Chapter 14: Her Secret

Aaliyah Froze against the tree with a light gasp. She dearly hoped her head was just playing tricks with her, but as she looked up at the looming figure of the nightwalker in front of her, she knew this was real.

It was double her height and looked as scary as it should. No, even scarier because she was about to pee on herself. Just like her, the walker remained unmoving, waiting for her to make the first move.

"Hi," She forced out.

Maybe she shouldn't have. Its claw came straight for her head, and her reflexes kicked in making her jump out of the way just as the huge claw hit the tree, splitting it open a bit.

But just as Aaliyah thought she had escaped one attack, its tail came from nowhere and knocked into her. It was incredibly fast that she didn't even know what had happened, and just felt the harsh pain of impact before she was sent flying around the place.

Panic had completely settled in after she landed, cuts and bruises on her arms and legs. Her stomach felt even worse. Aaliyah couldn't move anymore, so she remained there on the floor curled into a ball.

Nightwalkers are known to be Antilife, Capable of sucking out a living being's life essence. Knowing that alone was terrifying. Is this how she was gonna die?

She could feel it approaching her, her heart beating faster and faster till it was over her again, and she could feel the death in her eyes as it stared at her small figure. Overwhelming strength, speed, and death, what else can it do?

What can she do?

She didn't like this at all. But then again, she's never loved anything about her life. It's been all nothing but torture, and this might be the end. Even though she wouldn't want it to end like this.

Wait...what kills a Nightwalker anyway?

Then, she felt something like its tail beginning to wrap around her and then she was lifted off the ground and they began to move. Wherever it was taking her, she did not want to find out.

But now that it wasn't attacking was the best time for her to figure out how to deal with it.

Or...to use her weapons to her advantage.

Remaining stiff, she focused on herself and trusted the process... whatever it may be. If she had a sense of reasoning for the unknown and it's all not hallucinations, then she should be able to tap into whatever was the source.

Deep breaths followed, and everywhere around her grew so silent a drop of a needle could easily be heard.

And the first thing Aaliyah could think about, throwing away all the bad memories, was the two nights she had spent with Alastair. She recalled their awkward conversations and his sudden physical contact...and his touch. His hug. His breath...his hair.

His voice.

His eyes.

The second thing her mind wandered to was a large pool of water. She didn't know why, but the thought of just looking at water helped her relax even more. It was very refreshing and calming.

So calming she forgot she was being carried away.

Till she opened her blue eyes. Aaliyah was no longer as scared as she was, and the thought of being carried by a monster was not so threatening anymore.

With one hand free, she rammed her elbow into its tail and felt as she punctured and cracked its hard skin. The creature shrieked in pain, growled, and threw her away. Surprisingly, Aaliyah was able to capture a branch with both hands to stop herself.

Now, she was hanging on a branch and the ground wasn't so far away.

Her dull senses had been heightened a little, and everything was now a little... better. The Nightwalker appeared next to her with two blinks of an eye, baring open its mouth at her with large canines and a growl straight on her face.

Its breath stunk so badly, and she almost choked as much as she wanted to escape. As she let go of the tree to fall, it caught her midway and squeezed her body in its palms. Its claws began digging into her sides, and she cried out in pain.

It was unbearable.

"Ahhh," she yelped, breathing heavily.

Then, the Nightwalker brought her close to its mouth. At first, she thought it was going to gobble her up with the way its long tongue kept swiping all over its teeth, but it changed its mind before she went into its mouth.

Oh no.

This time, it did keep its mouth open but also kept its tongue too. Its body began vibrating ferociously, and as Aaliyah struggled to pull herself out of its hold, she felt something excruciatingly painful being pulled out of her.

Her...life essence?

As if that wasn't enough, it dug a second claw into her body and she could only wriggle against its hold.

Mustering all the strength she had together with the pain, she powered herself and loosened its grip around her body. Her body slipped to the ground, her eyes covered in tears from the intense pain.

What could possibly kill a Nightwalker? The Branches would not work against its tough skin.

She needed something much more... durable.

And then, it hit her. Something was rolling down her shoulders, and it was all shiny and more durable than anything she's ever touched before.

A secret of hers she's always buried. Burying them, strangely made them disappear.

A secret that forms from her tears.

Pearls.

Each drop of her tear formed a pearl, and that was something about herself she's kept hidden up until now.

This one, she knew, was not a hallucination.

Humans don't cry out Pearls.

In another speed of attack, its leg came down to crush her but she rolled out of the way, leaving a trail of blood from her injured sides that were bleeding profusely. The earth trembled under its feet, and she ached from the wound.

It growled even louder this time, clearly enraged by all her actions so far.

Clutched in her hands were about three Pearls she hoped would do the Job.

A single throw with her swollen and tired eyes and two of the pearls fell into the Nightwalker's mouth right before its large fists came down at her.

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