Authors note: If you have any issues with dark themes, intense imagery, or scenes that capture a gothic and bloody escape, this chapter may not be for you. If that kind of atmosphere makes you uncomfortable, feel free to skip ahead to the next chapter.
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Kat stumbled backward, her legs heavy as though the weight of the creature's presence alone was pulling her down. It felt impossibly wrong for something like this to be here, standing in front of her. The creature's presence felt wrong, like it didn't belong.
For a moment, her mind refused to accept it. But then she remembered the water spirit that had nearly drowned her. Maybe this monstrous thing wasn't so out of place after all.
Her gaze locked on the creature, and despite the terror twisting in her chest, there was a nagging familiarity. Its presence felt...known.
The wind whipped through the courtyard. Kat hadn't noticed how cold it was until now. The wind tugged at her dress, sharp and biting, wrapping around her like icy hands. She shivered, her eyes darted to the sky for just a second, catching the pale moon hanging low. Its light spilled over the courtyard, shimmering faintly on the creature's dull and lifeless skin.
The creature moved slowly, its skin almost blending with the shadows, but there was no mistaking it. Its form looked wrong—too thin, too long, like its body wasn't built for this world.
Kat's breath quivered, her gaze locked onto the creature's hollow eyes. The familiarity was unsettling, yet terrifying. Its stare felt like a cold appraisal of her very soul.
"What in the bloody hell?" she muttered, disbelief etched on her face.
As she stared, a shiver ran down her spine. Something about the creature's twisted form nagged at her memory.
Kat's thoughts stumbled backward, into the dark recesses of her mind. A faint recollection teased her, just out of reach.
Then the realization dawned slowly, like a cold dawn 'how?'.
It was no other than the same creature that hunted her in her nightmare, that night. How could she have forget.
Her pulse raced, faster now, as the memory replayed. She had eventually dismissed that dream as nothing, but now it stood right before her, real and tangible.
Every inch of the creature's twisted form radiated menace. The growls rumbling from its chest vibrated through Kat's very bones.
Still reeling from her encounter with Lucian, Kat now faced this monstrous reality. Her grip on sanity hung by a thread.
The creature cocked its head, studying her with an unblinking gaze. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to bore into her soul.
An unsettling silence enveloped the courtyard, punctuated only by the creature's low, ominous growl.
Kat's mind wavered, questioning her own sanity. Was she hallucinating? Trapped in a never-ending panic attack?
But the pungent, rancid stench wafting from the creature shattered her doubts. This horror was real, every inch of it oozing with blood lust .
Summoning her last reserves of strength, Kat pushed against the crushing fatigue. The creature's putrid stench sparked a new wave of adrenaline, keeping her upright.
She edged back cautiously, eyes locked on the creature. It responded with a guttural growl, muscles tensing beneath its gray skin as it crouched, ready to strike.
Kat slipped off her bracelet, careful not to draw attention. With a swift motion, she hurled it into the darkness behind the creature.
The creature didn't flinch, its gaze remaining fixed on Kat. Instead, it tilted its head, seeming to mock her naive attempt to deceive.
Kat's heart sank. "Great," she muttered, dread etched on her face. "You're more intelligent than you look."
The courtyard's sounds amplified: crickets chirping, dry leaves rustling, and the creature's low growl. Kat's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Realizing the courtyard offered no escape, only open space for the creature to attack, Kat made a split-second decision. She turned and sprinted down the corridor, the creature's low growl echoing behind, but it didn't chase after her just yet.
Kat sprinted through the hallways, her heart pounding in her ears. 'I'm not going to die, not today, not here! I refuse to die like this!' she exclaimed in her mind, steeling herself.
As she ran, her dress snagged, hindering her pace. Desperate, Kat tore the fabric, freeing her legs. "I always knew these dresses would be the death of me."
The creature's heavy footsteps echoed behind, its pace deliberate, unhurried. It didn't seem to be in a rush, and Kat sensed it was savoring the chase.
Kat's exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her; she knew she couldn't outrun it forever. In this state, she could collapse at any moment.
The unsettling crackling noises grew louder, low and grotesque, sending chill's down her spine.
Just as the creature seemed about to round the corner, Kat darted into a dimly lit alcove, holding her breath. Her back against the cold wall, a hand clamped over her mouth to stifle any sound.
Screaming for help would be disastrous; it would only serve to attract the creature's attention, ensuring it reached her before anyone else could.
Kat peeked around the edge, her eyes straining to glimpse the creature. Just as she did, it came into view, its twisted form in the corridor walking on all fours as it sniffed the air.
The creature's pace slowed, its hollow eye sockets scanning the area. Kat held her breath, her hand trembling against her lips. She desperately gulped down her anxiety, her eyes shutting tightly for a brief moment to calm herself.
As the creature prepared to pass directly in front of her hiding spot, Kat froze, her eyes locked on its grotesque face. 'Please don't look here... please.'
The creature crouched low, its sharp claws scraping against the stone floor, making that eerie noise that made her skin crawl.
Just as it was about to move past her hiding spot, she accidentally let out a small hiccup. As quickly as it escaped her lip's, the creature caught sight of her, its elongated fingers stretching out with swift speed towards her.
In an instinctual reflex, Kat dodged out of reach, narrowly escaping as the creature's hand tore through the wall where she had been just moments before.
The sound of splintering wood and cracking stone reverberated around her, but she couldn't dwell on the fact she could have just died a split second ago. She continued to run, not looking back.
Adrenaline surged through her, pushing her to run faster. Her feet pounded against the ground, her breath also coming out in huffs.
The creature howled, its voice a furious blend of hunger and rage. Its footsteps echoed ominously behind Kat as it gained speed.
Kat's breath came in ragged gasps as she weaved through the corridors, her heart pounding with fear. Each turn felt like a gamble, and she sensed the creature closing in.
Determined to escape, Kat grabbed a large flower vase and hurled it at the creature. The vase shattered against its twisted form with a deafening crash, sending shards of ceramic flying everywhere. But instead of deterring it, the vase fueled its rage.
The creature let out a chilling scream, and Kat's heart raced as she turned to run again. She threw any object she could find at the creature – a nearby candelabra clattered to the floor, a tapestry ripped from the wall – hoping the noise would attract someone, anyone, to help.
"In this gargantuan castle, and yet such useless security," she muttered frustrated.
Two maids, whispering to each other, walked back to the servants' quarters with hasty steps. If they were caught walking around this late they will both be in trouble.
One of the maid happened to be the same made that had helped kat that morning. As they approached the next corridor intersection, they heard rushing footsteps echoing around the corner. Suddenly, a ady darted into passed.
Hazel gasped, her whispers replaced by shocked silence. The other maid's eyes widened in alarm. Kat ran past them, her panicked gaze locked ahead.
The maids quickly sprang into action, rushing forward to follow Kat into the adjacent corridor. The sound of Kat's frantic footsteps – heels clicking against
They horridly ran to catch up to her, upon catching a glimpse of who it was, the gasped in shook, It was Lady kat, and she was nowhere in good shape as you run looking horrified. They look behind but saw no one in sight after her.
Kat reached the end of the corridor, cornered by the creature. Terrified, she prayed for help. Just then, footsteps echoed, and two maids appeared around the corner, eyes widening in shock.
"My Lady!" Hazel exclaimed, concern etched across her face. Their gazes fell on Kat's disheveled appearance and panicked eyes.
"Are you okay, My Lady?" Hazel asked, stepping forward.
Kat's voice trembled. "Hazel?" Surprise and worry mingled in her tone.
As the maids moved closer, Kat's expression turned frantic. "No! Don't come any closer! Run!" she shouted, desperately.
The maids jolted, pausing momentarily, confused and worried.
But they continued approaching, driven by instinct to help the lady.
A chilling realization struck Kat: the creature stood between her and the maids, yet they seemed oblivious to its presence.
Was she the only one who could see it?
Panic set in, and Kat shouted again, her voice urgent. "Please! You have to run! Now!!!"
Gasping for air, Kat's world blurred. The next moment unfolded too quickly to grasp.
The girl's blue eyes locked onto Kat's, filled with confusion and concern. Why was the lady so disheveled and frightened? She thought, glancing around. "There's no one in sight."
Stepping forward, oblivious to the danger, the girl's movement triggered the creature's swift attack.
In an instant, its long, gnarled hand pierced through her body. Kat's eyes widened in shock, her heart dropping at the sight. The creature's hand went clean through her stomach, lifting her off the ground effortlessly.
The girl's gaze dropped, her eyes fixed on the gaping hole in her stomach. Confusion etched her face as she stared at the blood pumping out, her mind struggling to comprehend.
She looked back up at Kat, her voice breaking. "My...la...dy...?"
A cough racked her body, and blood spewed from her mouth, trickling down her chin. Crimson liquid bubbled from the corner of her lips.
Kat's throat tightened. Her chest heaved, but no air came. Blood dripped down, hitting the ground with a dull thud, breaking through the ringing in Kat's ears.
The girl's gaze remained fixed on Kat, her eyes pleading for help. Rock-hard fear gripped her face, her porcelain skin now pale.
Blood pooled below her in no time, with the creature's hand still lodged in her stomach, emerging on the other end. Vivid and terrifying, the scene darkened the world around that single patch of red.
Tears blurred Kat's vision. Her body trembled uncontrollably, rooted to the spot. She couldn't look away from the blood-soaked scene.
Flashbacks hit her like a tidal wave - her brother's mangled leg, her mother's lifeless body dangling upside down, scarlet splatter everywhere.
Her legs trembled, threatening to buckle. The ground swayed beneath her. She wanted to run, scream, but nothing came.
Her vision blurred with tears. Her breath became shallow and uneven. Panic flooded in: "I can't breathe."
Then, through the haze, Kat's gaze shifted to Hazel. Frozen in horror, Hazel's face was drained of color. Her wide eyes locked onto the gruesome sight: the bloodied maid suspended in mid-air.
Terror etched Hazel's face, and in the next moment, she crumpled to the ground.
Kat's own knees weakened further, but she forced herself to hold on. She couldn't collapse, not now. Hazel needed her.
As she gazed at Hazel's fallen form, something within Kat began to stir. Her panic slowly gave way to determination.
Her hands, still shaking, slowly clenched into fists.
As much as the panic clawed at her, threatening to drown her again, she couldn't let it win. Not now. Hazel needed her. If she didn't act, Hazel would die too, and that thought was unbearable.
The sudden urge to protect, to save her, pierced through the fog of fear. She couldn't lose another person—not after what she had just witnessed. It would be too much. Too much death. Too much blood.
Her chest still heaved, her heartbeat still pounded in her ears, but Kat's legs steadied. She clung to the sliver of control she had left. Hazel was on the ground, vulnerable, and the creature loomed too close.
The creature raised the maid higher, its grotesque form towering over her. It hovered its mouth, dark and gaping, over the girl's head. Kat watched in helpless horror as the creature began to draw out something from the maid—a white, misty fog left the maid's body, being sucked right into the creature's gaping mouth.
The maid's body began to shrivel, her skin growing tighter around her bones as it looked like her life essence was drained from her. Her limbs went limp as her eyes rolled back, and within seconds, she was nothing more than a hollow, withered husk.
Her eyes opened wide in terror before she died, as though in her last moments she had seen something horrifying. It made it worse knowing she was the only one who could see it; it would be harder to escape.
Adrenaline surged through her, a heady mixture of terror and determination. Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to act, most of her fear dissolving, replaced by the urge to save Hazel.
Kat's eyes locked onto Hazel, her body still slumped, staring in helpless shock. There was no time. No time for hesitation or weakness. The maid was beyond saving, but they weren't.
With a frantic rush of energy, Kat seized the momentary distraction. She didn't know what she was going to do, or how she was going to stop the creature, but she had to try....
Authors note: The mysterious creature that appears in this chapter is known as a Windigo, it's a creature from Indigenous North American folklore, particularly among the Algonquian-speaking tribes. Known for its insatiable hunger for human flesh, it symbolizes the dangers of greed, isolation, and harsh winters. Traditionally, the Windigo is described as a gaunt, emaciated figure, often linked to cold, starvation, and cannibalism.
In this story, I've introduced the Windigo with a few personal tweaks to fit the world I've created. While staying true to some aspects of the original myth, I've adapted it to bring a darker, more unique twist to the narrative.
If you're interested in learning more, feel free to explore additional resources.