Dark: Part 1

They stood, quavering feet and palpitating hearts. Cold so intense their bodies were bathed in sweat. Salty beads of water droplets adorned their foreheads. They stared here there and everywhere. In silent quavering tones they prayed for just one thing... not to be found. They were safe you could say, grasping at the safety of the thin film of darkness separating them from their assumed predator. They danced in the shackles of their worst nightmare. It could be anywhere... the engulfing darkness played both sides, their greatest strength and weakness.

Minutes passed in seconds and the trees reached back and forth as if signalling towards their direction, the air grew colder by the minute and a sharp pungent stench of something unseen graced the air. A distinct piercing sound, a sudden scream, a loud thud accompanied by the scrunching of leaves and the eager flaps of fleeting birds. A gunshot had been fired and a steady footstep followed in the distance.

Their minds stood wandering, what would eventually become of them. Yes, they had been cocky and didn't adhere to the warnings not to wander in the woods after dark, but it was all for a worthy cause, a point that needed to be proven. Sure... it would not make any sense to some, but it sure did to them, but that didn't mean they deserved something bad to happen to them, they hadn't hurt anyone at least not to the point of death for most of them.

The malicious innocence of the quiet night was disturbed by a sudden, yet quiet gargling sound. A hot liquid slapped one at the elbow, one on the belly side and the other straight on the face, with the repulsing scent that followed, they quickly figured out one had puked. Repulsed as they were, they couldn't afford the luxury of making a sound though their sudden movements in response were enough to give them away.

The earlier footsteps in the distance seemed even more steady now and it seemed a significant amount of space had been covered, and in the right direction. Jaw locked and fists clenched one took a fight stance, another quavered finally letting go of the urine pressure at their abdominal walls, the other still recovering from throwing up, tried to keep at bay the horrifying thought of their mind. The last took to the feet and ran into the distance exposing the seeming safety of their hiding spot.

It was a good few minutes of safety before the footsteps of their predator came running from the distance towards them. They had to make the decision; it was a dreaded one, but they had to do it. In a blink, they all scurried away in opposite directions, hoping each of their directions was safer than the others.

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My heart felt like it was one beat away from breaking from through my ribcage and my body quavered a thousand times in each second, Would I make it out alive? One could dream. I could picture the face of my disappointed mum, she'd be devastated. She'd always say, 'If making the right decisions meant you didn't belong... so be it' but she didn't know how it felt to be ostracized by your peers, the constant stares whenever you walked into the room, looks of disgust and pity. I had to make a decision to become accepted or forever be an outcast. I made my decision; it had to be the right one, but for now, I had to survive.

The dried leaves in the distance let out a crunchy sigh and my feet were at it again. I was banking on the few minutes of rest to get me a few miles, hopefully, one out of this place. I could feel my feet slow down with every step, my knees were severely fatigued, and I could move myself no further. A couple more runs and one leap and my head slapped hard against the rough hard surface of a tree. My whole body ran wild from pain, and I could feel a sting or two at the corners of my eyes. The jabbing pain left me thoughtless yet questioning my life's worth. My legs went limp as I fell to the ground.

Was this really a good decision?

I could feel blood trickle down my head and into my nose. My mind was clouded, lying staring into the obscenely dark night sky, my eye followed suit and soon all I could see was blackness. I struggled to hold on to my thoughts, but they slipped away slowly and soon I knew nothing of the world around me.

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Dying wasn't an option and I would kill before I let someone take my life.

I had run a long haggard distance I could feel it. Slowly, I came to a halt, resting my back against what smelled like a Eucalyptus, I fought for air. My mind was foggy and I couldn't come up with what to do next. I had been running for a very long time in what felt like the direction we had come in from but still, there seemed to be no way out.

A little more relaxed now, I could feel my clenched fist and locked jaw. It was gonna be survival of the fittest cause I was done running and daytime wasn't coming any time soon. I needed a plan.

Falling to my knees, I felt the ground around me with my hands for something weapon-worthy. Nothing seemed to be good enough, all I could feel was the crunch of dried leaves and sticks that snapped on little pressure. The odds seemed to be stacked up against me but I was gonna make sure my fate was written myself.

Standing to my feet, with my face to the sky I took in a deep breath and turned back in the direction I had come from, I had jumped many trees and almost tripped on a couple of thick branches while running, I was sure something weapon-worthy was gonna be somewhere in that direction, the only issue would be tracing back my steps as the number of unintentional turns I had taken seemed impossible.

Knees bent enough so I could feel around for anything of worth I walked the dark distance, slowly but steady enough, squinting as much as I could to get the slightest glimpse of what was around me. Having walked a reasonable distance, not finding anything of worth and not hearing any footsteps in the distance I let my mind wander.

It was crazy how we all ended up here. A stupid dare to prove a point that didn't really need to be proven… at least to me, but my pride was on the line and that's something would fight to death for. It’s what I had been taught, one of the only clear lessons both my parents seem to agree on. Now, it felt like it all meant nothing cause from the scream we'd heard earlier, one of us was dead - the guy steaming the dare, so it’s fair to assume no one would be aware of what happened to us unless one of us came back alive. The fact that we had all agreed to come in with no devices except that need for streaming is baffling. How did we let ourselves get convinced and to something as crazy as this.

He just had to challenge us in front of everyone. Sure we had beaten him a few times, maybe to a point of injury… so what? he wasn't the only one... I mean my father has his go at my mom and me almost every time after he's back whoring around and drinking himself to stupor, but I don't dare challenge him. I hold it in like a man and show up to school every day without whining or crying about it to the whole fucking school. It makes me more of a man.

I just wanted this night to be over with. My heart was dying of anxiety and despite all my tries, I couldn't just get it to stop.

Still lost in search of a possible weapon, I couldn't help the other thoughts that came flooding into my head. Maybe not getting out of this was better than getting out, Maybe death was better than the life I was fighting for, I wouldn't have to face my dad ever ag....

That was just too stupid, I wouldn't just give up, that was the most unmanly thing ever, no wonder my dad hated me, I wasn't man enough.

There was a quiet distinct metallic clank as my feet kicked against something. Hands to the ground, I felt around for what might just be the weapon I needed to get myself out of this situation.

There it was. I felt my hand against what felt like a flat metallic surface with a pointy top and a reasonably sharp thin edge… a knife? What was a knife doing here? I mean who fucking cares, it was my ticket out.

I tried to pick it up but it wouldn't budge, it seemed stuck under something. I moved my hand around to try to get it unstuck and I could touch what felt like a foot. Was it a dead person? My heartbeat quickened and I struggled to swallow. I groped around a little more. It wasn't a deceased person. I looked up and I saw the silhouette of someone I couldn't recognize.

I yanked at the knife as hard as I could and took to my feet in the opposite direction. I could feel a sting on my palm, I had definitely gotten a deep cut from yanking the knife. The slippery viscous liquid filling my palm was enough to prove it. I was bleeding a whole lot, but it was just my palm I would be fine.

A little further in the distance, I felt a hand grasp at the hoodie of my sweatshirt yanking me backwards towards it. I lost my balance, my left ass cheek stabbing hard against what felt like a sharp brand of a fallen tree I had just jumped over. A wave of tightly compressed air ran up my lungs out my mouth, as I let out a loud scream. I could feel tears trickle down my eyes.

It just stood there staring at me, arms crossed. I shut my mouth, trying to take back control and not be a sissy. I must be a man. My palms, hard against both sides of the fallen tree I had sat into, I pulled myself out of the branch. Its sharp pointy top seemed to have gotten inches deep. I tried my best to stand to my feet. Not too long I could feel a steady stream of blood wash down my lap from my ass cheek.

Rushing towards it with a clenched fist, I was ready to fight, no more running. As I came close, I felt a shock wave engulf my chest as a fist punched hard against my lower chest. The hand definitely wasn't too big but the force at which it came had me back on the floor. I couldn't breathe, I could feel everything stop for a moment. Forcing myself to an almost sitting position, I struggled for air, mouth agape, and eyes wide in horror. Slowly, I felt a steady stream of air rush down my lungs, it was as if I had forgotten how to breathe for a moment. So this was what it felt like. Maybe, torturing her with her inhaler before wasn't the best of ideas, but it all worked out in the end, we got together and I made sure she was protected.

Immediately it struck me, her inhaler… it was in my pocket and she was somewhere out there. What would she do if she needed it? I needed to survive this at all costs. A little more relaxed and with a flush of adrenalin from the realization, I was ready to get back at it. As if waiting for me to regain an ounce of strength, I felt its hands against my throat with a force that seemed like that of its entire body, my back slapped hard against the ground, loosely scattered sticks and stones jabbing at my spine, I felt its weight on me and I lay helpless on the ground. I couldn't breathe again… but something scared me even more. I recognized that cheap perfume.

"How do you like being down now? "

It… It was the video guy, our streamer. But he was dead.... we heard the gunshot and his scream.

"Well, I am not dead... I guess y'all fell for my cheap trick. It's the easiest in the books you know"

"What? ", I could barely speak. My body flew into autopilot, my hands grasped hard at the dirt on the ground, legs kicking in the air, I was out of breath and could hold on no more.

"You just had to bully anyone you felt was less than you didn't you? I tried you know... I did all the fucked up things you made me do, I even got my own sister expelled just so you couldn't have her. To be honest, I can't still figure out what kind of spell you had on her but I wasn't gonna let her be one of your cheap games. You know what’s funny, my parents wouldn't even listen to me. I told them you were trouble but I guess you fooled them too with your ‘prince charming’ attitude at family dinners. Well… how do you like being on the opposite end of the rope cause I sure as hell do like this part I am on. Hope you enjoy your trip to hell though"

He was manic... I could see it, it was still all dark but the gestures in his silhouette said it all. My brain was pulsating, and I could feel my eyes bulge out. My heart pumped three times faster. I was grasping at straws. This was the end. Slowly my hands stopped their struggle, I felt the clench on my bleeding fist release and then I realized, I was with it, I had been holding the damn knife all along.

With the last ounce of strength in me I grabbed the knife and stabbed at the side of his body as hard and as much as I could, it wasn't much as I was on the brink of death but it did seem to do the job though. I felt his grip on me release a couple of notches as he let out a loud deathly cry.

I pushed as hard as I could and crawled away with the little strength I could muster. I reached for air as a withdrawing addict would a grain of heroin on the cusp of withdrawal. My upper body danced from light-headedness but I needed to strike first this time or I would be dead. I struggled to get myself up but I was too weak. I could still hear him cry in the distance so I was still safe. He wasn't really a strong guy, he just had the advantage of the smart so I could bank on a couple of minutes.

A few minutes had passed and I could feel my body regain its strength, I pushed myself up, taking a couple of minutes to reacquaint myself with standing. I walked to where he still lay whimpering, turns out I got him good with a couple of stabs.

"Seriously man... why would you do that? Just because you were bullied a little and survived you think you can pull off a murder. Uhh… your sister, such a pretty little thing.  You know I really loved her, she was nice and sexy… I mean I dunno if after I had gotten my way I would have had anything to with her, she might have been one of my next victims, like a nice little family for prey. You are actually a smart young man... you saved her. I am not a killer like you so she didn't really need saving…. A few beatings and a couple of tiny shenanigans would have made her a strong woman, though, and you, you would have become a man... I mean look at me. My dad hit me enough times and now I am tough. Wait a minute... what would your friend say, I am sure he is out there running for his life thinking an actual killer is on the loose" I let out a loud laugh cause why not?

"You know… he was the one that put us all in this situation thinking after getting out of here he'd gain respect as being the one who challenged us and survived a night in the dreaded woods and he'd be seen as the tough guy. Come to think of it, this place doesn't actually have anything scary in it, just a wannabe killer and some fooled runaways. He really wanted to save the both of you didn't he... so sad that you ruined it all. You know I would have still tortured the both of you even if we survived all this, so I guess it's better you die?" I took some steps towards him, as he lay whimpering a little more quietly now. The closer I approached the more he struggled to crawl away, his right hand seemed to be wounded badly. I guess the stabs were quite deep. I kind of felt pity for him but he was the one who started it and I had to end it. Somehow now all I could see was the fear he felt, and I could now make out the curves of his glasses in his silhouette, how had I missed it before?

"Well I am done talking now, I need to go. My love is out there somewhere. You know sometime in between you trying to kill me, I figured I actually liked her, quite much actually and I am with her inhaler, she's been running a great distance she might need it at some point. Funny thing though... I have given her her fair share of beating and even withheld her inhaler from her a couple of times when she had one of those her whatever it is called attacks but she still stays with me and always tells me how much she loves me. Now that’s a strong woman. Well, I don't want her to die... at least not yet, so I've got to get her inhaler to her but… I can’t really leave you like this you know? You really pissed me off. What to do? You're not really a threat so… I’d just let you go. See you if you survive" I stood up and turned to leave but I still couldn't just leave him there, What if he did something again? I was afraid. I can't let someone else have that kind of power over me, not again... but I wasn't a killer. I turned back to where he still sat, this time not whimpering anymore.

"On second thought, I think you need to go… like die" I reached down and pulled his other good arm, I guess it was his main source of support as he fell hard on his back as soon as I yanked it off the ground. He let out a muffled scream. For a moment I really wanted to gently pull him up and talk this through, but if my dad has taught me anything, mercy is a sign of weakness.

Feeling at his wrist with my thumb, I raised my quavering arm. I was scared knowing what I wanted to do but I needed to man up. I felt a tear drop to my cheek. My whole body was shivering as I took the knife in my hand and slit his wrist, more tears rolling down my eyes as I made a couple of swipes from the now blunt knife. My whole body quavered, I don't think I could ever forgive myself.

Picking myself up with the little strength I had left I turned around.

"Well I guess that should do it.. if you survive I guess I'd be seeing you in school and maybe then I'd reconsider hitting you anymore cause you'd be a real man" Hopefully he didn't hear the quiver in my voice... I couldn't show weakness not now, not ever. I took a step forward and then it happened.

A loud deafening sound enveloped my ears, a piercing spike of pain shot at my nerves and in an instant my hand clenched at the left side of my chest. He was a good shot, I'd give that to him... and I was a fool.

There it was, those thoughts that have haunted me all through the night... Maybe not getting out of this was better than getting out, maybe death was better than the life I was fighting for. I wouldn't have to face my dad ever again and it's not as if she ever cared for me, not even when I told her what he had done to me as a kid. She always called me crazy, not man enough… At that moment, it happened all over again. I could feel his filthy hands over me as he slipped into my bed spewing names of women I assumed he had whored with. His rough hands on my skin as he took his fist to my face, letting his tongue slip in while he played with my penis. The searing pain as he beat me to a bleed after he had realized what he had done. Maybe it's all true, Maybe this is all how it is meant to end. Maybe I am not man enough in the end.

I fell to my knees, as I heard him say a couple of words in the background, slowly making out what he had said, my eyes shot wide open.

"They were not safe at all"

I let out a simple sigh, as I tasted my life slip through my breath. I recapped the night. It is actually over this time.