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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/ImaCashierReddit on 2023-07-02 15:40:00+00:00.
As I sat in the dimly lit therapist's office, the shadows danced eerily on the walls, and a chill ran down my spine. I took a deep breath, the scent of old books mingling with the faint aroma of lavender. I knew I had to recount the terrifying tale that had plagued my nights, lest it consume me entirely. With trembling hands, I began to share the harrowing details.
"It was a moonless night when I found myself wandering alone amidst the ancient forest. The dense canopy overhead swallowed the feeble light, enveloping me in an oppressive darkness. Every step seemed to echo with an ominous silence, as if the very woods held their breath in anticipation. A shiver ran through me, a premonition of impending doom.
Suddenly, a distant howl pierced through the stillness, cutting through the air like a mournful cry of anguish. It sent chills down my spine, a primal instinct warning me of an unseen danger lurking in the shadows. Panic gripped my heart, urging me to flee, but morbid curiosity kept my feet rooted to the spot.
And then, emerging from the inky blackness, I caught a glimpse of a figure, a grotesque amalgamation of human and beast. It stood on four twisted limbs, its gnarled joints bent in unnatural angles. The moonlight revealed its gaunt form, its flesh a sickly pale, stretched tightly over protruding bones. Its face, a twisted visage of malevolence, bore a twisted grin that sent waves of terror crashing through my very soul.
Without warning, the creature lunged forward, its movements disturbingly fluid and inhuman. I stumbled backward, tripping over gnarled roots as I desperately sought to escape its clutches. Its guttural snarls echoed through the night, chilling me to the core.
I ran, my heart pounding like a thunderous drumbeat in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. But no matter how fast I sprinted, the creature kept its pace effortlessly, its otherworldly agility defying reason. Its eyes, burning with an unholy light, locked onto mine, hypnotizing me with their malevolent gaze.
The forest itself seemed to conspire against me, trees contorting and shifting, forming grotesque shapes that threatened to ensnare me. Branches reached out like skeletal fingers, scratching at my flesh, drawing rivulets of crimson in their wake. Yet, I pressed on, my will to survive propelling me forward, despite the overwhelming dread that clung to my every step.
Time became distorted, the boundaries between reality and nightmare blurring into a terrifying haze. The creature's taunting growls grew louder, its presence an omnipresent force that instilled a primal terror within me. With every passing moment, I felt my sanity unraveling, frayed threads slipping through my trembling grasp.
But then, a flicker of hope ignited within me as I stumbled upon an old, dilapidated cabin hidden within the forest's depths. It stood as a bastion against the encroaching darkness, promising safety from the horrors that pursued me. With a surge of desperate strength, I lunged toward the door, praying for sanctuary within its decaying walls.
As I entered, the stagnant air weighed heavily on my lungs, mingling with the musty scent of abandonment. I hastily bolted the door, seeking solace in the illusion of security. The cabin creaked and groaned, its ancient timbers protesting my intrusion, as if warning me of the sinister truth that lay within.
But my respite was short-lived. In the dim candlelight, I turned, only to find those haunting eyes once again. The creature had followed me, its presence defying logic and reason. Its malevolent grin widened, revealing rows of jagged teeth that glistened with a sickening hunger.
I screamed, a guttural cry torn from the depths of my being, a desperate plea for salvation. But it fell on deaf ears, drowned out by the creature's unholy laughter that echoed through the cabin's desolate halls. It lunged toward me, its claws tearing through the barrier I had futilely hoped would protect me.
Darkness consumed my vision as pain enveloped me. The world around me dissolved into a chaotic whirlwind of terror and despair. And then, mercifully, I awoke, gasping for breath, drenched in cold sweat, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.
But the nightmares persist, lingering like a curse that refuses to be broken. The memory of that four-legged humanoid and its insatiable desire to consume my very soul haunts me still. And now, here I am, seeking solace within the confines of this therapist's office, hoping to find answers or perhaps just a sliver of understanding in the face of unspeakable horror."
As I finished recounting my tale to the therapist, a heavy silence settled upon the room. The air hung thick with the weight of my torment, suffocating us both. The therapist's expression mirrored my own dread, as if they, too, had felt the presence of that abominable creature, lurking in the recesses of our minds. Ready to attack at any given time. Just then, the room seemed to melt. I awoke...