MicroHorror

No sooner had Balin left the gates, left from within the prison walls, than the sirens screamed of his escape and reverberated off of the huge field that lay out before him. Tall, wet, grass flourished the land. Woods lay close in the distance.

Finally free…

Balin ran as fast as his legs would carry him. His pants and shoes became soaked. Storms had hammered the area the night before, leaving puddles everywhere.

The sirens wailed, vibrating Balin’s skeletal frame. It was like a lighthouse blazing its watchful eye around and around across the ocean for lost ships. And if it had been a death-ray, Balin would’ve been burnt beyond recognition. The smell of scorched flesh would linger in the air.

Right before he made it into the woods, right before he took his very first step inside, he heard the first of the howls blend in with the wretched sound of the siren.

The Hounds had now been unleashed.

Time was of the essence.

Huge, tall trees stuck out of the ground, nearly touching the skyline. Birds chirped, flying overhead, and peered down at the show.

If I only had their wings I could join them and hide from the oncoming Hounds; perhaps even fly high into the clouds and arrive safely with Gili, my beloved…

Leaping over rocks, running around bushes, and dodging around trees, Balin saw the exit. The end of the woods. It exposed yet another field full of tall, wet grass.

Behind him, the footfalls of his pursuers hit the ground, pounding the soil.

Bark from the trees was shaved clean off, leaving fresh wounds. Bushes were mowed over. Rocks were crushed. The soil was ripped open like tearing away flesh.

Death was only a whisper away.

Balin tried to hurry his pace as fatigue washed over him, settling inside his skin. Inside his muscles and tendons. Around his bones.

The howling continued.

The pursuit did not let up.

If failure of his escape was in the midst, terrifying images played over and over in his head: the feel of the razor-sharp claws sinking into his back and bringing his body straight to the ground; the back of his neck being torn open, exposing blood and bone; and his spine ripped solely away from his frame.

But he did not want that to happen.

He wanted Gili. He wanted to see her blue eyes. Feel her soft brown hair. Kiss her tender lips.

Finally, he entered the field as excitement coursed his veins. Relief took hold of his emotions.

Happiness followed.

There, in the distance, was his spaceship. The Authorities had not even destroyed or dismantled it. And it only had room for one astronaut. One survivor. One escapee. One Balin.

He sprinted towards the craft. His side flared, telling him to stop this punishment. Stop this abuse. But now, he would not. Could not.

I’m on my way, babe!

How long had he been imprisoned? Months? Days? Hours? God only knew.

Slipping inside the craft he closed the door, hit the controls as they lit up in numerous colors, and heard the hum of the engines roar to life.

Right before he lifted off of the ground, he witnessed the first of the five robotic hounds emerge out of the woods. Bright yellow eyes, a metal jaw lined with razor sharp teeth, nostrils steaming, blades for claws, and a bulky metal frame made up the full profile. The others followed suit as the sun reflected off their shells.

Balin had beaten the machines, knowing of no other that had.

The ship launched high into the sky, soon becoming nothing but a dot under the two bright suns and the light green skies.

The Hounds could only stare at defeat to the human that had eluded his capture.

• Copyright: © 2007 Brick Marlin