Hope

Part of me knew this was a stupid idea. Life as I knew it was crumbling around me, and rather than following the rational train of thought and running for my life; I ran straight back into danger. It was deafening, yet silencing; there were people everywhere grasping for items they thought would be useful in this situation. Screaming, destruction and countless cars in flames; and an hour ago I was finishing my shift in the grocer worrying about my outfit for a party tonight. As I ran into High Street from the alley, I locked eyes with Eve. Her long blonde hair billowing around her as she stared, arms filled to the brim with food she’d clearly stolen. I know I looked like hell, I was covered in dirt and there was dried blood caked around my hairline from where I’d hit my head on the steering wheel of my car. Her mouth open closed, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was also grappling with the memory of the first time we met at a whole five years old. I started to approach her, desperate to find out of she had a plan. The unmistakeable roar of those tore through the air, scattering the crowd of people on High Street. Eve turning on her heel and hightailing out of the street. A man ran, bumping me on his way past; breaking me out of my stupor. Sprinting across the road, I jumped through the shattered pub window, jumping over people and heading straight for the kitchen to hide. I went straight for the walk in industrial fridge, wedging it open with a tea towel from one of the benches. I slid underneath one of the wire shelving units; the chill of the floor grounding me.

I hadn’t taken a good look at them, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. When my car crashed, I hadn’t paid attention to the creature as it destroyed the bridge to the party destination; I got out and ran for my life. The only thing I registered was their large size and scales that looked more like armour than their skin. I clamped my hand over my mouth, my breathing was loud enough to draw them from the next city over. Heavy steps filled the kitchen, a clink sounding after them; as if it had talons on the bottom of its feet. The only sounds were low growls and sharp exhales, footsteps heavy enough to shake the ground, breaking the kitchen tiles as it went. A couple stray tears spilt from my eyes as I squeezed them shut, a sob caught in the back of my throat as I both heard and felt it getting closer. Not yet, please, not yet. It felt like hours had passed by the time it left the kitchen. I couldn’t hear what was happening out in the dining area from the fridge, and I wasn’t sticking around to find out. Slowly, I pulled myself out from underneath the shelf, opening the door a couple centimetres to check the path was clear. The floor was now entirely broken tiles, sticking up harshly. I could hear it now, still growling as it walked around; thankfully the air was void of screams. The options were simple, stay and make sure it had left the building before leaving or run out and pray it wouldn’t hear me over the sounds of itself. I forced my body through the tiny gap in the door, avoiding stepping on the smaller pieces of tile, even with that, a crunch echoed in the room. With ice in my veins, I stopped, waiting for any sound indicating that it was coming for me. When I couldn’t hear anything, I carried on out the door. I bent over, grabbing one of the sharper pieces of tile, the rough edges easily drawing blood, I grabbed the tea towel, quickly slicing it in half with the broken tile. Placing the tile down softly, I used the halves of the tea towel to wrap around the bottom of my shoes; tucking the edges in to try and silence my footsteps. Slowly, I crept towards the back door, I could see the safety of the alley through the window; though it felt like it was kilometres away. The crunch of the tiles was mostly absorbed, the tea towels proving to be an effective tool. I was halfway there when I felt it, it was moving back towards the kitchen. Staying still wasn’t an option, I picked up the pace, it was far enough away that I could make the distance if I was careful; but when you’re rushing you’re not careful. I had been so busy looking at the door to the dining room I didn’t notice the tile wasn’t fully cracked; but it split the second I put my weight on it. The roar that followed was ear-splitting, my hands flew up to cover my ears, my body hunching over from the pain of the sound. I looked to the back door and sprinted, vaguely feeling the steps of the creature coming for me. I pushed the door open with all my force, right as it entered the kitchen. Immediately roaring upon its entrance, I managed to throw myself out into the alley, running out into the street as quickly as I could.

Acting on nothing but instinct, I threw myself underneath a car by the kerb, it was at an angle from crashing into the pole in the mayhem. As I laid underneath it, surveying my surroundings, I pretended I hadn’t seen the lifeless bodies inside the car. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears from the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins, I felt blood dripping down my arm, I’d torn it open on the concrete but I couldn’t feel the pain. From where I hid, I could see my townhouse. I just needed to get there, grab what I needed and get out. I retouched the tea towels in my shoes, praying to whoever was listening that they would allow me to get there and back. Perhaps I should have prayed for answers, or for this to all be a nightmare that I would wake up from; but what good would that do? I could feel the creatures walking around, they seemed far enough away for me to be able to make the distance. Right as I began to crawl out from the vehicle, a woman’s scream rang out. I couldn’t tell which building it came from, but her scream triggered many more. Sliding back underneath the car, the footsteps of the beasts picked up, running towards the screams. I curled myself into the metal position, trying to be as small and inconspicuous as possible. They were so focused on their destination, I don’t think they would have noticed if I was on top of the car; but that was not a theory to try out. I watched as they thundered past, I counted four running past me; perfectly away from my destination. Turning my head, I saw them all thundering into the museum, the screaming picking up; quickly replaced by the road of them creatures. I took that as my queue, quickly rolling out front the car and sprinting to my house.

The door was broken, someone clearly having gone in there to hide; I didn’t dwell on the thought of people being inside. Taking the stairs two at a time, I went straight into my room, opening the antique jewellery box my grandmother had gifted me on my twenty first birthday; it was right on top. Holding back tears, I picked it up, ignoring the blood beginning to soak the chain and pendent. The heart shaped locket was something I rarely wore, holding too much sentimental value for me to consider wearing it daily. I resisted the urge to open it, not wanting to get blood on the only photo I had of my mother and I. I allowed a stray tear to fall from my eye as I clasped the gold necklace around my neck, trying to draw on the strength of her to get me through this. Another roar echoed through the air, snapping me back to reality. I grabbed the backpack off my door and shoved as much as I could fit in it, clothes, water and my first aid kit. I barely had time to process it before the screams of people picked up again. Immediately, I zipped the bag, throwing it on and going straight back out. Once I was on the street, I took off down the road, the bounce of the locket on my chest keeping me in rhythm. I barely felt the tears as I looked back, seeing nothing but destruction and hearing the emanating screams of humans and creatures alike.