Simon gagged as water got caught in his throat. He frantically tried to adjust himself to find which way was up. He eventually found it and started pushing himself upwards. The pain in his chest only grew, he couldn't see anything in the murky waters. Just as he thought he was about to pass out, his hands felt the air above him. With one final push he reached the surface, gasping. He could only see the night sky above him as the tide pushed his tired body. He felt something touch his feet. At first, he recoiled, thinking it was some form of creature, but he then found his footing on solid ground. The waded through the water in the direction of the tide, slowing dragging himself out of the waves. He eventually came to a rocky shore. He dropped to his knees and collapsed.
When he awoke, he found a soft white light shining on him from above. He saw a full moon above him. He stood up in his wet clothes and saw the shore illuminated by the moonlight. There was a path cut through the small cliffs leading upwards away from the shore. When he reached the summit of the incline, he saw that he was on a cobblestone path lit by old-fashioned street lights. Around him were plains of long grass blowing in the wind. As he walked forward, he could he large shapes of light shining through the gaps between rows of trees in the distance. As he approached the woodland, the imposing sight of a large Gothic manor stood before him. It stood two stories and was decorated with large spires and ornate arched windows, and was coated with sprawling vines and flowers across its lower walls. From every window yellow light shone out from behind thin white curtains. The front door was open and the patio was displayed with all manner of flowers and bouquets, its sweet scent filling the air. Simon knew that this must be a ploy made to put him at ease, so he was on his guard as he walked aboard the patio. One thing he could not ignore was the feeling of drowsiness he had ever since he landed on that shore. The soothing floral scent made it even harder for him to keep his concentration. He went through the door and found himself in a small, elegant room. The patterned wallpaper was covered in more rings of flowers. At the end of the room was a large pair of double doors. In front of him, a small stool with an envelope folded upon it. Simon pick it up and it read:
"Thank you so much for accepting our invitation, Mr. Henriksson. Please make use of the items displayed here and then make your way the grand hall. We eagerly await your arrival."
There was a signature at the bottom of the card but Simon could not understand it. He looked about the room and noticed that at his left was a long table with neatly folded hoodies, jeans, and towels. There was even a pair of shoes and socks underneath. On the table there was a pair of lit candles. Simon distrusted his mysterious host's hospitality and immediately went for the double doors. He tried as hard as he could to pull them open, but they would not budge. He tried ramming them down but that only caused him to fall backwards. A small note dropped from the bouquet on the door. Simon reached out and read it.
"Now, now, what kind of host would I be? Please, make yourself presentable first."
Simon, annoyed by the attitude of his "host", reluctantly went towards the table on the left. He reached for a towel to dry his face with. As soon as the fabric touched his face he felt a cold wet texture press against his skin. He recoiled in horror as he saw that the towel had been turned into a piece of flayed skin. He threw it back onto the table, where all the clothing had been replaced with layers of bloody skin. The candles blew out and a panel from the wall fell off and landed on the floor. Inside was a small dirty rag. "Use this" was scratched onto the other side of the panel. Angered, Simon quickly brushed the dusty, soot-stained rag across his face. He suddenly heard a large click from behind the doors. He walked towards them and pushed doors open. They were were heavy and made a great creak as they slowly moved aside.
Simon was met with the sight of a large hall, where the moonlight shone into the darkness from tall windows. The glimmer of an unlit chandelier should be seen above him. There was a large staircase at the back of the hall that spilt into two sets of stairs, but they were barred by metal gates covering their front. At the centre of the hall was a round table with candles lit about. Simon approached, and could already smell the scent of fresh food before he saw it. The table was filled with shelves of gourmet food reaching higher than his height. Roasted turkey, lamb legs, fresh fruit and many more bedecked the edges of the table. Simon hadn't felt hungry in a very long time. But the smells from the food were doing something to him. He felt a great pang at the bottom of his stomach. He noticed another note at the edge of the table.
"Please partake in this exquisite bounty we had made with you in mind. Please, just one morsel, then we may proceed to the festivities."
In scrawled hand at the bottom of the note read:
"She told us so much about you, we would all love to meet you after dinner."
"One of the girls must be here!" Simon thought to himself.
He nervously looked around the table for something he thought wouldn't have the worst outcome. He saw a bundle of green grapes in a silver bowl. He carefully plucked one off the bundle and put it into his mouth. The abnormal sweetness that erupted as he chewed put him into a state of calm as the juices swished around his mouth. Then he felt something moving on his tongue. Shocked back to his senses, he spat out the grape, causing a small, pale, crab-like creature to hit the ground and scurry away. Coughing and hacking out whatever bits of grape were still in his mouth, Simon saw the food on the table begin to move and rustle. Suddenly the grapes in the bowl burst open and hundreds of tiny crawling creatures began to disperse from the bowl. The apples began to crack open as larger crab-like creatures began to carve their way out. Shelled worm creatures burrowed out the lamb legs, secreting a foul yellow paste as they did so. All manner of disgusting vermin started crawling about the table and out onto the floor around Simon. The stench of decay mixed with the food was unbearable. Then, three sets of black, insectoid legs burst forth from either side of the roasted turkey. Large pincers squeezed out the fowl's back cavity. The creature stood up form the plate, and shook off the remaining chunks of meat from its body, revealing a large reflective shell. The beetle-creature then jumped off the table and quickly scuttled towards Simon. The creature's pincers grabbed Simon's right leg. He screamed in pain and bashed his leg against the table, causing the creature to let go. With his leg bleeding, Simon took out his switchblade and jammed it into the creature. But it got stuck in the beast's shell and snapped in half. The creature then scuttled back at Simon, he dodged it by jumping onto the table, coating his shoes and trousers in mushed food. He saw the gleam of a blade sticking out of the edge of the top shelf above him. He climbed onto the shelf, grabbing the large carving knife from the silver plate. He suddenly felt the table below him shift and saw that the creature was using its pincers to drag the tablecloth out from beneath the bottom table. Simon managed to jump off before the tower of shelves crashed onto the ground. He landed on the floor with a thud as he fell. He managed to pick himself off the ground just as the creature began scuttling towards him again. This time he dodged to the side as the creature snapped its pincers, and kicked it onto its back. The creature wobbled on its shell, looking helpless as its many legs writhed in the air. Simon plunged the knife into its soft underbelly, causing the beast's limbs to tease for a second before going limp.
Simon then heard another great click behind him. He looked back and saw the curtains draw on their own, letting the moonlight shine on the grand staircase as its gates opened. Just as Simon pulled the knife out of the creature, he heard noise coming from behind him. He saw a wave of small shapes drifting across the floor. He then heard the distinctive sound of scuttling below him. Before he knew it several of the creatures were already on him. He managed to brush them but he felt one bit his elbow. He pulled his sleeve and saw a long-pincered bug dangling from his arm. He grabbed it and tried to pull it off, but it wouldn't let go. Simon could hear more bugs coming. He held tighter and pulled harder, ripping the bug off its own pincers. He didn't have time to pull those out as the floor before him was already covered in bugs, all scuttling towards him. He ran toward the stairs. He went up to the first landing and turned left. He saw that bugs were crawling out from under the floorboards and out through fresh cracks in the walls. He saw a tall, finely carved door in front of him. Without thinking, he slammed it open and immediately closed it shut as soon as he was inside.
The scuttling stopped. It was silent. Simon looked around him and saw that he was in a bedroom. It was lit from the gentle light of a small chandler above him. The walls were decorated with a simple but tasteful white and silver pattern. There was a large bookshelf neatly organized with numerous volumes filling the shelves. A wardrobe and make-up desk stood with a large mirror. Both were finely crafted and complemented the room's elegance. There was an unnatural air of calm and peace that even Simon could not ignore.
"I'm sorry for how he's been lately." Said a soft voice from behind him.
Simon turned and saw… Something sitting on the bed.
"He's just very protective of me. It's not out of hate."
Simon thought he saw a figure, but wasn't what he saw. He couldn't tell what he was looking at. Even though his eyes couldn't process the being sitting on the soft, white bed, his mind did not panic or worry.
"I know he's doing it because he loves me, but it can be so frustrating sometimes! I thought you could at least have a chance with him. You're smart and caring, he should at least he could see that."
A very small part of Simon's mind was telling him that something was wrong, that he had to do something. But that part was being constantly smothered by this new sense of calm and warmth that flowed through him.
"But he's left us alone for a while now a least." The figure said with something that looked like a smile. "It's good to have someone who understands. I know how it feels to be looked at like a freak. But when you came along it felt like I finally had someone who I could talk to. The way you were so confident speaking, it inspired me a lot honestly." The figure then looked at Simon's elbow, with the pincers still dangling. "You're hurt. Lemme help you."
Simon felt something grip his wrist and pull him towards the figure. Whatever unease was left in him had completely Simon. He was entirely smitten by this state of rapture.
"Why does he do this." The figure muttered under its breath as it carefully pulled the pincers out. Simon then felt long fingers trail down his arm, touching the old scars on his wrist.
"You… You understand, don't you?" The figure said as its finger moved gently up and down Simon's scars.
"Please." Simon felt the figure's grip tighten. "I just want to hold you."
Simon felt a rush of energy flow through his body as he was pulled into the figure's embrace. He was about to completely surrender to his ecstasy until the sudden feeling of something vibrating in his pocket brought him to his senses.
Simon reeled from what he saw. A foul, sickly mound of flesh covered the bed. Branch-thick veins stretched out of the creature's skin, which could be heard pumping and flowing juices about the body. The flesh seemed to have grown out like fungus around the railings of the bed, twining itself around the canopy. The flesh seemed to be constantly morphing and shifting, large bubble-like sacs of thin skin rose up and down the upper centre of the growth, resembling breathing. The very sight of the beast made Simon immensely nauseous and disgusted. The muddled feelings of calm and desire were still trying to force its way into his mind, only further enforcing his now panicking revulsion.
He attempted to get away from the creature, but found himself already in the grips of tentacle-like appendages that coiled around him. He saw that they were tipped with long, thin, bone-like blades that were positioning themselves at his chest. He quickly raised his knife and sliced off the tentacles restraining him, causing him to fall to the ground. The creature emitted a lurid moan as it retracted its bleeding tentacle back into its bloated body.
Simon ran straight out the bedroom with a dizzy head. All the bugs were gone. He nearly fell off the stairs as he ran back to the grand hall. He tried to return to the entrance room but found the doors locked again. He heard a great thudding and slamming coming from up the staircase. Then came a final crash, followed by the sound of large footsteps. Simon then saw a large shape move from the left wing of the staircase and enter the moonlight. The entire bed was being carried by four muscular legs on each corner. The flesh mound was partially concealed by the purple drapes of the canopy that flowed and fluttered as the beast moved. Whenever an edge of skin was visible beneath the fabric Simon felt his vision distort and his mind pained. To simply look at the being caused him great distress. He gripped his head and quietly hid in a dark corner by the door. The beast stood on the landing of the stairs, its square body lit by the moonlight coming form the large window behind it, drawing a long shadow across the hall. It stood there for a moment, before walking up the staircase on the right and disappearing.
Simon took a quick breath as he stood up. He remembered the vibration he felt and took out his phone. The message was partly corrupted and unreadable.
"Writings… Again… Not all… What it seems."
"Writings." Simon thought. "looks like I'm gonna have to check the bedroom again."
Simon quickly made his way up the stairs again, and made it to the now destroyed doorframe leading to the bedroom. Stepping over large chunks of rubble he found himself inside again. There were large indents left on the floor were the bed had been. He checked the desk, but all the drawers were empty. The wardrobe, nothing but a few garments. Then he noticed a small glass cabinet in the corner of the room. It was behind the bed so he didn't see it the first time. It was finely made, with ornate metal frames and electric lights. It was completely empty. Inside there were two stands were some small objects once stood. As he looked through the glass he noticed something on the wall behind it. He gently pushed the cabinet away and saw that something was scratched onto the wall.
That which I hold dear,
was taken from me one night.
My heart filled with fear,
For they aided me on my plight.
Return them to me,
These two blades I cherished.
One white and pure like the birch tree
The other, red and wicked with which pain perished."
When these parts of me in place,
On the altar of my temple,
Then you may fight with grace,
And before my shame not tremble.
Simon had an idea of what he needed to look for now. But where to search? With that monster around he would have to be careful. He decided to look around the bottom floors, since the beast was last seen going upstairs. He made his way back down into the main hall, the walls on either side were obscured by darkness. He moved his hands across the shadows until he found a door handle. He opened it and walked in.
Simon found himself in a large, dark chamber, The faint light from the lamps outside showed outlines of animal heads mounted on the wall. Simon searched the wall next to him for a light switch. He found one and flicked it. Gas lamps on the corners of the wall lit up with small blue flames. The room was finely decorated with paintings of ships and scenes of hunting. Heads of elks and bears were mounted above the fireplace. In the centre stood a pair of leather chairs and a small round table.
"No…" said a hoarse voice from above him.
Simon looked up the wall on the furthermost part of the room. He could see a humanoid figure suspended from the wall near the ceiling. The blue flames in the lamps on either side of the figure grew. Simon saw a wizened, old man attached to the wall by a black fungus-like growth. He appeared to be wearing a black smoking jacket with a silver pattern stitched in. His limbs were thin and atrophied, his legs dangled below him and he held his arms in front of him in a twitchy, defensive manner. His face was skull-like, with sunken, shrunken eyes with grey, shrivelled skin and a thin white beard. The figure moved its lips.
"You will not have her!" It said in a desperate, pained tone.
Suddenly Simon heard the door behind him slam shut. He turned around to see a tall, well-built figure with its hand on the door. It started walking towards him. It had a black school uniform and had pale, veiny skin that covered a face that bore nothing but utter hatred with its black eyes and monstrous toothy frown. Simon wielded his knife up in front of himself as he quickly backed up behind the chairs. The figure stomped over to the table, clenched both its fists together, raised them air, and brought them slamming down onto the table, destroying it and sending shards of woods flying about the room.
"Mine!" The creature screamed.
Stunned by the creature's display of strength, Simon could barely react as the hulking figure tossed aside the chair he was standing behind and lifted him by the neck. Simon made several quick slashes across the creature's chest and face as he was suspended, but that only managed to cut the fabric of its uniform. Simon felt the heat of the creature's breath on his face. The figure looked at Simon for a second with its coal-black eyes, before tossing him across the room, causing him to crash into a small wooden cabinet. Simon slowly dragged himself up from the wreckage. The figure stood before him were the table once was.
"Enough bravado, kill him!" The old man shouted.
The monster began slowly walking towards Simon, its fists clenched. Simon had to act quickly, he felt something wet underneath him. He looked down and saw several broken wine bottles, with one still intact. He remembered the gas lamps, and his mind raced as he thought up a plan. He quickly grabbed the one wine bottle and pressed it against his belly as he strained to tried to open it. Just as the monster stood before him the cork popped out and flew directly into the creature's eye. It groaned as it held its eye and took a few steps back. Simon took this opportunity to run over to the wall and start climbing up the fireplace and atop the animal heads.
"Stop whingeing and pull him down!" The old man shouted again.
The monster began walking to the fireplace. Simon pressed up on an elk's head, and finally perched on a bear's, near one gas lamp. The creature tried to climb atop the elk's head, but it broke off under its weight and caused the monster to fall down. With the wine bottle caught in his elbow, he used the knife to cut off a piece of cloth from the wrist of his hoodie. He carefully leaned towards the lamp with the cloth in his hand, trying to put it in the opening at the top. It entered, and caught fire. Just then Simon the creature grunting down below. He looked down and saw the creature holding a leather chair above its head. Simon quickly stuffed the cloth down the neck of the bottle, leaving the flaming part outside. Simon jumped from the bear's head just as the creature threw the chair. Simon landed on a wobbling cabinet, nearly dropping the bottle. The chair crashed into the wall, destroying it and the bear head. Causing a mangled mess of wood, skin and bone to pile up by the fireplace. Simon quickly took aim and threw the bottle at the creature. It crashed right on the monster's face as it turned to face him. The figure erupted in flames and emitted a shrill scream as it fumbled its arms around itself. Finally the creature then ran towards the window and flung itself out. It glowing figure could be seen running out into the woods before disappearing.
Simon then carefully lowered himself down onto the floor from the cabinet.
"He was perfect!" The old man moaned. "You will not have her! You cannot have her!"
Simon then notice something sticking out of the old man's chest. The man's hands quickly grabbed it and held it tightly with bony fingers. It was a blade handle. Simon pushed the remaining chair towards the old man and stood up on it. He easily pulled the man's hands off the handle with little effort and began tugging.
"Unworthy, unworthy! Stay away from her-!"
Simon fell to the floor and the blade slid out of the old man's chest. He looked up and saw the old man, his head and arms now limp. He looked at the blade in his hand. A fine one-sided silver blade with lunar symbols etched across the metal gleamed against the gas light. The handle was masterfully carved ivory, with an engraving of whales and ships upon rocky waters. Simon then left the chamber and the old man's corpse. He returned to the bedroom, and placed the blade upon the white stand in the glass cabinet. A loud clicking and turning of gears was heard in the wall behind him, but it soon stopped. Whatever it was, he needed the last blade to finish it. He then heard the sound of large footsteps echoing from the hall below. Simon peered out of the door and saw a faint glimpse of the bedroom monster prowling the hall below. Even that quick sight caused a return of the nausea like a punch to the head and stomach. Closing his eyes, he could no longer hear the footsteps, but a slow, heavy breathing coming from the hall. He took a quick look again and, bearing the pain, saw the creature "kneeling" in front of the door to the chamber Simon just left. It was just sitting there, not moving. Simon took this opportunity to creep along the staircase to ascend its right wing, keeping his eyes forward and his steps light. The breathing of the creature echoed through the hall as he did so.
He came across a tall wooden door. Opening it slowly, light poured into the corridor where he stood. He found himself in large, brightly lit bedroom. There were two single beds on either side of the room. An exquisite oriental carpet was spread across the wooden floor. As Simon entered the room he heard a faint sound repeating itself from the room. He gripped his knife tightly as he ventured further inside. In the middle of the room, between the beds, lay a small safe. He approached it and knelt down. It was locked by a number pad.
"Damn!" He thought to himself.
Simon Suddenly heard a crash come from behind him. He turned and something poking out from under the carpet. A few more crashes and more things burst from under the floor and hid under the carpet. Simon watched in horror as a large shape rose in front of him, the carpet covering its features. He saw at the very top that there was a repeated, throbbing movement. That was the source of the noise. Suddenly six thin legs stretched out from under the carpet. The figure moved to the back of the room, causing the carpet to slide off. A massive, pulsing heart on insectoid legs stood before Simon. The creature then leaped at him, Simon slid under the bed on the right side as the creature landed on the floor, its sharp legs piercing the wooden planks beneath him. Simon began to crawl to the other side of the bed, but was stopped in his tracks when spiked leg burst through the mattress above him and nearly went through his head. He crawled over to the end of the bed where he quickly stood up and saw the creature struggling to get its legs out of the mattress. Simon jumped on the bed and struck the creature with his knife, but only managed to graze it as it got one leg out and kicked Simon to the floor with it. It soon jumped out of the bed and crawled to the far side of the room. Simon staggered and stood up, he could hear the creature's mass pulsing louder and faster. He barely had time to react as the creature sprinted towards him. Simon had an idea, but he would have to be quick. He began running towards the creature at top speed. Just as the beast leaped forwards with its sharp legs in font on it, Simon dropped to his kneels and slid across the room, the being's legs missing his face by mere centimetres. As soon as the creature slammed at the with its legs askew, Simon ran back and leaped on the heart-body. The creature stood up and tried to shake him off but Simon held on, his chest rocking against the pulsing flesh. He had already stabbed the creature twice, causing thick blood to splurt out. The creature tried slamming itself against the wall, nearly knocking Simon off, but he stayed on despite the pain. One stab, another, the creature was starting to slow down. Another, another, finally the beat dropped to its knees, and the beating stopped.
Simon lifted himself off the corpse, his hoodie now coated in blood. Now came the matter of the safe. He searched all the furnishings in the room but couldn't find anything that resembled a code. He even took a few searches in the monster's ventricles and arteries for something, but only got his arm bloody. He looked at the safe again. "Cupid Mechanics" was etched on the side of the safe, with a little heart symbol with gear wings. Then suddenly it struck him. The heartbeat. One, two, one, two. He tried the combination. A small beep was heard and the lock clicked. Simon opened it and found a red blade with a note attached, it read:
"Please keep this away from her."
Simon discarded the note and examined the knife. It was a short but fine blade with a curved blade that pointed inwards. Its handle was black with a series of red spirals carved across it. Simon took the blade and returned to the bedroom.
He carefully placed the red blade on the according stand. The sound of gears returned, and Simon felt the walls around him rumble. He stared as a part of the wall behind the cabinet began to shift and move away with a great grinding noise. A crevice showing only darkness stood before Simon. The spark of gas lamps then shone and illuminated a descending staircase. Simon began walking down, his feet echoing with every step.
He eventually found his way into an underground chamber, the gas lamps illuminating old brick walls. In the centre lay a stone altar, with a long, narrow strip of fabric atop it. Simon approached the altar, and saw that there was writing upon the cloth.
"I know not where you came from.
Only that you stay with me.
Were you born in moments of stress?
In the years in my early youth?
Did I see something I could not bear?
Something I killed the memory of?
All I now is that you are ever present.
In moments of calm, you vex.
In moments of passion, you attack.
Your very presence sickens me.
How could I have fallen so low
As to let you reside in me?
When you strike me with foul images
Depraved sensations, horrid fantasies.
I revile and disgust.
I force those thoughts of hate onto you.
To remind me of what I am not.
For years it has been like this.
My strength fades, and I grow weary.
I remember the first time I let you win.
The touch of cold metal, the flow of crimson.
The rush of ecstasy.
Then the clarity.
I weep and ache at what I have become.
I don't have the strength to hate you
I am far more worthy of that.
I tell myself, "not again" time and time.
But I lose myself in sloth and wanderings.
And succumb again.
You became stronger, I couldn't hide it.
Eyes darted, action was taken.
I became a monster in their eyes
Made in your image.
But in the time that had passed.
When I was taken away from your grasp.
I learned.
You fed off my disgust, my hatred.
You were draining me.
I have learned to give you silence.
You claw ever harder, grow ever crueller.
Your visions become worse.
You grow desperate.
I face you.
But I do not look."
Simon looked at the roll of cloth in his hands. He flipped it over to see if there was anything else, it was blank. He looked at the altar and the walls of the chamber, there was nothing else to find. Then he remembered the writing on the wall. The answer to help him fight the monster was in this writing. He read it once more to see if there was anything he missed, but he couldn't get a grasp on anything helpful. He put the cloth close to his face to see if there was anything hidden between the lines. That's when he noticed something. The light from the gas lamps didn't pass through the cloth, despite its thinness. Then he remembered the last lines.
I face you.
But I do not look.
Simon remembered that whenever he looked at the monster he couldn't focus as his mind was attacked by nausea and other sick-feelings. He knew what he had to do. Taking the cloth and returning up the stairs and into the bedroom, Simon tied the cloth around his eyes, making a bindfold. His sight was completely obscured. He used is left hand to guide him whilst his right held the knife.
He made his way out the bedroom, knocking his shoulder by the doorframe as he left. He had to go slower. Holding his hands on the rail, he walked down the stairs, stopping at the landing by the main hall as he heard something moving. He readied his knife. He heard something huge crash onto the floor and running towards him, the large footsteps hammering the tiled floor. Simon was then caught in the web of cloth and tentacles as he felt the monster charge into him. He held onto the cloth and canopy as the monster crashed straight through the large window. Simon could feel very small bit of glass in his back and a cold wind about him. He blindly slashed at the tentacles grabbing his waist and managed to give himself a small cut on the side as he cut so. Trying his damndest to ignore the pain, Simon flung himself onto the creature's fleshy body. Holding onto the loose skin below him as the creature rocked and ran, He gave several strong, deep stabs to whatever he could get, the beast emitting horse screeches as he did so. A strong waft of hot air blew in Simon's face. A strange scent filled the air, and the adrenaline within Simon was brought to a cool halt. He had nearly succumbed to warm tentacles around wrists when he came to his senses. His hands bound, Simon desperately bit into the wormy limb holding his wrist, causing it to recoil. After spiting out foul tasting bits of blood and skin, Simon continued his assault. He kept blindly stabbing at the fleshy mass. Then a pointed tentacle slashed across his face, severing the blindfold.
Simon nearly vomited at what he saw. Something innocent. Eyes dim with sadness and pain. He knew it wasn't real. He closed his eyes and continued stabbing, screaming against the cruel, false vision. Using his free hand to pull away the open flesh he stabbed deeper, and deeper, until he felt the creature drop to its knees.
All was still. His eyes slowly opened. He saw his arms elbow deep in the bloodied mass of flesh, now beginning to turn cold. He loosened his grip and his arms slid out of the creature's carcass. He then crawled off the bed and laid down on the cold grass. The night sky turned blue as his mind was pulled somewhere else.
Simon sat on the short wall by the school's entrance. The sun warming his back. A slender figure sat beside him, her hands clasped together in her lap.
"Well, that could've gone better." Said Simon.
"I liked it." Said Yuri.
"Yeah, but I think even you can agree that did not fly over well with the other club members."
"It was certainly more pessimistic then your last ones. The only gripe I have with it is that I think it should've had a better ending.
"It just- It wouldn't be right." Said Simon, his head down.
Yuri looked at Simon with concern.
"Simon, you've been acting a little odd recently. Is everything okay?"
Simon frowned and looked away.
"Simon, please. You can tell me."
Simon sighed and looked back at Yuri.
"I've just been feeling down recently. Some… bad memories that I've tried to keep away. I thought writing about them would make me feel better. It did at first, but then I read them aloud today and, well, you saw the look on everybody's face.
"Simon, I remembered you told everyone about how writing about how you felt can make you feel better, and that as long as you get it out there, then that's all that matters? Even if you just make one person happy with it? You might not know this, but you really inspired me when you said that. I was really nervous about writing down my more innate thoughts and feelings, but the way you just stood up that day with the Leviathan poem, it got me thinking. Don't you remember that poem? What it was about? Don't let whatever it is get to you, Simon. You too good for that.
Simon looked at Yuri with a weak, but genuine smile.
"Thanks, Yuri. I really needed that."
Yuri returned the smile.
"Glad you feel better."
She got up from the wall and waved at Simon as she walked down the street.
"See you tomorrow!"
"See ya." Simon waved back.
The cold air returned to Simon as he jolted up from his trance. He found himself in the classroom with the television set again. His wounds were gone. The buzzing static stabilized to form a picture. There was Yuri, sitting on her bed. She was looking pensive as her head hanged down. A loud banging could be heard from the TV's speakers. Yuri jumped a the sound but soon buried her face in her hands. Simon looked down at the desk with the blank paper and pen. He knew what he had to do. He sat down and began writing.
In times of struggle, we often forget yourselves.
The battering of constant strife makes us react without thinking.
Stop, relax. Take refuge in my words.
You helped me before, so I will help you.
The spectre lies
It tells you
"you are weak"
"Look at their eyes, they are right about you"
It tells you that presence defiles you
Do not fall for such nonsense
It draws its strength from your belief
So do not falter
Even if you fall again, and again
Remember the days you resisted
Remember the times you got up
The days you drew its blades on itself
Little by little, you fought back.
Do not make this fall your last.
I want you to remember.
Remember the time you stood up.
Remember the time you learned how to fight.
Remember how strong you are.
"Somewhat blunt, but it'll work." Simon thought to himself. He closely watched the screen as the camera shifted below her face, Yuri was crying softly. A loud clang was heard and she opened her eyes. The camera shifted again to her side. Yuri bent over and picked up a large dagger. It had a strange, deep serrated back edge that took half of the blade's mass. It had a black traditional handle with a straight guard. Suddenly the loud banging has heard again. Yuri looked at the blade again, and her face became stern. The camera shifted to the back of the room. Yuri stood up with the dagger in her hands, facing the door. The door shook as the banging continued. Suddenly the door flung open. A tall, thin figure with white, oily skin crept into the room. It was at least three heads taller than Yuri, it had to bend slightly to enter the room. Its head was covered by a matt of long silver hair. The glare of a single, red eye could be seen at the centre of it's face. Below that was a wide, unnatural grin, like an open-mouthed eel with its jaw creating a false smile. Its bony chest sported a hair of sagging breasts that were partially covered by the creature's hair. The creature then lunged at Yuri. It stopped just a few feet from her. She frantically gave the beast a few slashes across the chest, but the blade appeared to do nothing. The creature then grabbed Yuri with one hand and lifted her to its face. Yuri tried again to slash the monster across its face, even tried stabbing it in its eye, but her blade only seemed to slip off the monster's skin. Then it opened its mouth. It jaw dropped to its neck and a long, bladed tongue slowly coiled out from it's mouth.
Just as the bladed appendage was about to strike Yuri's face she made another swing at it with her dagger. She looked in surprise as the tongue was caught in the one of the dagger's serrated edges. Taking no chances, She twisted the bladed tongue back towards the monster's face with her dagger. She began pushing hard, the creature's vein tube-tongue trying hard to regain control. Yuri saw the monster's other hand begin to rise from the floor and reach her. Using her free hand, she quickly grabbed the sharp end of the tongue and pushed it into the creature's eye, causing it to recoil and drop her on the bed. The creature slumped against the wall, its hands dropping from its face. Blood flowed out from the dagger still embedded in the monster's eye. Yuri looked at the monster for a few seconds before collapsing in the bed, panting. The screen faded to static. Simon felt the floor beneath him tear away again, and he fell into darkness.