"Dark Beginnings" by Misty Cogburn (short story to read .txt) 📕

Lexus ran in bone crunching leaps, jumping through bushes filled with briars. So terrified, he was barely mindful of the dangerous large gangly-roots growing throughout the forest floor. Like a horror movie waiting to happen he tripped and crashed to ground. Yet, he stumbled for only a second, his fear and knowledge of horror movies causing him to leap to his feet.

Running once more, Lexus glanced behind him, seeing nothing, yet hearing the snapping jaws of the beast closing in on his legs. Terrified he sped up, though his chest heaved with his ragged breaths, he fled blindly through the darkness of the trees.

He had known something like this would happen eventually. Having seen the supernatural beings his entire life, he knew well how dangerous it could be if he caught their attention. He had spent his whole life pretending to be oblivious of their existence. Hoping he could safeguard his presence from their watchful eyes.

Yet, here he was running for his life being hunted by one of these monsters. Preyed upon by one of those supernatural creatures he had so rightly feared. They were beings, who loved to toy with humans... they were horrifying, sick, and cruel. To them humans were nothing but food or trash, or in some revolting way, entertainment.

They had always frightened him, since a small age. Their cruelty towards the unsuspecting humans was harrowing. More often than not they were beautiful, appearing almost too perfect in Lexus’ sight. They would disguise themselves to appear harmless, and in the beginning their little pranks and antics would fit that mirage.

Yet, Lexus knew the truth, he knew of their true nature. He'd once seen a sprite, as small as a person's thumb; throw a man in front of a bus on the sole excuse that he had sneezed on her person. Numerous times he had watched as the beings murdered and maimed with gleeful innocence against the unsuspecting masses.

Long ago he had decided that avoiding their attention was best. Yet, he had somehow became the prey of a supernatural hunter. Even with as careful as he was not to show his ability, a predator had been stalking him both night and day.

For months now, Lexus had felt the predator's eyes watching him. Its presence becoming so inserted into his consciousness, he swore he could feel each breath his hunter took exhale down his neck.

Though he pretended to be unaware, for the past few weeks Lexus had been subjected to an onslaught of advances from his hunter. In many ways, they were only slight offences, offences committed with a specific purpose. His hunter was clearly suspicious.

It’s every assault seemed to study Lexus’ reactions in a way that was clear the hunter questioned if Lexus may be aware of the supernatural world. Lexus was left doubtless about his hunter's thoughts, the creature was surely on to his secret.

What had started out as small offences gradually escalated in time. Once, through a crowd of people, he had even felt the predator's coarse tongue lick the throbbing pulse of his throat. Yet, Lexus pretended none the wiser.

To acknowledge his hunter's actions was the same as acknowledging his presence. It was a deadly game of patience between the two of them, one that would leave Lexus dead if he wasn't careful. Yet, something strange had begun to happen.

An alertness that he had never known had begun to take hold of Lexus.

A connection, building with what could be his killer, had begun to grow between him and his hunter. Lexus shivered, even now as he ran from the creature, he could feel the predator's presence. Even worse, he could now hear its sickeningly murderous thoughts as the monster mentally urged him to run and play this deadly game.

Lexus was terrified, but not only of the creature, but of himself. For, surely, there must be something wrong with him to have the abilities he had been given? To be able to hear a monster’s thoughts? It was horrifying…

It had started nearly a month ago, the first occurrence had happened as Lexus lay in his bed. As was per usual, his hunter's all too familiar presence was lingering on the other side of his barred window. Being so close to something so dangerous Lexus could not sleep, even if he tried.

He had almost expected the hunter to burst through the window and attack him at any moment that night. Full of fear, he had been hesitant to drift into the only comfort he had felt for weeks.

Yet, just as his mind crossed over the thin barrier that veiled his current reality, Lexus was surged awake as a gravelly voice echoed within his mind. Run… Little Rabbit, Pretty Rabbit ~Run, the voice sung, almost in a begging whine.

That night was something Lexus was sure he would never forget. As he had flinched awake in sheer terror, the deep, breathy vocals still rung out within his mind. He had known without a doubt the thoughts had came from his hunter.

Though he heard nothing from its direction outside of his window, Lexus knew the hunter was on the other side pleading for him to walk over and step outside. However, from there on the hunter's thoughts grew ghastly as he planned each way he could kill Lexus, who lay stiff in his bed.

For weeks Lexus heard each of the hunter’s thoughts, some violent and others sexual.

The toll of experiencing his death played consistently, over-and-over again, in his mind from his would-be killer wreaked havoc on Lexus mind. Yet, Lexus persevered, forcing himself to remain calm, for months he out-waited the hunter. Pretending to be none-the-wiser, Lexus could only hope his fear was hidden from the creature.

Though, despite his best efforts, the creature seemed able to smell his fears. After orienting himself with his hunter’s thoughts, Lexus became aware of his predator’s reasoning. Of all the revealing things he had come to learn about his hunter, Lexus was shocked that its thoughts seem to focus on his smell. Like some monstrous beast it focused on his scent in an almost animalistic way. Something he smelled of intrigued the predator. To the being, he smelled both delicious and familiar, and so full of fear.

Regardless of how he tried to stay calm, the creature knew he was afraid, yet thankfully it didn’t know why Lexus was terrified. It was that thought alone that kept Lexus steady, it was his rock in a torrent of mighty waves. He knew what the creature thought, he knew the predator wanted nothing more, than for him to flee. It wanted to chase him down and kill him, to enjoy the thrill of its hunt, but Lexus refused to obey.

Though the creature may have his had doubts that Lexus was a regular human, it helped him in some ways. It wasn’t sure just what Lexus was exactly, it had many theories of what he could be, and this made the creature cautious.

Being thought of as a Spirit-Bound-Angel, was certainly new for Lexus. However, the belief that he wasn’t human was nothing new. Many of the creatures he had seen took notice of him, almost as if they could sense he could see them. Which was something they perceived to be threat. Many of them tried to gain his attention to confirm their suspicions.

Yet, Lexus had always faked ignorance at their attempts. It had been something which had worked well up-until-now. In most instances, whatever approached him always grew bored quickly. This predator, however, had followed him for months.

It had a distrustful nature, regardless of its sadistic thoughts. It was cautious to approach him too directly, though curious enough to try its luck at times. However, it seemed the game of cat-and-mouse was against the creature’s nature. As the weeks turned into months, the hunter’s interest seemed to wane.

As with all the other creatures that had taken interest in him, this Lexus’ oblivious approach seemed to be working. As time wore on the hunter became more and more agitated, bored from its hunt. Until one night the predator's lurking presence completely vanished altogether.

In wake of its disappearance, Lexus had snapped awake from his troubled sleep. Instantly alert, Lexus had mentally searched for the creature, yet not a thought from the hunter could be heard.

Almost willing to scream, 'Dobby is free.' Lexus had leapt from his bed. It seemed the psychological torment of his being preyed upon was finally over.

For days on end, he had stayed cooped up in his small apartment in an attempt to shield himself from his hunter's ever-watchful eyes. Eyeing a mirror for the first time in days, Lexus took in his appearance.

His short blonde hair stood on end in various directions in complete disarray. Dark circles and gaunt angular lines gave his face an unhealthy look.

Lexus grinned madly back at himself, he may look a mess, but he was alive!

He had survived the entire ordeal with only a few years having been shaved off his life. It was something he felt the need to celebrate, washing his face, he attempted to tame his hair. Yet, found his bed head beyond repair.

Dressing quickly, Lexus tossed on a hoodie that swallowed his form, and the donned pair of tight jogging pants. Knowing he looked every part of the crazy-hermit, he didn't feel entirely comfortable leaving the apartment.

However, it was against his very nature to stay cooped up that long, and his urge to run was nearly unbearable. He hesitated just once, looking at the clock on the nightstand Lexus guessed it would only be only an hour or more before sunrise. He should be safe, right? Lexus rationalized as he warred within himself.

Usually his hunter would sleep throughout the day, waking up only when Lexus was on the move. It was a complainant, lazy, brute of a beast. Surely if it was still around it would be sleeping, right? Lexus felt the fear grow inside him once more, yet, he squashed it before it could make him come to his senses.

A small window had opened before him, and Lexus jumped at the opportunity to run freely.

It was so early in the morning. The air was cool, the grass was damp and slick beneath his neon green running shoes. All around him the woods were lit with an array of morning blues and violets. It filled him with an almost contagious inner peace.

Lexus paused to stare up at the few visible stars overlaying above him, where he stood stretching before his run. He stopped briefly, marveling at the fullness of the moon as it drifted towards the western horizon. It was in nature that he felt most at home.

Living so close to a park with so many trails had been a blessing before the hunter had shown up. His muscles literally burned with the need to run. At twenty, he had spent eleven years of his life as a marathon runner. The sudden halt of the activity made him itch to begin again.

Knowing every thought his hunter had made for the past few weeks made the choice in