YTZ#20:

The Fear Grips Again

My ongoing writings cited for future use as a graphic novel. Enjoy.

Start from the beginning.

What follows is a fictional account.

The Fear Grid, Part 9

“

It was pitch black. Purity couldn’t see even an inch in front of her. She was overcome with fear. What if there were something in here? Where if there was some other spider monster, or worse?

These thoughts did not console her. But the sound of thunderous booming outside reminded her why she’d ducked into this cave. At least she’d stand a chance in hiding. Outside had seemed a sure end.

The cave was damp and cold. It felt very narrow. Purity reached her hands out to the sides and confirmed as much. The walls were just about arms length to either side of her.

She found herself breathing fast. She felt frantic. She didn’t know if she should stay where she was or inch her way forward in the dark. The latter option didn’t seem that appealing. She had no desire to explore such a strange place, especially without a light. And the thought occurred to her that maybe if she just paused for a while, the giant thing outside would go away. Sort of like a kid playing hide and seek that finally gives up when they can’t find the hiding spot.

Unfortunately this was not a kid’s game, and that was soon made clear. A mighty blow against the exterior rock wall sent massive reverberations through the cave. The ground shook and there were rocks and stones falling all around Purity. The creature outside was pounding the wall with its enormous claws.

Another blow struck that rattled Purity and knocked her from the wall she clung to. She fell forward into the dark tunnel, stumbling over her own feet. She reached out to steady herself, seeking any handhold on the walls she imagined to be there. But her hands brushed through empty space. Either the tunnel had broadened, or she’d entered a larger room of some sort. In any case she had no way to know for certain.

The attacks from the beast outside continued to rumble the cave and Purity within. She fumbled about trying to stay on her feet. Rubble fell from the ceiling, striking her with countless tiny stones. She was lucky that the larger rocks missed, though she heard them crash onto the floor around her.

The earth rattled and heaved and Purity was thrown about. She caught her foot on some debris and toppled over face first, catching herself on her forearms and elbows. But it didn’t stop her from hitting her head on a rock. She reached her hand to her forehead and felt the blood oozing out.

Purity was dazed, but it could have been worse. She tried to steady herself onto her hands and knees as the ground continued moving below her.

From somewhere that seemed far off, but within that underground place, she heard a screeching wail. It echoed through those dark caves and sent shivers down Purity’s spine. The note began a high shrill, long and steady, then became descending in pitch until it finally faded out with a rasp. An eerie cackling rang out after, lasting for several moments. One voice, then many, joining in a frightening cacophony.

Purity looked around in sheer terror. The quaking settled down, as did the falling debris. And in its place a new menace appeared. Two hollow, gaping eyes floated in the room several yards from Purity. They stared towards her with malice, and blinked only once. Then, quicker that she could perceive, they moved upon her and stood right next to her.

She could feel the presence of a body near her. There was a sense of sliminess to its form, and it smelled like rotten eggs. A heavy breath was emitted from its invisible maw, falling heavy on Purity’s head. The eyes moved slowly near her, and she found it hard to move. She could muster only a feeble scramble, shifting across the floor backwards on her butt.

The eyes dipped and darted, up and down, back and forth, taunting her. Purity scurried and the thing eased forward after her. It didn’t seem concerned about catching her. Rather, it played a game of cat and mouse.

Purity backed herself up against a hard, stone surface and she knew she’d found the wall. The eyes continued towards her. They hovered over her in the dark. A small, snakelike tentacle of slime reached out and touched her shoulder. It was cold and wet. She cringed from it.

The room then filled with things unlike the first, invisible in the dark. There were grunting and huffing noises from all around. They approached Purity with short, shuffling footfalls. She expected there were dozens of them, filling the room and surrounding her. The fear had become so overwhelming that she could hardly breathe. She cowered against the wall, awaiting the end which seemed inevitable.

Why had I thought it better to come into this damn hole in the ground? she thought. I’d have had better luck with that giant outside. At least I could see it. At least I could run!

Purity held her breath, closed her eyes, and anticipated her death…

“

To be continued…

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Thanks for reading.

Blessings to you,

Matthew