Chapter 6

I gasped though I couldn't draw in a breath. As happy as I was that he actually came to my aid I was still on some level scared for his life. Though at this moment more so for my own. I grasped the thing, the tentacle that I could barely see in this darkness as my brother held up a thick stick as a weapon. I could barely make out his outline. The most distinct figure was the creature that had been trying to kill me. Us for who knew how long. I twisted and scratched at it as the creature started at my brother with what looked like little interest. Cliffs grip on the stick tightened.

"I told you to let go of him." Cliff growled though he seemed to be losing his nerve now that he was face to face with it. "Release my brother."

The next thing I knew I was on the ground. I gasped for air. Savoring each breath as the spots that had started to cloud my vision faded. I coughed as I looked up to see some quick flashes of movement. I took a moment to focus on what was happening. That Thing was beating on my brother. A few quick swipes and my brother wasn't getting up. It slowly approached him and stood over him. He looked up at it but only for a second. He quickly looked back down and clutched his head. Even in this darkness I could see the fear in his eyes. I stood. I coughed and was a bit shaky but it stood none the less.

"Stop." I coughed again.

Dang. All we were was just talk. I couldn't do anything to stop it. I was just begging right now. That just wasn't enough though. It paid me no mind and my brother. The one that I had looked up to was shaking in fear and possibly pain on the ground. Looking around quickly I picked up a small rock. I really had a death wish. I threw it at him. The second it hit it I was no sooner cornered. Remembering what had happened to my brother I didn't look at it directly.

"... Just leave him alone. Leave us alone. I'm sorry if we-"

It grasped my throat and for the first time since I saw it, it used its actual limbs. It had a strong grip despite its stick like appearance. I looked into its expressionless gaze. I grasped its wrist mostly on instinct. Maybe it was just me but it seemed either really upset or surprised at my action though that didn't really matter to me at the moment. I held its gaze since I couldn't turn away. I wasn't sure how long the moment held but it was enough to bring back the spots. It pulled back and I gasped for the second time today. By the time I had at least some of my breath back I realized that I was getting dragged off to who knew where.

"C- Cli-" I struggled to draw in a breath. "Cli- Cliff… Cliff…" My voice was weak and did nothing to snap my brother out of his state of fear. "Cliff…" Maybe it was a good thing I was getting dragged off and away from my brother. He'd be safe. "Cliff…" But I wanted to live. I really wanted to live. "... Cliff!" I shouted as best as I could as I lost view of him among the trees.

I grasped at the plants and my nails dug into the earth was I struggled to escape though I knew it was a futile effort. All of it was. That thing knew what we had been up to the entire time we had explored the woods. It had been there whether we knew it or not. These woods had never really been ours no matter what time of day or night. The woods belong to that thing and that was the truth that our grandparents had known. What Mr. O'lair knew. We had been slowly digging our own graves. I could hear the panicked calls of my brother now. He was so far off. He would never make it. If this thing didn't want to be found it wouldn't be no matter how loud I yelled. No matter how much I fought. But even though all hope may be lost and you're positive screaming won't do a thing isn't it better to at least try?

"Cliff! Cliff, help!" I called out.

The creature gave no response to my yelling. It didn't seem like it heard me at all. I could hear movement in the forest. Branches getting thrown aside. Plants getting crushed. Yelling. Lots of yelling though that didn't do much good. Only drown out the other sounds. Panic and fear was everyones enemy and it was one of the fiercest. It got in the way of so many things. And this was one of them. This was over.

No! No! No No No! He couldn't be gone! I called for him and I ran in the direction I heard his voice only to find nothing but trees. Nothing but trees and darkness. I could just see the darkness starting to thin as the sun started to peek over the horizon. No he wasn't gone!

I stood in the yard now. The house was still dark. I started to walk slowly up to the house. A light flicked on in one of the upstairs windows. I watched as the light in our room flicked on. I couldn't just imagine the pain they felt. I felt it now. I knew the panic. I entered the house to the sorrowful cries from upstairs. Asking each other what they were going to do. What they were going to tell our mother. Everyone else. I walked through the living room and up the stairs, not even bothering to take off my shoes this time around. I walked to the door frame to see gran knelt by the bed and clutching a shirt that was one of ours as she wept. Grandpa looked up and he turned to me. After a moment Grandma did the same. Her face lit up ever so slightly. But that faded when she saw my expression.

"Cliff… Where is he? Where's your brother?"

I didn't look away. I held her gaze. I was pretty sure my appearance, looking like I had run around in the woods all night which I had, said it all. And the fact that my brother wasn't with me… That was proof enough.

"C-... Cliff?" She whimpered.

"... It… It took him."

Just like that she broke down again. I couldn't. I was numb.

Woooooooo! Just one more chapter after this! Yay! Stayed up all night. Marathon still going on! Yay! I am so tired but I won't sleep until later tonight! Yay! Writing all night! All day! Yay!