(Mythological)
Thunder crashed across the heavens, shaking the mountains like the roar of ancient gods.
Lightning tore through the black sky, illuminating the forest for a brief, blinding moment before plunging everything back into darkness.
The rain fell steadily, soft but relentless, whispering against the leaves and dripping from the tall pine trees that surrounded the small cabin hidden deep in the woods.
For the Colt family, this was not just another stormy night.
It was a night of terror.
The wooden door of the cabin suddenly burst open, swinging violently against the wall. Smoke drifted out from inside the small house, parts of its walls already blackened and charred from fire.
A boy no older than fourteen stumbled out into the rain, his breathing ragged, his face pale with fear.
His name was Sean Colt.
He slammed the door behind him as if trying to keep something inside. His small body trembled as he began running through the muddy clearing, his bare feet slipping against the soaked earth.
Every few seconds he turned his head, glancing behind him with wide, frightened eyes.
In his arms, wrapped tightly in a thin blanket, was a tiny baby girl. Her soft cries mixed with the sound of thunder as tears streamed down her little face.
Sean held her closer to his chest, trying to shield her from the cold rain.
"It's alright… it's alright, baby Dam…" he whispered shakily, gently tapping her small forehead the way his mother used to do.
"Mommy and Daddy are going to catch up soon. Everything's going to be okay."
But even as he said the words, his voice trembled.
He knew something was terribly wrong.
Another flash of lightning lit the forest, revealing the twisted shadows of trees stretching like claws across the ground.
The wind howled louder now, carrying with it a strange scent—burning wood… and something darker.
Then it came.
A deep, monstrous roar echoed from inside the cabin.
It was not the sound of any animal Sean had ever heard before.
The boy froze.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
Inside the cabin, furniture crashed and wood splintered as something massive slammed against the walls. The ground itself seemed to tremble beneath the struggle.
Then Sean heard his father's voice.
"SEAN!"
The shout was desperate, strained, and filled with urgency.
"Get out of here with your sister!"
The boy turned toward the cabin, tears filling his eyes.
"Dad—!"
But before he could move, another terrifying roar exploded through the house.
Something heavy smashed into the wall.
The cabin door burst open again with a violent crack.
Sean watched in horror as his father was suddenly thrown across the room, as if tossed aside by an invisible giant. His body crashed through a wooden table, splintering it into pieces before slamming against the far wall.
For a split second, lightning illuminated the doorway.
And Sean thought he saw something standing inside the burning cabin.
Something tall.
Something inhuman.
Two glowing eyes stared from the darkness.
Sean's blood ran cold.
His father's weak voice came again, barely louder than the storm.
"RUN!"
That was all Sean needed to hear.
Clutching his baby sister tightly against his chest, he turned and ran into the dark forest, the rain pouring harder now as thunder continued to shake the sky behind him.
Branches scratched his arms as he pushed through the woods, mud splashing beneath his feet. The baby's cries grew louder, but Sean didn't stop. He couldn't stop.
Because somewhere behind him…
Something had just stepped out of the cabin.
And it was coming.