Brood

[Deamon]

((Aliya Kimia Nemati continued from More like FART EXHIBITION))

They’d found a body. Somehow it had been hidden in the darkness on the beach. She couldn’t understand how no one had seen it considering the row of computers that ran down the sand and to the sea, emitting a pale blue glow all the way. The body was cut in half and sat upright without legs. She and another man had figured out who had committed the murder and pursued him to a cliff that led down to the beach. She didn’t know how they had gotten there just that they had. She had watched as the killer was in turn killed and satisfied she had gone to leave. But a giant boot had stomped the cliffs wall. It stayed there for two seconds then stepped away leaving a boot print of raw pink flesh behind. It pulsed and then the wall fell down. Peeling away from its original position to collapse upon the man below, he screamed for a moment and then was silent. After landing the rock started to decay and transform. Giant worms, maggots and other detrivores forming from the wreckage. She saw the man’s head and face growing and warping, worms twisting and crawling out of his flesh, she saw a tear fall.

Then she woke up.

Her hands shot up to cover her mouth, trapping the scream that had attempted to escape.

Aliya’s eyes darted to the other two sleeping figures, Justin and Tony. There was no movement. She hadn't woken them. That was a relief. They were relying on her, so she needed to stay calm, or at least maintain the illusion of calm. That feeling led to her rising and walking around the perimeter of the small camp they had set up. Her mind replayed the images the dream had given her. She didn't want to commit them to memory but in the silence of the night, there was nothing else for company. It was just her and thoughts.

Not wanting to go back to sleep, she busied herself with a patrol, making sure there was no one nearby who meant them harm. The good news was it was just them and the trees. The trees that loomed over the small area they had staked out as a camp. Satisfied that they were alone Aliya eventually settled down and sat, back resting against the cold bark of a tree. She looked out into the night as her breathing slowed and the sweat started to evaporate.

She had to stay calm and she tried to do exactly that. It wasn’t just for her sake. It was for her traveling companions. They needed someone who was in control or at least had the appearance of being as in control as was possible given the situation. Earlier in the day, she had managed that, but it had been emotionally draining. Now she was plagued with uninvited images in the night. Aliya placed her head on her knees and rubbed her eyes with her hands.

When her head raised back up, she watched the two sleeping silhouettes of her group and tried not to think about her sisters.

She failed, and eventually, the sun rose to save her from her thoughts and she could continue with what was left of her life.

((Aliya Kimia Nemati continued in Excursion))