Horror from Another World

I hit the floor in the dark, lying on my side. I stand and pull some trousers up off the ground, the ones I wore yesterday. The siren is still blaring, socks and shoes. Belt, gunfire. I pull on a button-up and start on the buttons when I open the door. The lights out here are blinding. There's no one in the hallway, but I can hear sounds down the way. Footsteps, running, shouting.

I close the door. Fuck. We can't possibly have a containment breach now? Can we?

I put on Dad's watch and grab the pistol. Never shot it before, hopefully I won't need to change that. I open the door with the pistol in-hand when the lights go out. The emergency power lights come on, bathing the hallway in red light. I need to find Claire. I'll be damned if I leave her behind. She's my only friend down here. More than that...

There's a loud bang down the hallway. Metal scraping the floor, and fleshy wet slaps against the tiling. I raise the pistol and back away from the noise. Whatever is over there is coming towards me. The smell in the hall has changed, and I notice a slight haze creeping along the floor.

The door nearest to the corner opens, and I see a terrified maintenance-man, Richards, look out towards the sound. He starts running, but doesn't get far. One of the 939's is loose. It lumbers with terrifying speed towards him, pouncing on his back. He screams and thrashes, trying to push it away, and it screams back at him in his own voice. It brings its toothy maw down to him, sniffing at him. Richards screams and protests have died out, lying on the floor silently.

Fuck! What do I do? I look at the pistol and I hear a sick crunch. It tears him in half. His upper body hits the floor with a loud thwap, eyes staring towards me in shock. His mouth opens and closes silently, murmuring to himself. I could've saved him. Maybe I could've...

A sound down the hall makes the 939 turn towards me. My systems get a horrible shock and I know I can't sit around and grieve. It knows I'm here. I turn on my heel and run for my life. My footfalls echo against the walls as I run towards the elevator to Sector Gamma and get the hell out of Delta. It's behind me. I can hear it sprinting after me. Fuck, fuck fuck! As I turn the corner to the right, a hand grabs my shirt and throws me to the ground.

There's a gun in my face, specifically the barrel. MTF, Nu-7. I can't tell who it is. I put my hands up. Two more MTF units move around him, rifles raised tight against their chest and then leveled forward past him. They immediately fire down the hallway, bursts. A third comes around with a rocket launcher, shouts something and fires, deafening me and filling the entire area with smoke. The MTF agent grabs me and hauls me up, pushing me in the direction of the elevator. He turns around and begins firing through the smoke with his comrades.

I throw myself into the elevator and punch the button for Gamma. The doors close and I have a few moments to think. The siren is faint now, muffled. That might just be my eardrums ruptured. Richards... No. Focus. Claire's going to be working a shift somewhere in Gamma today. She should be. She's got to be there. Or...

The doors open before I have time to doubt myself. There are two MTF soldiers watching the doors as I exit. They are shouting something at me and point in a direction. The entire corridor looks like something straight out of a horror film. There's blood splattered against the walls, some dripping from the ceiling. I don't look at it for too long. Other staff members are being ushered along by a security officer. His faceplate is pushed upright, and he has a gas mask on, too. Another is giving out gas masks ahead of him, down the hallway and through the next door to the security junction. The next hall is absolutely filled to the brim with people shoving and pushing their way forward.

I shuffle about in the line. My ears are ringing. I can barely hear. The security guard is shouting at me, "ID! ID!"

"I left it behind! 939 in Delta! No time!" At least I can hear myself somewhat properly.

He nods in agreement, "No time! Mask! Forward!"

"Have you seen Claire?!"

He shakes his head, and I don't know if he even knows who I'm talking about. Maybe she got out first?

I stuff the pistol into my waistband and take the gas mask from the other security guard. I tighten it around my head. My peripherals are not good in this mask. We are ushered forward towards a metal security gate, bright LED lights shine through the opening. Three more MTF are standing there, weapons at the ready. They're watching us intently as we shuffle through. Hallway to my left is empty, save for the occasional staff member running to meet the crowd. Down the hallway to my right, more MTF... they're burning the offices. There's a leg sticking out of the doorway.

Jesus Christ... It's not Claire. It's not Claire. That's not Claire. It can't be...

"Liam!"

"LUNA!"

The world comes to me in a flash and I bolt upright, sweating. The room spins, blues and yellows colliding in explosions of color, a breeze sweeping past damp skin and matted hair. Two solar guards stand in my room, muzzles hovering above me, a pegasus and a unicorn. They watch with hesitance and uncertainty as my chest rises and falls quickly. That wasn't real. None of that was real. Just a dream, just a memory. But something's wrong.

"Sir?" The beige pegasus says.

"Don't..." I gasp. My heart is pounding. Breathe. I take a few moments to calm myself.

"Should we fetch the doctor?" the pegasus asks, green eyes filled with concern.

"No!" I shout.

"Sir, calm down," the gray unicorn says sternly, blue eyes narrowed.

The adrenaline is still coursing through me.. His eyes are focused, and I notice a slight glow of his horn. That same glow is wrapped around the handle of the sword at his side. The twitch of his nervous foreleg tells me to take it easy.

"I need to see Princess Luna," I rasp.

"You can see her in the morning, Sir."

I let out a raggedy sigh and slump somewhat in the bed. I look over the nightstand for my water and take anxious gulps. It does little to calm the nerves and I rest on my elbows. The two guards relax some as I take a moment for myself, chest heaving. Fuck. I sit up proper and rub my face.

"Okay, sorry," I say tiredly.

Guess I'm not sleeping tonight. Figure I can try at writing that letter-

A wall of blue light bleeds through the walls of the castle, passing over us and beyond the castle. The world shakes, trembles. The walls groan and the floors quiver. Paintings fall from the walls and items topple from the shelves. Both of the guards look around in alarm and watch the world rattle. My blood pumps faster. They draw their weapons, the brown pegasus flexing his wings to reveal sharpened metal tips at the bone.

The pegasus nervously asks, "what was that magic?"

"I don't know," he says to the pegasus and turns to me, "stay here, do not leave under any circumstances."

"No, something's wrong. I'm coming with you."

"Stay here, Sir," he stresses.

The world trembles again and the paint on the walls boils and bubbles, bloody pustules exploding underneath the coat on the wall close to the door. My chest tightens. They vanish after a moment, the paint warped. No. It can't be. It couldn't have followed me... The glaring hole in my memory burns at the edges of my brain, melting my resolve. Doubt floods my heart. I brought it back with me? It followed me?

"Keep away from the walls," I whisper.

The unicorn guard rounds on me, eyes alert. His jaw clenches.

"Did you do this?"

I swallow weakly.

"Maybe, but I didn't mean for it to happen, I need to come with you. You have no idea what you're dealing with."

The guards look between each other in silent debate. The pegasus rolls his shoulders. I don't wait for an answer and throw my sheets off the bed, stepping up from the sweat-soaked fabrics. I begin fixing my shoes on and grab the crucifix from the nightstand.

The unicorn opens his mouth to protest but I quickly make my way to the door. I swing it open and see the hallway in disarray. A lone earth pony stallion wearing a butlers garb looks about the hallway in terror, then runs into a nearby room, long black mane flapping in the air behind him.

Shouts ring out across the castle, chaos and terror. Why? Wasn't one world enough?

The pegasus moves first, flying to the door and out into the hall.

"We need to find Princess Luna," I say gravely.

"We need to rally with the other guards," the unicorn says, ignoring me.

"Listen to me! I don't know how, or why, but Princess Luna is in danger! If you can't help me, point me to someone who can, you dumb bastard!"

He shifts and turns to me in anger, his posture raising aggressively. It doesn't intimidate me, given our height difference. I don't have time to argue with him as another pulse reverberates throughout the world. The hall shifts and turns, tile becoming flesh, chandeliers blending into grotesque sacks of meat hanging from the ceiling. A foul smell of rotting flesh permeates the air, the guards both recoiling in disgust. I swallow back the sickness and blink away the tears.

"I need a weapon!"

"Absolutely not!"

"God damn it, listen to me! There's no fucking time to-"

A groan echoes across the disgusting tunnel of malformed meat. It shakes the bones and heart, multiple voices lay upon each other in a horrifying call. The groan becomes a wail of agony, and we see the creature responsible. We wish we hadn't.

No time.

It looks like a pony at a passing glance, but the coat is gone. The flesh is inside-out, bulging bony protrusions cutting through the flesh. Its hooves are warped and angled awkwardly, a ridge of bones splaying outwardly in painful spires. The head, lopsided, heavy, a mane of tendons and sinew falling over its face. We stare in horror when it shambles, unsteady, uneven placement of the hooves against the fleshy floor beneath it, before looking up at us.

"What in Tartarus..." the pegasus gasps.

The eyes are missing, in their place, mouths with bloody tongues tasting the air like a pair of snakes. Its maw opens and a broken, twisted arm reaches out, a frail and pale limb. In the center of the palm, a reddened, oozing eye. It screeches and charges, hooves splitting apart into a series of spider-like legs.

"What the buck?!"

"Don't let that fucking thing touch you!" I shout.

The unicorn screams in terror and charges a spell while the pegasus brings the bladed wings up defensively. The unicorn fires a spell, some kind of magical bolt, and the creature evades with uncanny speed. The arm retreats within the creatures maw and it gnashes broken teeth when it collides with the pegasus. He uses the blades to swipe at the legs and shouts in surprise as it lunges towards him, sending them both to the ground.

No...

I grab a nearby vase and throw it at the creature. The ceramic shatters uselessly against the fleshy hide of the beast, but I have its attention. It hisses, maw opening and a tendril of flesh shooting out towards me. I gasp and fall to my knees, the appendage breaking through the wall behind me. It hangs there above me, embedded into the wall, the white paint flecking off to reveal a horrible sac of rancid flesh bubbling underneath. The appendage is cut in half as the unicorn brings down his sword upon it, the tendril hanging limply from the wall, red liquid dripping out onto the floor.

The pegasus stabs at the creature while its distracted, his wings dipping in and out of its torso. Blood flies everywhere, dripping onto the guard. It howls in pain and lunges down to bite at him. He keeps it at bay as best he can, but he's getting tired, on his back and pinned by the monster. Not again!

"NOT AGAIN!"

I spring up and rush forward, slamming into it with my shoulder and sending it into the wall. It screeches and the sinew parts again, revealing those horrible mouths. The pegasus scrambles to his hooves as the mouths scream in unison. I kick the table over and grab at one of the legs, breaking it off. I grab at it firmly with both hands, my wounded hand flaring up in anger over the tight grip. It spreads its forelegs wide and prepares to charge us. I grit my teeth and ready my makeshift club. It runs forward recklessly and a fiery bolt of magic strikes the creature in the head. The flesh immolates, as does the gore upon the wall, arteries pumping crimson liquid burning up. The wail it makes sends shivers down my spine. It staggers forward, fire consuming the flesh, intent on killing us in its final moments.

The world shakes and the horror disappears, the creature vanishing, along with the meaty manifestations on the walls. Now we're standing in the hallway, ragged and scared, a curtain nearby alight with flame. The unicorn pulls down the curtain and stomps on it, putting out the flames. I relax somewhat, bringing the club to my chest. My heart's beating a thousand miles a minute. More cries and shouts echo from deeper within the castle, bouncing from wall to wall.

"I brought it back with me..." I say, an icy fear settling over my brain. Another world doomed, all because I survived. The thought brings me to the edge of collapse.

The pegasus looks himself over, the blood gone, the only reminder of the fight being a bite on his shoulder. A bite. My blood runs cold. He paws at it and looks to the spot where the creature once was. I tighten my grip on my club. I failed. Again.

"You're infected," I whisper.

"What? Infected with what?" He's scared. I am, too.

The unicorn turns back to me and pushes me against the wall with his magic. I have no time to react before I'm hoisted up off the ground, a pressure on my chest and shoulders. He seethes, rage splayed across his muzzle.

"What the buck is going on, human?!"

"He's infected," I say gravely, pointing to the pegasus, "he'll become like that unless we kill him first."

"What?! N-no, I-" the pegasus stammers.

"Infected with what?! What are you on about? What sickness is this?"

"There's no time. It takes a few seconds for it to set in," I say, shaking my head slowly, "I'm sorry."

The world shakes again, blisters appearing on the floor and bone jutting out at odd angles through the walls. The groaning and tearing noise makes my knuckles tighten.

"Like that? I'm gonna be like that? Oh Sweet Celestia, no... Steelheart, don't let me-"

Steelheart stands in front of me, sword pressed to my throat. His eyes burn into mine, then he looks back to his companion.

"Shut up! You're not infected!" He shouts over his shoulder, then turns to shout at me, "Sunny's not infected with whatever the buck you're talking about!"

"He's FUCKING INFECTED!" I roar, "NO ONE WAS IMMUNE! NO ONE MADE IT!"

Steelheart looks unsure, glancing back at his fellow guard. The pressure on my throat lightens. I can't tell if the tears are from the lump in my throat, or the pressure on my chest.

"How long until..." Sunny begins to ask, but can't find the resolve to finish the question. His legs shake.

"Not long."

"Don't... I don't want to be one of those things, Steel," Sunny says calmly.

"You won't! This is bucking crazy! Don't you listen to him Sunny!"

"I can't be one of those things, Steel. I'm sorry," he says as he brings his wing blades to his throat. Steelheart drops me from the wall and turns back to his friend. The sword clatters against the floor. He grabs the wings with his magic, struggling against them.

"No! Don't you do it you-"

They struggle. Something's off.

"Wait!"

Tick tock. Red lights bleed into existence on the ceiling above. Some of the flooring becomes that gray, sterile tile that I've walked before. The guards notice the castle changing, deforming in unfamiliar ways. We stand there in silence, save for our labored breathing.

It's still not real. I point to Sunny.

"He should have turned by now."

"W-what?" he stammers.

"He should have turned... but he's..." I turn to look up at the spinning red lights. Security lights.

"I'm not sick?"

"Make up your mind! What's happening?!" Steelheart shouts.

"It's not real," I say calmly, approaching the window. I place my hand on the cold glass and gaze out, then look back to Steelheart. Steelheart rubs his muzzle with his hoof.

"Seemed pretty real to me!" Sunny exclaims.

"No, it's... ponies don't have arms."

"What?"

"The creature had an arm, a human one, sprouting from the mouth, right?"

They nod, unsure of what I'm getting at.

"These... creatures are from my nightmares."

Steelheart gasps and Sunny paws at his bite wound.

"What kind of nightmares do you have?" Steelheart says fearfully.

"Memories." I say, gesturing to the window.

"We're in your nightmare?" Sunny asks, teeth grit at he prods his wound.

"No, it's out here," Steelheart says in realization.

"And it's not just mine," I say, gesturing to the window. I take a deep breath and slump my shoulders.

The two guards approach silently, staring beyond the castle with me. Neither speaks, neither breathes. Steelheart removes his helmet and sets it down on the floor, running a hoof across his golden cropped mane. The cold, cratered landscape stretches on for eternity, Equestria wiped away, exchanged for the rocky surface. The stark white landscape is contrasted with an endless black void, no stars to be seen, with a reddened planet hovering in the distance.

Sunny breaks the silence.

"Sweet Celestia... we're on the moon."

Author's Note

I know where I want the story to go but MAN am I having a tough time sitting down to write it. Hope you all enjoy the chapter, wish it was a bit longer, but I have more on the way!

Have a great morning/day/evening/night, and leave a comment telling me what you think!