Chapter Text
It was as if I was awaking from a daze, running through the cold, thick, wood. I could sense something chasing me so I ran faster, my feet almost flying over the passing ground. I dodged tree after tree, looking for a clearing but could find none. The thing chasing me was catching up and I could hear its snarls as it sped after me.
At this point, I know there is no out-running the creature, so I find a branch, the length of a sword, and position myself for a fight. Once I was ready, I placed my back to a tree so at least my blind spot was covered. I get my branch up and swivel my head around taking in my surroundings.
There was forest and trees as far as the eye could see. It was dark and shadowy apart from a few small specks of moonlight scattered over the forest floor. The trees that loomed over me seemed to go on forever as they grew tall and thin. The ground was wet and covered with a thin layer of snow and ice. Beneath the ice was a dark green moss and rich black soil. Every sound seemed to echo through the branches and left one with a feeling of dread and bitterly cold.
I take shuddering breaths now as I can sense death approaching. I can hear the cracking of branches and ice as the dark figure now slowly approaches me. The creature was like a shadow moving smoothly over the ground. It was also very tall and thin. As it came to a stop a few feet from me I was able to get a better look at it. The creature was wearing a ripped grey cloak of sorts with its boney body visible through the holes. Instead of skin, it looked like it had a slimy tar dripping off its body and onto the ground beneath it. The beast's head was slightly dipped down making it hard to see the figure's face but that only caused me to feel more fear.
“What do you want?” I say, trying my best to keep my voice steady and calm.
The creature was silent for a moment and all you could hear was the wind whistling by us. However, when it spoke, the coldness I felt before seemed to intensify and I knew I must be talking to death himself.
In a scratchy, quiet, whisper, the cloaked thing spoke, almost like a poem or song, “The darkness come quietly in the night. Taking mothers and children with much delight. The chill comes to take the heart, of the one whose downfall is where it starts. Feel your fear as death is near, and not even Orik can save you now my dear. “
The creature looks up at me and I can see a blackened face through the hood over its head. It was as if its entire face was melting off, dripping black tar down its cloak. Two ghostly white eyes with pitch-black pupils peer down at me and a smile that was far too big for its face spread from ear to ear.
I shuddered at the sight but this only seemed to make the creature happier.
“Not even you little warrior can save your people from me. Orik will pay for what he has done and I will once and for all put out the sun.”
“Who are you?” I ask, my hands still steadily gripping the branch in front of me.
The creature laughs, “I have many names. Most call me andlát but you may call me Mortem”
Before I can respond, Mortem lunges forward and shoves the branch I’ve been holding, right through my chest. I shout out in pain as he plunges it through me.
“Shhhh” He hushes me as he cradles my body in his arms. “Your death will be sweet little one, for my time has now begun. To start we must all first, end”
I begin to gasp for air, my arms coming around the branch in my chest, trying to stop the blood from pouring out of me. Before the end takes me I look up into the eyes of Mortem as a whisper, “You will lose because I have great power on my side.”
“Oh, and what’s that?” Mortem says, sounding amused by me.
“Love,” I say smiling and hands finding a sharp twig on the ground and wrapping around it.
Mortem laughs wickedly, “and that’s all? You are a little fool” He coos at me.
“Love and...” I trailed off sucking in one last deep breath.
“And?” He says calmly, with excitement behind his eyes as he can sense my death is near.
“And a really sharp fucking stick,” I say using the rest of my strength to jam it right through his left eye. He drops me to the ground and before I sink into the depths I see the true look of fear on Mortems face. I simply smile and roll over so I can get one final glimpse of the moon, letting the last warm breath leave my lungs.