short horror stories

the shadow mans descent

The shadow man has come to a crossroads. Here he will wait for the little grey alien to appear. He is a demon. He will ask for support on his trip to the underworld. This alien telepathicly sends the designs of the system that will be the path down. Now he must go to Antarctica to find the entrance. He flys in a military plane, the pilot on speed, so he doesn't fall asleep. Shadow man spots the gaping hole into earth. And walks forth. He writes a rune on the cave wall, and it glows red. He is shadow made human, but this is all new. There are railroad tracks on the center path, and some that split other directions. He climbs into an old motorized cart and starts the motor. He accelerates into the dark, seeing visions of giant insects upon the passing walls. The cart slows as a giant geared machine opens the iron door ahead. Beyond are floating orbs emiting yellow rays. It smells of bleach, and bones in this stretch of tunnel. A hooded figure in a dark robe raises a hand with a tattoo of a seal on its palm. A hole opens in its face and speaks in static waves. He telepaths the alien to ask what this thing wants. "He wants you to visualize a blue beam from deep space, and you must become one with the beam to gain access to the next level". So he tries to lock in on the beam, feels a rush, and connects in his mind. His brain lights up with its energy, and he is physically swept past the hooded thing into a pinhole in the crystal plate ahead of him. This new chamber is one of reflections, and extra senses discovered. He hears with is mind every drip of water, the techtonic shifts, the reptiles in the space to his left and the wails of souls in hell. Stepping sideways into this next cavern, he spots a chain connected to a ball that's linked to a system of unknown technology. He breathes on the ball, and a face appears. It mutters a little story about the age of the planet, and who all has risen and tumbled eventually. Then it says "listen to me, you must bring me with you further past this crystal plate you are in". I will place my self on the back of your head, and speak to you in reverse, so you understand". I will guide you deep into the planet, where we can experience the pressures of the underworld. We will swim in the earths core alongside magma dwelling troglodytes, and demon orbs. So let's transcend this plate and dive deeper into the world. Reality is folding into itself the deeper we go. Let's enter the mid-level through the circle drawn on the obsidian floor. We go deeper into our minds as well. The pressures are great, but the gravity changes it's current in here. Sulphur winds rise from the holes in the ground, and display sentience as they float up into the grates in the ceiling. The screams of the condemned are louder, and morphing into a grinding roar. The walls are breathing, and the face attached starts counting down to something. Shadow mans heart is pumping loud echoing down below. Music begins, using the heartbeat as it's percussion. It sounds like thrash metal, coming from nowhere. The spaces are getting bigger as the world senses these beings in search of its core. Up ahead is not one, not two or three, but about 50 reptilians up on their hind legs, watching, hiding, and growling slightly. The shadow man bellows a verse written in reptilian and they climb up to the ceiling. We pass by hearing murderous threats, and evil curses. A large one yells" you may pass, but if you go, we will always be with you"!

He then crowds in with the others but decides to feed upon one of his own. Shadow man and the face climb downward by spiral chute. Spots of glowing splatter look like entrails written with a spike. We are getting close to the core. There is many holes to climb through, and we need the one with veins on the walls. It leads to the seal upon the entrance. We will go deeper until our senses detect the core. We find the veined tunnel, and climb in. The veins pulse and up ahead there is a seal etched in black. As we arrive, the seal takes the form of a flesh/machine hybrid that looks our way. It whispers into our minds, and declares us valid to enter. Opening up, we see ripples in the core, and dark shapes within. We prepare by spinning thread around our minds. We lower into the magma, and it burns to the bones. In a good way. The face shifts into the core, wriggling like an ameoba. Demons are seeded here but none approach. I am submerged, as my body becomes fluid but in form. My mind is swirling in its space above my eyes, while I center myself at the middle of the orb. Winged octopy dart by. Large shapes, tiny shapes, and spots bubbling into other spots. The earth is speaking to me about when time was non existent. The screams we heard of hell turned out to just be in both our heads. The demons confirm this. As I am curled up in the center of the world I think I am growing branch like limbs from my fingers, toes, and head. The face swims by talking about syncronocitys happening up above. A worm bites into my stomach, and feeds itself. I let it feed. Waves of black pass into my vision, and I am jabbed by a meat hook, and pulled out of the core. Three hooded things look upon me and they open their 3rd eyes to speak. You must leave, but first you must draw upon our skulls the pattern of your life. Here is a tubed, chambered, device to etch with. Then we lift you out by the ways of the dead. You will then appear at the north pole by way of paradox, and chaos lines upon the world. I completed my life's design upon one skull, then grabbed a line into the molten tunnels sprawled through the deep. I directed my path up past the tunnels and layers of stone. Causing some shift around me. I became the worm that bit me, and was glad I let it feed. I found my way to the deepest roots belonging to a tree that used to be on the polar opposite of earth. I enter the roots like fluid and collect info along the way up. I see DNA strung into the roots, and notice that they have been tampered with. To speed up evolution of plant life to become humanoid. I carry up the twists and knots until I reach the surface where there is no tree, but a icy crater lined with people in rubber suits. They each stop to stare as my shadow self emerges with a rising gas. I blend in with the air, and move out above them to continue my path back to the city, where I will tell my team the secrets learned about the world's history, and the pitfalls ahead, as well as the times of prosperity. I'm coming back.