The Dark Outside

 A shadow curled in the corner, shivering.

Eyes glinted under shaggy, dark hair, a dim light shining off slick teeth as ribs flexed with every panting breath. Pale, bony fingers with black tips brushed at a bobbing throat, dark veins pulsing under translucent skin, and a low, throaty click trembled free, a gurgling rumble echoing through the void. The sound... wasn't human.

Remember....

Memories slipped out of view, sucked down into the cold depths that didn't touch too-hot skin. Shuddered. He shuddered. Yes....

Human... once.

Black spidering lines with a light all their own, a wrong pulse to a foreign heart, wound tighter around his throat, digging claws up to eyes that had once been bright, alive—the colour of lakes and seas. Now they glowed with a sickly yellow tinge, pupils constricting into slits as a spasm shook him, baring teeth at shadows dancing across the ceiling, their hands stretched invitingly.

Happy faces called, mocking.

"Follow...."

Faces with tiny glittering eyes in smooth round heads and long, reaching fingers.

"Come on!"

Crimson tears fell heavily, dripping, dripping; echoing the distant, pleading whispers.

"Where are you going? Why did you leave? Come back...."

They called, and he had to answer, the red light bleeding through invisible cracks brushing cruel claws across burning, shivering skin, forcing a snarl from lips locked painfully tight.

He shook his head, pulling stiff. No....

But the light demanded, digging cruel fingers into shaking bones, laughing.

And a mouth shuddered wide, wide, teeth digging free of black gums with every thudding pulse of inky blood in a twisted body, dark droplets pattering from needle tips.

They called, their voices rising, ringing, howling.

Their cries yanked the monster's head back, and a bloodcurdling sound that had once been beautiful ripped free of its chest—a deafening inhuman scream crashing end over end, unheard by any living being.

No...

Not human... anymore.