Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-26364137-20160413131202

"One Less Soul" - 666 words (submission to HumboldtLycanthrope's 666 word pasta write off)

“Beware of the soulless one,” Thomas remembered the old man say. The gentleman had been standing by the bridge; the lone viable entrance to the vast forest.

“Have you ever seen something - or someone - approaching from the corner of your eye, only to dissipate the moment you turn to face it? That’s a soulless one, trying to bind itself to our world.”

The mist circled around Thomas and the surrounding trees, making it difficult to coordinate himself in the wild forest, enhancing the sensation of being lost and alone. With the radiance from his flashlight being his solely comfort and the stranger’s fable churning on repeat in the back of his head, he couldn't help but embrace the unnerving atmosphere.

“You see; they only have a short burst of time they are able to wander our realm before they vanish back into the shadows. So you better be ready, ‘cause if they get to you before you notice them; your life is forfeit.”

He had to toughen up - he didn’t have time nor the choice to be scared. His girlfriend Maya had been gone for several hours in these woods, and a crazy person’s fairytale was by no means going to hinder his search.

“A soulless one only come to our world with one task at mind; to acquire it’s own soul. They hunger for it, as they have none. Its only way to complete this task is to feed on human flesh; to devour them whole. The more spirits they get, the more they resemble a human being - one step closer to their final transformation; becoming a person themselves.”

Thomas swallowed. A cold shiver ran through his spine; he swore he could hear someone breathing. He quickly realised that it had been his mind playing him a trick; it was his own breath he had heard, as it in fact had grown heavier without him even noticing.

“After they get their first prey, they are allowed to wander our world freely. They are intelligent, cunning and not the least; very — very — dangerous.”

His searchlight was supposed to scan for Maya, but he had caught himself several times letting the luminous beam wander off, obliviously searching for something else.

“A handful of people have disappeared in these woods lately. It is said that a soulless one manifested right here in this forest not long ago. No one knows how many souls that fiend has consumed and how far it has progressed in its shifting ritual.”

Such a tacky local myth, Thomas thought and guffawed out loud in an attempt to comfort himself, but with very little success.

“I’ve not encountered it yet, but the hellish screams I’ve heard late at night… they’re like taken straight out from a nightmare. My purpose here is to warn people; like I did to your lady friend. It’s not too late, boy; turn around. Her soul... is lost.”

Shut up, you lunati... his train of thoughts got interrupted by the back of Maya’s white hoodie being reflected by his flashlight. She was laying face down on the ground.

“Maya!?” Thomas exclaimed.

“Th… Thomas?” Maya’s voice whimpered. Thomas dove to her side, embracing her in order for them to face each other.

Expecting Maya’s beautiful features, a face, pale as a corpse, had instead taken their place. In contrast to the eyes and nose — which were non-existent; replaced only by dark, hollow sockets and nostrils burrowed directly on the flesh — it wore an immense grin, filled with sharp, crocodile resembling fangs. Its clenched mouth slowly opened, revealing a tongue which looked like a pulsating cluster of living worms woven together.

“Thooo—” its voice started off as Maya’s, but mid sentence it became distorted, cackling and deeper “—maaasss!” the soulless one hissed, mockingly, while a cloud of cold breath emerged from its maw.

Thomas didn’t even have time to let out a scream before the monstrous creature lunged towards him and tore off his face with its teeth. 