Hive Of the Dead

Fire in the Hole

**Chapter 3: Fire in the Hole**

It crawled out and moved across the room as though we were not there.

"Derick do something,"

Aunt Vera commanded as I stared at it speechlessly, scared of what I saw.

"Derick!"

she yelled again, this time pushing me towards this big and weird-looking creature.

"Please!"

I cried out scared as her push on me increased.

I fell on the ground just by its side. I closed my eyes covering my head with my hands in fear. The snake whom I was scared of did not seem to care. It just hissed and crawled past.

"You good for nothing piece of shit!"

Aunt Vera yelled and kicked my head in anger. I just remained where I was, still shaking.

"Get up!"

she commanded, and I did slowly.

"You better be ready for it when next it comes. This food is going to be tasteless and unsatisfying, and I know your good for nothing mother did not teach you anything kitchen related. So we are both going out to get some ingredients,"

she said and threw mom's bag at me.

"Let's go!"

she added, as she struggled to stand up.

"What really happened to your leg?"

I asked as she sat back down after struggling multiple times.

"Isn't it obvious you nimrod?"

she said pissed.

"Come help me get up!"

she commanded. I said nothing and walked closer to support her up.

I supported her till we got to the ladder.

"How do we get up?"

I said looking up and then looked at her. She just looked up and hissed.

"It seems you have to go on your own,"

she said and laid on the bed staring at the sky from where she laid.

"Get me some..."

she said and paused.

"Never mind,"

she added in disappointment as she struggled to get up once again.

"Do not just stand there!"

she shouted at me.

I helped her walk back to where she was preparing the fish, as she mercilessly put more than half of her body weight on me, which made supporting her a lot more difficult.

"I better not fall!"

she yelled as I continued struggling to carry her.

The more I did, the more hungry I became. If only she could use something else to support herself I would not have been going through all of this, I thought until we finally arrived at the place she had set up for the preparation of the fish. That was when she took her weight off me. I looked at the fish and looked back at her.

"I'll be right back,"

I said and then ran up the ladder, strapping a knife to my leg with a really short rope, and climbed to the surface. I peeped around for any old people or monsters. On seeing none I went out, in search of a wooden rod, but all I found were little sticks, and even the ones long enough always ended up too thin.

I finally found a rod. I picked it up excited, knowing that I would not be used as Aunt Vera's walk stick anymore.

"Ahh!"

I screamed and dropped it, on seeing blood on it.

"Isn't that mom's necklace?"

I said to myself as I saw something reflecting the sun's ray.

"It is!"

I exclaimed and looked back at the rod. Could this be where she fought those monsters? I thought as I looked around. It has to be, because I was not so far from the hole, and so was mom on that night. I ignored the blood, picked up the stick, and ran back to the hole.

On getting close, I smelled something quite aromatic and inviting. It seems Aunt Vera is really good at cooking. I hurriedly rushed down the ladder with the rod and the necklace in my hand.

"Where have you been?"

Aunt Vera asked.

"I went to get you this!"

I said smiling and handing her the rod. I fell straight to the ground with the rod and necklace after receiving a resounding slap from Aunt Vera.

"You think you can just run out of the house without my permission? What if I needed something?"

she said at the top of her voice as I held my cheek in pain.

"Your food is there,"

she said pointing at where she prepared the meal. I stood up and rushed to it ignoring everything she had said and done.

On getting there I saw just two heads of fishes.

"Is this it?"

I said really pissed.

"What did you say?"

Aunt Vera asked.

"Is this it?"

I asked again not caring what she was going to do because I was pissed. After all the work, this.

"That's all you get for being a prodigal and mannerless brat, and you would get nothing if I hear another word from you!"

she said.

I ate the heads of fishes. It was tasty but just too little. I was still really hungry. I watched Aunt Vera as she slowly dozed off on the chair she sat on. It was almost dark, and I needed to eat something. I saw some fruits on a tree on my way back, but I do not know if they are edible and the tree is kinda high. I do not know if I can climb that high, but what gives, if I do not I will die anyways.

I waited a little while, and after I was certain that Aunt Vera had really slept off, I snuck out of the hole and located the tree I saw on my way back.

I looked around as I struggled to climb to the top. I held the body of the tree but could not seem to get a grip on it.

"What do I do now?"

I asked myself as I looked around. I saw lizards as they climbed up the trees around effortlessly, and then began to wish I had claws. I looked at my short nails and back at the tree.

"Impossible!"

I exclaimed.

"Knife!"

I shouted realizing I had one. I then brought out the knife I had earlier strapped to my leg. I stabbed the tree and as expected it gave me a decent grip on it.

"I have just one. How am I supposed to move with just one?"

I tried to reach for a branch.

"Ahh!"

I yelled feeling pains on the shoulder the monsters bit. I held onto it as I laid on the floor looking at the tree.

My tummy rumbled some more, and I held on to it.

"I have to do this!"

I said to myself as I walked back to the tree with my knife. I stabbed hard, grabbed a decent but slippery part, quickly removed the knife in an attempt to stab a higher part of the tree, but was not fast enough.

"Shit!"

I exclaimed as I fell back to the ground.

"Grhhhhhh!!"

I heard the growl of one of these monsters from around. I sat up immediately, trying to observe the area. I was not certain where it was coming from, so I could not just run back to the hole. The only safe way now is up.

"Rrughhhhh!!"

The sound continued as it became louder.

"I have to do this!"

I said as I looked at the tree.

This time around, I ran, jumped and stabbed it. I was closer to a branch this time. With the pain and all, I reached out for it. It still was a bit too far.

"Just a little more,"

I said as I continued stretching. The knife was already slipping out of the tree, and I was not getting the branch.

"Grrhhhh,"

I heard it louder almost below me even. The knife slowly slipped out of the tree, and I fell once again.

I stood up immediately.

"Grrhhhhhhh!!"

"Ahhhhh!"

I heard the growl multiply, and from the bushes they came, two ugly monsters. They must have heard me fall. I quickly ran again, this time I jumped harder and reached higher, stabbing well and holding on. I reached for the branch, far but within my reach. I held on to it ignoring the pain I felt on my shoulder.

From that branch, I reached for another, and so on, till I got to a decent height in the tree. I looked down and watched as these monsters looked around the tree for me. They seemed to be stuck on ground view, for they could not tilt it up (look up).

"Phew, that was close,"

I exclaimed as quietly as possible. How do I get down now, I thought.

By my side was the fruit which I had done all this for. Without a second thought I plucked and began to eat. It was really good, so soft and sweet, but had something like a rock in it. I finished eating the parts I could and then threw the rocky like part down, and from the moment I left it, it dawned on me that the monsters were below me. I watched as it landed on one of their heads. The moron did not seem to notice it even.

I began to study them. I watched them move and interact with one another. I watched closely, how they moved and reacted to sounds in the forest. My tummy rumbled again and I searched the tree for another fruit. I found some more near a fatter branch, one which was way more comfortable to sit, and lay on even.

I ate and ate till I was full. I looked down and the monsters were still there. According to mom, it seems they can smell me. How am I supposed to go home now? Aunt Vera is going to kill me. From the looks of things I can actually outrun these guys, that is if I do not fall, but I do not want to take any chances. It is better I live and get slapped than these guys eating me up till I die.

I held up my mom's necklace.

"I love you mom. I am going to get older, stronger and would one day avenge you and dad. I promise,"

I said softly, kissed it and laid on the tree as I watched the monsters move from the height I was on the tree until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning and they were no longer there. I quickly rushed down, still climbing carefully so I do not fall. I then ran to the hole, climbing down slowly so I do not wake Aunt Vera up if she was still sleeping. But as I climbed down, I heard Aunt Vera scream.

"Derick!!"

she yelled. It seems the snake is back. I quickly brought up my knife, and rushed down.

On getting down I saw these monsters, but how did they get here? Two just like the ones I saw the other time.

"Stay away from me,"

Aunt Vera said as she drove them away with the wooden rod I brought for her.

"Where is this brat now!"

she said as she continued hitting them. I watched confused, scared to my feet. To be honest I felt like running away. Besides I can survive on my own. Aunt Vera is not doing any good for me. She makes matters worse even, I thought as I turned back about to run out unnoticed. But what would mom do?

I ran towards one, holding the knife firmly with both hands. I jumped and stabbed its head. The knife penetrated its head easily, and it began to swing its head, growling obviously in pain. I refused to let go of the knife and eventually we both came off, I and the knife, straight to the ground.

This nasty creature began to hold his head as it knelt down still growling. The other turned to me and began to approach. The knife was far beyond my reach. It was just me and this disgusting goon. I stood up and began to run around in the hole, simultaneously looking for my knife. It continued chasing me around. I picked up my knife and stood still as I looked at this ugly thing in the eyes as it approached.

I immediately charged in with my knife. Its hit sent me flying. I hit the wall and fell on the ground dizzy. The hit destabilized my vision, and there I was thinking Aunt Vera's slaps were fused with evil. It was all blurry from where I was. Faintly I could see it come closer.

"Aunt Vera,"

I said faintly as it came closer to me.

To be continued.....