I can't even tell whether my vision is clouded or if the fog is simply growing thicker…
I survived the creature, but I'm still wandering through this forest. With nothing to guide me. At least, until she returned.
—Zzzz
—I'm waiting for you lol
—Zzz
—Zzzzzz
The radio emitted a quick transmission and then part of the fog dispersed, marking a path for me… I followed the trail. The fog surrounded me, giving way to a route that would eventually lead me to…
—A lake…
Crystal-clear water. A lake that seemed to stretch for several kilometers lay at the end of the path marked by the fog.
—The fog doesn't let me see very well. But this lake is beautiful.
Despite the fog surrounding it, the lake radiated a palpable tranquility. If it were up to me, I would have stayed much longer. But the radio wouldn't allow it.
—Zzzzz
—Zzz
Interference. Danger.
This time I didn't wait until the creature was right in front of me. I readied the pistol with the few bullets I had left and started running along the path that followed the lake's shore.
—The farther I get from the danger, the better.
Ever since the battle with that flesh-dragging beast, I had learned to check my surroundings for anything that might help me. But in this hell, preparation is never enough. Reality surpasses everything imaginable.
Ahead of me, I found it. A beast with a... female figure?
Again, grayish skin, but streaked with blood all over its body. Walking on two legs. From the abdomen down, it was clearly female, but its upper half lay crushed and destroyed, a deep black color, as if necrosis had already devoured that part of the body.
From the abdomen, from the stomach, a monstrous creature protruded, tearing through the female body. The upper half of some kind of... baby...
A grotesque, amorphous-looking creature. It seemed to have control over the entire body.
—...
The moment I sealed my fate, the creature lunged at me.
In haste, I avoided its attack. However, I ended up in a disadvantageous position. Knocked to the ground, needing precious time to recover. The beast took advantage of that and attacked me. There was no time to hesitate or fear.
I fired as fast as I could. Causing the baby protruding from the stomach to fully emerge and collapse onto the ground, while the rest of the female-shaped creature fell into the lake.
—Die... in the depths of the lake.
My lips could only utter those words after the chaos I had been living through. It was the only way I could vent my anger. But something survived the shot.
The baby lay collapsed on the ground, crying violently. As if it were calling for its mother... as if it wanted to be held. As... if it were a normal baby...
Trembling, fear. My hands couldn't even aim the pistol at it. I hesitated. I resisted. But in the end, I couldn't do it.
I simply put away the pistol. I picked up the creature that longed for companionship. I cradled it in my arms, giving it warmth.
At that moment, the crying slowly began to fade until it stopped. I could feel the baby's heartbeat. The creature was calm, showing a faint smile as it hugged me.
—It fell asleep...
I didn't know why I was doing it, but I didn't regret it. However, what at first had been a comforting silence became a desolate one.
The warmth turned cold. The body began to cool. And the heartbeat stopped...
—No...
Panic. I couldn't think clearly until I checked the creature's body. It was no longer with me....
...
I held the body for hours. I didn't want to let it go. With every passing second, another stab pierced my heart.
...
After a long time, I gathered the courage to say goodbye. I managed to dig a small hole to place the body in. With every handful of dirt that buried the baby, words spilled from my lips.
—It's not your fault... you were simply lucky enough to be born and experience what it's like to have a family...
Now I remember... a part of it...
—My baby...
Tears flowed, giving way to silence.
The echo of a life that has been lost.
...