This story is by Debra Campoli and was part of our 2018 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Panting…running as fast as her legs could carry her through this nightmare. How could a first date turn out this bad? Daria’s heartbeat was deafening as it pounded in her ears as she ran through the place where Urban Legend said a monster lived and you would never return if you entered.
“Why did I trust Andrew when I knew something didn’t feel right? I Just wanted those bitches to see that you didn’t have to be all dolled up with make-up and having your tits on display for someone ‘hot’ to like you!”
Daria stopped behind a large tree, trying desperately to catch her breath. Her throat burned and was so dry she couldn’t swallow. Under normal circumstances, she would be scared out of her wits. Since she was a child, she’d heard stories told about the monster that would grab you and no one would see or hear from you again. But, right now the darkness of night and the remaining foliage were her best friends, helping to conceal her.
She couldn’t hear Andrew calling out anymore. Listening for the sound of rustling leaves or twigs breaking, gave Daria the little reprieve she needed to catch her breath. She held in a cough was quaking in her throat. Her mouth was closed while rubbing her tongue all around to make some saliva to ease the tickle.
Then she heard it. A slight, different sound than the past few minutes. The brush rattled even though there wasn’t a breeze and suddenly a hysterical maniacal laugh!
“Come out, come out wherever you are! I won’t hurt you. I’m just going to show you how a man makes love to a woman. Those boys you hang out with shoot straws at each other and turn salt shakers upside down.They still piss in their pants. Come on Daria before I lose my patience. Besides, you don’t want the monster to get you!” he mocked laughingly.
Daria knew he was close and started to run again with all her might! Faster and faster she ran looking back to see if he was catching up even though it was so dark she could barely see. Her foot stepped on air before she realized that she had run out ground.
She was falling, flailing her arms and legs through the air as it rushed by. She was going to die and never see her family again. Her parents would be angry that she went into a car with a boy, no less going into that cursed and mountainous forest. She hit a rock jutting out from the cliff. Her head whipped around and smashed into the rock. Excruciating pain exploded on contact, her agonized scream cut short as everything faded to black.
Andrew realized what happened when he reached the cliff. Nobody would believe he didn’t push Daria and now he has to come up with a story that he only drove one block before she insisted on getting out of the car. This was bad! He needed to act surprised when he hears about her being missing. He would never go out with a plain virgin again. Everybody knew who he was and nobody would dare say anything about seeing her anywhere near his car.
He actually hoped the Urban Legend that was passed down about the monster getting you in the forest was true. If it was, then he had nothing to worry about because nobody would find anything.
Days went by and the town was searching for Daria but, the police treated it as if she was a runaway. It was a very law abiding town and since nobody was going to say they saw her walk out with Andrew, it was like nothing happened. Besides, Andrews’s dad was a powerful man with “underground” connections. No one was going to talk. Plus, they wouldn’t think to look near that forest area because no one ever went there. He was home free.
Over a week went by and Daria drifting in and out of consciousness, felt someone putting cool wet compresses on her forehead and lightly rubbing her head and shoulders. In her delirious state, she felt that it was her dad because his hands were big and strong, unlike her petite mom’s features. She started opening her eyes but the compress was also covering her sight.
“Dad, hi…where’s mom?” as she reached to remove the compress.
Her eyes looked upon a huge, 7- foot tall man. He almost resembled the Hulk with his height and girth but not so green. As he stared at her, she heard in her head, “Do not be fearful my friend. I have retrieved you from the mountain and cared for your well-being. My name is Grond-zai but call me Zai.”
It was a good thing Daria was already lying down because she would have passed out onto the floor if she was standing up! His lips didn’t move when he spoke yet she ”heard” him.
“Zai, where am I? What happened? Am I dead? I am so mixed up. Are you real?” whimpered Daria as tears fell down her cheeks.
Zai replied without moving his mouth again, “ You fell off the cliff in the dark and got caught on a branch. I was able to bring you to safety before you hit the ground. I know what happened because I read your mind which revealed your scary disappointment.”
Daria was amazed how he exuded such a calming pleasant feeling in her. She felt safe and cared for. Her head hurt when she sat up and figured she must have a concussion. Zai brought her a duck egg and a bunch of berries. She drank the egg raw followed by the berries figuring she needed strength if she was going to be able to leave.
Zai regaled stories as to how he came to be on our planet when his ship had engine failure. It had been almost one hundred years ago. Daria realized she didn’t notice his appearance anymore. Zai made her feel special and important. Love…she felt ‘Love’ for Zai and never wanted to live without him. He was her “forever” and she knew that this kind gentle giant loved her too! She felt healthy enough to leave now but realized she didn’t want to.
Zai told her about his planet and their customs and how they had no marriage or family like ours.They loved everyone and treated all with kindness and respect . Nobody was better than another and they shared everything. Daria loved his stories and wished humans could act the same.
Daria marveled at how Zai accepted his fate of remaining on Earth. He had no way of leaving and was okay with it where humans were annoyed at simple things and never happy with what they had. They always wanted more.
By now feeling healthy, Daria wanted to go out into the air with him to look for food. Zai never went out in daylight for fear of discovery but he agreed. He carried her from the cave-like opening in the mountain, down to the ground.
As they were walking, a helicopter was flying by and they tried to hide in some trees. Zai thought that they were seen but but Daria didn’t think so. He knew he should have never gone out during the day but, wanted to make Daria happy. She loved living this fairy tale and hoped that nothing would change.
The following day right at sunrise, there were sounds of large motors and helicopters. Zai peered out of the cave and saw an army of soldiers and various types of military equipment. He told Daria that he knew this was going to be the end of him and that it is as it should be. You live and you die and that is the way of life.
A loudspeaker pierced the air harshly, “This is the National Guard! Come out with your hands up immediately!”
Daria cried, “Zai please, do not go out alone because they don’t understand who you are. Pick me up and they will see that you are not harmful if you are carrying me and I tell them how you saved me!”
Zai reluctantly agreed and reached down while looking in her eyes and hugged her close in his arms. Her heart overflowed with the love that he filled her with. They both stared deeply into each other’s eyes as Zai held Daria and walked through the cave opening. In an instant, a RPG made a direct hit to their center and obliterated their entire existence.
Panting…running as fast as her legs could carry her through this nightmare. How could a first date turn out this bad? Daria’s heartbeat was deafening as it pounded in her ears as she ran through the place where Urban Legend said a monster lived and you would never return if you entered.
“Why did I trust Andrew when I knew something didn’t feel right? I Just wanted those bitches to see that you didn’t have to be all dolled up with make-up and having your tits on display for someone ‘hot’ to like you!”
Daria stopped behind a large tree, trying desperately to catch her breath. Her throat burned and was so dry she couldn’t swallow. Under normal circumstances, she would be scared out of her wits. Since she was a child, she’d heard stories told about the monster that would grab you and no one would see or hear from you again. But, right now the darkness of night and the remaining foliage were her best friends, helping to conceal her.
She couldn’t hear Andrew calling out anymore. Listening for the sound of rustling leaves or twigs breaking, gave Daria the little reprieve she needed to catch her breath. She held in a cough was quaking in her throat. Her mouth was closed while rubbing her tongue all around to make some saliva to ease the tickle.
Then she heard it. A slight, different sound than the past few minutes. The brush rattled even though there wasn’t a breeze and suddenly a hysterical maniacal laugh!
“Come out, come out wherever you are! I won’t hurt you. I’m just going to show you how a man makes love to a woman. Those boys you hang out with shoot straws at each other and turn salt shakers upside down .They still piss in their pants. Come on Daria before I lose my patience. Besides, you don’t want the monster to get you!” he mocked laughingly.
Daria knew he was close and started to run again with all her might! Faster and faster she ran looking back to see if he was catching up even though it was so dark she could barely see. Her foot stepped on air before she realized that she had run out ground.
She was falling, flailing her arms and legs through the air as it rushed by. She was going to die and never see her family again. Her parents would be angry that she went into a car with a boy, no less going into that cursed and mountainous forest. She hit a rock jutting out from the cliff. Her head whipped around and smashed into the rock. Excruciating pain exploded on contact, her agonized scream cut short as everything faded to black.
Andrew realized what happened when he reached the cliff. Nobody would believe he didn’t push Daria and now he has to come up with a story that he only drove one block before she insisted on getting out of the car. This was bad!He needed to act surprised when he hears about her being missing. He would never go out with a plain virgin again. Everybody knew who he was and nobody would dare say anything about seeing her anywhere near his car.
He actually hoped the Urban Legend that was passed down about the monster getting you in the forest was true. If it was, then he had nothing to worry about because nobody would find anything.
Days went by and the town was searching for Daria but, the police treated it as if she was a runaway. It was a very law abiding town and since nobody was going to say they saw her walk out with Andrew, it was like nothing happened. Besides, Andrews’s dad was a powerful man with “underground” connections. No one was going to talk. Plus, they wouldn’t think to look near that forest area because no one ever went there. He was home free.
Over a week went by and Daria drifting in and out of consciousness, felt someone putting cool wet compresses on her forehead and lightly rubbing her head and shoulders. In her delirious state, she felt that it was her dad because his hands were big and strong unlike her petite mom’s features. She started opening her eyes but the compress was also covering her sight.
“Dad, hi…where’s mom?” as she reached to remove the compress.
Her eyes looked upon a huge, 7- foot tall man. He almost resembled the Hulk with his height and girth but not so green. As he stared at her, she heard in her head, “Do not be fearful my friend. I have retrieved you from the mountain and cared for your well-being. My name is Grond-zai but call me Zai.”
It was a good thing Daria was already lying down because she would have passed out onto the floor if she was standing up! His lips didn’t move when he spoke yet she ”heard” him.
“Zai, where am I? What happened? Am I dead? I am so mixed up. Are you real?” whimpered Daria as tears fell down her cheeks.
Zai replied without moving his mouth again, “ You fell off the cliff in the dark and got caught on a branch. I was able to bring you to safety before you hit the ground. I know what happened because I read your mind which revealed your scary disappointment.”
Daria was amazed how he exuded such a calming pleasant feeling in her. She felt safe and cared for.Her head hurt when she sat up and figured she must have a concussion. Zai brought her a duck egg and a bunch of berries. She drank the egg raw followed by the berries figuring she needed strength if she was going to be able to leave.
Zai regaled stories as to how he came to be on our planet when his ship had engine failure. It had been almost one hundred years ago. Daria realized she didn’t notice his appearance anymore. Zai made her feel special and important. Love…she felt ‘Love’ for Zai and never wanted to live without him. He was her “forever” and she knew that this kind gentle giant loved her too! She felt healthy enough to leave now but realized she didn’t want to.
Zai told her about his planet and their customs and how they had no marriage or family like ours.They loved everyone and treated all with kindness and respect . Nobody was better than another and they shared everything. Daria loved his stories and wished humans could act the same.
Daria marveled at how Zai accepted his fate of remaining on Earth. He had no way of leaving and was okay with it where humans were annoyed at simple things and never happy with what they had. They always wanted more.
By now feeling healthy, Daria wanted to go out into the air with him to look for food. Zai never went out in daylight for fear of discovery but he agreed. He carried her from the cave-like opening in the mountain, down to the ground.
As they were walking, a helicopter was flying by and they tried to hide in some trees. Zai thought that they were seen but but Daria didn’t think so. He knew he should have never gone out during the day but, wanted to make Daria happy. She loved living this fairy tale and hoped that nothing would change.
The following day right at sunrise, there were sounds of large motors and helicopters. Zai peered out of the cave and saw and army of soldiers and various types of military equipment. He told Daria that he knew this was going to be the end of him and that it is as it should be. You live and you die and that is the way of life.
A loudspeaker pierced the air harshly, “This is the National Guard! Come out with your hands up immediately!”
Daria cried, “Zai please, do not go out alone because they don’t understand who you are. Pick me up and they will see that you are not harmful if you are carrying me and I tell them how you saved me!”
Zai reluctantly agreed and reached down while looking in her eyes and hugged her close in his arms. Her heart overflowed with the love that he filled her with. They both stared deeply into each other’s eyes as Zai held Daria and walked through the cave opening. In an instant, a RPG made a direct hit to their center and obliterated their entire existence.
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