The Black Orb

Chapter 2: Struggle for Survival

“Damn it” Bryan shouted with blood trickling through his mouth.

“Can’t you all be civilized? You almost killed us”. His resentment ran deep.

*Rumble *rumble *rumble

“You spoiled the fun. You ruined the chase,” a voice like a thousand thunder rumblings with depth and echo as that from the depth of hell resounded right behind them.

“Run!” without any thought for safety, Bryan shouted. He lost all sense of reasoning although he conscious and they were in the middle of nowhere with tall trees and thick bushes on each side, his only thought was ‘survive first’ every other thing can come later.

They all started to flee. They couldn’t venture into the bushes on either side of the tarred road for fear of the dangers lurked within, they could only continue on the tarred road hoping to outrun that monster. No, it couldn’t be seen as a monster, the precise word to use was a nightmare.

With panic-stricken bodies they urged their legs with great difficulty and attempted to escape. Gradually, their bodies were lifted from the ground, with their legs barely supporting their bodies they summoned all the strength they could muster and began to flee back to the town.

However, only five of them successfully escaped. Lewis was petrified so much that he was frozen and couldn’t move any part of his body. Mere looking at him, one could think he was a lifelike sculpture, an exquisite work of a godlike sculptor. His eyes were not moving, his hands were stuck in the air, pointing towards the direction of the monster, he had even forgotten to breathe.

He was dead. There was no longer life in him. He died of shock. The others couldn’t even bother with him, for they were so afraid and their survival instincts had kicked in and all they could do was flee.

“Hmm?” with a trace of confusion, the monster looked at Lewis who was frozen at the spot.

“He died? Such a weak human. Tsk tsk tsk… too boring.”

“Come add to my power,” as he said that, the air around him began to change the leaves that outlined him began to circulate him again in a joyous manner. Although the leaves were almost gone, one could see the traces of the leaves on his skin. It wasn’t really traces of leaves, the leaves were actually, the foundation of his skin. It could be said that the leaves ere truly its skin and the mangled flesh Bryan and the others saw, were merely illusions.

The monster created those illusions to make it look more frightening, having the appearance of an evil spirit descended from hell. It actually worked, not that the appearance of leaves forming a human shape, with lightnings in-between it was any less terrifying.

The illusions the monster created was actually, its true appearance, however that was the early stage of development. It evolves according to the number of humans it devours. In its final evolution, it takes up the appearance of a human. It no longer appears as a giant with the height of a three-story building, its height is that of an average human and that form holds an unimaginable power.

The leaves continued to move round its body in a frantic manner, and then shot forth from his body engulfing Lewis in it. when it finally calmed down, there was no sign of Lewis. The leaves then shot back into its body; they made on full rotation before disappearing completely into its body.

Its body trembled slightly and the leaves began to be replaced with skin. This lasted only five seconds. “This is barely enough,” it sighed as it looked at its body, utterly disappointed. What appeared on its body can’t be said to be skin but mutilated flesh. Its resemblance was that of an unskilled butcher trying to butcher a large animal. Even the monster was disgusted by the appearance.

The five had run a considerable distance and were oblivious of what had happened to their friend Lewis. They continued to advance and hoped that they could reach the town in time.

“Hopefully, the others will aid in forming this old man’s skin,” it said as it looked at the direction in which the five ran. Man? Couldn’t it even be considered a man; it was a freaking beast. No, it can’t be considered a beast it’s a demon.

With such frightening appearance and abnormal aura of evil, this monster still considers itself a man. If people were to know about this, they’ll die out of anger.