Disclaimer : I do not own the characters

Death at Midnight

I stepped on a tree branch as I followed his line in the army group. The team had been preparing necessities for war practices. The weight of load in my back added to the additional work force needed to spend to maintain walking until reaching the final destination. My boots is muddy due to the rain and I hadn't eaten lunch, thanks to those weaponry preparations.

As I walked and walked which nearly seemed like eternity stopped and rested my head on a tree trunk with my hand in between. Not long after I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned my heavy head to see my best friend, Kyle, confused expression on his face. "Are you alright, Ephraim?" I replied with a forced smile, "Don't worry about me. I'm just a little bit dizzy, that's all." My hands fastened on my bag belt and I gestured him to continue walking. Which he agreed.

We walked and came to halt as Seth suggest that we should rest for the night. A few moments later the rest of the army made their tent and some already went to deep slumber. The few of us along sat around in a circle above a ragged mat and chatted.

"Ephraim, go with Kyle and bring us some wood for bonfire would you?" My little sister asked. I nod my head in agreement and rose. Kyle dusted off his pants as he stood and we both dissolved to the midnight blackness.

Together, we went deeper in the moonlight kissed forest. I had two scratches from wild vines and Kyle nearly got bitten by a snake. We stopped in our tracks to reach for air. Kyle decided to sit on the ground. Soon I realized he was sitting on a hard surface.

Below him is a mossed stone, quite unusual for a large stone to be placed here. Soon I deducted that this may be an unmarked grave. To think that that actually made sense, this forest is known for being a space for wars and many warriors had died here painful deaths. The realization came to me and I suggested that he should apologize quietly.

He refused.

I sweated on the negative thoughts that filled my mind, thinking the worst. He looked at me and noticed this. My parents had advised me not to disturb the dead. He stepped towards me and gave me a hint to look down. I can only gaze in horror for seeing him stomping on the stone furiously. I tried to stop but my legs nor my arms wanted to move. I prayed my best prayers and hoped nothing especially bad will happen.

After he is bored with the stomping, he turned and face me while giving me a satisfied smirk. "You're sweating, Commander. Told you, nothing will happen. Maybe your conclusion is wrong after all." I can only mutter a stammered 'Yes' to reply. He was the first to left, and I followed after him.

With each step, I could feel my heartbeat pounding faster. The dreadfulness of the night doesn't help to keep me distracted from the fact I could feel that something is following us. I can easily turn around to see, but I may not be bold enough to see what horror that will stare me back. Minutes has passed and I couldn't resist to relieve my mind that it is my imagination. So I did turn around...

I nearly swore loudly.

A pair of hollow eyes stared back at me, Her mouth is overstretched and blood is dripping from its edges. A woman was crawling with only of his upper half of body in an accelerating pace. Due to a mix of reflex and fear I yelled to friend the danger that lurks behind us, and it is coming this way.

"KYLE RUN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!"

He turned around and tried to strike with his sword, to only be in contact with the angered spirit. I yelled to the trees for help but it was too late as Kyle was sliced in half. I ran as fast as my exhausted leg could carry as the spirit now started to chase after me. I keep turning to see the spirit keeps getting nearer by each turn.

Suddenly my feet caught on an ascending tree root and I fell. As I turned around, the creature is an inch distance to my face.