katiekitten
The Compromise
The Ultimate Price *Horror one shot*
Wells, here is my first attempt at anything horror! (Waters Deep was not scary, so it doesn't count
) I wrote this for the trial of terror horror oneshot competition at actually tied third! *falls over* A big surprise, especially as I tied with Typhogirl. Anyways, enough of my babble, here's the story!
A wind rustled through the trees, brushing by oak and birch as it pursued its quarry, twittering with excitement. It slipped past the warring boughs, diving through their grasping fingers and into the thriving undergrowth, alive with calls of the night. A crashing sound, a black shadow stumbling by, tripping over its own feet in its hurry to escape. Thorn bushes dragged at his tangled, midnight-black fur, their bright fruits dripping off his gnashing maw as he snapped at the bushes that held him tight. The wind cackled behind him, whispering evil things in his ear. He could hear the eager snuffling of those who followed his path, see the flickering amber light that speared towards him in the gathering gloom. They were coming. Coiling his shaking muscles, he leapt free and was off again, stealing through the night. A twisting tendril of fog streamed behind him, whipping up to veil the ever-watchful eye of the full moon, her serene gaze casting the woods a ghostly hue. No where to run, no where to hide.
A break in the leaves allowed soft moonlight to spike down, sliding in crystal shards off the bowed leaves to smash silently on the ground. He lunged forward, wincing as moonlight blazing off silver stripes that lay across the broad expanse of his back, flashing briefly before falling once more to the dew encrusted grass. He was afraid it would shine like a beacon, blaring his whereabouts to the whole forest. He thundered up a high rise, panting heavily, desperate to escape. He had the slim figure of a greyhound, paws pattering on the leaf-strewn floor. His coat glistened with sweat, froth flew from his open mouth. His eyes were alight with a terrible flame; it fed upon his fear, pushing him into madness. He had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
He trembled with terror as he tripped on a hidden rabbit hole, his face mashing into the worm-ridden, wet earth. He had to get up, they were coming for him! But he couldn’t. He gave a small moan as a wave of pain spiked up from his forepaw, burning with an unforgiving fire. He struggled to his feet and stared at it, dangling uselessly in the predawn light. They would find him now, he could run no longer. He dragged himself to the shelter of a draping willow, whining as his foot throbbed agonisingly. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
A distant rustling, they were coming closer. He curled himself into a ball, tucking his nose under his tail for comfort, trying to become as small as possible. Wishing for them to leave. Begging them. His eyes rolled, the whites showing as he bit his tongue to prevent himself from crying out. He must not make a sound, or they would be on him in seconds. His consciousness began to drift, darkness creeping steadily onwards at the edges of his vision. He shook his head to clear it, then stopping in the middle of the motion, head cocked and listening. They were here.
A large creature blundered out of the undergrowth, head turning this way and that as it sniffed the wind, hunting for its prey. He closed his eyes, knowing that this is the end. A growl confirms his thoughts, and the doglike creature gradually approached.
Thud.
Thud.
The sound of heavy footsteps trailing towards him, filling him with dread.
Thud.
Thud.
Arrogant steps, filled with confidence, knowing its prey was helpless, coming slowly towards his hiding place.
Thud.
It paused outside, the putrid smell of rotten meat rolling towards him. He waited with baited breath. It was lingering on the outskirts, prolonging his agony. He moaned as it laughed maliciously, before thrusting its head and powerful shoulders between the bars of his willow prison. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The yells of the humans echoed behind it, bringing with it the harsh light of torches, illuminating the face of his death. It was an Arcanine.
A memory surged, overriding his consciousness and throwing him deep into the bowels of the past, eyes closing as it appeared before his eyes…
***
The Pit. The iron cage that restrained him, the reek of fresh blood that seemed to coat every surface. He prowled backwards and forwards in his cage, every once in a while throwing himself against the bars in desperation. He was hungry. So hungry.
Around him, he heard the mocking voice of the one who had condemned him to this hell, the one who forced him to bow to his will. Filthy scum. How could he think he could rule me! Alas, I cannot reach him. Cannot go near him. He is high, to high for me to jump, no matter how much I try. A rumbling growl rose up his throat as he spat angrily in the direction of the voice. How dare he! There was a burst of laughter.
“Ganni’s a feisty one, isn’t he?” His jailer remarked.
A spark of light, Ganni pressed his nose against the bars of the cage. He was in a dingy cellar, far underground. An echoing passage way led to the outside world, he was placed against the cavernous opening. But he could not get out. No matter how hard he tried. A single torch was placed on a far wall; a silhouetted figure raised a strange device with flames erupting from the top. He lit the torch, revealing more of the room. Rows of cages lined the wall, all chained to the other and firmly attached. Their inhabitants, pokemon of all shapes and sizes, hissed as the light struck their vulnerable eyes, so used to the dark that even a hint of light was unbearable. Ganni barked sharply, throwing himself against one side of his cage in an attempt to knock it over. He had to escape, get out of this blasted cage! But it was no use. He whimpered a little, tail tucked around his back leg as he trembled. The cage seemed to close around him, causing his breath to catch in his throat. But now was not a time for fear. Gritting his teeth, he used his fear to fuel his anger and attacked the bars again, baring his teeth and snapping savagely.
The man laughed, raising the fire device and lighting a strange stick that was clamped tightly in those weak jaws. Ganni growled menacingly, a ball of fire began to form in the bottom of his throat, the familiar warmth comforting him. His eyes glinted angrily as he released his attack, sending it soaring across the room, towards the human. Fool, he thought, a smile of satisfaction curved up the sides of his lips.
He’s defenceless. In a couple of seconds he will be a pile of smouldering ash. A warning to all humans not to mess with me. He watched his creation with glee, eyes lighting up with hope. The small inferno was half way across the room when it stopped in its tracks, slamming in to a previously invisible wall.
He snarled in surprise. A translucent barrier spanned across the room, chopping it in half. He could not touch his tormentor, not without going through this wall. The human laughed once more, walking to the edge and staring into his eyes. Ganni glared back, hackles rising as he spat at the human in defiance. He hated him, loathed him. He wanting nothing better than to fasten his jaws around his neck and tear him to pieces. The Human lowered himself carefully to the floor, allowing the flickering flame of the fireball to reveal his features. He had a small, pig like face, the face of prey. Ganni's eyes flashed angrily as a bark rumbled up his throat. The man shook his head in amusement whilst idly scratching his unshaven cheeks. A wave of greasy brown hair tumbled down his face, slightly covering eyes that shone a startling crystal blue in the flickering light. He grinned at the captive, gold fillings glinting amongst the motley group of greying teeth.
“It’ll be your turn soon, my sweetie,” He cooed, a manic light dancing in his eyes. “You better be good, or you will end up like them,”
He pointed to a heap of rags in the corner. Ganni peered closer, turning his face to the side for the best angle, curious. On top of a rapidly decomposing blanket was a group of huddled forms, tossed together unceremoniously. A crimson liquid dripped off of the nearest one, which twitched and began to whimper. The human cursed, heaving himself up and marching over to the prone forms. He picked up the torch on his way over, and held it over the pile.
Ganni stared at them in horror, bile rising in his throat. It was a pile of corpses, a set of mangled bodies that had been savagely torn apart. It was a growlithe who had whimpered, it was silenced with a harsh kick. Ganni could not tear his eyes off of the horrific scene, frozen in place like a dear in the headlights. The Growlithe was barely holding onto life, bleeding from a dozen cuts dotted over its whole body. Where its tail had been was now a bleeding stump, bone protruding up from the grizzly wound. It had been literally torn off, no trace of it remained. The man grimaced, reaching down and hauling up the Growlithe by a leg. It cried out in pain, writhing, reaching out and trying to snag the man with his claws, attempting to escape.
“You see?” Asked the man calmly, turning towards Ganni. With his face wreathed in shadows, he looked wild, a feral light gleaming in his eyes. “This is what will happen to you if you lose.”
With a flex of his biceps, the man swung the Growlithe savagely into the wall. There was a sickening crunch. The pathetic creature screamed in agony, half its side curved inwards, blood spurting on to the walls and floors of the cavern. Its ribs had punctured its skin, the bone dimly reflecting in the grimy light of the torch. Sobbing, the growlithe wriggled feebly, the blood dribbling across its face and congealing over its eyes and mouth. It was drowning in its own blood. The man grinned, lifting his arm back and bringing the scarlet bundle forwards with another blood curdling scream. Again. And again. He had no mercy, beating the Growlithe on the wall until it cried no more, the spark of life leaving its eyes.
He tossed it back on the stack with disgust, blood dribbling down his elbow, before marching out past Ganni, down the corridor. Ganni's eyes flicked to the wall where the gore glistened in the flickering red light, a terrible message of the punishment he would receive if he did not please. Bile rose in his throat, shortly followed by terror. It welled up, crying, screaming, threatening to overthrow his calm certainty, to send him into a panicked frenzy. He compressed the urge, shuffling uncomfortably. He had been forced to soil himself in a corner of the cage. Padding silently to the other end, he lay down and curled himself up, resting his head on his tail and closing his eyes. Nightmares awaited him of the Growlithes empty eyes, staring sightlessly at him, filled with sorrow. No where to run, no where to hide.
The next day, they came for him. He had had a sleepless night, tossing and whimpering at odd intervals, coat slippery with sweat. He woke up with a start as something rattled his cage, blinking blearily at the source of the disturbance. The man was back, kneeling a mere foot away behind the cage walls. Ganni growled, struggling to get to his feet and lunging at the side of the cage, eyes locked on the ruthless killer. The man chuckled, standing up and walking away.
“He’ll do well,” he called to some unknown person behind the cage.
Ganni suddenly lost his footing, slipping to the ground. He was moving, the cage scooting along the ground into the dark tunnel. He got one last glimpse of the cavern, the walls still stained maroon and the man standing in front of it before a sharp turn placed a barrier of hard packed soil in the way. He crushed himself on the bottom bars, claws unsheathed and digging into the floor for stability. Fear returned, huddling in a corner of his mind. He tried to ignore it as the floor rocked and bounced, the constant movement causing his empty stomach to roll. He whimpered and stuck his head imbetween his paws. He felt sick, images of the growlithe coming once more to his mind. What had happened to it? Will the same happen to me? He whined, closing his eyes. After what seemed like an age, the cage came to an abrupt stop, sending his sliding into the front bars. He lifted his head, cautiously sniffing the air. It bore tidings of fear. He began to tremble, sniffing for all he was worth. The fear was coupled with the metallic tang of blood, coming from dead ahead. His fear once again threatened to topple him over the edge, he pushed it aside with difficulty, shuddering.
His feet scrambled to push him farther back into the depths of the cage as he tried to get as far away from the smell as possible. The sound of brisk movement, a hidden grate was thrown open, leaving the way free. He stared at it suspiciously; preparing to move when the cage tilted and a huge force threw him forwards. He flew through the air, soaring out of the cage and landing with a smack on a sandy floor. Pain wracked through his body, causing him to lie there, whimpering, as it slowly faded. The lack of food had weakened him, crumbled his resolve. He was hungry. So hungry.
He raised his head, wincing as his head pounded. The stench of sweat and fear flooded his nose, the smell exciting him slightly. The pleasant tingle reminded him of the countless pokemon battles he had participated in, that small memory bringing a shred of comfort to his world. He blinked and got up with a little difficulty, the lack of food beginning to show. He looked around him, searching for the ones that had brought him here. But there was no one there, a strong grating blocking off the only exit.
He was in a large pit, its earth walls scarred with a series of different cuts and gashes. Looking up he could see a gaggle of spectators, humans, leaning over the edge and jeering. He growled and sent a tongue of fire to lick their grasping hands, wanting to see the fear in their faces. But instead they laughed, much as the man had did as his fire struck yet another invisible wall. A soft coo dragged his eyes down, directing him to a ragged lump in the center of the floor. He glared at it, watching as it moved, revealing itself as a pidgey. It was shaking, staring at him with wide, fear filled eyes. The sight of it sent an additional tingle of excitement up his spine. This was going to be fun...
A voice called from the back of his mind, surfacing and directing his actions. He crouched low, hackles rising. The bird screeched in fright, flapping its wings weakly, trying to take off. Its fear only fueled the fire. He growled menacingly, a deep-throated sound that rumbled through out the cavern. The catcalls from overhead stopped, the tension in the atmosphere increasing as they all craned their skinny necks to see what was going to happen.
Silence.
Now! Instructed his brain, goading him into action. Attack now! He obeyed.
Bunching up his strong leg muscles, he lunged forward, jaws opening wide to reveal razor sharp blades. The pidgey screamed as his teeth sunk into its wing, a warm liquid spurting out and running down his throat, refreshing him and urging him on. Droplets of blood flew from his jaws as he arched his head away, taking the pidgey with it. On and on the pidgey shrieked, a terrible high pitched sound that wrent through the silence, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine as he tore the pidgey apart. Clouds of feathers billowed out as the cries stopped, ending in a finalising gurgle. Grinning he raised his blood stained muzzle and threw his head back, howling his triumph, weaving a chilling song that spoke of the glories of life and death, echoing hollowly around the room. His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding hims angrily of its missed meals. His gaze strayed to the bird at the center of the room. He was hungry... So hungry... Getting up, he trotted over to it and began to feed.
A screech of metal alerted him to the presence of another, entering what he now considered his domain. He looked up sharply, stepping carefully away from the corpse. With a clang, a gate that had briefly been opened was swung shut, the sounds of hurried footsteps retreating the only sound. The spectators began to murmur to each other, keeping a close eye on the action below. He bared his teeth, saliva dripping from his open jaws as he panted hard.
There was something out there; something hidden in the shadows by the gate. A soft hiss, a padding sound, and his new opponent emerged into the moonlight that streamed down from above, filtered by the scorched glass. It was the size and shape of a grown wolf, curved fangs protruding from its grizzled maw, its grey hide mud streaked and dirty, and somewhat pungent. It smelt off unwashed body, sweat and mothballs, the exquisite scent tickling his sensitive nose. He ignored it, stepping forward and warning it off with a low growl. It answered with a growl of its own, crouching low, hackles raised. He responded in kind, calling upon the fire that lurked deep within and storing the power at the base of his throat. An intruder! In his territory! He did not like that, no, not at all. His tail swished back and forth angrily. His enemy noticed and took the offensive, darting in close and swiping his dark pelt with ivory claws. He snarled as it cut through his skin, pain twanging in his side, but he pushed it away and released the flame. It reached forward eagerly, splaying onto the spot where the Mightyena had once been. But it was gone, melded into the shadows.
A flicker of movement to the right, he turned in time to see the wolf lunging at him, snapping wildly. He whimpered as it crashed into him, the surprise attack sending him to the ground. Adrenalin began to pump through his veins as he rolled out of the way and got back to his feet, instincts kicking in. He leaped away as the mightyena snapped at where his neck had been a few seconds later, tail swiping angrily. He struck forward with a clawed paw, just missing as the mightyena retreated and began to circle him. He watched it closely, noting its every movement. When he saw its body tense he prepared himself for the inevitable charge.
The wolf leaped forwards, eyes narrowed with concentration as it thundered ever closer. Arrogance prided its every step, it was certain that it had him now. Ganni's eyes took a quick sweep of his where abouts. Two walls prevented a backwards escape, he was being backed into a corner. His confidence shrunk a little at the knowledge, but he quickly refocused himself on the task at hand. The Mightyena was only a couple of feet away when Ganni jumped high into the air, taking the wolf by surprise. With a small Yowl, it tried to stop itself as it watched Ganni fly over its head, landing softly on his paws behind it. With a small whimper it collided with the wall, taking a few, dizzy steps backwards before slipping to the ground. That was all Ganni needed.
He was there in a flash, leaping onto his fallen enemy, back feet scraping its tender under belly with razor sharp claws as he fixed his jaws around the beasts neck. In cried out in pain as he slowly tightened his grasp, slowly cutting off its air supply.
The feeling of triumph was over powering. He was on a high, it was stronger than it had been with the pidgey. He could feel the mightyenas racing pulse on his tongue, its salty sweat mixing with his saliva. There was an odd roaring in his ears as he stood over his opponent, staring unforgiving in to its fear filled eyes. He grinned wickedly, enjoying the feeling. Power. Ultimate power.
With a savage growl he ripped his head backwards, tearing out the Mightyena's throat. Its eyes widened in shock as it jerked madly, pupils dilating. Blood seeped out of its wound, spilling on to the floor, dyeing the sand a deep crimson. It continued to spasm a few seconds after its death, before silence returned once more.
He stared at the grizzled bodies that lay spread-eagled on the floor. He was panting hard, the thrill of the kill still with him, filling him with jubilant joy. HE had done it. By himself. No one messes with him and gets away with it. The sullen creak of the gate cut through the air, he whipped his head around, towards the sound. He allowed himself a grin. He was ready this time. Getting up, he sped towards the grating, slipping through the gap as the person manning it desperately tried to close it. He snarled, leaping up and knocking the human over, examining his face. It wasn’t him. He growled, briefly scratching deep into the mans cheek, cutting into the bone, enjoying the mans shriek of pain before he was off again, running through the passage.
It wasn’t long before he found him. The Man. His tormentor and captor. He was still in the cage room, idly kicking at the mound of dead bodies. Hearing Ganni's warning growl, he looked up, fear stark on his stupid face. He began to back up, putting his hands behind him that writhed around, searching for a weapon. Coming across the torch he removed it from its bracket and hid it behind his back. As if it would do him any good.
“Good doggy,” He cooed, keeping a close eye on Ganni and steadily backing up. “I didn’t mean you no harm.”
Ganni's growl dropped an octave and he began to stalk forward, teeth bared, crouched low to the ground, muscles ready to move in a split second. No one would treat him like that and get away with it. He would have his revenge. He backed the man into the corner, the look of sheer terror on the mans face when he discovered he was trapped sending another shiver of pleasure down his spine.
“Good boy…”
Why did he keep up his useless mutterings? Ganni thought, snapping suddenly, causing the man to flinch. It wouldn't do him any good. He grinned wolfishly as he approached, enjoying his preys fear. He feinted a jump, laughing as the man cringed. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, causing his body to tingle pleasantly. When he was less than a foot away he coiled his back legs muscles, and lunged.
The man was ready. With a yell he ducked, holding up his torch and pushing it against Ganni's soft under belly. The cave was filled with Ganni's outraged yelps of pain as he tumbled to the ground, snarling. His coat was singed, the skin beneath badly burnt. Once again the pain hardened his resolve as his eyes narrowed. The man dropped the torch, causing it to go out. He looked down at it for a few seconds, realising he had nothing left. He was helpless. There were tears in his eyes when he looked up and placed his feet solidly on the ground. He held up his hands, waiting for the inevitable. He got it.
Ganni leaped onto him, slashing at him with all his might, ripping him to shreds. Blood splattered everywhere, once more staining the floor and walls. The man was screaming, screaming, batting at Ganni uselessly as he slipped his claws into the mans chest, clawing at the mans rib cage, each crack causing the mans shriek to rise in pitch. Flashes of the Growlithe flickered before Ganni's eyes, as helpless as the man was now. He writhed with pain, just holding onto life as Ganni slowly, delight glittering in his eyes, raised a clawed paw and stabbed down, straight into the mans heart. His screams faded abruptly as he slumped to the floor, blood crawling from his nose and mouth, collecting in puddles of gore. Ganni looked up. The Pokemon stared at him from their numerous cages, some whimpering slightly. He took no notice of them, hearing the concerned cries of humans who were coming to seek their comrade. His eyes blazed, he did not care. He would kill them all if he had to...
One stumbled in and stared in gob-smacked horror at the scene before him. A Houndoom with a mad fire raging in its eyes and blood dripping from its crimson jaws standing over the shattered corpse of the man...
***
A sharp bark brought him back to consciousness. The Arcanine stood over him, her eyes glinting in triumph. His time was quickly running out. No where to run, no where to hide. His luck was gone, his hourglass nearly empty. He struggled to his feet, still not giving up. Maybe there was hope, maybe he could convince her to let him go... His breathing was shallow, fast, mirroring his panic. His heart raced, eyes flicking from side to side in vain. He was not ready to die, not now, not here, not ever. Colors accosted him; sounds, smells. Everything seemed clearer, details standing out. Each individual blade of grass; the whistling of the wind, the moonlight bouncing off the willows fronds... So beautiful, so fragile. Life was so precious, not something to be thrown away.
This is not the way. He whispered to the Arcanine, begging her with his eyes. For he knew her fate. If she did not flee, she would be condemned to die like him. Die in that filthy, dsgusting pit, no one to morn you, no one who cares. He shuddered. At least he had made a stand. He had nearly gotten away. Freedom was so close, yet so far...
She faltered for a brief second, a confused look in her eye. She cocked her head, thinking. A spark of hope bloomed in his heart. Maybe she would believe him, let him go, let him live! But it was lost when she grinned, eyes glinting with delight at her trick.
Your last words. She commented, thoughtful. Pity.
She grinned wider and stepped forward, unsheathing her claws. He tried to back up, but he did so resignedly, knowing it was the end. It's funny, he thought, feeling a wave of calm settling like a warm blanket around him, how when you know you are about to die you feel no fear. No panic. Just quiet acceptance. His original panic was gone, sped away by his turmulting emotions. Sadness, longing for what he couldn't have, but most of all, just that. Quiet acceptance. He gazed at his executioner, who was giving him a slow lazy smile. She knew he was dead. Nodding slightly he sighed, closing his eyes and standing tall. Crouching she leapt forward, slashing at his legs until he fell to the ground, crying out in pain. He tried to get up, tried to roll onto his front, but it was too late. She came up behind him, eyes flashing with the same delight his had, laughing as she sunk her claws mercilessly into his belly. He shrieked, pain pulsing through his body as his life blood poured to the ground. He feebly tried to kick at her, but she ignored it, slashing his face cruelly. His sight began to narrow, slipping into darkness, as she bent down and bit into his flesh, tearing out a huge chunk and eating it, before his eyes. The pain faded as he averted his eyes, gazing up at the full moon. It poked through the leaves of his hovel, falling upon the silken grass. His last thought was of how beautiful it was as a smile twisted up the corners of his lips for the last time…
Wells, here is my first attempt at anything horror! (Waters Deep was not scary, so it doesn't count
) I wrote this for the trial of terror horror oneshot competition at actually tied third! *falls over* A big surprise, especially as I tied with Typhogirl. Anyways, enough of my babble, here's the story!A wind rustled through the trees, brushing by oak and birch as it pursued its quarry, twittering with excitement. It slipped past the warring boughs, diving through their grasping fingers and into the thriving undergrowth, alive with calls of the night. A crashing sound, a black shadow stumbling by, tripping over its own feet in its hurry to escape. Thorn bushes dragged at his tangled, midnight-black fur, their bright fruits dripping off his gnashing maw as he snapped at the bushes that held him tight. The wind cackled behind him, whispering evil things in his ear. He could hear the eager snuffling of those who followed his path, see the flickering amber light that speared towards him in the gathering gloom. They were coming. Coiling his shaking muscles, he leapt free and was off again, stealing through the night. A twisting tendril of fog streamed behind him, whipping up to veil the ever-watchful eye of the full moon, her serene gaze casting the woods a ghostly hue. No where to run, no where to hide.
A break in the leaves allowed soft moonlight to spike down, sliding in crystal shards off the bowed leaves to smash silently on the ground. He lunged forward, wincing as moonlight blazing off silver stripes that lay across the broad expanse of his back, flashing briefly before falling once more to the dew encrusted grass. He was afraid it would shine like a beacon, blaring his whereabouts to the whole forest. He thundered up a high rise, panting heavily, desperate to escape. He had the slim figure of a greyhound, paws pattering on the leaf-strewn floor. His coat glistened with sweat, froth flew from his open mouth. His eyes were alight with a terrible flame; it fed upon his fear, pushing him into madness. He had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
He trembled with terror as he tripped on a hidden rabbit hole, his face mashing into the worm-ridden, wet earth. He had to get up, they were coming for him! But he couldn’t. He gave a small moan as a wave of pain spiked up from his forepaw, burning with an unforgiving fire. He struggled to his feet and stared at it, dangling uselessly in the predawn light. They would find him now, he could run no longer. He dragged himself to the shelter of a draping willow, whining as his foot throbbed agonisingly. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
A distant rustling, they were coming closer. He curled himself into a ball, tucking his nose under his tail for comfort, trying to become as small as possible. Wishing for them to leave. Begging them. His eyes rolled, the whites showing as he bit his tongue to prevent himself from crying out. He must not make a sound, or they would be on him in seconds. His consciousness began to drift, darkness creeping steadily onwards at the edges of his vision. He shook his head to clear it, then stopping in the middle of the motion, head cocked and listening. They were here.
A large creature blundered out of the undergrowth, head turning this way and that as it sniffed the wind, hunting for its prey. He closed his eyes, knowing that this is the end. A growl confirms his thoughts, and the doglike creature gradually approached.
Thud.
Thud.
The sound of heavy footsteps trailing towards him, filling him with dread.
Thud.
Thud.
Arrogant steps, filled with confidence, knowing its prey was helpless, coming slowly towards his hiding place.
Thud.
It paused outside, the putrid smell of rotten meat rolling towards him. He waited with baited breath. It was lingering on the outskirts, prolonging his agony. He moaned as it laughed maliciously, before thrusting its head and powerful shoulders between the bars of his willow prison. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The yells of the humans echoed behind it, bringing with it the harsh light of torches, illuminating the face of his death. It was an Arcanine.
A memory surged, overriding his consciousness and throwing him deep into the bowels of the past, eyes closing as it appeared before his eyes…
***
The Pit. The iron cage that restrained him, the reek of fresh blood that seemed to coat every surface. He prowled backwards and forwards in his cage, every once in a while throwing himself against the bars in desperation. He was hungry. So hungry.
Around him, he heard the mocking voice of the one who had condemned him to this hell, the one who forced him to bow to his will. Filthy scum. How could he think he could rule me! Alas, I cannot reach him. Cannot go near him. He is high, to high for me to jump, no matter how much I try. A rumbling growl rose up his throat as he spat angrily in the direction of the voice. How dare he! There was a burst of laughter.
“Ganni’s a feisty one, isn’t he?” His jailer remarked.
A spark of light, Ganni pressed his nose against the bars of the cage. He was in a dingy cellar, far underground. An echoing passage way led to the outside world, he was placed against the cavernous opening. But he could not get out. No matter how hard he tried. A single torch was placed on a far wall; a silhouetted figure raised a strange device with flames erupting from the top. He lit the torch, revealing more of the room. Rows of cages lined the wall, all chained to the other and firmly attached. Their inhabitants, pokemon of all shapes and sizes, hissed as the light struck their vulnerable eyes, so used to the dark that even a hint of light was unbearable. Ganni barked sharply, throwing himself against one side of his cage in an attempt to knock it over. He had to escape, get out of this blasted cage! But it was no use. He whimpered a little, tail tucked around his back leg as he trembled. The cage seemed to close around him, causing his breath to catch in his throat. But now was not a time for fear. Gritting his teeth, he used his fear to fuel his anger and attacked the bars again, baring his teeth and snapping savagely.
The man laughed, raising the fire device and lighting a strange stick that was clamped tightly in those weak jaws. Ganni growled menacingly, a ball of fire began to form in the bottom of his throat, the familiar warmth comforting him. His eyes glinted angrily as he released his attack, sending it soaring across the room, towards the human. Fool, he thought, a smile of satisfaction curved up the sides of his lips.
He’s defenceless. In a couple of seconds he will be a pile of smouldering ash. A warning to all humans not to mess with me. He watched his creation with glee, eyes lighting up with hope. The small inferno was half way across the room when it stopped in its tracks, slamming in to a previously invisible wall.
He snarled in surprise. A translucent barrier spanned across the room, chopping it in half. He could not touch his tormentor, not without going through this wall. The human laughed once more, walking to the edge and staring into his eyes. Ganni glared back, hackles rising as he spat at the human in defiance. He hated him, loathed him. He wanting nothing better than to fasten his jaws around his neck and tear him to pieces. The Human lowered himself carefully to the floor, allowing the flickering flame of the fireball to reveal his features. He had a small, pig like face, the face of prey. Ganni's eyes flashed angrily as a bark rumbled up his throat. The man shook his head in amusement whilst idly scratching his unshaven cheeks. A wave of greasy brown hair tumbled down his face, slightly covering eyes that shone a startling crystal blue in the flickering light. He grinned at the captive, gold fillings glinting amongst the motley group of greying teeth.
“It’ll be your turn soon, my sweetie,” He cooed, a manic light dancing in his eyes. “You better be good, or you will end up like them,”
He pointed to a heap of rags in the corner. Ganni peered closer, turning his face to the side for the best angle, curious. On top of a rapidly decomposing blanket was a group of huddled forms, tossed together unceremoniously. A crimson liquid dripped off of the nearest one, which twitched and began to whimper. The human cursed, heaving himself up and marching over to the prone forms. He picked up the torch on his way over, and held it over the pile.
Ganni stared at them in horror, bile rising in his throat. It was a pile of corpses, a set of mangled bodies that had been savagely torn apart. It was a growlithe who had whimpered, it was silenced with a harsh kick. Ganni could not tear his eyes off of the horrific scene, frozen in place like a dear in the headlights. The Growlithe was barely holding onto life, bleeding from a dozen cuts dotted over its whole body. Where its tail had been was now a bleeding stump, bone protruding up from the grizzly wound. It had been literally torn off, no trace of it remained. The man grimaced, reaching down and hauling up the Growlithe by a leg. It cried out in pain, writhing, reaching out and trying to snag the man with his claws, attempting to escape.
“You see?” Asked the man calmly, turning towards Ganni. With his face wreathed in shadows, he looked wild, a feral light gleaming in his eyes. “This is what will happen to you if you lose.”
With a flex of his biceps, the man swung the Growlithe savagely into the wall. There was a sickening crunch. The pathetic creature screamed in agony, half its side curved inwards, blood spurting on to the walls and floors of the cavern. Its ribs had punctured its skin, the bone dimly reflecting in the grimy light of the torch. Sobbing, the growlithe wriggled feebly, the blood dribbling across its face and congealing over its eyes and mouth. It was drowning in its own blood. The man grinned, lifting his arm back and bringing the scarlet bundle forwards with another blood curdling scream. Again. And again. He had no mercy, beating the Growlithe on the wall until it cried no more, the spark of life leaving its eyes.
He tossed it back on the stack with disgust, blood dribbling down his elbow, before marching out past Ganni, down the corridor. Ganni's eyes flicked to the wall where the gore glistened in the flickering red light, a terrible message of the punishment he would receive if he did not please. Bile rose in his throat, shortly followed by terror. It welled up, crying, screaming, threatening to overthrow his calm certainty, to send him into a panicked frenzy. He compressed the urge, shuffling uncomfortably. He had been forced to soil himself in a corner of the cage. Padding silently to the other end, he lay down and curled himself up, resting his head on his tail and closing his eyes. Nightmares awaited him of the Growlithes empty eyes, staring sightlessly at him, filled with sorrow. No where to run, no where to hide.
The next day, they came for him. He had had a sleepless night, tossing and whimpering at odd intervals, coat slippery with sweat. He woke up with a start as something rattled his cage, blinking blearily at the source of the disturbance. The man was back, kneeling a mere foot away behind the cage walls. Ganni growled, struggling to get to his feet and lunging at the side of the cage, eyes locked on the ruthless killer. The man chuckled, standing up and walking away.
“He’ll do well,” he called to some unknown person behind the cage.
Ganni suddenly lost his footing, slipping to the ground. He was moving, the cage scooting along the ground into the dark tunnel. He got one last glimpse of the cavern, the walls still stained maroon and the man standing in front of it before a sharp turn placed a barrier of hard packed soil in the way. He crushed himself on the bottom bars, claws unsheathed and digging into the floor for stability. Fear returned, huddling in a corner of his mind. He tried to ignore it as the floor rocked and bounced, the constant movement causing his empty stomach to roll. He whimpered and stuck his head imbetween his paws. He felt sick, images of the growlithe coming once more to his mind. What had happened to it? Will the same happen to me? He whined, closing his eyes. After what seemed like an age, the cage came to an abrupt stop, sending his sliding into the front bars. He lifted his head, cautiously sniffing the air. It bore tidings of fear. He began to tremble, sniffing for all he was worth. The fear was coupled with the metallic tang of blood, coming from dead ahead. His fear once again threatened to topple him over the edge, he pushed it aside with difficulty, shuddering.
His feet scrambled to push him farther back into the depths of the cage as he tried to get as far away from the smell as possible. The sound of brisk movement, a hidden grate was thrown open, leaving the way free. He stared at it suspiciously; preparing to move when the cage tilted and a huge force threw him forwards. He flew through the air, soaring out of the cage and landing with a smack on a sandy floor. Pain wracked through his body, causing him to lie there, whimpering, as it slowly faded. The lack of food had weakened him, crumbled his resolve. He was hungry. So hungry.
He raised his head, wincing as his head pounded. The stench of sweat and fear flooded his nose, the smell exciting him slightly. The pleasant tingle reminded him of the countless pokemon battles he had participated in, that small memory bringing a shred of comfort to his world. He blinked and got up with a little difficulty, the lack of food beginning to show. He looked around him, searching for the ones that had brought him here. But there was no one there, a strong grating blocking off the only exit.
He was in a large pit, its earth walls scarred with a series of different cuts and gashes. Looking up he could see a gaggle of spectators, humans, leaning over the edge and jeering. He growled and sent a tongue of fire to lick their grasping hands, wanting to see the fear in their faces. But instead they laughed, much as the man had did as his fire struck yet another invisible wall. A soft coo dragged his eyes down, directing him to a ragged lump in the center of the floor. He glared at it, watching as it moved, revealing itself as a pidgey. It was shaking, staring at him with wide, fear filled eyes. The sight of it sent an additional tingle of excitement up his spine. This was going to be fun...
A voice called from the back of his mind, surfacing and directing his actions. He crouched low, hackles rising. The bird screeched in fright, flapping its wings weakly, trying to take off. Its fear only fueled the fire. He growled menacingly, a deep-throated sound that rumbled through out the cavern. The catcalls from overhead stopped, the tension in the atmosphere increasing as they all craned their skinny necks to see what was going to happen.
Silence.
Now! Instructed his brain, goading him into action. Attack now! He obeyed.
Bunching up his strong leg muscles, he lunged forward, jaws opening wide to reveal razor sharp blades. The pidgey screamed as his teeth sunk into its wing, a warm liquid spurting out and running down his throat, refreshing him and urging him on. Droplets of blood flew from his jaws as he arched his head away, taking the pidgey with it. On and on the pidgey shrieked, a terrible high pitched sound that wrent through the silence, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine as he tore the pidgey apart. Clouds of feathers billowed out as the cries stopped, ending in a finalising gurgle. Grinning he raised his blood stained muzzle and threw his head back, howling his triumph, weaving a chilling song that spoke of the glories of life and death, echoing hollowly around the room. His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding hims angrily of its missed meals. His gaze strayed to the bird at the center of the room. He was hungry... So hungry... Getting up, he trotted over to it and began to feed.
A screech of metal alerted him to the presence of another, entering what he now considered his domain. He looked up sharply, stepping carefully away from the corpse. With a clang, a gate that had briefly been opened was swung shut, the sounds of hurried footsteps retreating the only sound. The spectators began to murmur to each other, keeping a close eye on the action below. He bared his teeth, saliva dripping from his open jaws as he panted hard.
There was something out there; something hidden in the shadows by the gate. A soft hiss, a padding sound, and his new opponent emerged into the moonlight that streamed down from above, filtered by the scorched glass. It was the size and shape of a grown wolf, curved fangs protruding from its grizzled maw, its grey hide mud streaked and dirty, and somewhat pungent. It smelt off unwashed body, sweat and mothballs, the exquisite scent tickling his sensitive nose. He ignored it, stepping forward and warning it off with a low growl. It answered with a growl of its own, crouching low, hackles raised. He responded in kind, calling upon the fire that lurked deep within and storing the power at the base of his throat. An intruder! In his territory! He did not like that, no, not at all. His tail swished back and forth angrily. His enemy noticed and took the offensive, darting in close and swiping his dark pelt with ivory claws. He snarled as it cut through his skin, pain twanging in his side, but he pushed it away and released the flame. It reached forward eagerly, splaying onto the spot where the Mightyena had once been. But it was gone, melded into the shadows.
A flicker of movement to the right, he turned in time to see the wolf lunging at him, snapping wildly. He whimpered as it crashed into him, the surprise attack sending him to the ground. Adrenalin began to pump through his veins as he rolled out of the way and got back to his feet, instincts kicking in. He leaped away as the mightyena snapped at where his neck had been a few seconds later, tail swiping angrily. He struck forward with a clawed paw, just missing as the mightyena retreated and began to circle him. He watched it closely, noting its every movement. When he saw its body tense he prepared himself for the inevitable charge.
The wolf leaped forwards, eyes narrowed with concentration as it thundered ever closer. Arrogance prided its every step, it was certain that it had him now. Ganni's eyes took a quick sweep of his where abouts. Two walls prevented a backwards escape, he was being backed into a corner. His confidence shrunk a little at the knowledge, but he quickly refocused himself on the task at hand. The Mightyena was only a couple of feet away when Ganni jumped high into the air, taking the wolf by surprise. With a small Yowl, it tried to stop itself as it watched Ganni fly over its head, landing softly on his paws behind it. With a small whimper it collided with the wall, taking a few, dizzy steps backwards before slipping to the ground. That was all Ganni needed.
He was there in a flash, leaping onto his fallen enemy, back feet scraping its tender under belly with razor sharp claws as he fixed his jaws around the beasts neck. In cried out in pain as he slowly tightened his grasp, slowly cutting off its air supply.
The feeling of triumph was over powering. He was on a high, it was stronger than it had been with the pidgey. He could feel the mightyenas racing pulse on his tongue, its salty sweat mixing with his saliva. There was an odd roaring in his ears as he stood over his opponent, staring unforgiving in to its fear filled eyes. He grinned wickedly, enjoying the feeling. Power. Ultimate power.
With a savage growl he ripped his head backwards, tearing out the Mightyena's throat. Its eyes widened in shock as it jerked madly, pupils dilating. Blood seeped out of its wound, spilling on to the floor, dyeing the sand a deep crimson. It continued to spasm a few seconds after its death, before silence returned once more.
He stared at the grizzled bodies that lay spread-eagled on the floor. He was panting hard, the thrill of the kill still with him, filling him with jubilant joy. HE had done it. By himself. No one messes with him and gets away with it. The sullen creak of the gate cut through the air, he whipped his head around, towards the sound. He allowed himself a grin. He was ready this time. Getting up, he sped towards the grating, slipping through the gap as the person manning it desperately tried to close it. He snarled, leaping up and knocking the human over, examining his face. It wasn’t him. He growled, briefly scratching deep into the mans cheek, cutting into the bone, enjoying the mans shriek of pain before he was off again, running through the passage.
It wasn’t long before he found him. The Man. His tormentor and captor. He was still in the cage room, idly kicking at the mound of dead bodies. Hearing Ganni's warning growl, he looked up, fear stark on his stupid face. He began to back up, putting his hands behind him that writhed around, searching for a weapon. Coming across the torch he removed it from its bracket and hid it behind his back. As if it would do him any good.
“Good doggy,” He cooed, keeping a close eye on Ganni and steadily backing up. “I didn’t mean you no harm.”
Ganni's growl dropped an octave and he began to stalk forward, teeth bared, crouched low to the ground, muscles ready to move in a split second. No one would treat him like that and get away with it. He would have his revenge. He backed the man into the corner, the look of sheer terror on the mans face when he discovered he was trapped sending another shiver of pleasure down his spine.
“Good boy…”
Why did he keep up his useless mutterings? Ganni thought, snapping suddenly, causing the man to flinch. It wouldn't do him any good. He grinned wolfishly as he approached, enjoying his preys fear. He feinted a jump, laughing as the man cringed. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, causing his body to tingle pleasantly. When he was less than a foot away he coiled his back legs muscles, and lunged.
The man was ready. With a yell he ducked, holding up his torch and pushing it against Ganni's soft under belly. The cave was filled with Ganni's outraged yelps of pain as he tumbled to the ground, snarling. His coat was singed, the skin beneath badly burnt. Once again the pain hardened his resolve as his eyes narrowed. The man dropped the torch, causing it to go out. He looked down at it for a few seconds, realising he had nothing left. He was helpless. There were tears in his eyes when he looked up and placed his feet solidly on the ground. He held up his hands, waiting for the inevitable. He got it.
Ganni leaped onto him, slashing at him with all his might, ripping him to shreds. Blood splattered everywhere, once more staining the floor and walls. The man was screaming, screaming, batting at Ganni uselessly as he slipped his claws into the mans chest, clawing at the mans rib cage, each crack causing the mans shriek to rise in pitch. Flashes of the Growlithe flickered before Ganni's eyes, as helpless as the man was now. He writhed with pain, just holding onto life as Ganni slowly, delight glittering in his eyes, raised a clawed paw and stabbed down, straight into the mans heart. His screams faded abruptly as he slumped to the floor, blood crawling from his nose and mouth, collecting in puddles of gore. Ganni looked up. The Pokemon stared at him from their numerous cages, some whimpering slightly. He took no notice of them, hearing the concerned cries of humans who were coming to seek their comrade. His eyes blazed, he did not care. He would kill them all if he had to...
One stumbled in and stared in gob-smacked horror at the scene before him. A Houndoom with a mad fire raging in its eyes and blood dripping from its crimson jaws standing over the shattered corpse of the man...
***
A sharp bark brought him back to consciousness. The Arcanine stood over him, her eyes glinting in triumph. His time was quickly running out. No where to run, no where to hide. His luck was gone, his hourglass nearly empty. He struggled to his feet, still not giving up. Maybe there was hope, maybe he could convince her to let him go... His breathing was shallow, fast, mirroring his panic. His heart raced, eyes flicking from side to side in vain. He was not ready to die, not now, not here, not ever. Colors accosted him; sounds, smells. Everything seemed clearer, details standing out. Each individual blade of grass; the whistling of the wind, the moonlight bouncing off the willows fronds... So beautiful, so fragile. Life was so precious, not something to be thrown away.
This is not the way. He whispered to the Arcanine, begging her with his eyes. For he knew her fate. If she did not flee, she would be condemned to die like him. Die in that filthy, dsgusting pit, no one to morn you, no one who cares. He shuddered. At least he had made a stand. He had nearly gotten away. Freedom was so close, yet so far...
She faltered for a brief second, a confused look in her eye. She cocked her head, thinking. A spark of hope bloomed in his heart. Maybe she would believe him, let him go, let him live! But it was lost when she grinned, eyes glinting with delight at her trick.
Your last words. She commented, thoughtful. Pity.
She grinned wider and stepped forward, unsheathing her claws. He tried to back up, but he did so resignedly, knowing it was the end. It's funny, he thought, feeling a wave of calm settling like a warm blanket around him, how when you know you are about to die you feel no fear. No panic. Just quiet acceptance. His original panic was gone, sped away by his turmulting emotions. Sadness, longing for what he couldn't have, but most of all, just that. Quiet acceptance. He gazed at his executioner, who was giving him a slow lazy smile. She knew he was dead. Nodding slightly he sighed, closing his eyes and standing tall. Crouching she leapt forward, slashing at his legs until he fell to the ground, crying out in pain. He tried to get up, tried to roll onto his front, but it was too late. She came up behind him, eyes flashing with the same delight his had, laughing as she sunk her claws mercilessly into his belly. He shrieked, pain pulsing through his body as his life blood poured to the ground. He feebly tried to kick at her, but she ignored it, slashing his face cruelly. His sight began to narrow, slipping into darkness, as she bent down and bit into his flesh, tearing out a huge chunk and eating it, before his eyes. The pain faded as he averted his eyes, gazing up at the full moon. It poked through the leaves of his hovel, falling upon the silken grass. His last thought was of how beautiful it was as a smile twisted up the corners of his lips for the last time…
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