Creature.
“Harlow!” His eyes stopped on the thin body of his companion, half of her sticking out of his abandoned automobile, her arms moving at a fast, erratic pace. He jumped over a stray piece of bark, stumbling towards her position as he shouted, “Harlow, stop!”
The strangled sound of breathing hit his ears, Sebastian stiffening as he stared at Harlow continuing to ransack his car, his breath hitching as he looked over his shoulder - eyebrows raising as he turned around to analyze.
It’s body was human - lanky with dangling arms and thin legs. The skin a disgusting pale ivory, littered with splashes of dirt, blood, and various other liquids. It’s gait was shaky, swaying back and forth - a gurgling noise erupting from its esophagus.
Sebastian swallowed, standing straight as he immediately reached for the gun strapped to his waist, sliding his hand under the top and slowly bringing it out of it’s holster.
The movement, however, made the being freeze, it’s head cracking sharply as it straightened up - breathing shallowly.
“…Harlow.” His breath left his mouth softly, calling out to the girl who was still busy destroying his car for her missing accessory. “Damnit, Harlow!”
His shout made Harlow turn her head in an annoyed fashion - as well as the creature infront of him to let out an ear-splitting shriek, before stumbling over towards them, whimpers and growls leaving it’s mouth.
Despite it’s slow movement earlier, it was fast - covering a foot of ground each time it dragged its feet across the cement.
Pulling his gun up, Sebastian aimed at the monster, closing one eye in order to help him locate the position of the barrel faster. “Stop where you are!”
The creature did nothing - a louder shriek leaving it’s mouth as it came closer and closer - revealing it’s face underneath the dim light of one of the streetlamps.
It wasn’t human. A long band of stitches ran from the surface of where it’s face would be, down to collarbone, ripped and torn at the edges - mutilated flesh hanging from it; it’s eyes were sewn shut, it’s mouth wide open, showing long, jagged, red-stained teeth.
Sebastian shot once, the recoil of the action making his arm twitch and jerk violently; the bullet inbedded itself in the gut of the fiend, not deterring it’s course.
He heard the slam of a car door and quick footsteps, his head turning back to look over at Harlow - only to see her retreating back, the precious hairpin she had been looking for clasped tightly in her grasp.
For a moment - Sebastian froze, his eyes never leaving the hair whipping across her shoulders, her back muscles flexing as she ran, away from him. Away from the monster. Away from everything.
“Harlow! Get back-“
It was upon him.
His back slammed across the ground, a sharp exhale of breath leaving as his gun flew from his hand, clattering against the cement; thick liquid dripped onto his face - his eyes, his nose, his mouth.
He choked - arms shooting up to push at the growling mass ontop of him, coughing from the liquid that dripped steadily from the parted mouth of the monster, snapping its teeth at him viciously.
It tasted disgusting, vile; it was thick like blood, but the taste was rotten, and it burned the inside of his mouth. Sebastian cursed, pushing up at the body on top of him, but sucking in deep breaths at the weight that it carried, gasping as the fluid continued to drip on his face.
His vision blurred, the monsters face morphing and darkening, and he lost his strength, his arms dropping as the creature shot forward, teeth bared.
It froze, jerking violently, a loud yelp escaping it as it convulsed over his Sebastian’s body, before snapping it’s body - the back of it cracking as it straightened, dropping to the side of him. It whimpered and snarled, writhing on the ground, the sound of sizzling flesh and the smell of burnt skin hit his senses. Weakly, Sebastian sat up, looking over at the back of the fiend, a long, thin rod sticking out of it; the flesh around the implanted metal was black and scorched.
Slowly standing, he moved away from the creature as it jerked once more, shrieking out in pain , then stiffening. His gag reflex acted out at the smell of melted flesh, holding a hand up to his mouth, heaving against it as he pushed back the urge to vomit. He staggered a bit, his head spinning as his throat ached.
The sound of footsteps, and the comforting touch of his savior; his breath left him as he turned around, eyes landing on the soft face of Harlow. Harlow, with her mysterious smile and secretive eyes.
He opened his mouth to call her name, but she lifted her arm, a flash of silver from his peripheral, her smile sharpening to that of vicious proportions - and his head erupted in pain, vision blackening as his body dropped to the ground.