THE CREATURES IN THE MIST

A couple come into contact with a strange creature.

   THE CREATURES IN THE MIST

The mist was thick on this day.  Strange shaped trees could be observed here and there before they vanished, and on both sides of the road open fields were shrouded in dense fog.  It was hard to make out much.  Signs appeared and disappeared within seconds.  The small lights that shone from the middle of the road helped many on their hazardous journeys.  Late last night the weather had changed, and now most areas were covered in the chilly cloud.

They had started out on their journey early in the morning.  When they had left the house it was dead on seven, it was now nine, still too early for many.  Being a Saturday, most people would still be tucked up in their warm beds.  Some harbouring hangovers from the night before.

His eyes felt tired, so far it had been two hours on the road.  The late Autumn weather was not helping.  Also, his legs ached, sitting in the same position for so long.   He peered at his wife, and smiled.  

She smiled back.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, knowing she wasn’t a great fan of long trips.

Jennifer swept a hand through her hair, before she replied, “Yeah, I’m fine, but because of this bleeding weather, this is going to take longer then I first thought.  My sister’s going to be wondering to where we’ve got too.”

Brian sighed, he didn’t want to admit it, the conditions on this particular day was making the journey really difficult.  “Just another hour or two, sweetheart.  On the TV earlier, it said the weather would improve as the day went on.”

Jennifer looked over at him, “I’m sorry, I’m being a moody cow.  My sister will understand, it’ll take as long as it takes.”

“That’s okay, we’ll get there soon, I promise.”

For some moments there was silence.  Looking outside, the mist was still thick.  They drove up a steep hill with tall oak trees either side, the growth reached high across the road.  This was somewhere you wouldn’t want to be stranded in alone.  Desolate and cold, like a blustery winters night.

Jennifer said all of a sudden, “I don’t like the look of this place.  It’s like something you would see in a creepy horror film.”

Brian tried to concentrate, but it was so murky and dark.  It sent him a little mad, “Bloody country roads.”

“Don’t you agree?” she asked.

“Agree on what, sweetheart?”

“That this road, with the tall trees, and all this fog, reminds you of some horror film?”

Brian found this a weird comment, and replied the best he could, “Yes, I suppose.  I’m trying to focus on the matter in hand, so, I don’t mean to be rude, darling.”

He would of looked at her with a comforting smile, to reassure her, but driving in such conditions was frustrating.  

Then it got worse.

Because he drove so slow, as you would in such terrible fog, he was lucky enough to notice a tree had fallen, and now sat across the road.  Blocking it completely.

Brian was mortified.  “For God sake.  Give me strength,” he said angrily.

“What’s wrong?” she said with a worried voice.

“Look ahead, a bloody tree has blocked us completely.  The only thing we can do, is turn back and look for another route.”

He stopped the car, not knowing what to do next.  This was the only way he knew how to get to her sister’s.  It was annoying to say the least.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.  This is going to take longer,” he said, feeling deflated.

He peered in the front mirror to see if the road was clear, and with utter horror saw a big shadow as it vanished into the trees.

Jennifer noticed the look of disbelief on her husband’s face, and asked him, “What’s wrong, dear?”

Brian looked at her, and said, “Maybe, I imagined it, but I think something else is here with us.”

“What do you mean?”

In front about fifteen metres away, a grown deer leapt out of a clump of trees, running across the road, then disappeared into more woodland.

Brian realised he was being silly, it was a deer he had seen.  “It doesn’t matter now, it’s me just being an idiot.”

“So, what’s the plan?” she asked.

“Turn back I suppose,” Brian replied.  To be honest there was no other option.

He started the engine, and looked yet again into the front mirror, as he needed to reverse the car and do a three-point-turn.  

He saw it again.  A chill ran down his spine.

“What the hell is that?” he said, his heart raced, and his mouth was dry.

Jennifer said all of a sudden, “What the hell is going on?  Speak to me.”

Brian didn’t answer her, but stared intensely at the dark monstrous shape in the mirror just above his head.

It did not move, and stood in the centre of the narrow road.  Mist swirled about its head, and it stared with bright yellow eyes towards the car.

“Don’t look in the mirror, love.  Just close your eyes and trust me,” said Brian.

“You are scaring me,” she answered.

“Just close your bloody eyes,” he said more seriously.

She did what she was told, and shut them.  She shook like a leaf.

Brian was petrified, he needed to turn the car round, and with luck get passed the creature that blocked their escape.  He turned the key and the engine was heard.  Using all the concentration he could muster, he carefully reversed the car and turned it ever so slowly to the left, until he felt the back wheels hit the side of the road.  Then moved the car forward at a snails pace, and turned the wheel to the right, checking the position of the motor at every opportunity.  Brian realised he would have to reverse again, as the road was small, and he needed more room to turn the car fully.  Reversing again and moving the wheel slightly to the left, Brian now decided the motor had enough space to make it round without hitting the grass verge.  Again, he moved the car forward and turned a sharp right, the wheel touched the area of grass a little.  This time there was enough room.  Now, for the real challenge.

He looked up, his heart racing.  Through the glass still standing in the middle of the road was the creature.  Brian could now see it properly, it was around seven foot tall, with yellow piercing snake-like eyes.  Black fur hanged off its body.  At the end of each long muscular arm three razor shaped fingers could be observed.

Brian peered at his wife, her eyes were still closed.  He looked back up at the monstrosity in front, and shuddered.  The creature licked its black lips, showing pointed teeth inside of its mouth.

Brian felt sick, and looked at the edge of the road where he would hopefully pass the black demon.  With time, he pressed his foot down, and the vehicle moved cautiously up the lane.  On purpose, he kept his eyes on the space between the creature and the grass verge.  The creature looked up at the moving vehicle and grunted a couple of times.  Brian ignored this, and carried on with utter determination. 

The moment the front of the car had reached the creature, passing it carefully, Brian realised he would have to turn the car onto the grass more then he had anticipated, due to the side mirror that stuck out.  He heard the thing breathing heavily, and kept his cool.  Time seemed endless, and the car just had about enough room to get through, even though it was a matter of centimetres.  Suddenly, the creature howled and its whole body seemed to come alive.  It pounded its huge fists at the drivers-side-window. 

Out of instinct, Jennifer opened her eyes, and looked with sheer horror at what was happening.  She looked at her husband, determination on his face, as he gripped the steering wheel and carefully kept the car moving.  

Still the thing pounded the car with much fury.

Within seconds, they had passed it.  Brian felt so relieved, and the car made its way up the road. 

Then something occurred to him, why wasn’t this vicious beast chasing them?  He peered in the mirror and observed the creature still stood in the same spot.  But why?  The abomination then turned its head in their direction, with a smile on its grotesque face.

Then it became apparent.

“There’s more of them,” Jennifer shouted.

Brian looked back to the road, and his heart sunk, in the distance stood six more.  This time there was no escape.  And worse still, the beasts saw the car, and licked their lips with delight. 

“I don’t believe it,” Brian muttered, and looked ahead in disbelief.

The creatures came closer.  From the misty woods either side of the road, more could be seen.  They were everywhere, all getting closer with every terrifying second.

Jennifer screamed out in fear.

Brian did not know what to do, “What shall I do?”

“Just drive,” Jennifer shrieked.

He wasn’t sure if it was the right decision, but he slammed his foot down on the pedal, and the vehicle screeched up the road.

Crash.

The car collided with two of the creatures, and had overturned and now sat on its roof.  Thankfully, both wore seatbelts, as they hanged in the air.

Brian peered over at his wife, and she was crying.  “I’m sorry, Jennifer.  I just didn’t know what to do.”

She looked his way, she didn’t say a thing.

The creatures approached the car, and with immense strength began to batter the interior of the vehicle.

Brian and Jennifer screamed, knowing there wasn’t much time left.

A gigantic hand suddenly smashed through the passengers window, trying to grab Jennifer.

Brian looked on, and felt utterly helpless.  He decided to make some noise, to take the attention away from his wife.  “Come on you ugly b******s.  I’m here.  I’m here.”

Out of the blue, something big and cold had grabbed him around the throat.  He tried pulling himself away from it, nothing worked.  He heard his wife screaming in his left ear.  Then he caught a glimpse of what was happening.  Her seatbelt had snapped, and a huge hand had crushed her skull and was now dragging her out of the broken window.

“Jennifer,” he tried to shout, but the hand was crushing his throat, he had trouble breathing.  

In the near-distance he heard shots that seemed to echo all around.  The hand around his neck loosened all of a sudden.  He gasped for breath.  He looked in the direction of where his wife had sat, and covering the window was blood.  Just outside on the grass was more blood.  A few metres from this, was his wife.  Her body was broken, and her dress was covered in dark red.

Still, more shots were heard. 

He noticed the creatures as they ran about, like they were running from something.  Trying to escape a bigger threat.  In the chest of one, a gaping hole appeared, and blue liquid splashed down its body, and it howled out in pain.  Within a second, the monster had fallen to the ground, lifeless.

Brain then saw figures about twenty metres away, with rifles in their hands.  Each shooting at the beasts.  One by one the creatures fell to the floor.

Brian closed his eyes, and under his breath he said a little prayer for his wife.  He knew she was dead, and it broke his heart.  He loved her dearly.

He heard talking from outside the car.

“Them creatures are all dead,” said one.

“Good, but as we agreed earlier, no survivors.  No one should know about this.” said another.

“What shall we do with him?”

Some seconds had passed.

“Kill him, he knows too much.”

Brian’s heart began to race.  He looked up at the men, hoping he had misunderstood what he had just heard.  They were all dressed in army uniforms, and he noticed one of the guns pointed at his head.  He closed his eyes, and thought back to his wife, “I love you, sweetheart.”

                                  The End

Reviews

[Marie]

Really creepy horror story; great description of fear. Good twist at the end when Brian is killed by those who should have saved him.
Proofreading, I caught these:

Brian sighed, he didn’t want to admit it, the conditions on this particular day was(were) making the journey really difficult.
Brian was petrified, he needed to turn the car round, and with luck get passedPast) the creature that blocked their escape.