Facing the dead

Ch 6

"Fine Cho, what's with this village!" barked Zuko, Cho smiled, taking pleasure in the fact she made him ask nicely, well nice by his standards. Iroh was shocked at what he had just heard. Iroh likeness for this girl just shot up a couple more points. Cho's smile faded as she gave the reason knowing they wouldn't believe her. "Well it's because of the demons." Cho said plainly, Zuko and Iroh looked at each other wondering what she was talking about. "What… what do you mean demons do you think I'm some sort of a fool? You better tell me the real reason." Zuko threatened, "That is the reason, sorry you don't believe me but it's the truth." Cho said, she looked at them both with eyes full of sorrow and pain. Iroh didn't believe her but wasn't going to argue maybe she had a reason for telling them this and thought about maybe asking her a few questions. "Um Cho… what do you mean demons?" Iroh asked, Zuko looked at his uncle scowling for he didn't want to hear her nonsense but Iroh ignored him. "It's as I said demons, creatures from hell here killing and tormenting us. Why us I don't know just the last two months have been pure hell. People have been murdered, strange creatures have been sighted and even the dead have risen to feed on the living.

(This woman is insane. there are no demons here or any where. What kinds of fools does she take us for? I better grab uncle and leave. This is a waste of my time) Zuko thought, before he could get a word out Iroh asked Cho another question. "How did this start?" Iroh asked, "Started two months ago, everything was normal, people did as they normally did for a living. But one night a pregnant woman went missing before she was to give birth to her child. People say she was muttering things about humans time on this world is over and god has forgotten us all and were all going to die. No one knows where she went or how she was able to move… she shouldn't have been able to move, less run out of her village. Her body was found about a week later near a river, covered in blood where she had given birth but no baby. Same thing happened two more times in two different villages same story same out come. Then people started to see things, like kids that seem to age every time someone saw them, shadows with no owners, a giant beast and even the dead rising. The reports became more and more common until it was too late to do anything." Iroh was now a little spooked, stood ready to leave this island as quickly as possible. But Zuko didn't believe her at all and thought her to be a crazy nut.

"What makes you think hiding in your houses will make you safe huh?" Zuko asked, "Because the symbol above the door you probably notice on the way in keeps demons and ghouls out unless their invited in." Cho answered, Zuko was getting frustrated and wanted to prove that she was telling nothing but lies. "If this is all happening then why do you all not just leave huh? Zuko asked with a grin, "Because we can't every time we tried things happening. At first we thought it to be accidents, like holes in boats, boats catching fire, and our creatures getting killed. But they were all were sabotaged, the holes were torn opened, boats were torched and the animals eaten. Were stuck here like you." Cho said grimly, "What?" Iroh and Zuko asked, "We are not stuck here we can leave when ever." Zuko corrected her, "Oh then you mean your ship hasn't received any mysterious damages that can't be explained? Crew members haven't gone missing?" Cho said mockingly, now they were getting nerves, at least Iroh was Zuko thought in a coincident. "Were leaving right now. I've heard enough of this crap." Zuko said to his uncle, Iroh nodded in agreement and grabbed his tea and made his way to the door. "You better not it's almost dark, they come out mostly at night you could stay here it's safer…" Cho warned them, but before she could finish Zuko interrupted her. "Were leaving now, I'm not afraid of the dark." Zuko said, "Fine but if you need shelter your both welcome here.' Cho said, Iroh paid for the tea and they left hoping nothing she said was true.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night sky was clouded and little light shown through the clouds. Aang and his friends walked on the path through the forest. The forest was creepy and made each of their skin craw. The noises of the night made them want to scream but didn't dare not wanting to attract any unwanted attention. "Um, you guys sure you don't want to build a fire and stop for the night?" Sokka asked trying not to sound nerves, "No let's keep going I don't want to stay in this forest all night." Katara answered, "Yeah I agree this island gives me the creeps. I keep getting the feeling were being watched by someone and I keep hearing weird noises." Aang added, "Don't say that I hate it here enough I don't want to think about any of that!" Katara said, but she and Sokka knew what Aang was talking about because they each had heard their share of strange noises. The forest seemed to give out nothing but sounds of moans and cries, they all thought it the wind or other noises heard in the woods but quickly giving up on that idea.

The trio froze in their tracks when they heard the sounds of movement again closely this time. The sounds of snapping twigs and brushing in the bushes got closer and closer. Aang ready to use his wind bending, Sokka readied his boomerang and Katara ready to use her water whip. At that moment a deer and a couple rabbits ran out of the bushes in a panic. They all gave a sigh of relief. "Man all that for animals I can't believe us now." Sokka said calming down, "I don't think so…. I'd say the animals were running from something." "I have to Agree with Sokka they probably…." Aang stopped as he looked upon the look of fear in both Katara and Sokka eyes. Aang didn't know what was wrong until heard moans again then he knew… someone was behind him. Aang turned slowly to see a dark figure wearing a hood. His cloths were all torn and covered in dirt. He looked as if he hasn't bathed in weeks, and may be hurt. "Um are you ok mister?" Aang nervously asked, the figure then started to move towards them, the trio now scared half to death and ready to run. "Um… s-stop p-p-please I'm warning you." Sokka nervously said, the figure moved even closer and his moans now sounding more savage and painful. "Aang get over here he could be a killer." Katara whispered, Aang wanted to move but his legs couldn't move he was too scared for a second he thought he saw the figures face.

Aang was ripped out of his thoughts at the sound of Katara cry of warning. "Aang look out!" She shouted, the figure charged at Aang and tackled him trying to take a bit out of his neck. Aang wrestled with it trying to hold it back and avoid getting bit. Sokka and Katara tried to pull it off Aang but were pushed away but the figures free arm. Aang and the figure rolled off the path and into the forest and down the hill. Sokka and Katara manage to rise and run after them hearing Aangs blood curtailing screams. Aang could now see the figures face and he was now truly terrified. Its skin was missing around its mouth and mostly on the right side. He could see pieces of muscle and bone. What peaces of skin it had dangled from strips. It was missing its right eye and nose. Aang screamed and struggled to get free but the creature mouth was now an inch from Aangs neck and was chomping at air trying to bite him. Aang finally used his free hand to summon a burst of wind and blew the creature through the trees and landed several yards away. Aang laid there paralyzed with fear. His eyes were wide open, his body shook and his mind blank. "Aang!" Katara and Sokka yell as they ran to his side. "Aang are you ok, Aang talk to me… Aang!" Katara yelled tried to snap him out of it, Sokka checked him for wounds and glad to find none. "Katara Lets get Aang out of here now!" Sokka said, Katara agreed and help Sokka lift Aang on his back. They ran with the bison and the lemur as fast as they could and hoped they could out run that thing. As they ran a figure of someone young watching them. As he watched he smiled at the sight of the boy with the arrows tattooed on him and disappeared into the night.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok maybe this chapter wasn't as good but that's my opinion… feel free to give reviews and the horror is just beginning, read and see