If any of you are still book marked to this page or reading this page, just to let you all know, I changed the address to http://horrormares.blogspot.com, once again, sorry for not telling your first, I'm still working out the kinks and exploring blogger a little to get things fixed up.
This will only be up for today so everyone will know, I'm change thing address.
Horror-mares on 13th Street
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
The Tree man
(A Slender Man fan-fiction)
In
the dark forest I see you hiding, the moon is full and the trees do not give
you away. But I know you’re there for I know very well that you are the one
that took them away, you took them to your wonderland, you took them away from
their families and friends, and you took them away from me.
I
try to fight but I’m too scared, I try to run but my legs won’t move, why do
you continue to make me suffer, and what do you want from me? Why me? WHY?
You
hide in the trees watching me, waiting for me; I slowly stand and move for
cover; through the forest, past the cabin, up the bridge and down the ditch. I run
but I can here you, you’re calling my name, you sound wispy and evil; the sound
of a dying victim.
Climbing
the ditch, under the old bridge, past the rabbit skins, falling and tumbling as
I run in a panic; stumbling to catch my balance and turn behind see you are not
where you are. Stopping in my tracks and catching my breath while wiping the
sweat off my head, my eyes dart from left to right up and down and I saw only
the trees…
What
do you want from me?
I
see your symbol on the trunk of a tree and one set in with rocks on the dirt. I
see your signs that you are coming, so why do you not show?
I hear
the wispy mumbles, I run in a panic, my heart pacing fast but my legs are not
moving fast enough and my lungs are not taking in enough oxygen. I see my
salvation; a place to hide but I start to slow down, everything begins to move
slow, the leaves, the wind even my body, my reaction is not fast enough, I try
and run but I can hear you again. Your mumbles from your past victims, I
hyperventilate trying to move faster, “leave me alone!” I pick up speed! I move
like I’m on the track! Everything moves high speed I start to reach my
destination, running, running, running is all I can do, the air I breath was
filled with fear and hopelessness and then with out looking…it all went black.
“Uh…”
the warm taste of blood was in my mouth, my nose was sniffing the Metallic odor
that dripped, I looked up and saw a tree branch covered in my blood. I looked
to the sky and I saw droplets of rain from the evil black storm clouds, I’m too
tired to move, I forgot what was chasing me, my eyes slowly looked to the
corner and I see the cabin and I saw the symbol on the door…my eyes widened
with fear as I struggled to stand, trying to get off the ground that seemed to
have me magnetized to the ground, I see the darkness of the forest and the
orange glim of the orange moon on the wet leaves. My breath is heavy and my
eyes are dry, my voice sounds Wheezy and my skin shivers from the touch of rain.
I can hear the screams and I run.
I
run through the forest away from the cabin in your territory, I stay away from
the trees as they seem to move and follow me.
The
dark lullaby began to echo in my ears and I look to my side and I see…
The
black as the plague suit, the figure of a tree, the limbs of slithering snakes,
and your face…no…your head, the head as white as a corpse, your not even moving
and you seem to be getting closer. I feel the tree’s grabbing at my clothes,
the branches wrapping around my legs and arms. I struggle from the grip but it
only gets tighter, I see you getting closer and faster, the dark lullaby gets
louder and louder. I can’t take it any more as my sanity breaks out and I give
a blood-curdling scream. As I see your head coming closer and then…everything.
Goes. Whit-
~Never
The End…
Red horse
the second seal broke, through the gates came the sound of battle on a horse of red, a armor wearing warrior with a cape of blaze and ash. On his back, slung with the pelt of a bear there hung a great sword of bone and metal, stained with red liquid of thousands. He landed onto the earth with a shattering boom like earth quake, his three deep glowing red eyes stared like laser sights as they peered into the souls of the responsible.
With his fear skull masked face and light chiming sound of the dog tags around his neck he left the population in silence, until he picked up a silver looking stick from his belt pouch and blew into it making the sound of a dog whistle, from out of know a beast of chaos came to him like the loyal dog it was, with snarling teeth and drooling gums it was larger then any dog you'd ever see.
The horseman climbed upon the beast and with a "YAH!" they rode off. He rode off with the sound of pain, chaos and cries, left behind in his insane rampage; the swinging of his sword brought death and destruction. Those who lived, looked upon each other, with hate in the eyes, blame, insult, and violence took love away from once brothers. Neighbors replaced their kindness with hate, sons turned on their fathers, and peace was stripped from the earth and sent ablaze with the inferno.
The rider swung his blood drenched piece of metal towards the distracted who we're too busy fighting each other and pulled out a horrific gun with one single jagged talon. He set his sword back into the sheath on his back and fire his weapon at the walls of buildings, crumbling them down to ground with falling debris crushing bystanders who got in the way.
The Horse man looked upon his work, smoke rose from the fires that were created, bodies lied in dirt and mutilated with bullets, sounds of sirens filled the air and grieving was the only emotion felt by the population who lived to tell the tale.
Mission accomplished…
How Demons Eat
Through the earths crust I surface, horns
and all. My hooves pressing giant craters into the ground, my drooling maw
dripping onto your concrete sidewalks, melting in seconds, I look at all of you,
the look of fright in your eyes sets me in a craze, seeing you covered in
flames like barbeque sizzling over coals.
Like a glazed pigs with a caramel apple
shoved in their mouths, surrounded with bake beans, grease drenched baby legs
and duck covered in seasoning and cooked in blood all while being slowly
roasted over the fires of hell and being rained on by cooking oil. Just makes
my mouth water even more at the sight and smell of it.
You start to run, I like it when they run, like
a stampede of confused wildebeest being chased by predators, trampling over each
other to get away from lil’ ol’ me. I join in on the chase with a wicked grin
on my face, and a whipping forked tail slicing and dicing nearby prey. The
feeling of the thick chucky red plasma grinding into the ground, into the
creases of my hooves is a wonderful feeling. Chasing you all down the streets,
ramming and running you all over with a look of satisfaction; blood splattering
over my face, the smell of metallic liquid gives me pleasure.
Breaking spines, under the weight of my hooves,
impaling bodies like kabobs with your stomachs and intestines hanging off like
party streamers on walls or boas off trees. My head thrashes from left to right
like a bull, painting streets and walls red with your blood. The streets let
out squishes and squirts from the puddles of blood and piles of organs, I
continue to hear the screams of running bodies of flesh, I can’t help myself, I
must continue. Dashing ahead of the crowd and skidding like a metal
transportation object I look hungrily at the crowd, getting a buzz out from
looking at there scared little faces, even listening to the roaring buzz in my
throat, small metal teeth poker through my throat each one showing and then
disappearing; continuing in a endless cycle. The sound of coughing haggis
echoes from my throat, the sight of an elongated object roughly slides out of
my mouth, resting on my incisors making sparks between my teeth of the rough
iron teeth and my own bright white fangs.
In your confusion, you question what is
real anymore, but before you have time, you are interrupted by the roaring buzz
of the cycle of metal teeth again, a small sparkling show appears from my
mouth; with a slight smirk, I charge full speed with the “lance” in my mouth.
The screaming begins again, which makes me pleased. Swinging my mechanical
shredding tongue around, human corpses fly into the air like meaty rag dolls.
Just for the hell of it, I smash a few humans with the buzzing teeth spinning
object and cut them in hath! The sounds of crushing bone, moist organs flopping
around like rubber and blood splashing, and spreading around like a can of red spray
paint. Oh what a sensation this is, the feeling of blood between ones fingers
and the rush of killing. I can only imagine how far I could take this.
The whole city is painted crimson, the
drains flow like rivers, corpses lay the streets, torn to shreds, unknown to
which limb belongs to which body, bones broken, skulls shattered, guts ripped
from the carcasses of the same bodies, brain splattered into grey watery
matter. Rubbery chunks ripped apart and every body dyed red.
I wish I would get out of the habit of
playing with my food, but then again, some habits are too fun to break…
Labels:
blood,
demons,
gore,
murder,
short story
Monday, November 18, 2013
Dragons cave by Megan Doss
Dragons Live
I was Taking a Hike up though the dark, damp, forest in the middle of the full moon of night. I was compelled to do this but I guess I had to... I was heading up to the “Cave of the Dragon” as my 'used to be' fellow villagers has always put it. Apparently legend says a dragon dwells there,well I will be the judge of that and prove to those bone heads there is NOTHING there but dust and probably old bones from prisoners. I will show them all that dragons do not exist in this world! Or any other for that matter! That is why I am taking this long hike to the Dragons Lair...
I finally came up on the damn cave that got me kicked out. I entered slowly taking caution,not because I was scared,because some wild animals may come out and attack. I held out a torch in-front of me that shone across piles upon piles of bones ranging from animal to human! In the middle of the cave was the largest pile,a pile of bones,gold,silver,precious gems and silks of all kinds.
On top of the enormous pile was an fearsome obsidian and amethyst scaled dragon with glowing red eyes that pierced into my very soul,breaking any pride I had left in my body like how its giant, sharp, mortifying claws could my brittle bones. The scales seemed to be shined and sharpened to a razor blade point,sharp enough to cut skin like butter! His mortifying teeth struck fear into the center of my heart!
I froze in fear,trembling like a autumn leave in the wind holding on desperately to the branch like I am to my sanity. I did not move fearing for my very life but I made a vital mistake and dropped the torch,the dragon snapped its head around to meet my gaze,oh how I sat there like a lamb on the slaughter table! The beast took no time to snatch me up in its giant crushing claws squeezing every bone in my body like a python with its prey. I gave out a sharp cry of pain,sounding more like a little girl than a man. Its beastly red eyes glared into my soul like I was face to face with the devil himself. All I could see in it's eyes was the mindless cruelty of a animal starring down at me,like the lion and the lamb...I am going to be this beast's dinner.
The next think I know is the beast's nostrils flaring and blue smoke rising from them,licks of flames escaping from its mouth. I closed my eyes and ducked my head away as the dragon blew a fire ball aimed directly at me. I could feel my own flesh burn off,all I could smell was my own burning flesh! Finally the flames stop barring at my raw singed fleshed that seemed to be rolling off my muscle and bone like molasses. I could feel my eyes trying to fall out of my sockets,i tried desperately to hold onto my eye sight but I was starting to go blind,shagged screaming and cried escaped what was left of my throat.
“I....I'm sorry...everyone...”
I managed to whisper out as the dragon's sharp dagger like teeth ripped into my arms and shoulder,ripping me apart like a barbarian would a turkey leg! I shrieked out in pain as loud as I could in hopes someone could hear me though I know I am to far gone to be saved...and the last think I see is the throat of the beast and then...darkness...I cannot see..I cannot feel..and my heart stops as I slide down into the belly of the beast.
I was Taking a Hike up though the dark, damp, forest in the middle of the full moon of night. I was compelled to do this but I guess I had to... I was heading up to the “Cave of the Dragon” as my 'used to be' fellow villagers has always put it. Apparently legend says a dragon dwells there,well I will be the judge of that and prove to those bone heads there is NOTHING there but dust and probably old bones from prisoners. I will show them all that dragons do not exist in this world! Or any other for that matter! That is why I am taking this long hike to the Dragons Lair...
I finally came up on the damn cave that got me kicked out. I entered slowly taking caution,not because I was scared,because some wild animals may come out and attack. I held out a torch in-front of me that shone across piles upon piles of bones ranging from animal to human! In the middle of the cave was the largest pile,a pile of bones,gold,silver,precious gems and silks of all kinds.
On top of the enormous pile was an fearsome obsidian and amethyst scaled dragon with glowing red eyes that pierced into my very soul,breaking any pride I had left in my body like how its giant, sharp, mortifying claws could my brittle bones. The scales seemed to be shined and sharpened to a razor blade point,sharp enough to cut skin like butter! His mortifying teeth struck fear into the center of my heart!
I froze in fear,trembling like a autumn leave in the wind holding on desperately to the branch like I am to my sanity. I did not move fearing for my very life but I made a vital mistake and dropped the torch,the dragon snapped its head around to meet my gaze,oh how I sat there like a lamb on the slaughter table! The beast took no time to snatch me up in its giant crushing claws squeezing every bone in my body like a python with its prey. I gave out a sharp cry of pain,sounding more like a little girl than a man. Its beastly red eyes glared into my soul like I was face to face with the devil himself. All I could see in it's eyes was the mindless cruelty of a animal starring down at me,like the lion and the lamb...I am going to be this beast's dinner.
The next think I know is the beast's nostrils flaring and blue smoke rising from them,licks of flames escaping from its mouth. I closed my eyes and ducked my head away as the dragon blew a fire ball aimed directly at me. I could feel my own flesh burn off,all I could smell was my own burning flesh! Finally the flames stop barring at my raw singed fleshed that seemed to be rolling off my muscle and bone like molasses. I could feel my eyes trying to fall out of my sockets,i tried desperately to hold onto my eye sight but I was starting to go blind,shagged screaming and cried escaped what was left of my throat.
“I....I'm sorry...everyone...”
I managed to whisper out as the dragon's sharp dagger like teeth ripped into my arms and shoulder,ripping me apart like a barbarian would a turkey leg! I shrieked out in pain as loud as I could in hopes someone could hear me though I know I am to far gone to be saved...and the last think I see is the throat of the beast and then...darkness...I cannot see..I cannot feel..and my heart stops as I slide down into the belly of the beast.
Vile of Blood - Megan Doss
The Vile...Of Blood
It was a normal,sunny day when the bell rang. I got up lazily from my chair and headed toward the door and opened it tiredly,I barely any time to speak the word hello before a package was shoved in my face and a weird monotone voiced rang out,”Package for Emily...*he paused* Grund.” I shoved down the package and signed the little clipboard before going back inside excited,I never got a package before. I rushed into my room to open the package.
I quickly but carefully opened up the package,to find that in the sea of Styrofoam packaging was a small vile of blood,with a tiny tag attached that said,”Drink me” on it like something from Alice in Wonderland,only more Vampire like and evil. I hesitated with the vile but lifted it to the light to examine it,my breathing became heavy and my eyes began to quiver,I was terrible queasy at the site of blood.
I carefully opened it and sniffed the contents in curiosity,bad idea on my part but I digress...I held my nose and grimaced,”this is going to suck...” I whispered under my breath and stuck the vile up to my lips and threw my head back,downing the veil's contents. As soon as the cold,salty liquid slid down my throat I began to feel faint..The last think I remember is a bat flying into my window and a poof of smoke...and a dark silhouette standing over me...chuckling darkly.
I woke up in a dark,damp,rusty cage...My head was throbbing in agony...I groaned and ran my hand along my neck. I froze in shock...there were two small marks on my neck...like a snake bite of a sort. I took a shuddery breath as I sat up weakly,my hand on my neck. It took a minute for my eyes to get adjusted to the dark dim room. I took the time to examine my surroundings. I was in a dark,dimly lit room,There seemed to be a path leading up to my cage which was suspended from the ceiling above spikes,leading into the darkness to what I figured was a door leading out.
I hadn't noticed the figure standing in front of my cage.
“Hello...Emily..”, A deep voice called out as a tall,lean man in a dark black,grey,and maroon three piece suite with a black and gold walking stick came into the light of the dim room,his yellow-red eyes glowing though his dark black hair.
My blue gray eyes widened as I sat there in fear,shaking like a helpless cold,wet,abandoned dog,”W-Who are you...? Where am I!?” I asked hesitantly,fearing the answer.
The man chuckled,a dark,sinister chuckle and replied,”In my castle of course...you see...I have been lacking company and have been watching you for some time now...you seemed so bored in your little town house..” He grinned and continued,”so I decided to make you my personal servant...a butler if you will” He smiled widely,with a gleam of mischief in his yellow-red eyes.
,”W-What! I-I cant! I couldn't! I don't even know how to be a butler...! I don't even know your name..” I hastily replied.
The Mysterious man smiled sweetly and chuckled,”There will be time for names later...for now you may call me master...I will teach you what to do and your daily routine from now and until it is changed...understand?”.He said sternly.
I replied with a nod and and fell silent...
To Be Continued...
It was a normal,sunny day when the bell rang. I got up lazily from my chair and headed toward the door and opened it tiredly,I barely any time to speak the word hello before a package was shoved in my face and a weird monotone voiced rang out,”Package for Emily...*he paused* Grund.” I shoved down the package and signed the little clipboard before going back inside excited,I never got a package before. I rushed into my room to open the package.
I quickly but carefully opened up the package,to find that in the sea of Styrofoam packaging was a small vile of blood,with a tiny tag attached that said,”Drink me” on it like something from Alice in Wonderland,only more Vampire like and evil. I hesitated with the vile but lifted it to the light to examine it,my breathing became heavy and my eyes began to quiver,I was terrible queasy at the site of blood.
I carefully opened it and sniffed the contents in curiosity,bad idea on my part but I digress...I held my nose and grimaced,”this is going to suck...” I whispered under my breath and stuck the vile up to my lips and threw my head back,downing the veil's contents. As soon as the cold,salty liquid slid down my throat I began to feel faint..The last think I remember is a bat flying into my window and a poof of smoke...and a dark silhouette standing over me...chuckling darkly.
I woke up in a dark,damp,rusty cage...My head was throbbing in agony...I groaned and ran my hand along my neck. I froze in shock...there were two small marks on my neck...like a snake bite of a sort. I took a shuddery breath as I sat up weakly,my hand on my neck. It took a minute for my eyes to get adjusted to the dark dim room. I took the time to examine my surroundings. I was in a dark,dimly lit room,There seemed to be a path leading up to my cage which was suspended from the ceiling above spikes,leading into the darkness to what I figured was a door leading out.
I hadn't noticed the figure standing in front of my cage.
“Hello...Emily..”, A deep voice called out as a tall,lean man in a dark black,grey,and maroon three piece suite with a black and gold walking stick came into the light of the dim room,his yellow-red eyes glowing though his dark black hair.
My blue gray eyes widened as I sat there in fear,shaking like a helpless cold,wet,abandoned dog,”W-Who are you...? Where am I!?” I asked hesitantly,fearing the answer.
The man chuckled,a dark,sinister chuckle and replied,”In my castle of course...you see...I have been lacking company and have been watching you for some time now...you seemed so bored in your little town house..” He grinned and continued,”so I decided to make you my personal servant...a butler if you will” He smiled widely,with a gleam of mischief in his yellow-red eyes.
,”W-What! I-I cant! I couldn't! I don't even know how to be a butler...! I don't even know your name..” I hastily replied.
The Mysterious man smiled sweetly and chuckled,”There will be time for names later...for now you may call me master...I will teach you what to do and your daily routine from now and until it is changed...understand?”.He said sternly.
I replied with a nod and and fell silent...
To Be Continued...
The Cave By Daniel Rodillosso
The horrible
conclusion which had been gradually intruding itself upon my confused and
reluctant mind was now an awful certainty. I was lost, completely, hopelessly
lost in the vast and labyrinthine recess of the Mammoth Cave. Turn as I might,
in no direction could my straining vision seize on any object capable of
serving as a guidepost to set me on the outward path. That nevermore should I
behold the blessed light of day, or scan the pleasant bills and dales of the
beautiful world outside, my reason could no longer entertain the slightest
unbelief. Hope had departed. Yet, indoctrinated as I was by a life of
philosophical study, I derived no small measure of satisfaction from my
unimpassioned demeanour; for although I had frequently read of the wild
frenzies into which were thrown the victims of similar situations, I
experienced none of these, but stood quiet as soon as I clearly realised the
loss of my bearings.
Nor did the thought that I had probably
wandered beyond the utmost limits of an ordinary search cause me to abandon my
composure even for a moment. If I must die, I reflected, then was this terrible
yet majestic cavern as welcome a sepulchre as that which any churchyard might
afford, a conception which carried with it more of tranquillity than of
despair.
Starving would prove my ultimate fate; of this
I was certain. Some, I knew, had gone mad under circumstances such as these,
but I felt that this end would not be mine. My disaster was the result of no
fault save my own, since unknown to the guide I had separated myself from the
regular party of sightseers; and, wandering for over an hour in forbidden
avenues of the cave, had found myself unable to retrace the devious windings
which I had pursued since forsaking my companions.
Already my torch had begun to expire; soon I
would be enveloped by the total and almost palpable blackness of the bowels of
the earth. As I stood in the waning, unsteady light, I idly wondered over the
exact circumstances of my coming end. I remembered the accounts which I had
heard of the colony of consumptives, who, taking their residence in this
gigantic grotto to find health from the apparently salubrious air of the
underground world, with its steady, uniform temperature, pure air, and peaceful
quiet, had found, instead, death in strange and ghastly form. I had seen the
sad remains of their ill-made cottages as I passed them by with the party, and
had wondered what unnatural influence a long sojourn in this immense and silent
cavern would exert upon one as healthy and vigorous as I. Now, I grimly told
myself, my opportunity for settling this point had arrived, provided that want
of food should not bring me too speedy a departure from this life.
As the last fitful rays of my torch faded into
obscurity, I resolved to leave no stone unturned, no possible means of escape
neglected; so, summoning all the powers possessed by my lungs, I set up a
series of loud shoutings, in the vain hope of attracting the attention of the
guide by my clamour. Yet, as I called, I believed in my heart that my cries
were to no purpose, and that my voice, magnified and reflected by the
numberless ramparts of the black maze about me, fell upon no ears save my own.
All at once, however, my attention was fixed
with a start as I fancied that I heard the sound of soft approaching steps on
the rocky floor of the cavern.
Was my deliverance about to be accomplished so
soon? Had, then, all my horrible apprehensions been for naught, and was the
guide, having marked my unwarranted absence from the party, following my course
and seeking me out in this limestone labyrinth? Whilst these joyful queries
arose in my brain, I was on the point of renewing my cries, in order that my
discovery might come the sooner, when in an instant my delight was turned to
horror as I listened; for my ever acute ear, now sharpened in even greater
degree by the complete silence of the cave, bore to my benumbed understanding
the unexpected and dreadful knowledge that these footfalls were not like
those of any mortal man. In the unearthly stillness of this subterranean
region, the tread of the booted guide would have sounded like a series of sharp
and incisive blows. These impacts were soft, and stealthy, as of the paws of
some feline. Besides, when I listened carefully, I seemed to trace the falls
of four instead of two feet.
I was now convinced that I had by my own cries
aroused and attracted some wild beast, perhaps a mountain lion which had
accidentally strayed within the cave. Perhaps, I considered, the Almighty had
chosen for me a swifter and more merciful death than that of hunger; yet the
instinct of self-preservation, never wholly dormant, was stirred in my breast,
and though escape from the on-coming peril might but spare me for a sterner and
more lingering end, I determined nevertheless to part with my life at as high a
price as I could command. Strange as it may seem, my mind conceived of no
intent on the part of the visitor save that of hostility. Accordingly, I became
very quiet, in the hope that the unknown beast would, in the absence of a
guiding sound, lose its direction as had I, and thus pass me by. But this hope
was not destined for realisation, for the strange footfalls steadily advanced,
the animal evidently having obtained my scent, which in an atmosphere so
absolutely free from all distracting influences as is that of the cave, could
doubtless be followed at great distance.
Seeing therefore that I must be armed for
defense against an uncanny and unseen attack in the dark, I groped about me the
largest of the fragments of rock which were strewn upon all parts of the floor
of the cavern in the vicinity, and grasping one in each hand for immediate use,
awaited with resignation the inevitable result. Meanwhile the hideous pattering
of the paws drew near. Certainly, the conduct of the creature was exceedingly
strange. Most of the time, the tread seemed to be that of a quadruped, walking
with a singular lack of unison betwixt hind and fore feet, yet at
brief and infrequent intervals I fancied that but two feet were engaged in the
process of locomotion. I wondered what species of animal was to confront me; it
must, I thought, be some unfortunate beast who had paid for its curiosity to
investigate one of the entrances of the fearful grotto with a life-long
confinement in its interminable recesses. It doubtless obtained as food the
eyeless fish, bats and rats of the cave, as well as some of the ordinary fish
that are wafted in at every freshet of Green River, which communicates in some
occult manner with the waters of the cave. I occupied my terrible vigil with
grotesque conjectures of what alteration cave life might have wrought in the
physical structure of the beast, remembering the awful appearances ascribed by
local tradition to the consumptives who had died after long residence in the
cave. Then I remembered with a start that, even should I succeed in felling my
antagonist, I should never behold its form, as my torch had long since
been extinct, and I was entirely unprovided with matches. The tension on my
brain now became frightful. My disordered fancy conjured up hideous and
fearsome shapes from the sinister darkness that surrounded me, and that
actually seemed to press upon my body. Nearer, nearer, the dreadful footfalls
approached. It seemed that I must give vent to a piercing scream, yet had I
been sufficiently irresolute to attempt such a thing, my voice could scarce
have responded. I was petrified, rooted to the spot. I doubted if my right arm
would allow me to hurl its missile at the oncoming thing when the crucial
moment should arrive. Now the steady pat, pat, of the steps was close
at hand; now very close. I could hear the laboured breathing of the
animal, and terror-struck as I was, I realised that it must have come from a
considerable distance, and was correspondingly fatigued. Suddenly the spell
broke. My right hand, guided by my ever trustworthy sense of hearing, threw
with full force the sharp-angled bit of limestone which it contained, toward
that point in the darkness from which emanated the breathing and pattering,
and, wonderful to relate, it nearly reached its goal, for I heard the thing
jump, landing at a distance away, where it seemed to pause.
Having readjusted my aim, I discharged my
second missile, this time most effectively, for with a flood of joy I listened
as the creature fell in what sounded like a complete collapse and evidently
remained prone and unmoving. Almost overpowered by the great relief which
rushed over me, I reeled back against the wall. The breathing continued, in
heavy, gasping inhalations and expirations, whence I realised that I had no
more than wounded the creature. And now all desire to examine the thing ceased.
At last something allied to groundless, superstitious fear had entered my
brain, and I did not approach the body, nor did I continue to cast stones at it
in order to complete the extinction of its life. Instead, I ran at full speed
in what was, as nearly as I could estimate in my frenzied condition, the
direction from which I had come. Suddenly I heard a sound or rather, a regular
succession of sounds. In another Instant they had resolved themselves into a
series of sharp, metallic clicks. This time there was no doubt. It was the
guide. And then I shouted, yelled, screamed, even shrieked with joy as I
beheld in the vaulted arches above the faint and glimmering effulgence which I
knew to be the reflected light of an approaching torch. I ran to meet the
flare, and before I could completely understand what had occurred, was lying
upon the ground at the feet of the guide, embracing his boots and gibbering.
despite my boasted reserve, in a most meaningless and idiotic manner, pouring
out my terrible story, and at the same time overwhelming my auditor with
protestations of gratitude. At length, I awoke to something like my normal
consciousness. The guide had noted my absence upon the arrival of the party at
the entrance of the cave, and had, from his own intuitive sense of direction,
proceeded to make a thorough canvass of by-passages just ahead of where he had
last spoken to me, locating my whereabouts after a quest of about four hours.
By the time he had related this to me, I,
emboldened by his torch and his company, began to reflect upon the strange
beast which I had wounded but a short distance back in the darkness, and
suggested that we ascertain, by the flashlight's aid, what manner of creature
was my victim. Accordingly I retraced my steps, this time with a courage born
of companionship, to the scene of my terrible experience. Soon we descried a
white object upon the floor, an object whiter even than the gleaming limestone
itself. Cautiously advancing, we gave vent to a simultaneous ejaculation of
wonderment, for of all the unnatural monsters either of us had in our lifetimes
beheld, this was in surpassing degree the strangest. It appeared to be an
anthropoid ape of large proportions, escaped, perhaps, from some itinerant
menagerie. Its hair was snow-white, a thing due no doubt to the bleaching
action of a long existence within the inky confines of the cave, but it was
also surprisingly thin, being indeed largely absent save on the head, where it
was of such length and abundance that it fell over the shoulders in
considerable profusion. The face was turned away from us, as the creature lay
almost directly upon it. The inclination of the limbs was very singular,
explaining, however, the alternation in their use which I bad before noted,
whereby the beast used sometimes all four, and on other occasions but two for
its progress. From the tips of the fingers or toes, long rat-like claws
extended. The hands or feet were not prehensile, a fact that I ascribed to that
long residence in the cave which, as I before mentioned, seemed evident from
the all-pervading and almost unearthly whiteness so characteristic of the whole
anatomy. No tail seemed to be present.
The respiration had now grown very feeble, and
the guide had drawn his pistol with the evident intent of despatching the
creature, when a suddensound emitted by the latter caused the weapon to
fall unused. The sound was of a nature difficult to describe. It was not like
the normal note of any known species of simian, and I wonder if this unnatural
quality were not the result of a long continued and complete silence, broken by
the sensations produced by the advent of the light, a thing which the beast
could not have seen since its first entrance into the cave. The sound, which I
might feebly attempt to classify as a kind of deep-tone chattering, was faintly
continued.
All at once a fleeting spasm of energy seemed
to pass through the frame of the beast. The paws went through a convulsive
motion, and the limbs contracted. With a jerk, the white body rolled over so
that its face was turned in our direction. For a moment I was so struck with
horror at the eyes thus revealed that I noted nothing else. They were black,
those eyes, deep jetty black, in hideous contrast to the snow-white hair and
flesh. Like those of other cave denizens, they were deeply sunken in their
orbits, and were entirely destitute of iris. As I looked more closely, I saw
that they were set in a face less prognathous than that of the average ape, and
infinitely less hairy. The nose was quite distinct. As we gazed upon the
uncanny sight presented to our vision, the thick lips opened, and
several sounds issued from them, after which
the thing relaxed in death.
The guide clutched my coat sleeve and trembled
so violently that the light shook fitfully, casting weird moving shadows on the
walls.
I made no motion, but stood rigidly still, my
horrified eyes fixed upon the floor ahead.
The fear left, and wonder, awe, compassion,
and reverence succeeded in its place, for the sounds uttered by the
stricken figure that lay stretched out on the limestone had told us the awesome
truth. The creature I had killed, the strange beast of the unfathomed cave,
was, or had at one time been a MAN!!!
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