24th October, 1885.
Dear Journal,
It has been almost three days since I last wrote, but the events of this time have been terrifying to say the least. These last few days I have been forced to flee my home and now I’m a suspected murderer due to the thing that chases me. I think it best if I start at the beginning.
It started on the morning of the 21sta mutual friend introduced me to a Mr Adcombe, due to debts Mr Adcombe was forced to sell some of his possessions. Now this friend a Mr Carston who knew of my interest in antiques told Mr Adcombe of my interest and so that morning they came to my house. When I was told of Adcombe’ problem I expected to be shown a number of artefacts, but to my surprise there was just one.
The artifact in question was a beautiful object a golden chalice inset with gems of every colour and presumably ancient writing along its rim. When I asked Adcombe how much he would like for the object I was stunned, he wished to sell it for a mere £100 I expected much more and jumped at the chance to buy such a magnificent piece.
Later that day I decided to clean the chalice as it was faded and dusty, so I sat at my desk and carefully polished the gems. As I was doing this I noticed the writing along its rim and for some reason I became captivated by the ancient lettering. I sat there staring for a good five minutes when my eye sight went misty and the letters seemed to swirl and change. My first thought was that it was the light glaring off its surface, but then I realised the lettering was now bizarrely written in English.
What magic that was at work I do not know, but I could now read the inscription. I will not tell what it said, as I believe the evil that has befallen me will do like wise to any who read the devils words. As I finished reading the inscription it seemed the room was charged with energy and a deep rumbling vibrating began. It was as though a train was running through the room as books fell from selves and my innards were rattled and shaken. After a long time of this commotion a loud tearing sounded from behind me, I turned to look and there in the middle of the room was a large hole as black as the night sky. I was astonished and frozen in shear excitement at what had just occurred.
That excitement soon faded like a summer breeze as I viewed something approaching me through the hole, a darker shade of black if you will. This time I was frozen in fear as this creature neared, until it stepped into this world. I will never forget the sight of that beast not until my dying breath which I fear is close at hand. Its skin was blood red and moist, each sinewy arm ended in talons and its face a cross between human and dog, fangs for teeth and eyes as black as coal.
I somehow broke from my frozen state and grabbing and antique sabre from atop my fireplace, I slashed the beast across it chest. Its howl of pain curdled my blood as I ran to the door, I fled like a scared child, running down the street screaming in fear. I was soon stopped by a policeman who asked what I was doing, I had the wits to tell him there were intruders in my house. The officer accompanied me back home and after a long search he told me they must have left. After a few questions he went on his way satisfied the intruders had been scared off by me brandishing a sabre.
Hesitantly I re-entered my house convinced that monster was hiding somewhere. I sat in my living room for sometime, the sabre gripped tightly when there was a knock at the door. By now it was well past ten and I wondered who it could be. On opening the door I was roughly knocked to the ground by the policeman from earlier, accompanied by four other officers. I asked him what he was doing and he told me I was under arrest for murder. He said a family further down the street had been killed by what looked like sword slashes, they thought it was me. Before I could protest my innocence a throaty growl sounded from outside, one of the policemen went to investigate followed moments later by a piecing scream. The other men rushed outside, down the side of the house where the first man went. This time there were shouts, screams and pleas for help, without thought I ran thankful the police had yet to handcuff me.
I ran for nearly a mile before I had to stop to gather my breath, luckily there was an abandoned house nearby that I broke into, feeling safer for not being in the open. I fell asleep at some point, when I awoke it was morning and I decided on a course of action. Fifteen miles away in a small wood was an old log cabin that I owned and stayed in on weekends. That would be the best place to go for now the problem was getting there.
I decided on stopping passing carts to ask if they were going anywhere near my destination, as I did so I noticed a newspaper stand. Going over I read the front page, it was about me saying I was a vicious killer and that I’d murdered four policemen and that there was now a major man hunt on. More frightened than ever I continued with my task.
It wasn’t until mid afternoon I found someone travelling near my cabin and who was willing to allow me to go with them. Much of the journey was uneventful, until it got dark that is. We were only fife miles from mile cabin when we heard a terrible howl that scared the horses. The cart driver had to stop so as to calm them down. While he was doing this I saw a movement at the corner of my eye. I knew what it was it was that beast, the horses whinnied in terror and bolted. I heard the cart mans screams behind me as I struggled to grab the reins.
As the horses ran I heard another howl close by, I turned in my seat and saw that demon beast just ten yards away, chasing the cart with speed. Without warning it leapt and grabbed the tailboard, its talons digging into the wood as it pulled itself up. In desperation I climbed to the back of the cart and with all the strength I could muster I kicked the beast in the face. Its clawed hand flashed out cutting deeply into my leg as it lost its grip and fell to the road.
I finally reached this cabin I now write in early this morning, carefully guiding the tired horses through the woods. The agony from my wounded leg was and still is intense and the horses wandered off sometime ago, but I’m unable to search for them because of the wound. I now realise coming here was a bad idea as I’m miles from anywhere and I feel the beast still pursues me. I fact just moments ago I heard its howl so I know its close. I know I will die here in this old cabin, but I’ll be damned if it will be at the hands of that demon spawn so I will……end it myself. Farewell.
Copyright © 2006 Sean Rickards
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Wow . . . .
That was a good story, grabs the readers attention and draws them in. Great work, grendals_bane!
That was a good story, grabs the readers attention and draws them in. Great work, grendals_bane!
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