Closed Darkness Always Creeps Closer Part 2 Solo

Interacting with: N/A Mentioning: N/A Date: 02/22/25

Word Count: 664

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Avery screamed again as the animal creeped closer. Avery didn't recognize it. It's hair body got closer. Avery pointed her wand at the creature and waved it in resemblance of a flame. Then she screamed, "Incendio!" Flames shot out from the wand. Scaring the creature. Unfortunately, that didn't scare it off. It just made it madder. It began creeping even closer. Its hairy body flexing as it came closer. Closer. Avery didn't know what to do. Jasper stood next to her. Back raised and growling like a tiger. I quickly scooped him up and placed him in my book bag I had brought. He protested. Meowing loud enough for her to shush him. Avery didn't want that beast to have any ideas of attacking. Avery had to think. And fast. This was a moment that she couldn't avoid. Not only was her life at stake, but Jasper's life was too. That meant that Avery had to do something. She just didn't know what yet. Avery pointed her wand at the beast again. Deciding whether or not to try using Incendio again. But, if it didn't work, what would she do? She ran. Avery ran as fast as she could without looking back. She could hear the monster thundering behind her. Breathing down her neck. But, above all else, she had to run. Stopping would probably mean death, or worse. Torture. So she kept running even though her legs were burning. Avery hadn't run this hard in a long time. She could still remember the smell that made her run. Smoke. Avery was little. Maybe 4 or 5 when she was playing alone outside her grandparents house. She decided to go into the woods for some exploring. Her grandparents owned the majority of the woods and had fence around their property, so Avery knew where to stay. She had walked over to one of the fences, climbed up onto it, and sat down. She watched as birds flew around. They were so majestic as they soared through the sky. Deer ran and played. Or so Avery thought. That's when she smelled it. Smoke. Not the friendly kind. No. Smoke from forest fires. Black and heavy. Unrelenting. She looked back to find roaring flames in the distance and black smoke billowing closer. She ran for her life. When she finally got to the house she was out of breath. But that didn't stop her from screaming for help. Her family ran outside and sniffed the air. They grabbed her, and ran for the car. Barely evacuating. When they came home a few days after the fire was put out, they were happy to find everything okay and not burned. They were lucky that the fire was stopped near where Avery had seen it. Avery could still remember the smell and the fear that had. That was a feeling that would never go away from her. That's why she ran. Ran until she couldn't run anymore. Avery was nearing the end of her stamina, but she knew she had to keep going. Jasper meowed and peeked his small head out of the bag. Obviously upset that he was being shaken around. Avery patted him gently as she continued to run. She didn't want to risk him jumping out and running towards danger. Avery was about to give up and face her fate when everything went silent. She stopped. Turned around and looked back. Whatever the monster was, it was gone. Like it had never existed. Footprints and monster tracks were indented into the snow. Avery was baffled. She had just run for her life, and was ready to finally face this beast, and it was just. . . gone? Avery quickly sat down on the ground and carefully opened the bag so Jasper could come out. Her head was reeling, and she was afraid that she would pass out if she stood up at the moment. She continued to sit there, panting as she contemplated what she had seen.

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