Desolace

I’ve been waiting here for far too long.1

They must have caught up by now.2

I have to keep moving; or else…3

I moved some rubble from the pile of debris I was hiding in. I looked out upon the nightmarish landscape: a city of silver gravestones surrounded by an army of ebon fir trees. I could just make out the silhouette of a towering church spire beyond the shroud of mist. The fog seemed to coat the inert objects around me in a sparkling resin, preserving the stone structures. The woodland that circled this unholy residence fell into the darkness of the night, a trap to anyone that entered.4

A dirty pathway led towards the church. A hallowed gate stood guard outside, it had been painted black once, but now the paint was peeling and rust covered most of the surface. The top of the gate was arched and filled with iron barbs; someone clearly didn’t want any intruders. The church itself was made out of boulder-like bricks, each one being the size of a fully grown man. The colour was a dirty brown and was packaged inside a layer of dying moss. On the front of the church was a tall and narrow stained glass window, but I couldn’t see the pattern as there was no light. 5

At the very top of the spire was a single window that had been smashed through; what lay inside had fallen victim to the darkness. Running down the sides of the structure was a jungle of flaky vines that were twisted and warped leaving no way through. Standing just outside the entrance of the church was a lonely Angel Oak tree. Ironic really, considering the demonic presence that encompassed it.6

Just then, I heard an unpleasant snapping of twigs coming from behind me. I didn’t dare to look. Instead, I crawled out from the rubble as quickly, yet as quietly, as I possibly could, unfortunately grazing my knee on a piece of scrap metal. I got to my feet once I knew that I was secluded behind one of the cracked headstones. However, I did not rise to my full height. I crouched there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to spring forth and grab my hunter! I was not lucky enough to get that chance, as I heard a faint rustling from my right; I was once again under threat from an unknown assailant.7

I panicked, leapt out from my shelter and made my escape towards the church. I was panting and almost tripped up several times, before I finally reached my goal. I burst down the gates; they had worn off their hinges over time and weren’t as much of an obstacle as I had speculated earlier. I was only a couple of metres away from the front doors of the church building, when my foot caught on a loose brick in the floor and sent me hurtling towards the great wooden doors; knocking me unconscious.8

After drifting in and out of consciousness, I finally awoke. My head had been dripping blood, like a loose tap, and my head felt like it was being pushed in from all angles. I was startled by a chilling breeze that skimmed over my neck. I looked around and noticed that I had smashed through the doors of the church and was lying in a pool of dry blood. I pathetically pulled my weight up so that I was on my feet once more. 9

The whole interior of the building was grey like cement. The seating that ran down both sides of the aisle was broken and had rotted; the few that were still there at least. Eight stone columns stood around the room, they were the only things that kept the church standing. In front of me, at the end of the aisle, was a black marble alter. It was covered in scratches, chips and marks. The left side of it has a large chunk missing. Upon the alter stood three lowly brass candles and a stone goblet that had been knocked over.10

Behind the altar were two doors. I strolled over to the left door and peeked my head around the corner, to see what lay inside. The room behind the door was very small. It contained an old wooden piano and a dusty window that let a minute amount of moonlight into the room. I left the room and went to look behind the second door. It led up to the tower: a long, spiral staircase that had loose stone steps and a dark, narrow passage with no windows; a treacherous path to take.11

Knock, knock, knock…12

Someone was trying to get in the church.13

Knock, knock, knock; harder this time.14

Then I heard an uncomfortable creek as the doors were pushed open.15

I sat down behind one of the stone pillars and curled into a tight ball, hoping that it would cut me off from the world. Once again I knew that I couldn’t stay where I was but there was no way out this time. The window in the piano room was far too small for me to squeeze through and I was too frightened to face my stalker. This left only one option. I had to climb the deathly tunnel that led up the tower.16

Without hesitation, I darted towards the door and slammed it behind me. I was breathing quickly as I scrambled my way up the coiling tunnel. Once I had made a full rotation there was more or less total darkness, other than the glimmer of light that was abandoned behind me. I kept my arms outstretched so that I had some idea of what lay ahead. I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach, that something or someone would jumped out of the darkness and take me away. My hands felt something cold and damp; an old and decaying wooden door. Around the edges was a silver glow which cradled the obstruction in place.17

After much searching, I managed to find the whereabouts of a handle. Twisting it to the right, I slowly pushed my way inside. The small room was empty, apart from a bed, and made from the same rock as the church. I sat down on the bed and submerged my head into my hands. Then I head the gruesome, bloodcurdling and nauseating sound that made me scream out in peril.18

The faint tune of a desolate piano.19