I awoke on the side of a highway. The dry tar ground left imprints on my skin, which was rubbery. On both sides of the highway I saw a dense forest, the trunks of trees forming impenetrable walls The sky shone with a warm yellow, which was complemented by the streaks of bright red that ran through it, ending on the horizon. As I traveled down the highway, I realized what my form truly was. I was short, with a stubby body that had the same shape as a jelly bean. My head was the same bean shape and held two huge eyes without pupils. My arms and legs were thin, they were practically those of a stick figure.
I awoke on the side of a highway. The dry tar ground left imprints on my skin, which was rubbery. On both sides of the highway I saw a dense forest, the trunks of trees forming impenetrable walls The sky shone with a warm yellow, which was complemented by the streaks of bright red that ran through it, ending on the horizon. As I traveled down the highway, I realized what my form truly was. I was short, with a stubby body that had the same shape as a jelly bean. My head was the same bean shape and held two huge eyes without pupils. My arms and legs were thin, they were practically those of a stick figure.
I encountered a ghoulish man, who was curled up on the side of the road. He wore only a loincloth around his waist, leaving his frail and bony body exposed to the world.
“Excuse me, where is everyone?” I asked him. That was what I thought appropriate to ask, for some reason.
He turned towards me, and I saw worry and pure fear engulfed his face. “What do you mean? You- you don’t know?” the ghoul man responded. I felt a sense of unease, his demeanor became more anxious. “Th- the Red Scarlet! It’s coming for us! It’s closing in on our location! It’s- it’s going to kill us! DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!” The ghoul man grabbed both my shoulders, his eyes locked on mine. His pupils injected his frustration into me.
Suddenly, the sky changed to black obsidian and the intensity of the stars grew. A crimson streak startled the sky and shattered the sound barrier in one fell swoop of a sonic boom as it crashed onto the planet. “Oh no, no!! It’s here!” The voice of the ghoul man encapsulated an aura of distress and genuine dread. I was extremely uneasy by his anxiety and I could feel my legs weaken. Whatever it is he spoke of finally registered in my head. It was something I wanted to avoid, but it was something I was unable to escape.
In a flash of intense red, a tall gnarled beast stood in front of us. Its body was fleshy and veiny. It seemed to be made of limbs, all held together by the grip of their hands. Its eyes stung with black hatred. An iron scythe stuck out its side, seemingly protruding from within it. The Red Scarlet raised a visceral claw and struck me. The ghoulish man sang out in fear, whether for my well-being or his own sanity. The strike was aimed at my body, and its force rang through as if I was a bell. My body grew rigid, as did my face. The feeling of pellets ran through my nerves, and marbles falling within me. The Red Scarlet turned to the ghoulish man, who was now relishing in his distress.
“No, please! I- I don’t want to go now! Please let me say my goodbyes!” Without hesitation, the horrid monster struck the man out of his misery. His last emitted sound being a sad thump as he fell onto the ground, lifelessly. I felt a tornado of grief and confusion inside myself as pricks and needles protruded from my skin. The Red Scarlet stood over the ghoul’s body. Suddenly, its skin grew smooth and generally less visceral. From it’s back sprouted large feathery wings. The scythe morphed into a golden trumpet.
It gave me one last look, and in a dissonant voice spoke. “Mercy”. It flew upward into the sky, and towards the horizon. As its distance grew from me, the sky returned to its warm yellow and red striped pattern. I was left alone, not knowing what to do next.
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