but the thing is, even if i could go back, i wouldn't belong there anymore
The rot of her flesh attracts them like flies to a carcass. She can even smell it, the festering stench of her own death. It thickens the air, it stings her eyes. The skin around her knee draws tight and red, each step an agony that squeezes more blood and pus from the wound.
Blistered fingers reach out for the support of a low-hanging branch. In her state of weakness, she's used everything she could to pull herself away from the looming shadows. But she can feel herself declining, bare feet dragging across the ground, muscles screaming in protest with every lurch forward.
The branch suddenly sways, twisting, snarling at her touch. Scarlet red liquid pools beneath the bark where her hand touches it. Something brushes past her ankle. The wind picks up and all of the trees around her come alive with the intent to catch her. The vines howl in their excitement for the hunt - and she the hunted.
No escape-! is a venomous hiss in her ear. Mangled faces glare out from the tall grasses, rise up from the sinking mud. They bare ugly, gnashing teeth made of stone and roots, worms and beetles. No escape! They chant the words over and over again, taunting her.
Pale white fear breathes new energy within her. Frantically, she scrambles away, but her shirt is snagged. No- nonono"No! No! Let me go! Please-!" She cries, her panicked voice echoing back at her. A mockery of her torment.
Blistered fingers reach out for the support of a low-hanging branch. In her state of weakness, she's used everything she could to pull herself away from the looming shadows. But she can feel herself declining, bare feet dragging across the ground, muscles screaming in protest with every lurch forward.
The branch suddenly sways, twisting, snarling at her touch. Scarlet red liquid pools beneath the bark where her hand touches it. Something brushes past her ankle. The wind picks up and all of the trees around her come alive with the intent to catch her. The vines howl in their excitement for the hunt - and she the hunted.
No escape-! is a venomous hiss in her ear. Mangled faces glare out from the tall grasses, rise up from the sinking mud. They bare ugly, gnashing teeth made of stone and roots, worms and beetles. No escape! They chant the words over and over again, taunting her.
Pale white fear breathes new energy within her. Frantically, she scrambles away, but her shirt is snagged. No- nonono"No! No! Let me go! Please-!" She cries, her panicked voice echoing back at her. A mockery of her torment.
Aurelia
