My first steps were piercing torment, each one a fresh stab of pain. Making it out of the blood ocean was a triumph in every way; even walking felt like a spectacle. However, the reaper still held the reins.

  Death was not far—but I wouldn't let it take me.

  A crimson trail followed behind me, each step adding more blood to the barren ground. The sounds of creaking and cracking bones filled the silence lingering in the air after the massacre.

  It was agonizing—each step a marathon, each breath a stab to the chest.

  Scanning the desolate wasteland, I spotted more of my siblings in the distance. Their bodies varied in size, though most looked like me or were smaller. Clearly, the Leviathan had a preference for whom it devoured. A vision of my bull brother flashed through my mind.

  I chuckled, though not with joy; only pain escaped my throat.

  Slowly, step by step, I walked toward my siblings.

  The land was rough, unfit for bare skin. Aside from my brothers and sister, nothing stood out. The wasteland seemed almost completely flat, broken only by a few jagged mountains and scattered rock formations around the area where I had awakened.

  A sister was the first I approached. She had flawless dark skin—so smooth. It must have felt like silk to the touch. Her face shone with a gloss that befitted divine beings. Her eyes were bright, as if a fire raged behind them. She smiled at me—a large, gorgeous smile, one that could make any man falter. Her dimples lifted her cheeks, highlighting her dark freckles.

  When I saw that smile, I couldn't contain myself any longer. Tears flowed from my eyes, a waterfall of pure emotion—pain, death, and unwanted burden. The taste of salt filled my mouth; my nose ran, and my vision blurred. Sobs broke the silence as my tears fell. My sister's smile vanished, her composure abandoning her at the sight of me. She began to cry as well, the trauma striking us both hard and relentlessly.

  I rubbed my eyes, trying to dry them. My face burned red; my eyes were swollen and puffy, and the salty liquid parched my mouth. I tried to stop crying, but the tears wouldn't stop—they did not obey my will. A laugh escaped me—a real, genuine laugh—simply because I couldn't stop crying. How could that be the reason for my first true laugh? Using the backs of my hands, I wiped my eyes again. After a long while, the tears finally slowed. With one last sniffle, I lifted my head and looked into my sister's blazing eyes.

  They held hope—pure, honest hope.

  Our gazes locked as we both tried to decide who would move first, but I acted before she could. I returned her smile with one of my own—not the biggest smile, but a true one. With it came a shift in mood. The air tensed, and the world seemed to freeze. My breathing grew shallow.

  Hopefully, I hadn't read the situation wrong.

  She stared at me, shock flickering in her eyes. Had I offended her? My smile faltered as she stepped closer. My thoughts spiralled. Her steps were slow and precise, as though she feared startling prey. My legs moved on instinct, backing away. With one large step, my ruined leg buckled, and I fell hard, yelping as fresh blood seeped from my wounds.

  I dragged myself back as quickly as I could, but her pace was more than enough to catch me. She dropped to her knees and extended her arms toward me. My shoulders jerked back; my eyes squeezed shut. I braced for pain—for my life to be torn away, for hands at my throat—

  But nothing came.

  Instead, her arms wrapped around me in an embrace.

  Warmth spread through my body, and my heart began to flutter. What was this feeling? She pulled me closer, her black hair falling across my vision. She smelled of death, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms around her, returning the embrace. Our foreheads touched; her dark lips hovered close to mine. We sat there in silence for what felt like an eternity, wishing the moment would never end.

  "You're so pretty, sister," she whispered, her voice carrying a gentle ring that matched her face and soul.

  "Not compared to you," I replied, offering her my smile again.

  We stayed like that a little longer before she finally pulled away. She placed her hands on the gravel and rose effortlessly to her feet. Looking down at me, she offered that big, beautiful smile once more. Then she extended her glowing hand.

  I reached up and interlocked our fingers. Her touch was smooth, radiating warmth.

  She pulled, and I braced. My arm cracked as she lifted me. My feet dug into the gravel, and my body spasmed from the strain of standing. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Relief washed over me—she hadn't killed me, though everything still hurt.

  My sister studied me with a complicated expression. She brought a hand to her chin, stroking it absently. Her mouth opened, then closed again, as though she were struggling to find the right words.

  "I feel connected to you," I said before she could speak. "We are sisters, right?"

  She stood silently for a moment, considering. Her expression remained blank.

  "Yes… I think we are." She smiled again—then frowned.

  "What can I call you, sister?" she asked.

  What a strange question. Wasn't being called "sister" enough? As I stared into her warm eyes and felt her smooth skin, I realized she wasn't just my sister; she was a unique being, unlike anyone else. Looking around, I saw all my siblings and how each was their own person. We may share the same race, but that does not make us identical. From a young, handsome brother who shared many characteristics with me to a horse-headed sister who could not have been more different, we were all distinct. We were blessed with our bodies and souls, and we should not be defined only as "brother" or "sister." We should be allowed a choice in how we are defined.

  "I'm not sure. I don't know what I want to be called," I finally answered, a hint of uncertainty in my voice. "Sister is fine for now."

  My sister looked disappointed with my answer; clearly, she had wanted something different. But she held her tongue, remaining silent even though she seemed ready to argue. We stared into each other's eyes, the awkwardness eating away at us.

  Around us, the wind gusted along the cliffside, blowing our hair in all directions. My other siblings began chatting among themselves, some breaking down just as I had. My family began to bond over shared trauma.

  The world had shifted from constant risk of death to an unsettling calm. Smiles filled the cliffside, and laughter echoed all around. Brothers and sisters united for the first time; we were all unique, yet no prejudices surfaced. The unnatural joy warmed my heart, easing some of the pain I was experiencing. I smiled once again—we were alive and together.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Lifting my head, I gazed into the black void above. The sky was empty; nothing stirred there. I wondered why the ground was slightly illuminated when nothing in the sky emitted light.

  I bent down, another jolt of pain shooting through me. Placing my hand on the glowing rock, I expected to feel nothing unusual. My palm pressed against the rough gravel, scratching slightly—a faint warmth radiated from the ground. My hand reddened from the heat, and a glow seemed to run up my arm. As I focused, I felt a slight vibration beneath my fingers.

  "Budump… Budump… Budump."

  The shaking was constant. The vibrations were weak—but they were there. It was like the beat of a heart.

  "Sister, come feel this." I waved, signalling for her to approach.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, one eyebrow lifting. I waved again. Finally, she sighed and walked over, placing her hand on the gravel beside mine.

  "Do you feel it?" I asked, looking at her expectantly.

  "Yes, I do… What is it?" she pondered aloud.

  I lowered my head to the ground, pressing my ear to the earth. The warmth soothed my face, drying the tear stains beneath my eyes.

  "Budump… Badump." Three seconds between each beat.

  "Budump… Badump." Now two seconds. Was I losing my mind, or was it getting faster?

  Budump… Badump. One second. The ground shook harder. The tremble was becoming an earthquake.

  "Badump…" Then silence.

  The shaking stopped. The heart stopped beating.

  My sister looked at me, and together we turned our gazes to the sky as a roar tore through the abyss. The wind shifted, the gentle breeze transforming into a whirlwind of rocks and pebbles. The darkness above began to glow red, and to my dismay, thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of silhouettes filled the sky. They varied in size, their features abnormal, many resembling my animal-like siblings but far more grotesque.

  What were those beasts?

  The red light vanished suddenly, and what followed nearly made my ears bleed.

  Red lightning streaked across the sky, and the heavens trembled. Behind me, the ocean rose, waves crashing violently against the rocks below the cliff. Sounds of terror echoed from above. The monsters shrieked, their cries sending shivers down my spine.

  The lighting faded, just to be followed by another bolt that split the sky.

  The repulsive beasts were descending at speeds that rivalled the Leviathan's tentacles.

  I grabbed my sister's arm. "We need to run."

  I stepped forward, but more blood seeped from my leg. The already protruding bone shifted, cutting into flesh. Stumbling, I fell to my knees, a hoarse cry escaping my mouth.

  "Sister, you're hurt!" she yelled, her dark lips trembling. "What should we do? Running isn't an option, not with you like this..."

  My mind raced; I could barely stand, let alone escape the flying beasts. Ideas flashed in my mind, all ending in me and my sister being torn apart, ripped limb from limb, blood sucked dry... The horrid images made me gag; standing still meant death by a hundred monsters, and behind me, an ocean of blood filled with unimaginable horrors that could swallow us whole. The land was barren, with no haven of safety materializing in my vision.

  I screamed. My broken voice quivered. "I don't know; there's nowhere to go!"

  My sister stared at me. Eyes filled with fear, but behind them lay something else. She reached out and scooped my weakened body into her arms.

  She took off, sprinting as fast as she could.

  A crazed roar echoed behind us; my eyes darted toward the dread-inducing sound. The first monster touched down, shattering the ground instantly with its immense weight. It was a grotesque sight to behold. Its skin moved like water on its body, a liquid mesh of blood and tissue. Dark, empty sockets replaced its eyes, melting flesh falling from its face, bulging veins vibrating with each movement. A long, trunk-like nose sniffed at the air.

  Within seconds, the creature turned its head toward the nearest living person. It roared—a low, raspy scream. Broken teeth chattered, and its tongue split in two. The lack of skin revealed rotten bone, black saliva dripping from the holes in its jaw. The monster began to charge.

  The ground shook with each step—a raging mammoth of a beast charging at the nearest soul. A poor brother was its chosen prey. He tried to escape, tried to run, but it was no use. He just wasn't fast enough.

  The monster caught him with ease, knocking him onto the hard surface. It stood over him, staring at him with its empty sockets. My brother cried; tears ran down his face, and sobs echoed from where he lay. The monster didn't move—just stared.

  My brother tried to get up, but his attempt was futile. The instant he moved, the monster pounced, crushing his right arm instantly. The crunch of shattering bone made me cover my mouth. Blood soaked the place where his arm used to be; his shoulder spasmed, trying to coagulate as fast as possible. His screams filled the air—and with them, the monster's cruelty showed.

  It opened its mouth in a disgusting grin.

  It howled in delight, watching as my brother bled out. Saliva dripped from its mouth, landing on his face. Skin sizzled and burned. The already half-dead brother screamed at a pitch I didn't know a person could reach. Black bubbles formed on his face; blisters rose, and his skin boiled. The black saliva dug deep, melting muscle and exposing bone. His eyes popped open as the smell of burnt flesh plauged the air.

  It cut through him without mercy, caving in his skull and finally putting an end to his torment. What remained was a bubbling, tar-covered mass of blood, skin, bone, and brain.

  The monster gargled a noise and moved on to find its next prey.

  My sister huffed and puffed as she ran. The strain of carrying me was taking a toll on her body. She gasped for air but didn't falter. She sprinted in an unknown direction, searching for anything that could protect us from the monsters.

  All around us, the beasts crashed into the ground, announcing their arrival with screeches of terror. My siblings were massacred in every manner imaginable. One, running just a few meters behind us, was swept into the air, only to be pounced on by four of the creatures. They scratched and pulled at her limbs. Her legs snapped, her arms folded in unnatural directions. The sounds of cracking and tearing emanated from her body.

  The monsters pulled until her body gave out. All four limbs popped out of their sockets. Thin skin tore at the seams, and eventually, they were completely severed. Her screams were deafening but soon drowned out as a monster clamped its jaws over her head.

  Its wings flapped as it pulled with tremendous force. Her neck snapped, veins popping as blood spilled into the air, more and more squirting with each violent tug. Her neck elongated and stretched. Sizzling came from inside the beast's jaws, and with one final pull, her head detached from her body. The spine twisted and tore through skin as it was dragged out alongside her skull.

  Others died with more mercy, crushed beneath a descending beast. Wet puddles of blood and guts were left on the ground where they once stood. The monster, after realizing its mistake, seemed almost to pout before becoming distracted by more food nearby.

  I watched in terror, because it was all I could do. Bumping up and down, my head began to spin. My sister ran faster; the sounds of death pumped adrenaline through her body.

  Behind us, the world shook once again as one of the beasts landed, its broken wings kicking up a cloud of dust. It roared, its trunk sniffing in our direction. It stood still for just a moment before moving toward us. This one stood on two legs, running awkwardly. Two razor-sharp claws hung at the end of its abnormally long arms. A crooked smile stretched across its distorted face, black tar dripping from its mouth.

  My breathing was shallow, and the creature's speed was absurd. My sister was running at full speed, yet the monster was still gaining. My mind went blank; we were really going to die here. We survived an ocean of terror only to face these monsters. Maybe we truly weren't meant to survive.

  The beast drew closer, saliva pouring as it hungered to devour us.

  "Sister, drop me."

  She looked down at me, her face contorting in pain. Tears ran down her face.

  "It's the only way." I placed my hand on her smooth cheek, wiping away her tears. "It's okay. I'll be okay."

  I'm lying. I know that. She knows that. But it's all I can do. I'm slowing her down, and I know she can survive if she lets me go.

  "Please don't make me do this," she cried.

  I laughed — a broken laugh. "I'm sorry."

  She looked into my eyes, then at the ground — a small crevice, an entrance that could only fit someone my size or smaller.

  I saw the hole and looked at her in shock.

  "No! Don't do this!" I screamed.

  Her eyes glistened, tears leaking from the corners. And she smiled — her beautiful smile, her white-toothed smile, her dark-lipped smile, her large, dimpled smile.

  Then she looked away and dropped me into the hole.

  Darkness engulfed me. I heard her screams, and the ground above shook as the monster raced over the opening. I fell deeper into the blackness of the cave. My leg snapped as it hit the wall. I struck one ledge after another, scratching at each one, trying to hold on. My fingers bled.

  I needed to get up. I needed to save her. But all I did was fall deeper into the abyss.

  I bashed against the walls, the force sending shockwaves through my body. I screamed as I kept falling. Tears raced down my face as I fought to grab onto something.

  I saw another ledge ahead and tried to avoid landing on my leg, but I only managed to hit the rock headfirst.

  My eyes rolled back. Everything blurred.

  I couldn't feel my body. My movements slowed, then stopped.

  My ears rang.

  And everything went black.