After the annoying meeting with the pretentious ghost, I navigated the treacherous land before me. An ethereal laugh flickered into my conscious senses. At first, I thought it lost interest in me, but then I soon learned the entity openly mocked me every step of the way. Resentment sank to the pit of my stomach, and helplessness lodged in my tired heart. I didn't miss the irony of my dire situation.

I walked for a while, sensing the presence lurking close to me for that entire time. A constant chill traveled from my neck and ran to my head. The strange sensation inundated my perception, perplexing me about what to make of the circumstance. The harassing creature wanted something from me, and I didn't appreciate being the center of its attention.

"I get it now. You want me to agree to your proposal and join you. I understand you desire me to ditch my body. But why?" Although I admitted that the ghost's annoyance became a problem in getting a response. "I realize you're pissed at me. But if you don't answer me, I'll exorcise you and send you to the pits of hell." I pump my fit into the air as I shout the last part like an idiot. "Shit! I'm in hell. That's a given. Fuck!"

I dragged my feet when reality sank in. My smartass self had to pick up the pace and cover more ground toward safety. The irony of my blurted-out statement hit me hard, but I didn't care. I was so fucking done and tired from my day's journey. I wanted a bit of amusement, that's all. So, laughing at my predicament was preferable to the alternative—brooding. I would rather face my predicaments with a stupid smile gracing my lips.

"Any place other place is better than this shithole. I got to keep moving and survive."

Instantly, the heaviness of oppression weighed me down, spreading from my head to my limbs. The exasperating entity started breathing down my neck like a vampire attempting to suck on my soul. Some understanding punched me in the stomach of its goals.

"You're trying to entice me to crossover wherever you live. Your reaction tells me everything. But I got news for you: it ain't going to happen. I'm finding my family and getting the heck out of here." The howl that ripped from my chest contained primal determination. "If you want me, you'll have to rip me from this world." I issued a rather unwise challenge to a creature I knew nothing about.

The surrounding air shifted, and my skin pricked with fear. A drop of sweat trickled from my forehead to my eye, clouding my vision. Pressure settled in my head, giving me a massive headache. The entity seemed eager to make its move, but it didn't. It waited instead. 

I realized I tempted my luck and gone far with my jackassery, but I couldn't help it. My whiplash tongue became compelled to be its master and spill some impudence on an unknown force.

"I can't remember much, but I must admit these boobs are sexy, and my ass..." I slap my backside to create more emphasis. "Is superfine." 

My current idiotic temperament chose weak-ass backtalk rather than talk some reason to my unwelcomed guest. I flipped it off, continuing my journey as I thrust my hip toward my spectral annoyance. But truthfully, I belittled my already terrified self by trying to muster up some feeble attempt at bravery.

I'm scared shitless! The thought crossed my mind. The pressure in my head continued as the entity tried to squeeze a reaction out of me. I pissed it off by not getting hooked on its stupid bait, and now I was paying the consequences.

"I couldn't care less about a stranger's feelings, whether they're a living person or supernatural." With determination, I asserted myself and put extra energy into my stride. "I'm not an idiot." Looking around, I searched for my uninvited companion. "Think again if you think I'll listen because you're nice to me. Not joining your dead-dead friends." I mumbled, and this time, the apparition seemed to back off. 

For the rest of the late afternoon, I trekked through a path of blackened debris and unstable terrain. Farther, the sweet taste of safety became a nectar to my tired soul. "Almost there!" My parched mouth was like swallowing sandpaper. Each rubbing of my lips brought pain as they cracked. The coppery tang of blood followed the stinging sensation of dry skin splitting.

I continued with my journey as a hot haze wafted around. Soon after, the landscape turned into an incongruent jumble of life and death. The littering of massive boulders and dead trees' skeletal remains showcased the place's desire to survive.

Nature sought to breathe life into this unforgiving place but had been unsuccessful thus far. I can't blame them for their current state. The poor wannabe forest must endure a relentless, constant blast of scorching hot air daily. I wobbled to one tree and examined it. It looked petrified, hardened by years of abuse and lack of moisture.

"Will this be my fate? Will I turn into a desiccated tree?!" A chilling thought crossed my mind. "Is my downfall near?" I wondered as images of my body giving up flooded my thoughts. Fear settled all around my body, making my fingers tingle a bit. 

As desperation fixed in my mind, my eyes darted around, and my breathing quickened. The lifelessness of the wasteland hovered before me, a reminder that I needed to reach my destination.

Now!

A renewed pep in my step encouraged me to move faster. The sunset dipped low on the horizon, announcing that evening was almost upon me. I trudged forward, my body aching with exhaustion. I couldn't afford to be out in the open. The hair on the back of my head stood as the air behind me stirred.

The dark cloud of the ghost loomed behind me, savoring my demise.

"I need refuge, or I'll die." I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart thumping in my chest, sending a loud ring to my ears. In the distance, a dilapidated structure made itself visible. "I'm very close." 

My voice trembled, barely audible, as weakness consumed me. The plump tear streaked down my face. I started running as the oppressive weight of doom lifted off my back.

As I got closer, I realized the place was worse than I thought. But at least it gave me a place to hide, out of view, for the night. Suddenly, my intestines decided releasing their loud growl would be a good idea. My hunger took possession of my unhinged mind, and I sprinted toward my destination with renewed determination.

Until.

I listened to steps coming, halting my sprint. I fall on my ass as I look around for the source of the sound. Just right behind the shelter, I detected two creatures. I scrambled as fast as I managed and hid behind a nearby boulder. 

And waited.

I remained hidden, and my heart throbbed as I followed the demons' moves. "I'm in luck. They didn't see me," I whispered as I took a calming inhale.

One of them caught my attention. The man carrying a wooden box was tall, with obsidian skin and light markings that glowed now and then. His eyes bore an unusual, vivid green that radiated a soft, glowing light. Short and spiky, jet-black hair topped his head, with occasional flecks of green that matched his eyes. The males' clothes stood out with their vivid brown and orange colors. Although hard to appreciate, intricate embroidered patterns ran on the outward seams of his pants.

As for the other male, the demon appeared in charge and uttered a few guttural sounds as if bossing the other, more refined man. It made me gag the bossy creature with sickly, gray, and oily skin. The sick-looking man wore tattered utilitarian clothes and had choppy, matted hair. 

Somehow, and beyond comprehension, the oily creature was power-playing and seemed hellbent on irritating the elegant male.

I reached for a solid piece of wood and brought it to my chest. For some odd reason, having something to protect myself with comforted me. Those males were on their way to my destination—the abandoned dwelling. 

Taking a deep breath, I steeled my nerves. Mentally, I prepared myself to defend and eliminate any threats in my way. Then, the males started bickering with each other up a storm.

"Move it! The lord gets upset when things don't go his way. That flash in the sky from yesterday is a bad omen. Something came to these parts to threaten our way of life, to dethrone our mighty, most magnanimous lord." The gray man opened his arms in an ass-kissing response. "Oh, Hail to Lord Vrax! My liege! Our Savior!"

"Oh, for Hades' sake! Why does he think that? I believe he's getting too carried away."

"Carried away?! You don't know what's going on."

"You're right, I don't! I'm more than confident that you don't either, but I suspect you're going to school me either way."

"Of course I will! You stupid demon male lover."

"What did you say?!"

"You heard me!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The sickly demon challenged the taller male. "Male... Lover... Now, let's hide the supplies in these ruins and make camp. My people are coming within the week."

Dropping the crate he was carrying, the obsidian demon assumed a threatening pose and hovered over the weaker-looking male. His beautiful patterns skin now glowing an intense red hue. I watched as the sickly-looking male paled an impossible shape of near-white gray. The bump on his neck bobbed nervously up and down as I swallowed. 

"I suggest you control that inappropriate tongue of yours." The obsidian demon issued his threat with a smooth sing-song tone.

"A-a-and what will you do to me?" 

The interaction shocked me. The weaker male still found the strength to challenge the other one once again.

"I'll beat you to a pulp and throw you in the lava river. By the looks of it, no one will miss you. You're just a disposable little pawn." The patterns on the taller male started changing between red and green as he puffed his chest to make himself bigger. "Ever wonder why they sent it here? Because your life doesn't matter. You came here with no help or no one you can trust. Worse, they sent you here with me. A stranger! Your party abandoned to do something else. Do you think they care if you disappeared?"

Both demons hesitated, allowing me to make my move. They engaged in a staring match, neither budging as they circled each other. I acted fast before they spotted me. Hugging my petrified branch, I scanned the area and sprinted to the next hiding spot, closer to my targets. I repeated this several times until I ran out of places to hide. Lucky for me, I was close to attack. I inhaled and exhaled slowly before leaving the safety behind the boulder into the open, exposing my intentions.

"You don't seem to comprehend, so let me answer that for you. No! To them, you're already dead." 

The demon with the glowing stopped circling the other male and stood facing me head-on. His eyes shifted to mine briefly, planting doubt and hesitation in me.

Shit! I'm fucking screwed. Stopping in my tracks, I tried to come up with a last-minute plan.

"I'm only cooperating because your people outnumbered me while I slept. No one will mourn you if you go missing. Now, pick up the box I just dropped. I'm not your lackey. If you slack, I'll pull you over my knee and spank you." The obsidian man said as he kicked the other man into motion.

Relief washed over me. The weight of fear lifted from my shoulders as it seemed I found an ally. After calming my frayed nerves, I sneaked in to strike with my makeshift weapon. I run the last few steps, swinging my bat back before bringing it forward with all my might.

Thwack!

The branch connected with a loud wet sound as I struck the gray demon in the head.