculated movements, leaving the soldiers struggling to land a blow. Amidst the chaos, the creature's features remained shrouded, an enigma in the darkness.
The right-hand man, now faced with the stark reality of an elusive and formidable adversary, shouted, "Fall back! Fall back!" The surviving soldiers, battered and bewildered, retreated from the relentless onslaught. The creature, undeterred, watched their retreat with an eerie stillness.
In the midst of this chaos, Sarah and Louis were inside their room hearing the commotion outside. With fear in his eyes, Louis clutched his mother's arm tightly and asked, "Mother, what is going on outside?" They heard a strange voice, and Louis quickly whispered, "A beast... I can hear a beast." Sarah, trying to keep her composure, wrapped Louis in her arms and said, "Please calm down."
The wind blew gently, carrying with it the distant screams and shouts. Some voices from outside shouted, "That way! The monster is there!" Sarah strained to listen, hoping to make sense of the turmoil. Among the chaos, a desperate cry reached her ears. "Help me!" Sarah's heart sank, and she saw the shadow of a creature biting someone, bloodstains splashing onto their room's clothes. Sarah screamed, gripping Louis's hand, and they both ran out of the room, away from the unfolding nightmare.
As they rushed through the camp, I arrived to find my soldiers lying dead on the floor, the camp ablaze and in disarray. Panic gripped me as I sprinted to my wife's room. They were gone. Panic turned to dread when I saw blood on their bed. I touched the blood, and a vision flashed in my mind of Sarah and Louis running out. Drawing my sword, I scanned the chaos, determined to find them.
Back in the bush, Sarah and Louis walked with fear etched on their faces. Louis, trembling, asked, "Mother, where are we going? I'm scared." Sarah fought back tears, embracing Louis tightly. "Your father will come and save us. Just wait a little bit, my child." Suddenly, a strange wind blew towards them. Sarah looked up, spotting a peculiar creature in human form. Instinctively, she pushed Louis behind her, dropping the firewood in her hand. The creature sped away like the wind, and Sarah traced its movement with her eyes.
Amidst the dense foliage, the creature reappeared. Sarah's eyes widened as it approached, and she whispered to Louis, "Stay close to me, Louis." The creature, with an eerie smile, but it's face is dark, can't be seen, spoke with it's mind, "You cannot escape. I am the harbinger of chaos." Sarah, determined to protect her son, responded defiantly, "We won't let you harm us."
The creature circled them, its movements unsettlingly swift. "You humans are so fragile, yet you resist," it hissed. Sarah, holding onto Louis, retorted, "We'll resist as long as we must." In the midst of this tense exchange, the wind picked up again, and the creature vanished into thin air.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Sarah whispered, "Let's keep moving, Louis." They ventured deeper into the forest with fear, the ominous atmosphere lingering. As they pressed on, the sounds of the chaotic camp grew distant. Unknown dangers lurked in the shadows, but Sarah remained resolute.
Meanwhile, I continued my frantic search through the camp, calling out for Sarah and Louis. The devastation weighed heavy on my heart. The camp had become a graveyard, and despair threatened to consume me. Suddenly, a distant rustling in the bush caught my attention. Drawing my sword, I cautiously approached.
In the depths of the forest, Sarah and Louis pressed on, the strange creature appear again.
In the midst of the looming danger, Sarah swiftly brought out her small knife, eyes scanning the surroundings. Sensing the creature's presence again, she pointed the knife, ready to defend herself and her son. Louis, calling out in fear, pleaded, "Mother, what's happening?"
Sarah, determined to protect her son, commanded, "Turn around and run now, Louis. Run and find your father." The creature was elusive, speeding around them. Fear etched on her face, Sarah shouted, "Hurry!" Louis hesitated but started walking, only to stumble and fall. Sarah, tears streaming down her face, urged him on.
Louis, managing to get up, called out, "Father! Father!" I, in the distance, heard his voice and tried to locate its origin. It grew closer, echoing from the bush. I rushed towards the sound, hopeful to find Sarah and Louis.
Sarah, facing the creature, felt a surge of fear as it approached. When I arrived at the scene, Louis's voice was no longer calling. Instead, I saw a stream of blood on the ground. Desperation fueled my actions as I traced the blood to its source, only to find Louis lying lifeless on the ground. In anguish, I dropped my sword and the firewood, picked up his small body, and cradled him in my arms. Blood stained his mouth, and I held his neck tightly, calling his name.
"Louis," I said, my voice choked with grief. Gently, Louis responded, "Father." Tears blurred my vision as I answered, "Yes, my son." Concerned about his mother, Louis asked, "What about Mother?" I turned my gaze towards where Sarah lay, covered in blood. With a heavy heart, I told him, "She is all right."
Relieved, Louis weakly said, "I'm glad to hear that, Father." His pain evident, he reached out to touch my face. Attempting to comfort him, I said, "Stop talking, Louis." Despite his pain, Louis persisted, his hand moving slowly over my face. He spoke in a whisper, "Your face..."
In that moment, the enormity of the situation weighed heavily on me. I gently urged him to stop talking, but Louis, struggling, continued, "I do not know your face." His words were filled with both pain and curiosity. Moved by his vulnerability, I reassured him, "It's alright, Louis. Calm down."