Chapter Text
Will was alone.
Will was always alone, now. He used to have other people, but he doesn't want to think about that anymore. It doesn't matter, he has to focus on the moment, or else he won't stop thinking about what he lost so long ago.
A branch snapped.Will slammed himself against the nearest tree and froze.
Silence. Will didn't move a muscle; if they are far enough away, it's better to stand still as the creatures won't smell you, but they can hear you. If it was closer than Will thought it was, he should run.
A crunch of leaves. Louder than before. A small sound scratched Will's ears, it was almost…
The sound of teeth chattering was suddenly very close to Will. So near, he could hear the fluttering of its breathing.
Will looked up and held his breath. He steeled himself, looking straight.
Then he ran.
Will ran faster than he ever had, his mind focused on every single step he took. Over the vine, step right there. Trees ahead, go left. Jump!
Behind him, there was a pause before it realized, and then Will heard branches breaking. A steady pace of four deadly steps, the roaring of a creature with no face, skinless and built so wrong. The footsteps sounded far enough away, Will guessed he had a three second gap between the thing. Maybe less.
As Will neared, the footsteps got closer. Shaking the ground, Will felt the thing get nearer. So close. He was almost there.
Will saw the door. His lungs began burning, and his pace got slower by a fraction. Will felt the thing roar its face at the back of his head. He could feel the saliva hit his hair, the sound of its yell right in his ears.
Will ripped open the door and slammed it behind him in one motion. Pulling the emergency lever, he heard a sickening crack as the bricks he had jerry-rigged to fall slammed against the door, squishing the creature that had been chasing Will.
Will let out a breath. He made it. He was alive, and he would stay alive for at least one more night. He walked into the main room, grabbing a piece of chalk off the table.
On the wall opposite to the door he had come in through, a single wall was devoid of furniture; the only details it had were tiny white lines.
Will made another line, and stepped back.
Hundreds of tally marks covered the wall.