A Not So Silent NightAfter that night, I didn’t see Stripes again. Everything was finally normal. Stripes' belongings were packed away in a box and stored in a cupboard to most likely never be looked at again. The family photos always felt a little bit empty without him, but it was as if he never existed in the first place.I always prepared myself for him to come flying up the stairs each week that passed, ranting on about how we had ruined him, but it never came.Stripes was gone.Even though we were a family now, I still couldn’t bring myself to call these people ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’.What if they didn't want me, like my real mother; or tossed me into the back of a van, like Stripes? I didn't want to get too attached, just in case.Royce and Rolf had the same issue, but only because they still had their parents around. The man with the black fingers who had been at the Base doors before my Hunt turned out to be their ‘father.’ Gerald was the one who found the twins out on
ConsequencesKorvin was already walking down the top of the road when we exited the house.The creature truly was elegant and didn’t seem phased by the commotion on either side of him. He was easily as big as a horse and covered in short glistening silver fur. His black forked feet lightly touched the ground as he walked, making it seem like he was weightless.Around his neck was a silver mane that matched the masses of fur around his wrists and ankles. Each mass had white balls forming a halo around each joint. There was a larger ball on each of his thighs that was the size of a soccer ball.Korvin’s long snake-like tail easily reached his shoulder blades. It curved when some children ran up to him to hang baubles from his gigantic swirling antlers that reached his flank. I could see thin, black sticks of incense poking up from tiny holes that had been drilled along them. His soft purple eyes looked into each child’s, before they ran back to the crowds.The spiralling gre
The bloodthirsty prisonerInstead of waking to freedom, I woke to everything around me darkened so I couldn’t see my surroundings at all.I wasn’t in the cage anymore. Instead, I was lying on cold tiles in an empty room. To my right and left, thick glass walls had been placed, but each had six tiny breathing-holes drilled in. Each one was only big enough for a finger to pass through, so escape was not possible. I did notice that there was the faint outline of a door in the right side of the glass in front of me. There was nothing blocking my path to a vast aisle of tiles that was brightly lit between this row of rooms and the next across it. If I could get to that door, I could get out of here.I looked down at my broken arm, to see it had been cleaned and shaved. There was no blood, only stitches, where the bullet holes had been. A thin, white webbing had been anchored to my arm to strengthen it and alleviate any pain.With tender steps, I went to inspect the glass door
OmenDiesel became my mentor in teaching me the ways of my new life.Since time no longer existed, each day was broken into three sections; morning, afternoon, and night.Mornings were dedicated to fighting the strangers that walked through the front doors. If I didn’t fight, I didn’t eat; it was that simple. The Food Givers always made sure I was fed to the point of vomiting, so I wouldn’t murder the visitors. Morning was the time for our fortnightly bath as well, which was just water blasted through the roof to fill the room up to a metre. The water was brown, but it was the only thing I had to soak in for the day. If people wanted to fight while you were bathing, you lost the opportunity to wash for another fortnight. You couldn’t bathe in the waterhole out the back since people drank from it. Tainting it would be the end of our only water source.Afternoons were for talking with our neighbours and forming bonds with the people we saw every day. It was also the scheduled
The Dead WolfIf I had to describe being eaten alive, I would say it didn’t really feel that bad.I was anticipating it to be a lot more painful; with the screaming and bone breaking, but it was actually quite the opposite. I couldn’t see anything at all; perhaps that’s why it was so relaxing?Being eaten alive was relaxing; never imagined I think of it like that.I could feel the whole left side of my body was peeled open and disembowelled. My guts were quite soft and comforting to lay in. They acted as a warm blanket under my face and aching ribs while my exposed spine bathed me in blood, as it was pierced with the female’s sharp teeth.Instead of mauling me, she was nibbling along either side of my spine, which only made the blood cascade over my back and swamp the guts piled at my ribs.I must have looked like a mess just lying here. Half of me spread on the floor, while the other half was being held in by what was already beside me. And the blood! I could feel it all
RevelationsWhen morning came, we were released by the Beora, who greeted us both with warm smiles and bagged food for us to take with us. The front door was open once again, but his time we weren’t being forced out of it into the merciless environment. We were free to go whenever we wanted.“I’m sorry for last night” the Beora grimaced, when we stood before him “things got out of hand.”“We know” Orlando shot me a glare “but all is forgiven.”“I packed some lotion for your throat” the Beora turned to me now “you have to understand I was only acting out to protect what I have left.”I didn’t agree at all but nodded anyway. Anything to keep the peace between us.“Your Vixen and children are safe now” Orlando smiled “you have nothing to worry about anymore.”The Beora clasped his hands together in joy then bought them to either side of Orlando’s face, so he could touch his forehead to Orlando’s for a moment.“I’m truly grateful for all you have done.”“We had our differe
The Blood OathWhen night set in, the rest of the family went to get settled down somewhere secluded. The transparent, blinking barriers overhead also subdivided the town so that no-one could pass through, meaning that I could finally make use of some time with Sylvia.Sylvia agreed to join me to follow the water’s edge around, each of us marvelling at the colourful rocks running all the way to the end.The sea spray from the waves was refreshing on my fur that was chilled by the crisp air. The sky was dusted with glittering stars and blinking beckons from the shield that protected us. There was no sounds of death and destruction tonight. It was peaceful and perfect at last.We followed the break-wall to the very end, where we sat to take in the beauty of the ebony waves crashing against the rocks and the moonlight basking over the depths in the horizon.Sylvia huddled closer to me and let her side press against mine. My stomach dropped and my heart skipped a beat from the
Love is blindSouls still roamed the streets when we left the sanctuary together; which instantly made Sylvia nervous. The marks we had left the night before were still visible, being eyed by groups of curious onlookers.Our plan was to regroup with the family and leave the town before we were barricaded in for another night. I didn’t have any problems with another sleepless night with Sylvia, but the reality of not being able to escape her murderous brother if he returned again weighed heavily on me. There was only so far I could run within the barriers.As we headed back through the carved roads, we took in the sights of the burnt tealights and messages graffitied around us. I felt my spirits lift when I saw strangers stopping to take notice of the markings and names left behind. They were starting to see us as more than just a statistic now; acknowledging instead of ignoring us.We continued together until Eagle’s figure pulled from the scrawling’s beside us. His skin wa
Jessika Sims is an Australian author of fantasy horror. Her nightmarish monsters are the stars of her writing; created by her real-life fears of spiders, heights, and anything resembling horror. Jessika lives in the suburbs of Port Stephens and uses her experience of the changing landscapes she grew up in to create her own world and characters through her own style of writing. Transamagei is her first novel.
Blood and boneI was petrified when the morning’s rays streamed over my blood-soaked body. It seemed like the night never existed.After Flame had left, everyone spent their remaining time preparing for what lay ahead. Some left behind treasured items as a keepsake, while others used the time to regain their strength. I even caught Venin having sex with Python’s partner as I left the house to hunt with Neeb.I wasn’t going to face the Base on an empty stomach. I would spend my last moments venting my frustrations through slaughter.Neeb was an excellent hunting partner, despite his vomiting giving us away. He even stopped to Purge a few times in any water he could find. When Neeb’s face began to bubble, and his back bulged out into massive boulder-sized welts, we gave up on the hunt and headed back to the house.My stomach was so full I felt like vomiting. I hadn’t felt this overfed since the Institute. It felt so good to have blood dripping over me again.Everyon
Last memoriesI didn’t know how long I had been laying on Orlando’s corpse for when I woke.His blood had congealed in my fur and seemed to seep underneath my own skin to my bones.Instead of being collapsed in the grass and blood, I was laying on a bed in a closed room, clutching a pillow. The white sheet underneath me was stained with Orlando and the yellow walls had bloody smears across them. My body was no longer dislocated or broken. The only pain I felt was emotional.Where was I? Where was Ringo?Oh god, where was Sylvia?“Sylvia?” I whimpered, scanning the empty room for her “Ringo?”There was nothing here, just me. I was trapped in a room, with Orlando all over me. Where was he? Where was I?“SYLVIA?” I cried out, feeling panic grip at my gut “RINGO?”Had Ringo been taken too? Where was Orlando’s body?Panic bubbled up and formed a screaming sob. Where was everyone? Why could no-one hear me?!“S-SYLVIAAA?” I wailed, before the door opened “RINGOOO?”“Omen!
Love is blindSouls still roamed the streets when we left the sanctuary together; which instantly made Sylvia nervous. The marks we had left the night before were still visible, being eyed by groups of curious onlookers.Our plan was to regroup with the family and leave the town before we were barricaded in for another night. I didn’t have any problems with another sleepless night with Sylvia, but the reality of not being able to escape her murderous brother if he returned again weighed heavily on me. There was only so far I could run within the barriers.As we headed back through the carved roads, we took in the sights of the burnt tealights and messages graffitied around us. I felt my spirits lift when I saw strangers stopping to take notice of the markings and names left behind. They were starting to see us as more than just a statistic now; acknowledging instead of ignoring us.We continued together until Eagle’s figure pulled from the scrawling’s beside us. His skin wa
The Blood OathWhen night set in, the rest of the family went to get settled down somewhere secluded. The transparent, blinking barriers overhead also subdivided the town so that no-one could pass through, meaning that I could finally make use of some time with Sylvia.Sylvia agreed to join me to follow the water’s edge around, each of us marvelling at the colourful rocks running all the way to the end.The sea spray from the waves was refreshing on my fur that was chilled by the crisp air. The sky was dusted with glittering stars and blinking beckons from the shield that protected us. There was no sounds of death and destruction tonight. It was peaceful and perfect at last.We followed the break-wall to the very end, where we sat to take in the beauty of the ebony waves crashing against the rocks and the moonlight basking over the depths in the horizon.Sylvia huddled closer to me and let her side press against mine. My stomach dropped and my heart skipped a beat from the
RevelationsWhen morning came, we were released by the Beora, who greeted us both with warm smiles and bagged food for us to take with us. The front door was open once again, but his time we weren’t being forced out of it into the merciless environment. We were free to go whenever we wanted.“I’m sorry for last night” the Beora grimaced, when we stood before him “things got out of hand.”“We know” Orlando shot me a glare “but all is forgiven.”“I packed some lotion for your throat” the Beora turned to me now “you have to understand I was only acting out to protect what I have left.”I didn’t agree at all but nodded anyway. Anything to keep the peace between us.“Your Vixen and children are safe now” Orlando smiled “you have nothing to worry about anymore.”The Beora clasped his hands together in joy then bought them to either side of Orlando’s face, so he could touch his forehead to Orlando’s for a moment.“I’m truly grateful for all you have done.”“We had our differe
The Dead WolfIf I had to describe being eaten alive, I would say it didn’t really feel that bad.I was anticipating it to be a lot more painful; with the screaming and bone breaking, but it was actually quite the opposite. I couldn’t see anything at all; perhaps that’s why it was so relaxing?Being eaten alive was relaxing; never imagined I think of it like that.I could feel the whole left side of my body was peeled open and disembowelled. My guts were quite soft and comforting to lay in. They acted as a warm blanket under my face and aching ribs while my exposed spine bathed me in blood, as it was pierced with the female’s sharp teeth.Instead of mauling me, she was nibbling along either side of my spine, which only made the blood cascade over my back and swamp the guts piled at my ribs.I must have looked like a mess just lying here. Half of me spread on the floor, while the other half was being held in by what was already beside me. And the blood! I could feel it all
OmenDiesel became my mentor in teaching me the ways of my new life.Since time no longer existed, each day was broken into three sections; morning, afternoon, and night.Mornings were dedicated to fighting the strangers that walked through the front doors. If I didn’t fight, I didn’t eat; it was that simple. The Food Givers always made sure I was fed to the point of vomiting, so I wouldn’t murder the visitors. Morning was the time for our fortnightly bath as well, which was just water blasted through the roof to fill the room up to a metre. The water was brown, but it was the only thing I had to soak in for the day. If people wanted to fight while you were bathing, you lost the opportunity to wash for another fortnight. You couldn’t bathe in the waterhole out the back since people drank from it. Tainting it would be the end of our only water source.Afternoons were for talking with our neighbours and forming bonds with the people we saw every day. It was also the scheduled
The bloodthirsty prisonerInstead of waking to freedom, I woke to everything around me darkened so I couldn’t see my surroundings at all.I wasn’t in the cage anymore. Instead, I was lying on cold tiles in an empty room. To my right and left, thick glass walls had been placed, but each had six tiny breathing-holes drilled in. Each one was only big enough for a finger to pass through, so escape was not possible. I did notice that there was the faint outline of a door in the right side of the glass in front of me. There was nothing blocking my path to a vast aisle of tiles that was brightly lit between this row of rooms and the next across it. If I could get to that door, I could get out of here.I looked down at my broken arm, to see it had been cleaned and shaved. There was no blood, only stitches, where the bullet holes had been. A thin, white webbing had been anchored to my arm to strengthen it and alleviate any pain.With tender steps, I went to inspect the glass door