[ IP ] The Game Is Not Over

He thought that the last shot of the five in his Magnum had downed the creature. Tobias had taken a hit that he knows cracked ribs and possibly even punctured his lung just based on the blood he was coughing up. Now he ’ s struggling to empty the cylinder and load the last of the bullets into it again. 
 
 The red eyes glimmer in the fog, reflecting off the wet ground in his direction. He shakes, pulling the last few bullets for the hand cannon out of his pocket and shoving them in. He coughs, blood spraying from his mouth and forcing him to drop the final bullet before he can get it in. 
 
 Scrambling for it across the ground, Tobias only gives it a cursory wipe off on his already damp clothing. The water clings to his glasses, making it difficult to see. With shaking hands, he shoves the bullet into place, hoping that he ’ ll be able to make the few shots he has left count. He has three left. 
 
 Another cough spits more blood to mix with the rain on the ground. 
 
 Monstrous tendrils, reeking of rot and death slither across the ground towards him with each step forward the Lovecraftian horror takes towards him. Tobias takes a couple deep breaths to try and steady his aim, holding the gun with both hands towards it. Another cough shakes his aim, making it impossible to aim properly along with the shaking of his limbs. 
 
 It makes a noise that deafens him, bounding forward in one leap as if it ’ s spotted him. Tobias pulls the trigger with a coughing scream dragged from his lungs. He ’ s certain that the gun blows out an eardrum as the sound explodes into his hearing, beating out the shrill shriek of the beast. The gun almost comes free of his hands, the kick of the gun wrenching his shoulder even worse. 
 
 The creature sways for a second. Then lunges toward him, mouths full of mouths of teeth bared at him, ready to devour. Tobias squeezes the trigger a second time, bracing himself against the wall behind him. The appendages slither around his legs, yanking him away from the wall and towards the mouths even as the monster shudders at the second shot. 
 
 Teeth bite deep into his leg, rows and rows of them. Tobias screams in agony, feeling flesh torn off in chunks, straight to the bone. He holds the gun tightly, attempting to gather his wits around him despite the pain lighting up every feeling in his body. Each touch of the tendrils burns his skin. 
 
 Tobias heaves himself up enough to jam the barrel of the Magnum into the middle of the three ‘ eyes ’ on the creature. Before it can knock him away, he pulls the trigger, getting nothing once before pulling a second time. 
 
 The gun jerks his wrist in the wrong direction, Tobias feeling it break with the gun ’ s force placed solely on that arm. The beast falls still, the light fading quickly from the monstrous eyes that still remain. Tobias trembles, pulling himself away, feeling the teeth pull at his skin. Another moan of pain leaves his lips as he pulls himself free of the creature. 
 
 Even though the gun is useless without bullets, he clings to it like a lifeline, dragging himself to his feet and limping away as fast as he can. He fears that this isn ’ t the end of the nightmare. 
 
 *** 
 ^ ( *Find more of my writing at r/Syraphia* )
