18. Jason
Eighteen
Jason
The chainsaw’s snarl grows louder, rattling my nerves and flooding me with fear as I wait, muscles coiled and ready to fight. I’m counting the seconds for Daisy to return with something—anything—that could help us defend ourselves.
Terror is a strange, unusual feeling, one that I don’t experience often now that I’m older, and I despise how it makes my body tremble.
My heart pounds so loudly that I can barely hear my own thoughts.
It brings me back to the past, when I was younger and the sound of Jerry’s footsteps outside my door would send dread churning through my stomach.
God, I had forgotten that, forgotten the way I would lie in bed awake so I could hear any threats coming, and wouldn’t sleep until the house was deathly quiet.
Fuck this monster for trying to draw out my long-buried demons.
The blight lurking at the end of the hallway edges backward, and I sense that it wants to bolt. I shake my head, flexing my fingers and forcing a grin to bloom through my rising panic. I’m determined to stand my ground, to protect Daisy, even though I know I could die tonight.
After being shown visions of the past by the voice, I knew death was a possibility, but until now, I never truly believed it could happen to me.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips while I focus on easing the anxiety coursing through my body, shaking it off with something more comfortable—false bravado. I’ve always been good at pretending that I’m okay, even when I’m not.
I raise a ringed finger and point at the blight. “You’re dying tonight.”
The monster shakes its head, and its mouth opens again, teeth chattering as if trying to speak. Slowly, I move closer, keeping my gaze firmly fixed.
“Don’t be scared. I’m only going to bash your brains in and then eat you for breakfast.” I chuckle. “It’s breakfast time somewhere in the world.”
For a moment, something human flashes in the creature’s eyes before it shifts toward the door, hand outstretched, then quickly runs.
A maniacal laugh bursts free, a predator’s mask is an easy disguise, and I chase after it. “You can run, but when I catch you, I’m going to send you back to the rotten hell you crawled out from.” It squeezes through the open door, but I’m right behind it.
At first, darkness swallows the room, with only flickering light from scattered candles.
Once my eyes adjust, I snicker. We’ve walked straight into an occult chamber.
It’s fate that we’re here, like this is the start of something new.
I look around. Thick red symbols are messily scrawled across the walls in smeared blood.
In the center, an altar sits shackled in heavy chains.
Grim tapestries hang from the walls, each more unsettling than the last with disturbing imagery of death and sacrifice.
“Nice,” I murmur, wondering where they found such decor; honestly, it’d be a perfect fit for my own room, but now is not the time for shopping. I can’t get distracted.
I move towards the middle of the room, my eyes locked onto the blight as it edges away from me with wary steps.
On the altar, I see a dagger with a bone-carved handle.
It glows on display like a mystical offering.
My fingers grasp the hilt, and I send a silent thank you to the voice for providing it.
At least now I have something to defend myself with.
The door bursts open, causing the whole room to shake.
“Daisy?”
The chainsaw roars in response.
I whip my head up just in time to see a giant blight looming in the doorway, its yellow eyes burning like lanterns in the dark.
“Fuck.” This is bad.
Weapon in hand, I hover behind the table, my eyes darting between the creatures, searching for a sign of their next move.
One blight seems more intimidating than the other.
The smaller one tempts me with its promise of an easier fight, yet memories of my blonde-haired sister drift through my mind.
I can’t leave this big fucker for her. Shit.
Is this what falling in love feels like?
The hulking monster lumbers into the room, its gaze sweeping the shadows before locking onto me.
My arms tremble and I grip the dagger tighter.
Fucking come on, Jason, don’t be a giant pussy.
But who wouldn’t be terrified, staring down a colossal monster wielding a fucking chainsaw while armed with nothing but a dagger?
If I fail, the creature will be free to find Daisy, and I can’t let that nightmare come true.
“Come on, big guy,” I mutter, “let’s dance.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the other blight slipping away into the shadows and vanishing. That monster is a coward, but at least it allows me to focus entirely on the one in front of me.
I prowl around the altar, knife still gripped tight, every muscle tensed to strike. My heart pounds like a war drum while I march towards victory. Or my doom.
The monster’s chainsaw roars, and I can hardly believe I’m facing such madness.
Smoke coils through the air, stinging my eyes. Sweat trickles down my face and I take a deep breath, slowing my racing pulse before darting forward.
The blade flashes in the candlelight, slicing into the creature’s arm. It snarls and swings, the chainsaw buzzing close as I twist away.
Moving fast, I circle around to outmaneuver this massive terror.
I dive in again, aiming for its hand, hoping a wound will loosen its hold on the chainsaw. The blight raises his arms, and I miss.
“Fuck.”
The monster grins, its teeth gleaming as it prepares to strike again. It moves faster than I expect and I spot the attack just in time, lunging out of reach. The vibrations raise the hair on my arms. That was too fucking close.
With a guttural snarl, the blight throws the chainsaw away, frustration etched across its face. My shoulders slump forward.
That moment of relief is my mistake.
Muscles rippling, it charges forward, and this time, I’m too slow.
I crash to the ground, groaning, my back slamming against the tiled floor while I’m pinned beneath the blight’s crushing weight, each breath ripped from my lungs in frantic gasps.
The monster rears back and drives its fist straight toward my face. My brain wobbles in my skull, a burst of light flashing like a camera’s snap as my head ricochets in time with the ringing in my ears.
Another blow hits the side of my cheek. Warm blood floods my mouth, metallic and thick. I choke, fluid spluttering up.
Pain barely registers before another strike slams into my forehead. My thoughts crawl, sluggish and useless, while the monster advances, unstoppable and relentless.
I have to move. Otherwise I’m going to be pummeled to death.
I refuse to lie here and accept this situation—I’ve never been the kind to accept bad hands dealt to me.
I don’t want to die on this floor.
It won’t become my grave.
My hand flexes and my fingertips brush the handle of the knife. In the darkness, a spark of hope ignites.
The monster clamps its hands around my shirt collar and hauls me upward.
I try to twist sideways, moaning while agony flares through my body, but my limbs are heavy.
My fingers close around the dagger, my heart screaming with success, and as it drags me higher towards its face, I drive the blade into its neck in one swift motion.
“Gotcha, shit stain.”
The blight immediately drops me. I crumple to the ground, groaning but watching as its hands go to its neck. I wince in response to the terrible screech filling the room. Dark fluid rains against the ground, streaming from its neck.
Unsteady on my feet, I force myself up. I need to kill it. White heat blurs my vision but I strike again. My sloppy attack draws a pained snarl, but the monster barely flinches.
Somehow, it only looks pissed off. It wraps its hands around my neck, and my dagger clatters to the floor. My throat tightens as I gasp for air.
My fingers claw at his arm. Legs thrashing, my limbs are useless against its hard body.
I can’t breathe.
The room blurs and my ears pop.
It’s going to choke me to death.
I’m going to die.
Somewhere off in the distance, the chainsaw sputters back to life, its growl inching closer. I know the other blight has returned, eager to seal my fate so they can take over the town.
My eyelids grow heavy, having no choice but to surrender to the finality settling over me.
In an instant its grip breaks. I collapse onto the ground, gulping air. Rolling over, I stare at the ceiling as monster gore sprays around the room like some fucked up confetti. No matter how much I breathe, it is not enough. I know I should get up, but hell, I need just a second.
My heart hammers so wildly, I think it might burst. I almost died—am I dead? My hand finds the frantic beat above my chest, proof that I am still here, alive. That was far too fucking close.
A bright light floats above me before it morphs into an angel. I frown. A very angry angel.
“You asshole,” Daisy screams. “You cock sucking, motherfucking asshole.” She slams her fists into my chest with each insult. I wince. Everything hurts, and I let out a pitiful whine in response, sluggishly brushing her hands away. Daisy’s hands might be small, but they hurt. Goddamn.
A minute passes, her anger simmering before she growls and helps me up, though I do most of the work. My body rests against hers, just needing a moment.
“Don’t be mad, Daisy,” I mumble. As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know it’s the wrong thing to say.
She whirls around so fast that I stumble, barely avoiding face planting in the ground. Daisy jabs her finger at my chest, and I swear I can see the rage in her eyes.
“You were dying! You planned to die and leave me alone!”
I cringe. “I was trying my best not to.”
“You’re only going to die when I wish it. Otherwise, stay alive, asshole.” Daisy huffs before turning on her heel.