Ore in a Forest

The large door welcomes me and its creak kills the white silence. Whoever built it wanted it closed. Second thoughts will do me no good, so my first step into the cabin is full of intent. The second, not even close. The oak flooring chills my feet and brings my attention away from the blunt pains in my upper back. Regardless, it’s one more thing that doesn’t matter now. Refuge is what we need. The rest of the explorers are just about here.

“In here, this should be safe” I usher them. As if to refute my claim, a dark mass blitzes toward us. Leaping and bounding from tree to tree, each jump propelling it faster. The explorers only hear the crackling and shuffling of branches and they stampede into the cabin. Fear is so clearly etched into their dry, pale faces. And as a dark behemoth blocks me from closing the door–fear lacerates mine. This has so clearly failed when all else fails what else is there to do but run.

Was there any point? I’ve seen how fast they were. Yet, I only have to be faster than the rest. I am first to run through the door, some others follow, but most freeze. Curiosity gets the better of me as I look back to see my impending fate. Why am I still running? Well it could be that it's because they’re binding to those who froze and siphon the essence. Leaving them empty, void, nothing. One of them. Systematically they hop from person to person changing them. Now there is no one else to hop to. Each frenzied bound they make toward me abstract flashes attack my mind. Have I already died? Is this the feeling you get when all your memories come to you before death? The masquerade leaps in front of me and I drop to my back. This close and its face is even harder to make out. “Just kill me already” I scream attempting to take control one last time. It doesn't acknowledge my final act and drags me to my feet and bows its head. “I’m not programmed to do so, master”.