As I was exploring the dark recesses of a Soviet era structure I heard a feminine voice whisper in my ear, “Beware, Yehoshu’a, for here is where the shadows crawl and the monsters gnaw.” Her voice inspired caution, but it was also calm. Nothing of her tone I could assume was there to deliberately frighten me or to send me away from where I be. Take heed I did of her concise words of warning as I proceeded through the apartment halls of paperboard walls and flooring. Grey was this dingy and abandoned complex through and through. Nothing of this place was bold or inspiring. Bland was every aspect, and apart from the curious cobwebs and dust laden outlines of footprints telling stories of trespassers of old, this place was boring. There was minimal resistance passing through from one room to another as the doors had no hinges. They were flimsy cutout folds with no locks to secure or handles to hold. I traveled further until I found myself in a stairwell. It wasn’t until then that I had heard anything external. As I observed the opposing vertical pathways before me there did echo from beyond the unknown the groan of a beast; a disembodied growl. I did hesitate to advance and as I reached back towards the path from which I came there was a four legged creature, as featureless as the abyss itself, blocking my way. I shut the frail hatch in this being’s face as it butted against my efforts, and my attempted block of its advance was to no avail. And in this instant I did recognize that behind me were several other figures present, but these ones were of a familiar origin. They were the canines of my waking life; ones I’ve known and have sworn upon them protective oaths. I could not allow for an encounter between this fearsome phantom and my pets of home. Overpowering me briefly the intruder came on through and clasped my hand by the thumb in the serrated grip of its jaw. The force of its bite was strong, but no pain did resonate from my fingers as it would appear my captured appendage was numb. Shock I was in not, and fully focused was I on getting my hand withdrawn. Pulling my arm that had been seized upon back from the specters maw, I clutched it by the neck using my free hand, and to crush its spine was my own ferocious intention. Finally before I could sever this creatures spine in two did it relinquish my punctured thumb and knuckles. It was apparent to me and this black figure as well I had been victorious in this struggle and to submit under my will did it have no other option. Walking this shadowy hound out through a pair of doors did we both exit from this dreary dominion of aggressive apparitions and familiar premonitions into a less foreboding landscape. A primarily open field encapsulated by trees was dotted with parents playing and exercising with their children upon a jungle gym, in the grass, and migrating across the paved path which cut this land in two; the side nearest me and the one further off with the gentle folk aloft. Curious if anyone present knew of this devil dog’s origin I stopped a man who crossed before me and asked, “Kind sir, do you recognize this bizarre beast? Might you know from where it spawned, what aught it be called, or to whom this being does belong?” The stranger shook his head dismissing my inquisitions and carried on in his own direction, leaving me perplexed and now painfully compromised. This animated abnormality with an unpredictable temperament and the capacity to ravage and an unknowable countenance was under my restraint alone. I dared not let this beast free in proximity to these oblivious bystanders and their blissful offspring. Until I come to discover the origin of this abyssal anima and can either make it tame or return it to whom from which it came this entity is now my familiar, and the effects of however it comes to manifest are my burdens.

13 May 2019