Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece

Kyle’s vision swam. The edges blurring like ink in water.

His leg burned as if molten metal had been poured into the wounds.

Four deep gashes torn by the Vorthal’s claws.

Blood soaked through his pants, warm and sticky.

Trickling down his calf in slow tickling trails before pooling inside his boot.

Every slight movement made the leather squelch.

The creature loomed before him.

Its one remaining eye locked onto him with terrifying intensity.

The pupil was a thin black slit like a snake’s.

Surrounded by a sickly yellow iris that seemed to glow in the dim forest light.

Veins of black corruption spread from its eye. Creeping across its stretched pale skin like cracks in dried mud.