The road stretched forwards endlessly. With my longsword drawn, I slowly moved down the road, using whatever rubble there was as cover. Luckily for me, there was no shortage of buildings to hide in.
Unluckily for me, the nightmarish monsters were everywhere. (Oh wow, thanks universe, really rolling out the VIP carpet for me. Five out of five stars. Would recommend.)
They roamed the streets, alleyways, some even hid in buildings. They scrambled, screeched, chittered, and cried.
Like it or not, I had to move, and move I did—slowly, deliberately, crawling from building to building. Half of the time I wanted to throw up, but I'd already heaved up my dinner from last night. Every single sound sent shivers up my spine and jolted me to find a place to hide.
It was pure horror.
Second by second. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Time ran by like a snail, and progress was slow. Somehow I hadn't collapsed yet or been attacked.
That was a funny miracle.
I stayed to the left side of the road and never crossed the pavement, as that meant exposing myself to the cute and kind watchmen monsters above.
My heart pounded like it would explode. Every noise froze me solid. I always hid, waiting, holding my breath until my chest ached.
The cycle repeated again and again until it felt like I was the prey in some sick hunting game.
I kept hidden, undetected for the longest while.
And then—it finally happened.
Oopsie.
Something noticed me. I wasn't sure how. Maybe my sword glinted. Maybe I just breathed wrong. But as I slipped into a clothing shop, I heard it. Lopsided footsteps, slow and sticky, getting closer.
I searched desperately, but there wasn't a fitting room. No safe little box to hide in. Just racks and shelves. My eyes snapped to the cashier's counter. I dove behind it, squeezing myself into a cavity meant for a garbage bin. I shoved the bin in front of me and clutched my longsword so tight it hurt.
The thing entered.
I covered my mouth and hoped that my longsword didn't stick out like a stupid price tag advertising 'fresh meat here.' The sickening steps drew closer.
Under the buzzing flicker of dead store lights, I saw it. Juuuuuust a piece of it.
A snout too long to be real, needle teeth bared in some half-formed grin. Its skin was pale and pulled tight, like it had been stretched over bone, though I think it's actually a shell of some sort? Maybe. A blood-red tongue flicked out, ending in a spade-shape that quivered through the air.
Oh sure. Of course. The one time I breathe, Mr. Stretchy-Face here gets curious. Totally my fault.
Just then, the monster snorted over the counter. The noise was so abrupt that I almost peed myself. (Oh my god I know you fucking degens will have a field day with this one but I don't care right now please don't find me don't find me don't find me—)
EEEEPPPPP I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make noise, I didn't mean to show myself, I'll be quiet, I'll be good, I'll stay out your sight—just please don't find me—
I didn't breathe. I didn't blink. I willed myself to become nothing.
It lingered forever. Then, mercifully, it drew away.
…Oh. Thank you. Thank you, thank you—
Hot tears spilled before I realized it. Hehe. I was crying in a trash bin's slot. Super dignified, I know, I know, but I couldn't stop shaking. My chest hurt. My legs felt like jelly. I was already breaking down.
How long can I keep this up?
After that thing left, I don't know how long I stayed there. My legs just… refused to move. I couldn't do anything. At least my tears dried up, so that was cool… I guess.
Not that anyone would fault me for being an eighteen-year-old crybaby now…
(Hey, shut up. You'd be in tears if your world was suddenly plunged into a nightmare, too. Nuh-uh. Don't even.)
By the time I got up, my legs were shaking. If just a single encounter made such a mess out of me, then I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to hold up at all.
But… I wanted to live.
I started back out again, much, much, much more carefully this time, and soon, night was going to fall.
How could I tell it was soon to become night, you ask?
Well, there's this convenient thing called my phone's clock. That, plus the spinning rift in the sky began to close, like an eye as the folds of the sky enveloped it like eyelids. The red sky began to dim.
I needed to find shelter. Somewhere where I'd be unlikely to be found. Most of the monsters I'd seen so far, so a smaller, more constricted space made sense.
Lucky me.
The road was full of buildings, all possibly filled to the brim with monsters, all ripe for picking.
The closest one was an apartment with an open-air ladder that took you up through the levels.
It was still standing and in good condition. Most of the doors that I could see had been flung open or were broken, but several still were closed.
I scooted up the building.
Glancing around, there weren't any monsters. I slid up the stairs, slowly, to about the fifth floor. It was about the middle of the apartment building. I didn't want to go too high, or else getting down would be an issue. However, being a considerable amount of stairs up, that still gave me some protection.
The room I chose was at the end of the walkway, with the door flung open. It looked remarkably clean, and the lights were off. I carefully explored the rest of the room. No one was there.
I collapsed on the couch, sword clutched to my chest like a child with a toy. I kind of wanted to laugh. Look at me, reduced to teddy-bear cuddles with my sword for comfort.
I didn't touch anything else. Not the bed. Not the cupboards. Whoever had lived here… they probably weren't coming back, but touching their things still felt wrong.
- - -
It was pitch black when I awoke.
How long had I slept? Hours? A day?
I cracked the window, just a little. The sky outside had brightened to its crimson swirls again. Nothing was nearby. I breathed out.
It was strange how well I'd slept after everything. Well—both strange and awful. Like my body didn't care about the horror.
I stared at the sky. I woke up, so… I guess this entire thing wasn't a nightmare, then. Actually—who am I kidding, it's worse. A nightmare ends. As far as I know, this is forever.
I stretched. My plan hadn't changed: reach the city, and reach safety. Hopefully safety even exists.
But first—the washroom. The last thing I wanted was to be running later and… you know. I had a feeling that wouuuuuuldn't be great. Just a hunch.
I opened the door.
Something lunged.
Pure instinct took over. I had no room to swing my longsword, so I reversed my grip, one hand on the hilt, one on the blade. Half-swording, I jabbed forwards.
There was a wet thunk and a squeal.
Blood sprayed. My eyes snapped open.
The creature lay crumpled, skull punctured neatly by my blade. My hands shook, my clothes sticky. My sword gleamed red.
…Ah. Oops. Welp, there goes my no-kill streak. Guess I'm a murderer of monsters now, guys. Yay me?