Thump Thump.
A happy woman, whom she was just talking to that day. One who spent that day like any other, just a regular day.
Now lifeless, splattered on the ground.
A person with a life, aspirations and feelings.
A person who exists no more.
There was no time to grieve.
Amanises couldn't linger any longer, running towards the entrance of the house.
She ran by more corpses on her way, maids, workers, animals even.
The entire residence was filled with deathly silence, the iron scent of blood and crimson splatters on the concrete pavement.
"Haah, ha—ah!" She stopped to catch her breath. Her heart couldn't take it anymore.
!
Creeaak!
It was the sound of the grand door opening.
She looked up and what greeted was a walking corpse making its way slowly towards her, taking short slow steps.
She recognized it by the attire—it was her carriage driver.
N—no!
There was no voice to relay her wails. Mouth moving without a sound.
Dry tears ran down her face.
But the headless corpse of what had once been her carriage driver, didn't let her continue.
In the flash of a second, it charged forward with incredible speed, crossing over the distance.
Amanises was rooted in place. She didn't have a fight or flight response. Instead, her feet were planted on the ground like stone.
She couldn't shield herself from the upcoming impact, didn't even have time to register what happened.
The bloody hand couldn't reach her, however, for it was suddenly stopped.
The ground beneath quaked, and a pair of large, weathered stone-like hands took form from the blood-soaked soil, fixing the corpse, under spiritual influence, in place.
The sudden quiver made Amanises' knees buckle, she fell to the ground with a loud thud, eyes, still in shock, gaping at the earthly hands.
Slowly, the hands dragged the headless corpse in the now-softened ground, sinking it into the chasm.
The frightened woman swore she could see wisps of green-turquoise spiritual energy, slowly dissipating in the ground, which hardened again.
Amanises was still frozen in place, only her heaving chest moving to make up for the lost breaths.
Her attention was grabbed by the clacking of dull footsteps on the stone walkway.
With the sound echoing into the night a firm voice was heard, one belonging to a young woman.
"You can get up, it should be fine now." She recognized that voice.
It was the Spirit Medium, Miss Daly!
Visible relief washed over her features. A slither of hope making its way inside her mind.
Daly Simone approached her in a steadfast manner, lending a hand to help the lady get up.
She took the hand, struggling to get up. Legs still wobbly from the terrifying experience.
"Miss Daly! You're—" Amanises wanted to exclaim her relief, but she was cut-off mid sentence.
"There's no time to linger! There might be survivors inside!" She let go of the lady's hand and ran in the direction of the entrance.
Amanises limped behind her, heart still in her teeth, if only just a tad more reassured by the comforting presence.
Inside was just as gruesome as the outside, if not more.
A grim frown made itself known on Daly's face. She analyzed the bloody, torn bodies of the servants.
She cited something to herself then approached a corpse that looked the least mauled.
Following the silent incantation, Amanises witnessed as glowing wisps of spiritual energy started to form, resembling the ones that disappeared beforehand.
The faint figure of the servant formed above the body. It was glowing, giving the spacious main hall a sacred, ethereal feeling.
The maidservant appeared to have sparkling tears running down her face, with a horrified expression, eyes pitch black with only a bright flicker resembling a pupil.
Daly didn't waste any time and started posing questions.
"What happened here?"
The dead spirit didn't seem to mind that a human had evoked it, as it answered instantly.
"I was woken up by what I thought was an earthquake, then ran around looking for safety. I closed my eyes shut, grabbing my head in fright, then, in that darkness, I saw countless eyes. I was scared shitless!"
The spirit exclaimed then continued.
"I got even more scared and ran down the main hall, and I witnessed many servants having their heads ripped off their shoulders violently. I wanted to scream but then felt huge pressure on my neck. Then everything went black."
Daly contemplated the answer and asked one last question.
"Any idea what might've caused this?"
The dead spirit answered briefly. "None."
Daly swayed her hand and the spirit disappeared faster than it had come.
She turned to Evelyn and asked.
"What about you? Anything strange before this?"
Amanises shook her head while answering.
"Aside from what I told you, no."
Daly opened her mouth, intending to ask something else, before being interrupted by a sharp sound.
It was akin to a ceramic shattering after a high fall. The sound was heard from the second floor, opposite of the bedroom.
Amanises' eyes widened. That was coming from her mother's room!
"Mom!!" She didn't spare a glance at Daly, dashing towards the stairs in a heartbeat.
But Daly exclaimed loudly.
"Don't run ahead! There might be danger!"
But Amanises didn't hear anything. She was already on the second floor, looking at the open door of her mother's chamber.
There was blood trailing on the wall, and more sounds of shattering could be heard.
Instead of charging inside the room like an idiot, Amanises walked cautiously. Snippets of the room's contents could be seen glowing in the crimson moonlight. Broken wooden chairs, flipped tables, shattered mirrors and all sorts of pottery collected destroyed.
Walls painted in blood, floors covered in spilled guts and a huge monstrous silhouette could be seen.
Daly caught up to her and frowned in disgust. If she weren't so accustomed to the decaying smell of corpses, she might've thrown up right here.
The monster was above 3 meters tall, towering over the fancy, now broken, furniture. It had bulbous structures all over its body, deformed limbs and an unsightly head.
It was similar to huge zombies that are fought against in games like The Last of Us or Resident Evil.
Ugh! Now's not the time! She was stuck in place, not knowing what to do.
Daly Simone, fortunately did. It seemed like she was already accustomed to such abnormal situations, like a seasoned supernaturalist.
She extended her hand and a small, glowing green spirit appeared at the end of it.
The spirit blob only had one mouth. She inserted her hand in said mouth and took a strange object.
It was a crystal globe, one could see swirling red liquid inside it. It looked fragile, but it was sturdier than even metal.
Daly held the globe in her hand, her skin becoming fairer, and extended the other one towards the, now charging, abomination.
The shadows stirred at its feet, as they materialized into black chains. They held the monster in place, fixing it.
Not being able to move, the horrifying creature let out a loud roar. Acidic saliva splashed from its huge mouth.
Amanises raised her hands to shield herself from it, as Daly retreated her hand and flexed it.
Her fingers turned black, and her silver-blue nails turned into black claws.
While the monster was binded, she charged at it, not sparing a second thought.
The black claw slashed at its skin, penetrating it like paper. Blood gushed from the wound splattering all over the floor and Daly's robe.
But she never stopped slashing.
Slash! Slash!
More and more blood pooled at her feet, but the huge monster didn't seem to falter.
It continued to roar and writhe, straining against the chains.
Daly jumped up its huge arm, aiming the black claw at its head. But she couldn't reach it.
The creature already broke free of half of its confines, allowing his other hand free movement. It swatted Daly away like an insignificant fly.
Daly took the hit head on. But she shook off the dizziness accompanied by it quickly. She didn't relent.
She staggered back and charged, again and again, looking for an opening.
Far away, still in the hallway.
Amanises could only watch the gruesome but awe inspiring spectacle.
She watched Daly with wide eyes, but also the terrifying monster at the same time.
Her sharp eyes could see how the more injured hand's movement slowed.
One more slash in the right place and it could turn immobile.
But Daly didn't have the space to perform it, for she was still overwhelmed by the targeting hand.
The spirit medium started heaving, these types of gymnastics weren't meant for someone of her caliber to be practiced repeatedly.
Amanises noticed that.
She threw a glance at the ground around her and picked up a sharp and long shard of glass, akin to a small dagger. Her palm was bleeding, cut from the shard.
The focused her attention on the moving hand of the monster, waiting for the perfect opportunity. It continued to sway and sway until—
Now!
She gained momentum and threw the glass blade as hard as she could!
There wasn't much to hope for. Her aim was far below average and poor arm strength held her back.
But, as if by a miracle, or a stroke of luck, the improvised dagger pierced straight through the tendon, cutting the connective tissue and severing it completely!
The monster was left without an arm!
The slight moment left the monster stunned for a second, just enough for Daly to dash across its massive body and slash at the head.
One slash. Two slashes.
Three...Four.
Four slashes from the demonic claw was all it took for the monster to fall still.
The limp body spasmed as it hit the floor with a dull thud, then it lost all of its last bits of life.
Daly Simone, covered in viscous blood from head to toe, got up and stretched her back.
"Man, I'm going to need a good massage after this."
The casualty behind those words left Amanises stunned.
"Good work by the way." The spirit medium praised her in the same voice as before.
"Haaahh" Amanises finally let out the breath she has been holding onto for so long.
It's finally over. This is far too much stress in the span of 3 minutes.
The battle didn't even last a whole minute, yet the adrenaline made it feel like a lifetime.
She approached the room in slow strides. Her injuries were now making themselves known to her since the adrenaline wore off.
Daly glanced around, taking in the terrible sight.
Sigh—
But she couldn't even finish her breath when her eye noticed another body lying nearby. It was breathing, albeit weakly.
"Uhh. That's—" She couldn't finish the statement.
"Mother!" Evelyn dashed inside, seeing her mother's weak and injured body.
"Mom! Mom! Wake up!" She shouted in panic. Her mother wouldn't move.
"Mom! I'm here! Please! Wake up, please!"
She sat down on the ground, taking Victoria in a tight embrace, placing her ear next to her heart.
Thump! Thump! Thump—thump...
With it came deathly still silence.
Her vision blurred. Tears ran down her face, leaving wet marks.
She was dead.