The wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying flecks of snow that bit into Jesse's face like shards of glass. His breath came in sharp bursts, clouds of condensation twisting in the icy air. His heart pounded harder than his boots on the frozen stone path.
"Phew," Jesse muttered, leaning against the jagged face of the rocky wall. His chest heaved with exhaustion, lungs burning with every breath. "Made it..."
He glanced toward the swaying bridge ahead, his eyes narrowing at the sight. The bridge stretched across a yawning chasm, old wooden planks dangling like loose teeth in a broken jaw. Frayed ropes creaked as they twisted with each gust of wind.
His eyes darted across the gap. The cave entrance stood on the other side like a beacon of salvation. It might as well have had a glowing neon sign that read EXIT HERE. He wiped his brow, sweat freezing into tiny ice crystals on his skin.
"Of course, it's a rickety bridge," he muttered under his breath. "Because why wouldn't it be?"
Jesse crept forward, planting a cautious foot on the first plank. The wood creaked beneath his weight, bending just enough to make him pause. He leaned his weight back, heart thudding in his chest. Don't look down. Just keep moving.
He inched forward, testing each plank like it might betray him.
Snap!
His heart jolted. A plank split clean through, plummeting into the abyss below. His boot hovered over the newly-formed gap, breath stuck in his throat. One wrong step and I'm gone.
"Okay… okay," he whispered, eyes darting down to the icy void below. He shook his head hard, pulling himself together. No time for fear. Not now. Just keep moving.
With quick, deliberate steps, he danced forward, weight shifting from one plank to the next. The bridge swayed harder with each movement, ropes creaking like a noose straining under pressure. The sound of his boots against wood echoed into the chasm, each step punctuated by the sharp whistling wind.
Halfway there. Don't stop. Don't—
Tk-tk-tk.
The hairs on his neck stood up.
Click. Tk-tk-tk.
His breath caught. That sound didn't come from the wind. His head snapped down. His eyes locked onto the space below the planks. The hollow darkness moved.
Something was under the bridge.
"Shit…" he muttered, eyes scanning for movement. His heart thumped like a drum in his ears.
CRACK!
Splinters exploded from beneath his feet as a clawed hand the size of a butcher's cleaver burst through the plank. Jesse threw himself backward, stumbling just as the plank shattered into jagged pieces. A gaping hole now marked where he'd been standing seconds ago.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Jesse scrambled backward, eyes darting down to the exposed gap. Below, something moved too fast, a shape too sleek, too smooth, like ink sliding against water. Claws dragged across wood with a rhythmic Tk-tk-tk-tk, growing faster with every beat.
"It's a trap."
Another crack. Tk-tk-tk! He leapt back just as another clawed hand tore through the wood in front of him, gnarled fingers lined with bony hooks. It punched through with raw, brutal force.
Then it rose.
The creature pulled itself onto the bridge like a spider crawling out of a drain. Its claws gripped the planks on all fours, limbs long and bent at grotesque angles. Shimmering black skin caught the light, slick and wet like tar. It tilted its head toward him, slow and deliberate, red eyes glowing like burning coals.
It was watching him.
Jesse's breathing grew shallow. His fingers hovered over the knife strapped to his back. Slowly. Don't rush. Don't—
HISSSSSSS!
The creature's lips peeled back, revealing rows of serrated teeth too wide for its jaw. It wasn't smiling. It was warning him.
Then it lunged.
"Shit—!"
The bridge bucked violently. Jesse's foot slipped, his balance thrown off as the monster's weight slammed into the planks. The air was a whirlwind of rope, snow, and the violent thrashing of limbs. A wild swipe from its claw carved through the air just inches above his head.
He ducked low, gripping the rope with one hand. With his free hand, he yanked the knife free and swung wide. The blade glanced off its chest, barely cutting into the slick hide. But it was enough. The creature hissed, recoiling with a violent twist of its head.
"Run, run, run!"
His feet pounded against the planks, not caring which ones would break. Each step felt like it would collapse, each sound of creaking wood sending his heart racing. He didn't look back.
Crunch!
The plank gave way.
"Ahh—!" His leg went through, catching him at the knee. His ribs slammed into the planks, pain bursting through his chest. Snow swirled around him, cold air biting at his face. His leg dangled, his foot flailing above the void.
He heard it move.
His eyes shot up. The monster stood perfectly still, staring at him with that same unnerving calm. Its head tilted slowly, observing him like a cat watching an insect squirm. Jesse's breath came in sharp, shallow bursts.
Why isn't it attacking?
The beast's eyes locked on his leg. His stomach twisted with sudden realization. It's waiting. Watching me struggle.
No. No. No.
"Move, move, MOVE!" Jesse clawed at the planks, adrenaline spiking. His arms trembled as he pulled himself up inch by inch, breath straining through clenched teeth. The beast's claws dug into the planks, its head lowering as it prepared to pounce.
No time. No time.
He gritted his teeth and yanked his leg free, feeling his boot scrape against the jagged edge of the plank. Pain shot up his leg as he rolled onto his stomach, gasping for breath.
The beast's muscles tensed. Its hips swayed side to side. The coil before the spring.
It's going to lunge.
His eyes darted to the frayed rope tied to the bridge's support beam. A wild, desperate plan sparked in his mind. He lunged forward, grabbing the rope with both hands. His knife flashed in his grip.
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"
The beast lunged. Jesse gritted his teeth, fingers tight around the rope. He slashed. The blade tore through the fibers, unraveling them into wild strands. SNAP!
The bridge tilted hard. The monster's glowing eyes widened in realization. It twisted in mid-air, arms clawing at nothing but wind. Its claws scraped against stone as it tried to cling to the side of the cliff.
Too late.
It fell.
The beast's roar echoed, growing distant. Jesse watched as it hit the rocks below, tumbling down like a ragdoll. The sickening crunch of bones echoed off the walls. Its body lay in the snow, limbs twitching with wild, uncontrolled spasms.
He didn't look away. His breath came in ragged gasps. His body screamed at him to keep running, to get into that cave and never look back. But he watched, hands still clutching the frayed rope.
"Stay down," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed, face pale from shock. "Stay. Down."
The beast twitched once more, its head lolling to the side. Stillness.
Jesse let out a breath, letting his head drop against the rope. It's done. It's finally done.
He pulled himself up, limping toward the cave entrance. His legs wobbled like jelly, exhaustion threatening to collapse him right there. He didn't stop. Not yet.
The mouth of the cave yawned open, darkness waiting to swallow him whole. He glanced back one last time. The wind carried a soft whistling sound through the chasm. Snow danced in the air, swirling in slow, lazy spirals.
Move. Before it wakes up.
He stepped into the cave, disappearing into the dark.