Me. The Monstrosity by Dasha Korol

I appeared dripping water

into the streets of the city. Nobody knew what I was or how I got there. My appearance was so uncanny it made people shiver as they behold me. Every step was like a bomb dropping and the loud sound would resonate for hours creating ripples like big waves in the sea with an echo that never ceased to exist. The first few days people fainted, screamed in horror and tried to flee the town but there was no use, they were too frightened and everything went dark.

Amid this blackout the only thing they could see was me - a huge monster with the piercing eyes of a devil, a gaze that would turn you into a salt pile and a hungry gapping mouth that dripped a sulfur-like substance. I walked bended over myself with arms so long that would scrape the floor as I passed by, leaving deep indentations on the streets. As days went by, I ceased to roam around the city and stood on one place making a roaring sound as loud as its steps. My uncanny presence loomed over the people like an impending danger, nobody knew what to do so they fought instead. Some people looted the city, others drank until they were no longer aware of anything. Crime rose as people felt it was their last day on earth. My presence balanced over their heads like a sword ready to fall at any moment. Despair took over their hearts. Every time they started to feel like I was just a statue, I moved deliberately and devoured the ones who tried to escape. I split them in half and toyed with them as predators often do with leftovers. Then I returned to stand still or roam the city making the booming sound that drove so many people to madness. Some people started to wonder if it was a danger at all while others tried to fight it only to end up as a splat of organs on a wall.

Amidst the blazed streets and group of people began to get organized underground. The city had weapons and they would used them against me – a threat, it would be no enemy to their own artillery. They worked days and nights, sent cannons and guns, people and horses to me to be devoured. They digged trenches which were later filled by my saliva burning people alive in the places of their own creation. In their despair they decided to dig out the only thing they thought would destroy me and save them. The remaining voices of reason begged them to stop. Begged them not to use their last resource as it would be the end of all, not just me. They said that if unmolested the creature was not dangerous, if they would only leave it alone. It was uncanny and threatening but they could learn how to live together. "Don't make this worse. Please don't make it worse." The people in charge did not listen. It was a threat, and threats need to be dealt with, they thought. They dropped the bomb first thing in the morning. As the sun was rising and filling the horizon with pale blue shadows and timid sun rays. They watched as it went down right between me - the creature and the old school. They watched as the wall of dust formed, and listened to the deafening explosion that followed. Most of them did not see the huge mushroom of the atomic bomb. They were already dead.

Amidst the havoc, I stood still in the empty space that once was a city. I walked with slow and loud steps into the harbor dripping a blood like substance that mixed with my own sulfur saliva on the ground. I submerged into the sea with the same uncanny eyes and evil gaze until the water covered all of me and disappeared into the ocean.

I knew every person’s step…I was one step ahead.