Samael led the way forward as he pushed through the crimson forest. Behind him was the girl following closely as she threaded silently.
As they travel further and deeper into the forest, the more the sun's radiance began to diminish. The warmth it provided began to turn bleak as Samael could feel the cold lingering in the air.
"It will turn dark soon, we have to find shelter again," Samael said.
"Okay," The girl nodded as she hurried her pace to match Samael.
However, Samael's steps halted as he soon felt something cold touch his skin. Switching his gaze upwards, he looked at the droplets of rain hitting his cheeks and the dark brewing clouds in the heavens.
Samael's brows furrowed as he felt a tinge of fear dwell in his heart.
"We can't burrow tonight," Samael muttered.
"Why not?" The girl asked.
"It's raining, it'll be flooded," Samael said as he hurriedly looked around.
"T-then where are we going?" She asked as she moved closer to Samael.
"I-I don't know," Samael admitted as his pupils shifted back and forth. "But we'll find a way. Come."
Pushing again, Samael held the girl's hand as he dragged her forward, his steps picking pace as the the droplets of rain began to pour stronger.
The darkening of the clouds did not offer any solace as it only hastened the process of turning to night.
Their footsteps echoed through the forest as Samael and the girl rushed through the lush tall trees.
Samael's eyes paced back and forth as he began to feel paranoid. The darkness of the forest sent shivers down his spine as he felt exposed.
"Come on, give us something," Samael whispered to himself as he began to run forward, ignoring the exhaustion and pain coming from his feet.
Like a warning from the skies, a thunderous streak of lightning flashed through the skies, leaving luminescent scars in its wake as the entire place was set alight for a moment.
In that moment, Samael saw something— a monstrous beast unlike anything he had ever seen before.
It stood within the leaves not far from them, feasting upon what appears to be dead rabbits. Its back was hunched and had a rather humanoid like structure. However, it's hands were elongated and its fingers longer than any human that exists.
As the flash of lightning set the forest alight, it turned sharply in their direction as it opened its maws, revealing a long piece of tongue slithering around like a snake.
Samael's eyes widened as his face paled.
Shooting his gaze forward, Samael roared. "RUN!"
Without any hesitation, Samael dragged the girl forward as they sprinted through the forest. Mud and earth staining their clothes and body as the rain hammered down even further.
The thunder strikes in the air made Samael's blood run cold as he could hear the rapid rattling of the creature's feet behind them.
It was persistent.
Samael glanced at the girl as he saw her pale complexion, she took rapid heavy breaths as sweat and rain drained down her forehead.
"Damn it all," Samael muttered.
But they cannot stop here. If they do, that thing will catch up and there will truly be no escape.
Samael tightened his grip on the girls hand. "Bear with me longer, we have to keep goi—"
Samael's eyes widened as he felt the floor beneath him buckle, sinking down rapidly as he began to fall.
However, before he sunk deep, he mustered his strength as he pushed the girl back.
A loud bang echoed through the hole as Samael's body plummeted down a water filled sinkhole, mixed with dirt and mud.
"SAMAEL!" The girl roared as she looked down the hole.
"NO!" Samael roared back. "STEP BACK! IF IT GIVES YOU'LL FALL TOO! RUN! PLEASE, RUN!" Samael screamed as he struggled to keep himself afloat amidst all the mud and dirt clutching at him.
"NO! I-I'LL FIND A WAY!" The girl retorted as she rapidly looked around.
"I SAID GO!" Samael roared causing the girl to flinch.
The girl's tears trailed down her cheeks rapidly as she opened her mouth. "I—"
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"NO! GO! I'LL BE FINE, TRUST ME," Samael screamed as he looked the girl in the eye.
Biting her lip, she reluctantly agreed as she raced out of there.
Samael gritted his teeth as he began to claw through the walls, stabilising himself through the intense raid and mud.
However, his movements came to a halt as he soon saw a shadow lurking around the hole.
Looking at where the girl ran off to, Samael's hand balled to a fist as he unsheathed his knife.
"I'M DOWN HERE!" He roared at the creature.
The shadow immediately came to a halt as it began to approach the hole, seeing Samael's figure down there, it emitted a high pitch scream as it jumped down without any precautions.
Seeing this, Samael swam back as the creature smashed down the mud, sending waves and chunks of it flying.
Samael hastily wiped off the mud from his face as he jolted his eyes opened. However, the creature swiftly lunged forward as it attempted to bite Samael's face off.
Without an inch of hesitation, Samael stepped back— the wall behind soon halted his movements as the creature struck his body in a nasty collision.
Samael's grunts echoed as he felt his muscles burn under the intense force of the beast attempting to bite him. He could feel its tongue slathering all over his cheeks.
Utilizing his smaller frame, Samael looked at the waving mud as he let go and sank deeper.
Unable to stop its momentum, the beast landed on the wall face first as a loud crunch boomed in the pit.
Samael rose up from the waves, cakes in mud as he hungered for air. Shifting his gaze forward, Samael saw the creature turn to him as it snarled before lunging once more.
Unable to react fast enough, the beast smashed to him again as Samael felt his bones crack.
"ARGHH!" Samael roared.
However, he remained steadfast as he barreled through the pain.
Pushing against his limits, Samael dragged the creature in the mud as the beast rapidly sank.
Unable to see nor hear, the two began to grapple under the flowing earth and grime as Samael swam out of the way.
Using his keen senses, he felt how the waves moved as he deduced the location of the beast, making sure it is unable to rise easily.
Swimming forth, Samael jammed the knife straight in the creature's body but to no avail as he felt the tip halt in its advance, blocked by the natural carapace of the monster.
Sensing this attack, the beast swiftly grabbed Samael's body in another struggle of strength.
Samael began to feel panic overwhelm him as he felt breathless. Yet, his attempts to rise up were futile as the creature had latch tightly upon him.
Left without choice, Samael bashed upon the creature without stop as he felt his knuckles bruise and bleed.
But the creature did not simply sit idly by as it too started swinging back and forth in an attempt to incapacitate him, leaving gashes in the boy's forearms and arm.
Samael could feel his body slowly lose strength as the urge to breathe began to blind him.
But before it could overtake him, Samael sank his teeth upon the creature's damaged hide as he felt it slowly crack.
Utilizing whatever power he has left, he bit as hard as he could as he felt something shatter followed by the vomit inducing bitterness flowing in his mouth.
The creature jolted violently as it tried to swam up the muddy water. Unable to bear it any longer, Samael too resurfaced as he and the beast came eye to eye.
Without hesitation, Samael sunk down as he saw the creature swing its lengthy arm in his path.
As he once again submerged himself, Samael pointed his knife forward as he lunged through, piercing the creature's flesh as it writhe in place.
In a panicked frenzy, it shot its arm in the mud with hopes of catching the boy but Samael's smaller figure and nimble actions made it nearly impossible to tell.
Gritting his teeth, the boy lashed and wounded the beast as he left shallow and deep wounds on its legs and belly, mixing crimson with the mud brown water.
Surfacing once more, Samael jumped at the beast as the weakened creature buckled under his weight.
As the two plunged once more, the dirt water waved and splashed everywhere before complete silence remained.
Slowly, the dirty water rose up as Samael's figure resurfaced, wounded and battered in dirt and mud.
Using what little remained of his power, Samael began to climb up as he used his dagger to impale upon the wall, stabilising himself.
Inch by inch he rose as he climbed out of the pit and smashed down the edge of the hole.
There, he passed out.
***
Samael's eyes quivered as he felt something nudging him repeatedly. There was also the constant sobbing beside him along with her repeated muttering of his name.
Opening his eyes, Samael slowly looked at the girl crying beside him, her eyes puffed and red in hue as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Why are you crying?" Samael asked in a low tone as he hissed at the pain of his aching body.
"Samael!" The girl roared as she held the boy carefully. "Y-you're alive!"
"Yep, I can tell," Samael said as he grunted.
The girl's sobbing grew louder as she hugged the boy. "I-I t-thought you were dead!"
"I told you didn't I? I'll be back," Samael said as he forced out a smile in an attempt to reassure the crying lady.
"I was so scared, I thought you were gone," the girl said as her grip on the boys clothes tightened.
Samael lowered his head down the ground as he looked at the bright morning sky. The storm had passed and the so was the threat.
"I'll be alright," Samael said as he caressed the girl's head. "Don't cry, it doesn't suit you."
But her sobbing remained. It was so for a few more minutes as they simply sat there for a while.
Once she had calmed down, they left that place with haste.
Aiding the boy in his movements, Samael asked. "What happened when I was out?"
"Nothing, the rain finally stopped and I saw you unconscious. Don't do that again," The girl said.
"You know I can't do that," Samael's brows furrowed. "The only thing stopping them from getting to you is me and I swore an oath to get you home."
The girl's lips quivered as she remained silent.
"I'm afraid," she whispered.
Samael's ears flinched as he locked his gaze ahead. "Of what? Didn't I promise I'll get you home?"
"I'm afraid of losing you, that if I do then I'll have nothing again," she said as tears trickled down her face.
Samael's jaw tightened.
"I know you promised but I'm scared," She muttered. "I don't want you to die for me."
Samael sighed. "You know, I may look like a frail kid but I've done many things no one my age can. I'm stronger than you'd think, I'm not dying."
Samael turned to the girl as he ruffled her hair. "Besides, if I went and died, who'd tease you when you wet yourself in your dreams?"
The girl's cheeks inflated as she muttered. "It was one time only."
Samael grabbed the girl's hand as he squeezed tightly. "Don't worry, you're stuck with me for a long time."
The girl bit her lip as she returned the squeeze. "I have never told anyone aside my grandmother my name."
Stopping in her tracks, she turned to the boy. "My name... My name is Lilith Flamebright and I won't wey my bed again." The girl turned as she hurried her pace forward.
Samael simply chuckled as he followed close.
"Well then, nice to meet you lady Lilith," Samael said as the girl simply marched on.
Did I hit the feels at least.
