Insanity: My Immortal Enemy

"Oh god... I'm a murderer..."

I muttered to myself, sobbing softly into my hands.

But I knew that they would find out what I did. I understood that they would find me, catch me, and kill me in the most painful way. But maybe, what I just did gave me one of the best opportunities of my life. You see, even though I just committed the ultimate crime, perhaps I just did one of the most insane things in history, but I might've just done the most important thing ever.

Because I murdered an innocent, I just saved thousands in the long run.

Butterfly effect.

A butterfly in Maine flaps its wings. A hurricane strikes China.

But in this case.

A young boy murders a small sentient pony. A being of darkness chases an impossibly lucky young boy to its own death.

It's funny that way. History is impossible, and explanation is difficult.

I forced my tears to stop, I needed to get away, I needed to run.

So I did, I ran, stepping over roots and random debris from the trees that surrounded me. I jumped over holes, I dodged around trees, and I leaped over fallen trees. Even though I had sprinted at least a mile away from my position, I continued my long run, until I could no longer run. I fell over into the dirt, gazing up into the leaves of the darkened trees. The canopy was foreboding, barely any light seeping beyond the thick branches and numerous leaves.

I breathed heavily, taking in my surroundings. I realized that this wouldn't be appropriate for a fire, as the smoke would become trapped and cause me to choke on the strong and toxic fumes.

So, I pulled myself to my aching feet, and ventured forth to find a clearing. As I slowly strolled my way through the thick underbrush of the forest, I found myself blinded by light. I must have traveled only a few yards, which is to say that the clearing wasn't far from where I was recently.

I looked up in the clearing, seeing that the sun was in the middle of the sky, and it wasn't even up when I was at the field. I figured that I just lost track of time.

I disregarded this, and began preparing the area to make a small campfire. In the chilly night, this would keep the pesky mosquitoes away, as well as warming myself. Even then, it could possibly get me spotted. I had only one choice, to make the fire here. If I tried to do it outside of the clearing, I would surely suffocate from the smoke.

I had worked for some hours gathering fire wood, and remembering how to start a fire. If I remembered correctly, which I did, you simply rubbed two sticks together. As I did this, I remembered science class. Friction is key.

Waiting. That was my only thought. I waited, and waited, and waited. And then, I realized that it was night. So, I quickly rubbed the sticks together, creating the flame. I began tending to the fire, poking it with a stick. I started putting some wood onto the burning inferno, as I moved the flame around the makeshift fire.

As soon as I finished making the fire, I felt tired. I was fatigued from my venture into these woods, and emotionally taxed. But, as I began to lay down, I heard a noise.

It was a scream.

"GO GO! You've got to find out what that was!"

My brain yelled at me, forcing me to use what little energy I had left to find where that scream came from.

I ran, as fast as possible. I could feel my every muscle burning, agony spread across my body like wildfire. I sweated from my brow, even in the chilled night. My leg muscles rapidly moved, and my feet with them. I knew what I was doing, and my brain screamed at me to not do it. If I did reach the scene, I would imagine that insanity would grip me, forcing me to kill whoever made the sound.

But, I still sprinted toward the place where I would find the makers of the sound. And I would also find the most terrifying animal I had ever saw, at the time.

I reached the cliff, seeing a large lion creature. It had a scorpion tail, bat wings, and the body of a lion. Manticore. Greek mythology. It was even more horrifying in person. The beast had three small equines backed up against the edge of the cliff.

One of them was white, with a pink mane and tail. It had green eyes.

Another had yellow fur, red mane, and yellow eyes.

The final one was orange, a purple mane, and purple eyes.

As I analyzed the situation, the Manticore sniffed the air, turning to look at me.

It had just sensed a tastier meal, and a meal with much more meat.

I knew that look in its eyes. It was only a glint, but I realized what that look was. It was the look of a predator who had found satisfying prey.

I closed my eyes, panicking, and waited for a blow that never came.

I opened my eyes, seeing that I was not only alive, but lying safely on the grass. A dead Manticore lie only feet away from me. A bloody knife was in my hand, but there were no small equines, thankfully.

I rose to my feet, not feeling any emotion for that horrible creature.

I looked over the cliff, gazing down at the spiky rocks and jagged edges below. I hoped no one had ever met their doom by falling down there.

I walked back to my campsite, reaching it at sunrise. I had run a long way to the cliff, but not long enough for the sun to have come up. It was obvious that I passed out on the grass many hours ago.

I sat down in front of the dying flames, contemplating my next move.