Chapter 1 - Fight or Flight

I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever felt so in love.

Sure, I’d loved before and I’d thought that I was in love before. But, as I watched Lina’s form disappear into the dark trees ahead of me, I knew that anything previously was flawed and false.

I could hear Anubis panting next to me and I looked down at him. The second light of my life. Even in the wan glow of the illuminated evening, he stood out. He was a shrimpy little cattle dog mix, we thought: a loveable rapscallion with boundless energy and an unquenchable desire to herd both Lina and I. He was also kind of a little asshole, but he was our little asshole. And damn if he wasn’t cute.

He peered up at me, his tiny, spotted face trained on mine, his mouth open, urgently scanning to see if I’d make any commands.

I bent over and scratched him behind the ears. He tried to chew on my fingers.

Like I said, a little asshole.

“Hurry up, slowpoke!”

I looked up and Lina was peeking out from the trees about thirty feet ahead, bent sideways at the waist with her hands on her hips. Her green eyes glittered with some joke and her lips were pulled into a knowing smirk. I could hear the nighttime crickets chirping all around the quiet park. I mean, it was more of a massive, isolated valley surrounded by wilderness, but sure—we could call it a park.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, unclipping Anubis’s leash from his harness.

The dog looked confusedly at Lina for a moment, then back to me, likely deciding she was the one who’d give him a treat. He focused on her still form, his ears pricking up, his tail straight.

She furrowed her brow at him and dipped her head down closer to the ground.

“Anubis,” she summoned in a cartoony, gravelly monster-voice, “come get me!”

She sprung up then and darted away from the trees, toward the moonlit open field ahead. Anubis shot off, hot on her heels. He barked happily as he gave chase, his tail swishing to and fro.

Lina squeal-screamed as our dog reached her and tried to playfully nip her legs. She dodged out of the way and weaved off, racing down the hill into the valley beyond. Anubis tried to cut her off, but she leapt over him into a somersault, springing back up with ease and continuing the game.

I watched them for a moment, my heart full and content. The two raced along the grass, passing through shafts of moonlight that broke through the occasional cloud. I slipped my hand into my pocket and fingered the small circular object jangling freely. My heart was racing as I traced the ring’s smooth metal with my fingertips.

Tonight’s the night.

It was unseasonably chilly this evening, far cooler than the forecast had led me to believe. I regretted forgoing my jacket, but it wasn’t so bad as to be miserable. I’d just have to put up with being a bit uncomfortable. I was well practiced with that considering my whole life had been uncomfortable.

At least it had been until I met Lina.

We joked about how we had “found” each other and how unlikely and fortunate we were: two wayward spirits on our personal journeys, living out our individual lives happily. A perfect time to be on our own, yet then we crossed paths.

We would often extoll the luck of our meeting and having such an instant connection. It was rare. We knew that and appreciated it.

She and I shared a sense of excitement and fun, knowing that most opportunities would be a story one way or another. No matter the situation, whenever it presented itself to us, we’d simply look at one another.

Adventure? Lina would ask.

Adventure. I’d confirm. Then we would move forward.

“Vale!”

I had been daydreaming. Lina was standing a hundred feet away at the upward slope of one of the cozy hills. The moon was a bright crescent, the light spilling down to bathe the hill in its silvery glow. It highlighted the two of them so elegantly, but shadowed their finer features.

The two most important things in all the world.

“I was just appreciating the scenery!” I called back.

“Appreciate this scenery!” Lina shouted and started thrusting her hips in my direction, her arms echoing her lewd motions.

“Real mature, Lina.” I took my phone out of my pocket and held it up while I was walking as if I was recording her inappropriate gestures.

“I’m sending this to your grandma, anything you want to say to her?”

She stopped thrusting and dropped into a squat, her hand flashing up to hold her chin between her thumb and forefinger. Lina called it “boyband posing.”

“Hey Gam Gam,” she said, adopting a serious, sultry tone. “Hope you’re having a good day, girl. Make sure you eat all your pills and vitamins.” She switched positions and mirrored the other side.

“Don’t stay up too late watching videos about pyramid schemes or whatever it is old people do!” She tossed a peace sign at me as I neared and nodded.

“Peace out, brussel sprout.”

“Amazing,” I said theatrically, putting my phone away and clapping lightly and slowly. I was all smiles.

“I know.” She returned and turned dramatically and looked at me over her shoulder.

“Shall we?”

“We shall.”

She smiled, dropping the act and held her hand out for mine. I took it and we climbed up the hill to the top, Anubis weaving around to our side.

We crested the top and my heart started pounding. The moonlight, the stars, the woman of my dreams and our dog sitting in the calm night. It was perfect. I felt for the ring again.

It was now or never.

“Lina…” I began, my voice catching. I had tried to sound very formal and now realized that that was silly. I was so nervous.

She turned and smiled at me, releasing my hand.

“Yes?” she said, equally as formal and adopting an awkward pose: one hand on her hip, the other perched out like she was holding a glass. She cocked an eyebrow and lowered the other, making fun of my tone.

I laughed. It came out with a lot of air and sounded forced, but it helped lessen the hot blush I could feel overtaking my neck and face.

“Uh…” I looked around at the beautiful night scenery. Anubis had busied himself with something down the hill a ways. He was staring at a point on the ground and looking at it with much interest.

I swear to god if you roll in animal shit…

“You alright?” Lina interrupted my thought and put her hand on my shoulder. “Are you scared of the dark? Am I going to have to carry you home?” Her face lit up and I smiled. She knew how to get me to relax.

“No!” I said, pretending to be insecure about it.

“Well, okay,” she said, nodding, “if you’re sure.”

Anubis started barking, and the wind began to pick up. It was cold. I folded my arms to hug warmth to my skin.

“What’s that?” Lina asked, pointing to Anubis and scowling.

I followed her gesture.

Anubis was frozen in a worrisome pose. His hackles were raised, his tail straight and his teeth bared. His bark wasn’t that of confusion or playfulness. No, this was a bark of aggression. I had never heard this noise come out of him before, so I moved to grab him but Lina’s hand grasped me tight around the forearm.

“No,” she said, pointing, “look.”

A shape materialized in front of Anubis, small at first, but it slowly grew. It looked like an insect, or some other sort of small, moving shape, but it rapidly widened and ballooned into something more. The air seemed to tear and create a rift in front of our dog and he took a tentative step back. Swirling colors framed a spot of…nothing. That was the only word I could use to describe it: nothing. No color or light could penetrate the dark doorway that had just opened.

“What the fuck is that?!” I demanded and slid out of Lina’s grip and toward the...thing.

I had to be losing my mind.

This kind of stuff only happens in movies.

I tried to be rational.

Maybe this was some weird phenomena, like ball lightning? Yeah, ball lightning!

Then, from within the void a shape spilled forth.

Not ball lightning!

“Anubis!” I shouted, trying to summon him to me. His little head snapped back to me but then faced forward again and kept barking. God dammit! What an awful time for him to have a backbone. He was normally very skittish. I realized I still had his leash in my hand. I wish I’d kept him on leash like the park signs requested.

“Anubis!” Lina cried.

Our dog kept barking his head off as, whatever this thing was, emerged. Two long, spindly appendages slid forth from the nothingness. They were then joined by two identical curved stalks, and then a body attached in the middle. I realized these were arms and legs.

Then a pale face pushed through the veil. The eyes were cruel and beady, almost completely black with a bright red iris in the center. It had a horrifying mouth, stretched outward, long teeth and black gums pulled back into a grimace. Grey hair fell like wet branches to its broad and boney shoulders.

It unfolded itself like a spider and stood to its full height, well over seven feet. It had no clear muscle to speak of, appearing to be pallid skin stretched over a monstrous skeleton, and it’s long arms ended in gnarled hands with sharp claws. Then, several sickeningly slick tentacles burst forth from its back, probing out into the night air. It was a true abominable horror, and my skin crawled as I drank it in. I found myself trying to look away, so repulsive was this creature.

The flaming coal eyes of the creature zeroed in on us and hissed. The sound forced Anubis to back off, instead, he bee-lined to Lina and I.

Then the creature pounced.

I tried to bring my arms up to protect myself, but I wasn’t quick enough. It hit me with its claws and I felt the searing dagger of its unnatural weapon rake across my shoulder and face. A hot, wet stinging sensation racked through me. The blow knocked me back and I stumbled and turned. Fear and panic washed over me and suddenly I was racing away from the pain and horror. My feet pounded against the soft ground and I gasped for air. My face was hot and my heart was a deep bass drum striking my limbs and neck from my chest.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

My shoes skid, and I felt the precipice terror of sliding in the dewy grass, but caught myself as I fell and shoved back hard against the ground. I looked down and saw blood. On my clothes and arms and dangling from blades of grass. My boots were dyed with rusty droplets as well. My fingers were stabbing the earth to prop me up but my hands were numb and throbbing. My body had moved on instinct. Full-on anxiety had taken over and I now knew that in fight-or-flight scenario, I was definitely the flight type. Millions of years of evolution just to get to this trembling bundle of cowardice.

But where are Anubis and Lina?!

I had been hit, and then I ran. Those were uncomfortable facts and I was filled with so much shame and fear at my actions. All I could think about was getting away from that demonic, alien specter. I swallowed a painful amount of crisp air and felt it punch the pit of my stomach.

I turned.

I was dozens of feet away from my original position, but I could see everything crystal clear. The creature was still at the top of the hill, but was now holding Lina in its tentacled grasp. Anubis was growling and low on his haunches. Then he sprang forward and clamped onto the end of the creature’s unoccupied spider arm.

A sound erupted from the beast. It was a high-pitched screech ending in a gravely cry. I winced at the volume.

The monstrosity shook Anubis’s full body, trying desperately to pry him from his attack, but the little dog held on fast. Lina was also struggling to remove herself from the beast’s hold, thrashing about and throwing her head back hard against the creature’s chest. I watched as she bit down on one of the tentacles binding her. Once again, the beast cried out in pain and anger and then deftly lifted Anubis from where he was hanging by his teeth and slammed his body against Lina’s.

Anubis cried out in a piercing whimper and Lina grunted. Our fierce pup fell to the grass in a heap but sprang up again in a flash. My heart soared in that moment for the little guard dog. He was absolutely unafraid of this creature. I was frozen still.

Move! Don’t let this happen!

Why wouldn’t my body listen to me? It ran when I wanted to stand my ground, and froze when I wanted to charge in. I was helpless as the creature swung out at Anubis again and missed.

Barking and screaming filled the night. I closed my eyes and slowly breathed in. This was life or death, and I needed to be in control of myself. I opened my eyes again and could feel myself loosening.

Come on you idiot legs, MOVE IT!

Anubis and Lina continued their assault.

Lina steadied from the blow she’d just received. Being hit by your pet had to be a reeling feeling, but she’d always had a shit ton of resolution and resolve. She stomped down on the monster’s left foot and mashed her heel against its flesh. It howled and attempted to slam its clawed hand against her, but Anubis was too quick. He was an arrow of teeth and protection and tore the end off the beast’s arm in seconds, the claw flying off into the trees.

More angry screams. In retribution for his missing body part, the fiend kicked Anubis, striking him in his flank and sending him spiraling to the ground. He was down.

I saw the creature backing toward the gash in reality from which it had emerged, its tendrils wrapped around Lina, trapping her in its clutches as she struggled to break free.

“Vale!” She screamed and kicked back at the beast.

She’s going to die! Move. Move. Move. MOVE!

My paralysis suddenly shattered. I could feel my legs finally working with my brain and I knew I couldn’t waste another moment. I shot up the slope of the hill, intending to do anything I could to stop the fiend from dragging her back into its lair. I reached the crest of the hill and hurled my entire body at the beast as an unthinking, primal fury replaced my panic.

I will tear it to shreds with tooth and nail if I have to.

But the creature was faster than me. Its stumped arm slapped me out of the air, mid-charge, and I crumpled to the ground. My head exploded with pain and my vision swam as little twinkles of light danced in the corner of my eyes. Nausea overwhelmed me. I tried to stand but couldn’t catch my balance and fell again.

I turned my head towards where I thought the creature was. Though dazed, I could see it slide backward into the rift, pulling Lina along with him. She roared for help, her eyes locked onto mine, reaching for me. I jumped up and felt myself buckle and strike the ground again.

Then she and the creature were gone. With a loud snarl, Anubis shot passed me. He lept into the rift without a pause.

Silence.

“Yarrreghhh!” I screamed out helplessly and pushed myself up.

It took a moment, but I was finally able to get my bearings and stand upright without tumbling forward.

“What the fuck was that?” I roared into the night, my voice broken.

I wiped tears from my cheeks and stared at the gaping void hanging menacingly in the air ahead of me. It’s torn edges rippled, and I could hear my heart beat loudly, as if it were amplified in my ears.

I wasn’t able to do anything.

I took another ragged breath, my whole body shaking.

I failed. I’m a worthless coward and I let that thing get away. With Lina. With Anubis.

I looked around. No one was there to bear witness to this awful event. The night was undisturbed, save for the hovering gash.

What the fuck happened!? Why the fuck did that happen!?

Tears were still welling up in my eyes as a hot flame of guilt swallowed my heart and I choked out a cry of raw rage. Shame and desperation and anger and denial washed over me as well, trapping me in a deluge of chaotic emotion.

There’s no way that was real. I’m losing my mind...right?

It didn’t matter.

I knew that I didn’t have the luxury to be afraid now. I’d used that up and drained myself and let the two most important aspects of my life get taken away. I was exhausted and battered and bloodied and most importantly, out of time. I needed to pursue.

I glanced at the edges of the rift and swallowed the knot in my throat. It had to be safe.

The creature wouldn’t have thrown itself back in there without a safety net.

I had to believe that.

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, slowly inhaling and holding the air in my lungs for a moment before releasing it. I needed to be calm for this next part.

I slipped my hand into my pocket and felt the smooth curve of the metal ring. I closed my fingers around it and squeezed. It was firm. That still felt like reality. That would be my anchor.

This is it.

I took one final breath and opened my eyes. The portal was still there, as silent as the night surrounding it. So I moved. As I ran at the rift, I released my lungs and the exhale became a war cry as I darted across the short distance and plunged headfirst into the rift and the ebbing shapes beyond.

I was falling forward. Fast. Wind whipped against me in my descent. There was nothing but darkness. Rapid, empty darkness. I continued to fall. And fall.

Then, a faint glow appeared far below me.

As I plummeted closer it became more clear: an illuminated marquee. The letters were the color of moonlight and arced in the abyss in a way that felt as though they were laid out just for me.

WELCOME

Then I hit the ground.

Since there's been issues accessing the post chapter author notes, here's the link to the chapter illustration:

https://imgur.com/a/lJVeqCo