Into The Abyss

Avelina

There were rustling sounds of old leaves and squeaking rats, accompanied by a pungent odour, so vile it jolted me out of the deep darkness that had consumed me. My entire body ached, likely from lying on this unforgiving, rock-hard surface for what felt like an eternity.

I managed to sit up, my muscles depleted of any strength. My movements were slow and laboured, hindered further by the putrid stench that seemed to intensify as my consciousness returned. As my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I surveyed my surroundings—a cell cloaked in filth and layers of dust. The limited visibility made it difficult to discern anything clearly, but I could hear an unfamiliar sound that almost...resembled the heavy paws of some monstrous creature.

My heart raced within the confines of my chest as darkness enveloped the entire space. I was afraid of the dark.

A bone-chilling shiver slithered down my spine, not solely due to the extreme cold that permeated the air, plunging temperatures below the threshold of human survival, but also because of the strange fear that clenched my chest.

It was as if my memories had become entangled, twisted into an impenetrable knot, leaving me with nothing but fragmented glimpses of my childhood. Images of myself, running freely in open fields, playing football with my father, the pure excitement his gifted chocolates would give me, or his soothing lullabies when sleep eluded me.

Dad...

"Dad," I sobbed, my voice quivering with anguish, tears blurring my vision without giving me a reason why.

There was an unsettling sense of forgotten knowledge lingering within me, a gaping void I couldn't precisely identify but that gnawed at my soul.

My dishevelled hair mirrored the chaos within and a layer of dirt marred my skin. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm me, barely allowing me to keep my eyes open.

"Dad, where are you?" I pleaded, mustering every ounce of strength left within me as I stood up. "Dad...please, I can't bear this any longer. It feels...wrong."

Unknowingly, tears streamed down my face. My memories remained locked away, hidden in some elusive corner of my mind, and all I knew was that I had lost something profoundly precious. The pain that weighed upon my chest was relentless, stabbing my heart like a merciless dagger, drawing blood that flowed uncontrollably.

Why couldn't I remember anything?

Suddenly, my gaze fell on my dress—a white slit dress, the one I had bought in Sydney for...

And then it hit me.

My dad's birthday party...

The memories flooded back with a vengeance, crashing into my mind like a relentless tide. The force of it all was enough to snatch my balance, and I leaned against the wall for support. My hands trembled uncontrollably, and my breath came in erratic gasps as the events unfolded before my eyes.

Those monsters...

They killed my dad.

They...killed him.

They had taken away the only person I had in this world— My dad...my hero.

Why am I even alive? Why didn't they kill me?

"Dad!" I cried out and I collapsed to my knees, overwhelmed by the grief that none could ever imagine, "I'm so sorry, Dad. I couldn't save you. I failed as your daughter!"

It all felt like a never-ending nightmare, a twisted reality I could never have imagined. I had never anticipated a day when I would mourn my father's brutal murder.

"This can't be real," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Maybe it's just a terrible dream. Yes, it must be a dream."

Determined, I rose to my feet once again, a sense of urgency propelling me, "I have to wake up. I need to find my dad!"

I began to sprint around the confines of the cell, its small size yet it felt like I was trapped in a loophole.

"Why won't I wake up? What is happening?!" The remnants of control slipped through my fingers, leaving me helpless and tears flowed freely down my face, "What the hell is going on?!"

"Dad, please wake me up! I'm trapped here," I pleaded through sobs, pounding on the unyielding door of the cell. In my desperation, I believed that this prison was the source of my torment, the barrier keeping me locked within this nightmare.

If only I could break free, and step beyond those confines, I would return to the safety of my home, to my dad.

"I need to get out!" My sobs intensified as I continued my desperate attempts to break through the solid metal door of the cell. Chains wrapped tightly around the lock, adding to the weight of my confinement.

"Someone, please open the door!" My pleas grew more frantic, the atmosphere thickening with an unsettling presence. I could hear sounds, not sure who they belonged to but I was not here alone.

Where was I? If this was a dream, then why could I feel others' presence?

"Help me, please! Open the door!"

The fear gnawed at my walls, and my insides felt like ice— cold and heavy.

I had to escape. My dad must be waiting for me, somewhere beyond these walls...

A surge of unexplainable rage coursed through my veins, overwhelming and uncontrollable. I couldn't comprehend what entity had taken hold of me, but something primal and fierce had seized my being. My hands transformed into claws, and a searing heat erupted within me. Instinctively, I recoiled, unsure of the power pulsating through my very core. My fists clenched, and my breaths morphed into wild, animalistic sounds, foreign even to my wolf's presence.

In a sudden outburst, a shout escaped my lips, and as if guided by an unseen force, my fists released their grip. "Open the door!"

In a fraction of a second, the door flew open, propelled by an unseen energy. A gust of wind brushed against me, leaving me dumbfounded by the inexplicable occurrence. Whatever had taken control of me vanished, dissipating into the ether.

I didn't get the chance to give it a second thought, as my body sprinted into motion, and I made a run outside. An ominous darkness draped my surroundings, making it nearly impossible to discern anything.

Yet, I pressed on— There must be a way out. Maybe it was just a neverending dream that was trying to ensnare me forever. I needed to find the door, wherever it may be.

However, a paralysing fear gripped me as something hit against my foot, freezing me in place. With trepidation, my gaze slowly lowered, and a blood-curdling scream escaped my lips. I took multiple steps backwards till my back pressed against the wall.

Before me lay a decaying corpse, its eyes vacant sockets, and its body grotesquely mutilated. Heart and liver exposed, partially devoured, it was a nauseating sight that twisted my stomach in knots, making me want to retch.

Suddenly, I felt something cold slowly dropping on my head— A cold liquid began trickling over my head, drop by chilling drop. I shuddered as the frigid trail snaked down my forehead. With trembling hands, I reached up, my fingertips encountering the sticky, metallic substance. It was red, unmistakably.... blood.

My eyes looked upside, and horror-struck my very soul as I took in the sight of the severed head of a man hung grotesquely from a hook, taking the place of a torch.

No words could escape my lips. I could not even process how I was supposed to react. Wide-eyed, I stood there, shaken to my core, the realization of the sinister and macabre environment sinking in. Just as I contemplated turning to flee, a loud thud reverberated behind me. The sound of paws hitting the ground, followed by a low, guttural growl, echoed through the air.

Gasping for breath, I turned around, instantly regretting the decision.

There stood a rogue, a colossal creature compared to its ordinary counterparts. Blood dripped from its jagged fangs that had a hand between its grip, a limb that belonged to an unknown victim who was certainly dead.

It was evident that the rogue's monstrous growth was fueled by the consumption of flesh and blood.

Its black fur was matted with dirt and caked with mud, while its ink-black eyes seemed devoid of any humanity. The smell coming off of him was nothing but a putrid reminiscent of decaying flesh and rotting bodies.

The realisation struck me with full force: this was no dream; it was a terrifying reality. These monsters had cast me into this hell to ensure my demise, and they might very well succeed.

Taking cautious steps backwards, I clung to the fabric of my dress, my hands trembling with fear. My heart raced so rapidly that even the rogue creature seemed to be aware of it. It approached me, dropping the severed hand, mirroring my slow movements.

I need to shift or else I won't be able to fight it.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Wake up, we need to fight," I silently implored, trying to awaken my feral.

At first, I felt the sensation of my claws beginning to emerge from beneath my skin, and a surge of power coursing through my body. But just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. My claws were abruptly retracted, leaving behind painful cuts on my fingertips that now bled. I lost my balance, instinctively reaching out to steady myself against the wall.

Oh no....

I was unable to shift and I was trapped with no escape route behind me and the rogue blocking the only visible path.

Why can't I shift?

I made another desperate attempt to will the transformation, trying to force my claws and crannies to emerge, but once again, my efforts proved useless.

What was going on?

As the rogue drew closer, the hunger in its eyes became unmistakable. It would show no mercy, tearing apart my limbs and draining the very life from my body.

Its body language transformed into that of a relentless predator, calculating its attack. I could sense its focus shifting to my leg, understanding that crippling me would facilitate its feast.

Panic surged through me as I look at my surroundings, desperately searching for any avenue of escape. But there was none.

I was about to be murdered by this monster.

A trembling sigh left my mouth— Maybe it was better for me to die. Those monsters had killed my father already.

I closed my eyes, fisting my hands to my side, waiting for the impact— This was it. This had to be the end— Perhaps one that I'd never wished yet an end, anyways.

Brace yourself, Avelina. It's gonna end soon.

The rogue's growl echoed, a leap towards my end. However, it never reached me. I stood frozen in place, awaiting my fate, but a loud sound broke through—a brutal tearing of flesh, punctuated by piercing strikes followed by the rogue's cries of agony.

My eyes flew open, and I saw the last thing I had expected.