Page 13 of Monster's Maiden

The echoes of his voice fade into the stillness, leaving only the sound of my ragged breathing and the relentless thud of my heartbeat.

I don’t move; I can’t move. All I can do is stare at him and pray that his words are true—that somehow, despite everything, I will find a way out.

The monster, realizing the futility of words, shifts closer. Each ponderous step he takes echoes through the cavern, the ground trembling beneath his weight. His movements are slow, almost deliberate, as if he tries to show he means no harm. But it only makes my fear spike higher.

“No!” I shout, my voice raw and hoarse. “Stay back!”

He halts, tilting his head as if puzzled by my reaction. Then he moves again, closing the distance between us. Sheer panic surges like wildfire through my veins.

I thrash against the cold stone at my back, driven by a primal need to survive. My screams pierce the gloom, bouncing off the walls in a cacophony of terror. I claw at the ground, trying to find something to grab, but it’s futile.

“Please!” I beg, my voice breaking. “Don’t come any closer!”

He pauses again but then takes another step. The moss casts ghostly shadows on his cracked skin, making him appear even more monstrous.

My heart races faster than ever. What is he trying to do? Is this how it ends? I can’t let it end like this.

Adrenaline rushes through me, giving me strength I didn’t know I had. I kick out with all my might, aiming for his legs, hoping to throw him off balance. But he doesn’t even flinch.

“Stay away!” I scream again, my voice echoing with desperation.

He reaches out a massive hand, its surface rough and uneven. I wriggle and twist, trying to evade his grasp.

“No! Please!” My pleas fall on deaf ears as he moves closer still.

In a final act of defiance, I claw at his approaching hand, nails scraping against the hard surface. But it’s useless—my efforts do nothing to deter him.

The cavern around me spins as terror grips me tighter than ever before. All sense of time and place fades away until there’s only him and me in this suffocating darkness.

His hand finally makes contact with my arm, the rough surface of his skin sending shock waves through my entire body. I scream again, louder this time, my voice echoing through the cavern like a haunting wail. Tears stream down my face, mingling with the dirt and grime. I thrash wildly, trying to free myself from his grip.

“Let me go!” My voice breaks with anguish. “Please, let me go!”

My mind spins in frantic circles, unable to process anything beyond the immediate terror. Why is this happening? I see nothing but his massive form, feel nothing but the cold, unyielding stone of his hand.

Why won’t he let me go? What does he want from me? The questions swirl in my head, unanswered and terrifying.

His grip tightens slightly, and I sob uncontrollably. “Please!” I beg again, my voice raw and hoarse. “I don’t want to die!”

My breaths come in short, shallow gasps. I’m utterly hysterical now. I can’t think straight. Fear blinds me to everything but the need to survive.

“Why are you doing this?” My voice is barely a whisper now, choked by tears and fear.

He doesn’t answer—doesn’t speak—just watches me with those unblinking eyes that seem to pierce through my very soul. His silence is more terrifying than any threat he could make.

I twist and turn in his grasp, desperate to break free. My nails dig into his harsh skin, but it’s like trying to claw at a mountain. Each movement feels futile, yet I can’t stop struggling. All I can do is fight—fight with every ounce of strength left in me—against this ancient monster that threatens to consume me whole.

“Please,” I whisper one last time, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart.

Tears continue to flow down my cheeks as I stare up at him, my vision blurring with despair. The weight of his presence crushes any hope of escape, leaving me trapped in an endless cycle of hysteria and defense.

Understanding or connection is impossible; all that remains is fear—raw and all-consuming—binding me tighter than any chains ever could. In this moment, I realize there is no escape from this nightmare.

8

ZYRITH

Iam confronted with her hysterical screams and desperate pleas as they pierce the silence of my chamber, reverberating off the ancient walls. Her fear is palpable, like a storm threatening to tear through everything in its path.

---