Afraid of the Dark.
By Rossi.
This is a response to Dark Mark's Scary Story Challenge. It's set
sometime after the Biosphere disappeared. I'm assuming Artie and Leech
got their own room after their tree house disappeared. But since I
haven't really read Gen X since Hama's run, I could be wrong about that.
Disclaimer: You mean the characters _aren't_ mine? And I'm _not_
making any money? Where's my agent?
Rating: PG: contains some dark images, and a bit of blood.
Feedback: Sure, why not? Rossi@subreality.com
***
It was dark in the Morlock tunnels, but Leech was used to that. He'd
lived underground for so long, any memories of his short previous life
were faint and far away indeed. Mere impressions, if anything: the
smell of a woman's hair, the sound of a man's laugh, patterns of light
and shadow on a wall… No, Leech was a denizen of the underground world
of the Morlocks now. And the dark didn't bother him.
Until now.
His teeth were chattering with the cold. The small drainage pipe was
damp and chilly, but he didn't dare leave. The monster was gone, but
that didn't mean that he wouldn't come back. Or that there weren't
other, worse things out there.
Caliban was growing cold too, the blood from the terrible wounds
across his stomach still flowing, but sluggishly onto the curved floor
of the pipe. Leech hadn't known it was possible for someone to bleed
so much. The pipe was sticky with it. He'd tried his best to staunch
it, but there was so much, and the wounds were so big… He was so
afraid Caliban would die, and leave him alone in the tunnels. Maybe
Caliban was already dead. He hadn't moved or spoken for such a long time.
More screams, more gunshots. More deaths. More of Leech's family were
dying out there. Leech didn't know why, only that they were killed by
Upworlders, mutants like themselves who laughed as they took life. As
if it was all a game. The gunshots were closer now, and Leech curled
into a tighter ball, shielding Caliban as much as he could. His
muscles were cramping with the cold and the prolonged immobility. More
than anything, Leech wanted to run to Mama Annalee, feel her arms
around him. But maybe she was already dead too?
It was so dark…
Leech sat up in his bed, shaking, sweat pouring off his body. His
throat felt raw, as if he had been screaming aloud. Had he? In the dim
glow of the nightlight, he could see Artie curled around his teddy
bear, sleeping peacefully. No, he hadn't screamed then. Perhaps just
as well. He didn't have the words to explain his dreams to Mr Sean or
the Frost Lady. But there were times when he wished someone would
come, just as he had in the tunnels.
Leech saw a shadow pause at the strip of light under the door, and
held his breath. For a moment, he was back in the pipe, afraid to
breathe lest Scalphunter hear him, protecting Caliban with his body.
Then the door slowly opened, and the dim glow of the nightlight was
joined by the dim glow coming from the bandaged chest of Jonothan Starsmore.
[You orright, squirt?] he asked. Even with half his face bandaged, the
concern shone through. [I could feel the fear coming off yer from all
th' way down in me basement. Nightmare?]
Leech nodded wordlessly, and before he knew it, big, silent tears were
streaming down his green, noseless face. Equally wordlessly, Jono came
to his bed, and scooped him up into his lap, the customary leather
jacket creaking comfortingly.
"L-leech is a-afraid- of the monsters," the small boy sobbed.
Jono rocked Leech, patting his shaking shoulders awkwardly. There was
no point telling Leech that monsters weren't real, because that would
be a lie. Monsters did exist. No-one knew that better than the small
refugee from the Morlocks.
The End.
By Rossi.
This is a response to Dark Mark's Scary Story Challenge. It's set
sometime after the Biosphere disappeared. I'm assuming Artie and Leech
got their own room after their tree house disappeared. But since I
haven't really read Gen X since Hama's run, I could be wrong about that.
Disclaimer: You mean the characters _aren't_ mine? And I'm _not_
making any money? Where's my agent?
Rating: PG: contains some dark images, and a bit of blood.
Feedback: Sure, why not? Rossi@subreality.com
***
It was dark in the Morlock tunnels, but Leech was used to that. He'd
lived underground for so long, any memories of his short previous life
were faint and far away indeed. Mere impressions, if anything: the
smell of a woman's hair, the sound of a man's laugh, patterns of light
and shadow on a wall… No, Leech was a denizen of the underground world
of the Morlocks now. And the dark didn't bother him.
Until now.
His teeth were chattering with the cold. The small drainage pipe was
damp and chilly, but he didn't dare leave. The monster was gone, but
that didn't mean that he wouldn't come back. Or that there weren't
other, worse things out there.
Caliban was growing cold too, the blood from the terrible wounds
across his stomach still flowing, but sluggishly onto the curved floor
of the pipe. Leech hadn't known it was possible for someone to bleed
so much. The pipe was sticky with it. He'd tried his best to staunch
it, but there was so much, and the wounds were so big… He was so
afraid Caliban would die, and leave him alone in the tunnels. Maybe
Caliban was already dead. He hadn't moved or spoken for such a long time.
More screams, more gunshots. More deaths. More of Leech's family were
dying out there. Leech didn't know why, only that they were killed by
Upworlders, mutants like themselves who laughed as they took life. As
if it was all a game. The gunshots were closer now, and Leech curled
into a tighter ball, shielding Caliban as much as he could. His
muscles were cramping with the cold and the prolonged immobility. More
than anything, Leech wanted to run to Mama Annalee, feel her arms
around him. But maybe she was already dead too?
It was so dark…
Leech sat up in his bed, shaking, sweat pouring off his body. His
throat felt raw, as if he had been screaming aloud. Had he? In the dim
glow of the nightlight, he could see Artie curled around his teddy
bear, sleeping peacefully. No, he hadn't screamed then. Perhaps just
as well. He didn't have the words to explain his dreams to Mr Sean or
the Frost Lady. But there were times when he wished someone would
come, just as he had in the tunnels.
Leech saw a shadow pause at the strip of light under the door, and
held his breath. For a moment, he was back in the pipe, afraid to
breathe lest Scalphunter hear him, protecting Caliban with his body.
Then the door slowly opened, and the dim glow of the nightlight was
joined by the dim glow coming from the bandaged chest of Jonothan Starsmore.
[You orright, squirt?] he asked. Even with half his face bandaged, the
concern shone through. [I could feel the fear coming off yer from all
th' way down in me basement. Nightmare?]
Leech nodded wordlessly, and before he knew it, big, silent tears were
streaming down his green, noseless face. Equally wordlessly, Jono came
to his bed, and scooped him up into his lap, the customary leather
jacket creaking comfortingly.
"L-leech is a-afraid- of the monsters," the small boy sobbed.
Jono rocked Leech, patting his shaking shoulders awkwardly. There was
no point telling Leech that monsters weren't real, because that would
be a lie. Monsters did exist. No-one knew that better than the small
refugee from the Morlocks.
The End.