Phoenix's Destiny

Sometimes I don’t remember the sun, I just forget it. I forget the warmth it brings in June on a clear afternoon. What shade of orange it is- or even if it rises in the east or west. I’ve been trapped in these tunnels for a while now, I cant count because I have nothing to count with. I have to keep moving, if I don’t keep moving I’ll be found. There are things in these tunnels. Monstrous things, things that are not people or even speak proper words. Some of these monsters fly, some of them crawl, some of them screech, some want to eat me… I fell down here, I was in my apartment brushing my teeth and my mirror started to smoke greatly and I opened in and this black smoking hole was there. I was pulled in by the smoke, its hot ashy fumes engulfed me lifting my off my floor and then I was falling. I woke up on the cold cave floor, barely able to see anything. I heard things though, a deep shaking growl. I was so scared I ran, ran for what felt like a mile in my pajamas and fuzzy slippers. These bat creatures hung from the ceiling, squealing so loud my ears bled. They aren’t what want to eat me though, those are the spiders…. The spiders are what keep me from getting sleep at night. The spiders make me walk constantly, so my scent doesn’t linger too long. They speak in tsps forming only so many words at a time. ‘Hungry, meat, where’ is what I mostly hear through the caves. Eight hair long legs, salivating tusks hanging from their mouths, small beady eyes. It’s hard seeing the bats because they live in darkness, but the spiders have hands and carry torches. I saw them capture and bat and burn it, then fed off it’s corpse. I have nightmares of it- which helps keep me awake. I smothered myself in mud, and leaves to keep my scent away, they were on to it for the first few days but lately… they have not mentioned me. There are these holes, I hide in. I eat bugs on the ground, drinking the dripping water from the ceiling. I miss my family… I miss my life. I’m Phoenix, 21 years old. I’m from Las Vegas Nevada, I worked as a barber, I have two loving parents, that are probably worried sick about me. Two best friends that were my room mates who I know must have noticed right away that I was gone. The longer I’ve been the more they must think I’m dead… But I’m not dead, but I might be in hell. I was curled up in my favorite hiding hole, it was deeper than the others and had nice soft ground. Even though the bats screech, if it’s quiet they just sleep and make no noises… Their scent keep my scent away and unaccounted for- and the company isn’t bad. The bats are huge, as big as me (5’7”) but with large wings. “tsp, tsp, red ones, tsp tsp, hungry.” I heard the scatter of feet on the ground. A thick brush kept my hole hidden. My eyes shot awake from my nap as I saw light come through “tsp angry tsp.” When the spiders speak words it sounded like marbles moving in their mouth. “tsp tsp tsp why us tsp tsp we no meat” this was a younger voice speaking. The light was bright now, causing The bats to screech, my hands immediately covered my ears. My drums were quaking making my brain feel as if it was splitting. I’ve heard this sound so many times that I learned not to scream in pain but I still jolted my body in agony. But the bats usually leave at the sight of danger, within second they were gone- but my pain lingered… My mouth open like a fish, stars blurring my vision. I almost didn’t notice the bush that was hiding me from them was snagged away. Two spider monsters gasping at me. The fire torch was the brightest thing I’ve seen in days, it hurt my eyes. Just the feeling of my pupils shrinking added to me new migraine. I squealed at the burning ache of my skin warming to the torch, like a fresh sun burn. “Mother tsp what?” The little spider monster asked “Live tsp two legs tsp. No tsp danger tsp tsp.” The mom said. Her bug eyes bulging at me, while I was shaking in terror. These bug monsters were not like the others. The black spiders would be eating me in seconds, they just looked at me like I was an obstacle. “You must leave tsp tsp tsp, not safe. Tsp.” “What?” “Come tsp.” The furry hand not holding the torch reached out to me. “Not far, you must leave.” I was hesitant, I’ve been afraid for so long. The little one with their tiny hairy hands took mine. I gasped “before you tsp die two legs. The poisoned ones are searching for you.” “The tsp upper world tsp in near tsp.” I crawled out of my hiding spot The mom spider began going in the way she came “tsp follow.” The child spider held on to me. Their many legs went faster than mine, I was barely able to keep up, tripping over myself as they repeatedly kept pulling me up. I was hungry, dehydrated and weak. I have not known where I was for so long, was I really going to finally be home? Or was I just going deeper into this hell? I felt fresh air begin flowing in after running for what felt like miles. Wind wiping around my ears, the smell of grass and trees, light from the sun pouring in. My heart was racing again, my palms sweating. The little hairy hand let go of mine, as I was a few steps away from the upper world. “Why?” Was all I could ask the two brown spider monsters as they kept to the shadows. “Tsp you don’t tsp belong tsp here.” The mom replied “Tsp goodbye two legs!” They came and left… I looked at my once blue pajama pants that now in the sun were black and dirty… My men’s shirt once white, was covered in brown and black with hints of red. I walked fully into the sun at the mouth of the cave. I was now in sun light… My skin would be pale, but you can’t tell after a while of sleeping in mud. My finger nails bitten to the brim, sometimes being the only thing to eat. I didn’t feel human…. I felt lost now. The cave was my only home for weeks, and I knew seeing the trees, and clear blue sky I was not in Vegas no more. This trees looked rooted for years, this dirt was fresh and happy. I was dreaming of leaving the cave just to walk back into my home, pick up my life and hope this was a dream. I began walking, into my ripped socks. The ground was at least soft to walk on, that was a bonus. I never smelt such fresh air, the humidity dancing on my dirty skin. The trees were tall and thick, with shadows lining the ground. Moss was everywhere with cute little mushrooms growing out of the floor. My stomach was knotting in hunger, I thought of plucking one but I cant tell where I am or what’s poisonous. Those brown spiders helped me? But where did they lead me? I walked for hours, till the moon appeared then the thick forest was dark. I felt my once warm skin shiver and get bumpy. My toes grew cold and in pain. Noises rose up in the distance, I soon felt more lost than before. I was use to the darkness of the cave, but this is new darkness is unfamiliar territory. “Who are you?” A thick hard object came out of no where, hitting me in the chest. “Ow,” I fell back tripping on tree root. “Tell me Stranger, d-don’t come any closer!” It was a woman’s voice, very high cautious voice. I pick myself up, my limbs shaking from being thrown off balance, another object came hitting me in the back. “I-I’m not afraid of you. Now go on, get!” “Darling, what are you doing?” A old shaking voice emerged. I was now able to turn to face the two women. “Who is this baby girl?” “Grandma no! It’s an intruder! Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” “P-please, help me?” My voice was so weak I grabbed my throat “I’ve-I’ve been lost for weeks. I just want to go home.” “God she stinks.” The young woman said. “Shush child! Mind your manners.” The old woman came closer to me, and my vision was able to focus on his now. She was old and hunched over, using a wooden cane. She was hunched over, looking so delicate and fragile. She wore a bald head, pale wrinkled skin, but with violet glowing eyes. “Darling, hello. You are safe now, call me Grandma. What’s your name child?” “H-hello- I’m Ph-Pheonix” Those eyes shocked me… Shocked me so much, everything went black.