Phoenix Project

Prologue

“When in the dreamland we search for the unknown, the truth will finally be revealed”

I have to run. I push my legs to run as fast as I can. Everything is swept into darkness, and fear is gripping every little part of me, but I need to keep running.

For a moment, I look back and the only thing I can see is darkness surrounding me. It's almost impossible to even see anything beyond my arm’s reach. But I don't really need to see to know that thing is chasing me. I can feel that it's close. Almost as if it's just playing with me. But in this game of catch, I know bad things will happen if I get caught.

The distinctive hiss is just like a shrill weird laugh and it's getting louder, showing me that this thing is getting dangerously closer. My heartbeat is so strong that it makes my head throb. My breathing is irregular and the cold I feel deep in my bones is making my escape even harder. I know I won't be able to keep running for much longer.

I look back one more time and suddenly I trip onto something I can’t identify and fall, hitting my head hard on the ground. As I try to stand up, a sharp pain above my eyebrow tells me I cut myself, and my suspicion is confirmed as seconds later, a trickle of hot blood slowly begins to seep from the wound and get between my eyes.

After that, it doesn’t take long for the hiss to become louder. Terrified, I try to search everywhere for the source of the shrill noise, but there is nothing here.

I can’t see anything.

Suddenly, the noise stops and only seconds later I feel a cold breath in the back of my neck, and all the hairs on my whole body stand up. Slowly, as if my body is compelled to look, I turn around and less than thirty centimeters from my face, I see those shining eyes. Big and round green eyes stare back at me. The creepiest part is the feeling it conveys. It’s like they say “ah-ha, I got you!”. Invisible hands dig their nails deep into the flesh of my shoulders and that’s when I feel it... the heaviness in the air caused by pure rage.

All of it is rage towards me.

A mixing of nasty thoughts and an explosion of vile feelings overwhelms me. All were coming from that thing. I feel dizzy and nauseous as the thing starts calling my name in what looks like a screeching hiss. It’s like I can feel the disgust in its voice. Abruptly my heart stops. Complete darkness surrounds me once more. At this moment I have no more doubts…

I know I am dead.