One more turn, and then I'll be right as rain. I can feel the allure of safety in my stomach, and a gut-wrenching fear at the same time of losing it. I run like a possessed goose, panting like a mongrel, almost unaware of the strong wind coming from the opposite direction. Tall, dark, damp buildings stand strong on both sides of the road, ominous unfriendliness oozes out of them. I dared not to venture into one. Some mists are still hanging around, unsure of what to do. I can't see past twenty feet. But that ought to be enough, it has to. Pieces of loose paper are floating in the air, some are forming mini-tornadoes as the wind hits structures by the roads multiple times and can't find any route to escape. Is that going to be my fate as well?
I look back, the monster that has been chasing since time immemorial shot out of one corner, bashed into a wall. Resulting from the collision, a fountain of loose papers started flying in the air—churning rapidly in swift motions. I was captivated by the scene for a few moments. And when the monster started to gather itself again, I forced myself to forward. One step, two steps. My legs are made of stone. Buried under the earth for so many years, they started to think of them to be trees. The monster is gaining on me. I look back in abject terror and uncontrolled fascination!
It's extending its hands to catch me. I can read the papers that are hanging from its extending hand and head. A class evaluation report card from my grade school. The electricity bill of one august that I lost. Extended telephone bill because I forgot to take a copy of discontinuation of service acknowledgment. I look at its knees. Two of my missing mark sheet are there. The papers are all moist with muddy water. They laugh at my shocked face. I gulp down something that was apparently stuck in my throat. I close my eyes and break into a sprint. I finally realized what the monster is and what is its foundation.
The monster is the incarnation of all the paperwork I feared all my life. The hatred I grew within myself for paperwork I've been forced to deal with. I've created the monster subconsciously, gave birth to it in my most vulnerable state and I've fed it with my anger and resentment. Now it has come to life to pay back tenfold—for the torment of paperwork in adult life is too great for it to be docile.
The monster started to laugh. A ball of fire flew past me. It was throwing makeshift cannonballs at me, its teeth all bared, flashing in the dim light. I could see in slow motion the fireball had papers in it. Documents required to renew a passport. Another fireball barely missed that had documents required to open a bank account. I felt a stab inwardly. It only needs to throw documents needed for a visa or government loan—I will be toast!
I could hear the monster cackle as if it's reading my thoughts. Then it started to mold the papers!
I wrote this based on the prompt "Your fear has personified itself into a monster and it's chasing you" given to me by .
Thank you, and I've enjoyed writing this. :)