We Tortured Corpses

Is it better to run?

I always wondered if it was possible to outrun the monsters in your nightmares. If you're trying, let me give you some advice.

Stop.

Even if you somehow manage to speed ahead of the terrifying giant decayed spider carcass dripping ooze from it's mouth as it chases you, waking up isn't a better option. Not anymore.

Besides, all of the monsters I had to deal with in nightmares don't hold a candle to the ones I face in reality. Yeah giant spiders are scary, but they got nothing on these creatures. I'd fight a dragon with a scorpion tail and head of a snake before I try to take from a person infected by greed.

Doesn't really matter anyway though, I'm about to be caught. Yeah, I could curl up in fear, plead for my life, and try to survive... but there's no longer anything to plead for. All that's keeping me going is survival instinct, once that's pushed to it's limits, maybe I'll finally be able to rest.

"You really thought you could get away from me?"

I hate that guy's voice, he sounds like he's been smoking since the day he was born and has never cleared his throat in his life. The deepness is another issue, how could a person's voice go that low, I'd compare it to a cello, maybe an oboe.

Not to mention his bald head, shaggy beard, and jagged crooked teeth. He had to be at least fifty, no maybe sixty. He ran at half the speed of a super Nintendo and breathed heavily with every step. Wait, how did he catch up to me without needing to catch his breath?

"Gotcha!"

My body completely stopped in it's tracks as a large dusty hand gripped into my shoulder aiding gravity in pulling me to the hard asphalt ground. Light from the street lit up only a portion of the dark alleyway. This isn't good, there's no one around and the cops aren't going to do anything, this guy might actually kill me!

"Dirty little brats like you need to learn their lessons!"

I yelled in anguish as he launched his heel downward into my spine shooting blood from my mouth. I coughed and heaved attempting to draw in air. He retaliated by having his other boot come crashing down onto my left hand. The crunch of bones snapping and splintering rang through the alley with a loud snap.

"Fuck! God my hand!"

Violent screams escaped my lips as he twisted his foot around savoring every sound. My right arm became pinned under my body during the fall, I was completely helpless. I was at his mercy utterly and entirely.

"You really are just a little dumbass aren't ya? Pfft I can't believe you even made it this long! Ye're a joke!" Foul breath spilled out as the air filled with the man's bellowing laughter. I nearly choked from the stench, it smelled like spoiled eggs and wet shit.

"Fuck. You." I spat blood onto his face with a smile completely stopping his excitement. Anger quivered at his brows, he grabbed the back of my hair and shoved my head directly into the ground crushing my nose.

The floor was coated with a dark red stain as blood rushed from my wounds. I laid there motionless just moaning in pain. He released my hand and turned away.

"Shits like you need to learn. Fucking retard." The sound of footsteps diminished as he left me alone to die. The squeaking of rats filled my ears as they waited to begin dining on their meal. Sadly I was the only thing on the menu.

My brown hair had been painted over by my own blood. The grey hoodie and jeans I was wearing were beginning to coexist with my liquid fuel as well. My black sneakers were completely untouched aside from dirt from the floor. My eyelids drifted down ready to give into the warm embrace of their final sleep.

"Jesus. He didn't hold back at all huh? Not even for a kid?"

I tried to twist my head back to see the origin of the voice but was met with diabolical pain and resistance from my body. A thump echoed across the floor as dust scattered a few feet behind me. A shadow slowly took it's presence above my body as footsteps approached.

"What a bastard. Beating on a child like that."

A pair of brown leather shoes made it's way into my vision stopping the footsteps. The figure bent down slowly draping arms over their knees turning their head sideways.

"Can you move?"

The voice was definitely male, it was hushed and gravelly without signs of hostility. Short wheezes escaped my mouth in response along with droplets of blood.

"Doesn't seem like it. Can you speak?"

My energy faded slowly, within minutes I was going to depart. All I could manage was small sounds and gargled noises.

"Hmm... Hang on." 

The sound of something opening then metal objects being moved around split the air. I was curious but I had no power to speak let alone move to see. After a few seconds the noise stopped and a rough and calloused hand came into view. It pushed against my chin slightly lifting my head allowing me to have my curiosity satisfied.

The face before me was that of a man, possibly about to reach middle age. A grey goatee fit his equally grey hair and strong jaw. His eyes were a gentle and dark shade of green. A large vertical scar pierced his left eye creating what seemed to be partial if not total blindness.

"I'm gonna get you out of this disgusting place. But you have to tell me your name first. That's the rule."

An arm touched my shoulder rubbing it slowly but easing some tension. "Whadda ya say?" His smile emerged from his mouth exposing his slightly yellow but straight teeth. Breaths of an acceptable stench filled my lungs quenching the horrific aroma of the previous man.

My eyelids fell with resistance before rising once again with some straining and a stern expression. I always thought when death approached I wouldn't care, that I would simply accept my fate as just. Until this man's kind gesture, it's giving me new hope for life, new hope for something to strive for. Maybe there was a reason other than survival to keep living. With a heavy heart, my mouth opened slowly as I took a large breath.

"Jase..." My lungs emptied all their contents as I lost consciousness. The smile deepened on the man as his brow relaxed. He let out a sound of relief before turning to me once again.

"Well Jase, let's go."