Chapter 6: Marko

“What exactly did you see?” Marko groaned, slowly waking up to Joseph’s and Holly’s heavy breathing. He rubbed his eyes softly as Joan rolled over to observe what was happening.

“We only saw Jason, but what we heard is something much worse,” Holly explain as she plopped on the bed with sweat streaming down her face and neck.

“What do you mean?” Joan croaked as she struggled to completely gain consciousness.

“We heard some kind of monster or beast or something. I don’t know what to call it,” Joseph added. He began scratching his head and pacing back and forth with a painful cringe plastered on his face.

“Joseph, all that pacing you’re doing is freaking me out,” Joan said.

She sat up on the edge of the bed with her squinted eyes fixed on him. She shook her head and blinked her eyes repeatedly, trying to wake herself up. Her eyes locked on Joseph’s as sweat was pouring down his face and she started to grasp the magnitude of the situation.

“I’ve never seen you so afraid before,” she said and stood up to her feet and walked in front of him, stopping his nervous pacing.

The others stared at them as they looked at each other. Joseph’s face showed that he was desperately fighting back a complete breakdown. His lips quivered, his arms and fingers shook violently, and he was barely able to keep himself standing.

“We should go now. We need to go,” he said finnicky.

Joan nodded her head softly as she stared into his panicked eyes. Without another thought, she and Marko put on their shoes and jackets as they prepared to abandon their stay early.

“Do you hear something?” Marko asked as everyone stopped what they were doing.

They listened closely to the noises in the background and heard something chilling. They ceased all motion and stood frozen as the sounds got louder.

There were footsteps – heavy footsteps coming from the first floor. They trudged slowly towards their door accompanied by a deep hiss and soft growl.

“That’s what we heard upstairs,” Holly said nervously as her whole body began to quake, anticipating the approaching threat.

“What do we do?” Joseph asked in a panic as his knees began to buckle and vibrate beneath him.

“Just stay quiet. Don’t say a word. Don’t move a muscle. Let it pass,” Holly commanded, and the group stood in place, obeying her obediently.

Their hearts pounded in their chests like jackhammers drilling into cement. Standing as motionless as a manikin, they made as little noise as they possibly could.

Joseph’s breathing was out of control and he nearly started to hyperventilate as Holly seized his hand and held him tightly. His sweat immediately invaded her hands and dripped down them as they held their ground as firmly as possible.

The beast outside trudged down the hallways towards their door, stepping slowly. Its heavy feet struck the ground with resounding force and a sharp scratching sound as claws seemed to pierce the hardwood floor.

*groooaaarrr* The creature let out a quiet roar, resembling the sound of a mountain lion but much deeper and colder. A burst of chills blasted its way through the four college students, and Joseph shut his eyes, mouthing to himself, “Please don’t find us. Please don’t find us.”

Claws dug into the walls outside and dragged across them as the monster got closer and closer to their door. The sound of rain began to trickle outside as the beast took its last steps and stopped.

It was right outside.

It knew where they were.

Possessed by panic, Joseph continued to mouth to himself, “It knows… it knows… it knows…” His entire body shook like an old car engine with broken mounts. There was nothing anyone could do to keep him composed.

*huuuuu…. haaaaa…* The sound of occluded breathing pierced through the door and radiated through the room. They all knew the monster was stalking them from outside but continued to stand entirely motionless as fear consumed them like a swarm of leeches.

“What… d…do… we… d…do…?” Joan’s words shivered as she spoke. Her eyes shut tightly as she violently shook her head.

“We run,” Marko whispered as softly as he could, but the monster heard him.

The beast pounded and scratched at the locked door, denting it in several places as it tried to force its way inside. Screeching and growling, it clawed relentlessly.

Adrenaline settled in, and nearly everyone lost their composure. Panic was the only thing they felt now as their options dwindled to fight or flight.

“How the hell are we supposed to run with that thing right at the door!?” Joan shouted, quivering with every word she spoke.

“I’ll charge it. I’ll charge the door. Then we run!” Marko responded and the others shook their heads at his insane solution.

“We can’t do that!” Holly retorted, scrambling for a better option.

“Shut up and do as I say! When that door blasts open, everyone runs! Got it!?” Marko took charge in a way he’s never done before. This was truly a testament of their strength as a group.

They all nodded their heads and positioned themselves behind Marko as he faced the door with his hand barely gripping the handle. Sweat engulfed his entire body as he soaked the handle.

The monster continued to thrash and scratch at the door and its long sharp claws began to break through, scaring Marko off the door handle. Courageously, he quickly returned to it.

He closed his eyes and slowly counted, “1… 2… 3…” Without another moment to spare, he unlocked the door and charged it with every pound of force his body could squeeze out.

The door plunged open, knocking the unsuspecting beast behind it several feet backwards. This bought them the time they desperately needed to get a head start.

Marko stumbled slightly and Holly raced out of the door after him, followed by Joan and Joseph. They all ran in front of him as swiftly as they could, desperately rushing to the front door for their escape.

As Marko regained his footing, the beast lunged at him and narrowly missed, it plunged itself into a nearby wall, giving him just a small window to escape from its clutch.

Holly blasted through the front door and sprinted as fast as she could, panting heavily with every desperate step she took.

But, the outside world was its own nightmare.

Blood red rain came crashing down on the ground below, soaking the streets in a deep, dark, cascade of thick and heavy water.

This was the rain they all feared – The Devil’s Rain.