The Nightmare

Ariella was running through the woods. Panting heavily with exhaustion. She had pointy ears, indicating her elven origin. Her hunter bow hung around her back, moving rhythmically with her pace. She was draped in a dark cloak with hoods. Her quiver was hung on her hips for easy drawing. Bloods were gushing out of her through various wounds on her body. Most noticeable was her missing left arm. Bones were protruding from her missing arm. It was not a clean wound.

She was running not because of her fear for death. It was because she was afraid that she would fail her duty. She was a scout. Her job was to scout Elklain, the far end of the kingdom where the kingdom joins the sea. That area was evacuated because of the last war with the Braharis. During that war, they were successful in entering the kingdom when they defeated the elven brigade. But soon got defeated by the reinforcement. Several elves died during that invasion. Most of them were from Elklain. After the invaders were defeated, the king evacuated the natives and moved them to the inner city, where they are living right now. It was several centuries ago. After that war was over Elklain was proclaimed as high alert area, so scouts were systematically stationed over Elklain. Ariella was one of the 7 elves who were stationed at Elklain.

Ariella woke this morning because of the smell of blood. She quickly reached for her bow and nimbly crouched towards the door. she opened the door just an inch so that she could peek through it. The area around the barracks where clear. It was early morning. The whole place had a damp and serene atmosphere. She didn't like that. it was too quiet. The only sound came from the nearby animals and birds. The outpost which always had a scout was empty. She knows that nobody from her troop would slack off from the mission. And the blood in the atmosphere was too suspicious to ignore. Since she didn't see anything or anyone nearby, she slowly crept her way out of the barrack.

She approached the nearby barrack and peeked through the opened doors. She instantly threw up. There, on the barrack's cold floor was one of her fellow scout's cold body. It was not the fact that she is dead made her throw up. It was the body itself. It was too grotesque and gruesome to be even called dead. Her face was melted, all of her body were crushed like a giant boulder hammered continuously. Though her instincts were screaming to run, she didn't. it was her job to do what must be done.

She lost her father in the previous war against the Braharis. He was a Elklain native. He wasn't a soldier or anything but a regular fisherman like majority of the Elklain peoples. When the Braharis came he was one of the elves who chose to stay behind for the children and the olds to evacuate. And he died there. He was all she had.

After his death, she was given shelter and food by the king. not just her, but for all of the native Elklain's who lost their homes. So, in order to repay the King's kindness, she chose to be a scout and was placed in the Elklain forest. She was happy that she could fulfil her duty to the King by scouting Elklain for any future dangers.

The dead girl was a little sister for her who was orphan. But seeing her cold body she felt pity for her. The girl was very happy and cheerful, but all that left of the once jolly girl was a disfigured and crushed body. Without wasting any time, she vigilantly and nimbly searched other barracks too. all of them were having the same scene. One of them had their limbs torn off, one of them had his head twisted all towards his back. All of the bodies were gruesome regardless.

Her mind had gone numb the moment she saw the first girl. But regardless she knew whatever that had done that murder are not any monsters or animals. This cannot be done by them. they were not some sadistic animals to twist someone's head all the way towards the back or to brutally mutilate someone. Animals usually hunts for hunger. They eat what they claim. But whatever did that, they did it for sport. In her mind she already had discerned who it was, but she refused to believe it. since they had scouted the area diligently without any error, it was impossible for anyone to cross through the sea without them seeing. For them to appear here without anyone noticing. It was impossible.

She realised, whatever that killed them had left her alone for a purpose. They must want to hunt her and see her fearful face. A cold shiver ran through her body. Since they were giving her a chance, she thought about utilising it. so, she started to ran. Ran as fast she can. She nimbly ran through the woods. Avoiding trees and stumps with elven grace and nimbleness. She thought whatever it was chasing her won't catch up with her since she was a native elf who grew from this part of the woods. She gained some confidence even in these deadly times.

Her initial confidence quickly died down and fear took over her. She thought because of her knowledge about the woods she could out run it. But she quickly noticed something was approaching her very fast. She dreaded. All of her previous confidence quickly leaked from her and fear took its position. She ran like crazy, didn't even notice the wounds accumulating from the scratching of tree branches and thorny plants. She felt 'it' in the back of her neck. She quickly thought about nocking an arrow.

When she searched for the arrow from the quiver, she didn't feel anything. In fact, she didn't feel her arm at all. Realisation dawned her like fire engulfing a forest. She looked at her left arm, just like she feared her entire left arm was gone. Only blood was gushing out of the wound. She tried to scream but no sound came. She never felt the pain from losing her arm. Looking at the arm, she was surprised it was not even a clean cut for her to not notice it.

She realised whatever was that hunting her did not intent to let her go. Even if she ran towards the end of the forest she would be killed before crossing the boundaries. She was feeling helpless. But above that she needs to inform the king about this thing… about the Brahari, who entered Elklain without anyone noticing it and killing the troops brutally. She knew it was her duty to report the matter and getting alive from here to report it to the king is impossible. If she dies here without reporting this incident, then it will only cause more problem to her people.

She quickly hid behind a tree. Panting heavily, she sat down. She quickly took a pen and paper from her dimensional ring and started to write about the incidents. Her only regret was not seeing the thing itself, but she knew any time now that thing could appear before her. After quickly writing the letter she hid it in the hole she dug and closed it using the soil. Then she waited for her death to come. At that moment she was in relief. She was relieved even after her death; the higher ups will find about her letter and will know about the Brahari who entered Elklain. She wasn't ready to give up before a fight. So, she slowly gathered mana around her palms and waited.

She saw the sun up above the sky through tree branches. Then she heard heavy, slow footsteps approaching her from behind the tree. She realised the wait was over. She felt excited. She didn't felt fear, she only had relief.

The heavy footstep stopped couple of meters from her. She had to tilt her head a little to the side to see her 'death.' Several emotions quickly ran through her mind from what she saw. The Brahari was 3 meter tall. Very heavily built and draped completely in dark armour. Nothing sort of skin were exposed other than its head. Which was large and very gruesome. It had dark complexion. With chunks of dark hair curtaining its face. its eyes were red, crimson bloody colour. Its mouth was dripping with blood. The thing was looking at her apathetically. Every sense of her body was screaming death. And she knows it too. she lost all of her will to fight and the mana she gathered were dissipated as the will of the castor was in mess.

"What are you?" she asked with what was left of her will power.

The thing didn't replay her. She wasn't sure if it could even talk. Without even speaking, that thing slowly approached her. She realised her end was near. For the last time she closed her eyes and thought about her father.

What she saw when she opened her eyes was the thing's face close to her face.

*****

Daemon suddenly jolted up clutching his chest so hard that it started to bleed.

"Ha…ha…ha…" His body drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. He was in complete shock after what he saw. It shook him to his core. What he saw in his nightmare was so traumatic, just like what he saw 6 years ago.

"...mon. Daemon." he heard his brother's desperate shout. Reiner was beside him looking worried and pulling his hands. Then he saw it. Blood was sweeping through his hands where he was clutching his chest. He quickly released his hands and saw deep wounds. Blood was still dripping through it.

Reiner quickly handed him a health potion which he chugged down immediately. He saw his wound healing very fast because of the potent mana.

After seeing his brother calming down Reiner asked. "What happened?" He was still holding him. "Did you had any dreams?"

"No. not dreams. Nightmare." Daemon weakly replied.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly with brother's caring.

Daemon contemplated for some time and squeezed a reply.

"Yeah."