Face to face, far too soon. This sight was unsettling; Ada felt her breath catch in her throat. The thing that was in front of them was not just a killer, it was also….
A monster.
The creature took a step forward, walking with one of its grotesquely long arms touching the ground in front of it, like a gorilla walking on its knuckles, but unaccompanied by the other arm that lay limp at its side. This shorter arm was unlike the other. It was covered in thin cat claw curved thorns, from its shoulder, accompanied by the wicked white claws at its fingers. The body was emancipated in appearance, and as pale as soured milk. Its torso was long, and sharp ribs poked through the skin, like thin blades.
As Ada stared with the others in horror, she found herself looking upwards towards the face, and feeling icy chills run down her spine. Its face was flat; the cheekbones elongated only slightly, dark eyes sunken in. Those eyes…they stared straight at you, right into your soul, and they were empty. They were the emptiest eyes Ada had ever seen, and she knew that she would never be able to un-see them, if they ever got out of here alive, they would forever haunt her dreams. She wanted to look away, but they captured her soul, filling it with a darkness she would never rid herself of.
Luigi hovered protectively over his unconscious brother, his eyes narrowed, but his body trembling in fear, "G-get, GET BACK!" He screamed at the monster. Ada felt herself tense, her eyes glued to the creature in front of her, what would be its reaction?
The creature just stared at them emptily, but then slowly smiled, with its mouth opening a bit. The beast made a slight gurgling noise as a bubble of blood dripped down its chin and dropped down its chest.
Ada felt Mia hug her from behind, and reached back to place a hand on the girl. No matter what happened, she would not let this, thing, kill any of her friends.
"What can I do?" Ada felt herself sob aloud in fear, "I want to save us but... what can I do?"
I like to play
They all stared in shock at the monster, it did not move its mouth but it had spoken. And its voice danced in the air all around them, soft but strong. What was this thing?
We will have fun, together
He hid up high, still amazed at what fear could do to a koopa. He was currently about fifteen feet up in the air, huddled around a decent sized branch, looking down fearfully for any movement below. The koopa had been chased for several minutes, his heart pounding furiously inside him, feeling really to explode, and suddenly he had felt himself scramble upward. He didn't know how it had happened, but shell and all, he was in a tree, and he didn't know if he ever wanted to come down from it.
Benny tried to catch his breath, feeling ready to pass out in fear. He had never been so terrified in his life. The fear of being murdered by someone in a dark forest was on only one side of it, the other was that fact that he was up in a tree while a storm was brewing. He felt himself shudder, his shell scraping against the trunk of the tree, as a bolt of lightning lit up the sky. He tried his very best to get a grip on himself and try to think of a plan, but the thought of his friend lying dead in the forest, had him shaken up again, tears rolling down his nose.
"Marcy." He whispered, "I'm sorry." The koopa choked back a loud sob and brushed his tears off onto his shoulder, feeling stiff from being in this tree in one position for so long. After crying himself dry he rearranged himself, feeling a clawed foot scrape sharply against bark, making him flinch. He had lost one of his shoes during his run through the woods and had abandoned the other one as well. That had definitely helped him with his tree climbing so it turned out to be a blessing.
Now he just had to find a way out of this forest and somewhere safe, but how? He was stranded miles out into the woods with some sort of psycho!
Maybe I could slide down the tree, no. He pushed that thought away. There was absolutely NO way he was going back down there, but could he really stay in a tree all night?
SWISH
He heard something loud rustle.
He held back a scream of terror as the flying noise returned, somewhere far below them. It was down there…waiting for him.
"No! Leave me alone!" He screamed. The koopa felt himself shudder when he heard giggling below; a sinister sound, ringing in the air, mocking him.
Soon he heard nothing, only a cold silence. Then he held his breath and listened. Benny was horrified to hear scratching noises below him, and froze. They continued and there was a definite scraping noise. It was at that time he was certain, that his pursuer, and the murderer of his friend, was climbing up the tree after him.
"What do we do?" Ada thought as she stared at the monster as it took a lumbering step forward, her eyes wide with fear.
Luigi was still with his brother, who had yet to regain consciousness. The green clad man was currently moving his brother up onto his chest his arms around him, as if he planned to haul him over one shoulder and run for it. Mia began sobbing pitifully behind the taller toad, her head buried in Ada's back. Ada felt the girl's trembling body and felt herself began to shiver and shake as well. It was over, they were going to die here, and not even Mario himself could save them. This was the end.
The creature seemed to smile as it took another step towards them, so tall that it already completely covered them in its shadow. Ada was about to close her eyes and wait for one of those long arms to sweep out and crush her when she saw Luigi stand up out of the corner of her eye. He stood tall, shaky on his legs but firm. Luigi reached inside his pocket and pulled out something bright orange. Ada thought she imagined the sudden brush of warmth that took away the chill in the air around her that is until she saw exactly what he held in his hand.
He lifted the fire flower up and bit into it, the flower glowed for a moment then it broke up into little flashes of light that disappeared as suddenly as they came. She watched, fascinated, as his clothes changed from green and blue to white and red. Luigi was fast, he was in front of the girl's in a blink of an eye, he made a sharp movement with his wrist and the monster screamed. Ada watched as the thing took a staggering step backwards, a dark mark on its chest. She felt ready to vomit when the scent of burning flesh reached her nostrils.
"Move!" Luigi tossed Mario over his shoulder almost effortlessly and they all began running, the monster screaming in pain and rage as he tossed more fireballs behind him.
"Whatever happens," He yelled to them, "Don't stop, not for me or for anything! Just keep running!"
Ada grabbed onto Mia's hand that was cold and damp, and pulled the girl with her. They ran between trees and around rotting logs that were way too large for a toad girl to jump over, Ada glancing back every so often to make certain that Luigi was still with them.
He was still close behind but the toad knew that soon he would have to rest. This run was taking a toll on the man, and hauling his brother around was only making it worse. His eyes were wide and weary, sweat dotting his face.
"Please," Ada cried silently, "make this nightmare end, we can't hold on for much longer."
Soon the ground grew more uneven and the two girls stopped, gasping, as they heard a thud behind them.
"Luigi!" Ada cried and ran to where the green clad man lay. She reached down to smooth back the strands of brown hair out of his face.
"I'm sorry." He said as she helped him to his feet.
Ada cried out as Luigi lost his standing for a second, causing him to lose his grip on his brother who tumbled onto the ground.
Luigi gasped and kneeled down to pull up his brother again and was shocked to see blue eyes blinking up at him, "Weegee?"
"Mama mia! Mario?" Luigi gleamed back happily with matching blue eyes. The joy was very short lived, as Luigi helped his brother up just as something crashed through the bushes behind them. The Mario brothers turned to face their pursuer, the girls stepping back into the shadows of a large dead tree, eyes wide in terror.
The noises below continued, getting closer to where he was hiding every moment. The koopa was shaking so hard his shell was vibrating, any minute now it would be on him and he would die.
"Please let it be quick," he thought, "I don't want to suffer."
Suddenly there was a scream, it was far off, and sounded utterly inhuman. He felt a cold chill go up and down his spine and then noticed something. The clawing noises had disappeared. He held his breath and listened. There was a sliding noise and then a thud from below. Benny was silent for a long time then let out a breath of relief. Was it gone? It sounded as if whatever it was, it had run off.
He relaxed his grip on the tree then felt a sense of dread. Now that it was seemingly gone…he would have to try to escape. He might not get another chance, the killer could very well return to climb back after him.
Benny was scared, he was almost traumatized with fear, but he held firm to his decision. It was time to get out of this tree and hopefully, out of this forest.
The monster roared so horrifyingly loud that Bowser's paled in comparison. Mia screamed as the creature rushed towards them, its thorny arm raised out in front of it.
The brothers jumped back in unison as the monster slammed its spiked arm onto the earth sending a cascade of leaves and branches into the air. Ada cried out as a sharp stone hit her in the cheek.
"Go!" Mario yelled.
"Not this time!" Luigi replied sharply, "You're hurt."
"It's just a few scratches, Mario scowled, "I'll be fine, just get these girls out of here. I won't let it take me by surprise this time."
Luigi hesitated then reached into his pocket and tossed something to Mario. Ada recognized it as another fire flower; she then noticed that Luigi's power had faded and he was back to his green clad self. She hoped that this item would be enough to put an end to this monster.
They all ran together, away from Mario and the creature just as the two rushed at each other, the monster slashing at the man with its pale claws. Luigi flinched as the ground shook under them, but did not stop running.
The three ran for a long time, and soon they had no choice but to stop and rest. Ada fell to the ground panting, with Mia falling next to her, the girl limp her eyes wide, face dirty and pale. Luigi was also the face of exhaustion.
They sat on the cold ground for a minute before they heard something, at first Ada thought it was just her imagination, then she was sitting up, alert. Mia sat up off the ground and gazed at her with wide eyes, "Ada, w-what's wrong?"
I'm here
"No." Mia whispered, then her voice rose, "No…no! No!"
"Mia!" Ada cried as the little toad began to scream in hysterics. She reached out to grab onto her shoulder just as Mia began to run blind with panic, into the trees.
"Not again! Mia, wait!" Luigi reached his feet swiftly and chased after the toad, Ada close behind.
"Mia! You have to-" Ada yelled just as they both heard a shrill scream up ahead. Ada's blood ran cold. Mia!
Luigi was the first one to find Mia. Her body was limp on the forest floor, her little eyes closed, with her dress tattered. He bent over her still form, his heart racing wildly. Luigi hugged the little toad to his chest and felt tears run down his face.
Ada ran up behind him, her heart hammering in her chest. She looked at the two, her expression incredulous. It couldn't be…was she…no.
"I'm so sorry Mia." The man cried into the little toad's dress, "Please forgive me." Ada closed her eyes, sorrow tugging at her heart.
"W-why?" They froze then both of them looked down. Mia blinked up at them, confusion and fear clear on her face.
"Oh thank goodness!" Ada cried, hugging Mia tightly, the little toad squeaking slightly in surprise.
I found you
Everyone turned to look at the figure as they stepped through the trees, Mia holding onto Luigi as he turned.
This was a short figure, about five inches shorter than Luigi. They wore a cloak that was dark dusty looking color of grey, the hood falling over their forehead, concealing their eyes. The only thing visible was the end of the nose and lips, the pale lips that smiled at them from the shadows of the hood. Ada felt goose bumps prickle down her arms, that smile was anything but friendly, it seemed kind but that she only a faint illusion. The malice in the curl of its lips was easy to see.
We have played the finding game, and here I am. Now it's time for a new game.
They all watched as a wind whipped up out of nowhere and leaves flew up and circled the figure, its cloaks flapping up behind it. Out of the darkness of the hood, there was a flash of red, maybe eyes? No one was certain, because soon after the figure moved towards them, no feet touching the ground, the robes flowing around it like liquid darkness.
Benny touched ground and froze, gazing around him at the dark forest. He heard some birds cawing above him and relaxed. It was gone. When it was here the forest seemed to freeze in time, nothing made a sound, but now he was certain that he was safe…for now.
The koopa moved in one direction and found himself going in another. He didn't know why, but he moved back the way he came.
When he found her, he bent down and touched her gently on the face, where there was no blood only a cold stillness. Benny felt tears come again, where he had thought they had dried up. He felt his heart shudder, the sorrow almost overwhelming. Marcy was gone; there was nothing more he could do.
The koopa stood up and moved away from the body that used to contain Marcy, his friend and childhood companion. Then he moved away, quickly through the trees, the bracelet making a small musical noise in his dead friend's hand as the charms clinked against one another, as if they were sending him away with a farewell.
It was not long before it began to rain again, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Behind the thick rolling clouds the sun began to set, and somewhere far away, a Princess looked out a tall window, wondering where her friends were, and if they were okay.
That was probably a bit between creepy and depressing haha, ^-^ Well, if you haven't figured it out yet there are two mysterious things in the woods, one of which is an unknown figure the other a creepy monster that is something between a monster in resident evil 4 and the creepy 'my precious' lord of the rings thing…but creepier. O_o Well…reviews are loved like bubbly soda-ness! :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks to PrincessDiMimi for her lovely beta reading as well! Oh! And we will get to see how Peach and Daisy are doing next chapter also!