Venolf War (please R&R)

[afeefah]

Chapter 1

They’re getting closer. They’re gaining on me, and fast. This is the third and probably the last, if I can’t head them off anytime soon, that these stupid, stupid electric creatures are chasing me. Twice I’ve got rid of them and twice they’ve found me again.


Oh no. Oh please no. Not again, I beg silently.


Bzzzzzt!


“Aaaaaargh!”


Their tails are the worst thing about them. Even worse than their unsheathable claws. The claws are about a foot long and mere contact would break skin. Their tails though, can shoot off and be used as a missile. As soon as it touches something, or, as in my case, someone, it gives them, or it, an electric shock. I should be grateful really, that it doesn’t set me alight or anything and it isn’t strong enough to kill me either. But it hurts. It really hurts.

We’re heading in the same direction as the last time and the time before. Whenever they chase me we always end up here, in this area full of trees and hills. That might sound nice but it isn’t. The trees are old and withered, covered in fungi and moss. There’re no birds, no animals, not even any insects. There’s no sign of life at all.


Normally, I give them the slip here; it’s easy enough with all these trees and hills. But today, I really can’t be bothered. I decide to let them take me where they want. But it seems like they are in no hurry. They want to chase me, I realize. They’re playing with me, like a cat plays with a mouse.


Suddenly, the indignity of being pushed and shoved around by things that are probably just about the same size as my hand, rears up on its hind legs and hits me full in the face. My resolution to let them take me where they want now seems absolutely absurd.


I turn around, snarling, furious at myself for even thinking of surrendering to these irritating little creatures, but at the same time realising there’s no way I can take them all on at once with just my bare hands. I need to give them the slip one last time and seek shelter somewhere else, away from the overpopulated alleyways of London and away from the dingy forests and clearings hidden away out of sight.


Then suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I see smoke coming out of a chimney that’s partially hidden behind a hill.


A house, here, in the middle of all this wasteland? I decide to head towards it. Maybe there’s someone in there who can help me. I speed up, hope giving me the energy I need to reach the house a long time before those annoying little electrocuters.


The house blends in perfectly with its surroundings. The front door is hanging of its hinges and one of the windows is cracked. The whole house looks as if it will collapse on the slightest touch. It looks totally uninhabited. But the smoke I had saw, coming out of the chimney? Maybe it was just been some fog or mist, and because I need help so desperately I imagined it was coming out of the chimney.


My gaze drifts back to the door and to my surprise, there’s someone standing there, looking at me.

[afeefah]

Please tell me what you thought. Chapter 2 coming soon!









Copyright of Afeefah Younas (So no-one steals my work; ive put A LOT of effort into it )

[afeefah]

Chapter 2 people!!!!!!!!!

[afeefah]

Chapter 2


The person is tall with yellowy-golden cat-like eyes. His hair is golden too, but, here and there, there’re black streaks in it.


“Hello?”


I look away and shiver. Not because it’s cold, but because of this person’s voice. It’s cold and commanding. I shiver again. I glance back at the person.


“Well, are you going to introduce y’self or stand there gawping at me until I drop dead?”


I snap to attention. This man isn’t someone whose bad books I want to get into.


Then everything comes rushing back. Why I’m here in the first place and the danger I’m in. I turn around, expecting to see a yellow lightening bolt shaped creature leaping at me. But to my surprise, they aren’t there. I blink. I squint. I rub my eyes. They’ve gone! Just…just like that!


I turn back around to face the person again.


“Creatures…back there?” I indicate with my thumb, pointing behind myself, over my shoulder.


“Come in, come in.”


He leads the way inside and I follow him warily. The house is surprisingly well furnished. There’s an oak table with two chairs, one at each end and a fireplace. The room is quite clean. Strewn on the table are a number of papers. Ashu sweeps them into a pile and places them on a wooden mantelpiece above the fireplace.


I sink into one of the chairs. My head is swimming and I can’t make sense of what’s just happened. I fight the urge to yell or scream, in some way to release the frustration that’s pent-up inside me.


I take a deep breath. Then another. Then another.


The stranger speaks again.


“What is your name?”


“Venolf,” I reply.


“Your second name?”


“War,” I stare at him defiantly, daring him to make a crude comment. He merely raises his eyebrows and looks away.


“My name is Ashuthaka.” His voice rings out and echoes in the silence that follows.


I almost snigger. I mean, come on! What kind of name is that!?


“So, you’ve seen the Ampetrons, have you?”


That wipes the smile off my face. Completely. There can only be one thing he’s talking about.


“They have a name?” I ask curiously.


“It’s what I call them,” Ashuthaka says.


“So you’ve seen them as well. I thought…” I tail off.


“…You were the only one who knew about them?” He’s looking at me with an amused expression on his face.


I scowl at his expression, immediately on the defensive.


“How was I supposed to know?


Ashu changes the subject. “So how did you meet them? I thought that I was the only one knew about them?” He breaks the silence that has begun to stretch out in between us.


I open my mouth to tell him what had happened, but before I have the chance, he speaks again. I’m beginning to get more than a little irritated with him. I’m already worn out and his interrogation of me isn’t helping.


“But I’m forgetting myself! I have a room upstairs if you’d like to stay the night. Tell you what, I’ll show you the room and you can get comfortable while I bring you something to eat. How does that sound?”


“I…I…Thanks!” I say, taken aback by the generous offer.


“No problem. I haven’t had a visitor since, well…” Ashuthaka trails off. His almost white lips pull back in an inhuman snarl, revealing pale pink gums and teeth that seem abnormally sharp.


He regains control of himself and gestures towards the stairs.


I follow him up them and the only noise I can hear is the creaking of the stairs and the steady rhythm of our footsteps.


Ashuthaka steps into a wide corridor and pulls open a door on the right.


“This room is yours,” he says.


My room is spacious and quite cosy. The walls are a toffee-brown and the carpet is cream with curtains to match. In one corner of the room there’s a bed, and beside it there’s a small cabinet. There’s also a fireplace, identical to the one downstairs, but smaller.


I turn to thank him but he’s gone. I didn’t hear him leave. I hadn’t heard him when he had come to the front door the first time I’d seen him either.


All of a sudden, I feel exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open. I stagger over to the bed and kick off my trainers. Getting under the covers, I promptly fall asleep.

[afeefah]

I've just posted a new short story called Death in the dark. please give it a go and give me feedback/criticisms etc!!!