The Awakening

This story had been previously published in my chapbook of horror short-stories titled, The Clock Tower Black (2007, Goblin Press). Since that time, Goblin Press has gone out of business. I decided to post this story here for you all to check it out.


"The Awakening"
Short story by Michael Thomas-Knight
(c) (p) 2007


I awoke to the sound of barking dogs and a stench somewhat akin to bile or vomit. Some moments passed before I could focus and understand my whereabouts amongst the stone pillars and moist earth. The dogs were somewhere off in the distance but edging closer. I struggled to my feet and looked around. Snow flurries danced down from a laden sky and a soft white glaze covered everything.

Judging by the tilted crosses and cracked, eroded monuments, I was in the old St. Agatha’s cemetery, at the edge of town. The grounds, unkempt for many a year, exude a particular foreboding to those who witness it, myself included. The once garden paradise atmosphere, left to fend for itself, ceased to regenerate, leaving in its wake a skeletal array of stick and branch interlaced between the rotting façade of tombstone and statue.

Gathering my mental energy, I tried to recall the events of the night and how I found myself to be standing in this acrid place. I had the faint memory of drinking, tequila to be specific, with my friends, Freddie and Elsa. I recalled leaving the bar with them, but not too much else. I had the notion of a memory; driving home, my vision blurred, headlights of a truck coming at us. No, I could not wholly remember. Where were Freddie and Elsa now? No doubt, this was some kind of prank, real funny, ha, ha, ha! 

From somewhere over my left shoulder the rustle of dried leaves spearheaded my thoughts. I turned to see ghost-like movement in the shadows and heard the low rumble of a growling dog. A Doberman poked its head from the darkness, teeth bared, ears slung back against its canine skull. The sharp white row of needle-like teeth could easily shred human flesh, ripping and slicing like razorblades through butter. A second Doberman rose from the shadow, face snarled and eyes gleaming. It let loose two malevolent yelps within its steady growl. Not inclined to try and reason with the savage animals, I turned to run as the hellhounds gave chase.

I saw the open cemetery gates many yards away. I had little chance to reach the gates and close them, in order to put a barrier between myself and the dogs. I stopped abruptly and turned to the growling beasts, prepared for the brunt of a full force attack. With some luck, I could have gotten a few good kicks to their ribs. Hopefully this would have made them a bit cautious in their intent and enable me to put some distance between us. To my surprise the hunters halted their sprint and quieted themselves. One whimpered, tucking its tail between its legs. The other yelped a heartless protest as both pranced in nervous circles around one another, leaving a myriad of paw prints in the light snow. A moment later they turned tail and darted away into the blackness of night.

Whatever had spooked the dogs conjured the same ill effect within me. A wave of icy tingling coursed through my body like electric terror. I too, turned and ran. I ran like I never thought I could, hoping to out race the malice and never to witness its hideous face.

I felt it at my back, sucking the air away from my lungs. It tried to inch its way into my being like a dirty, dark, forgotten secret that you don’t want to hear, don’t want to know. I ran as it stole my breath, as it grew in my mind to monstrous proportions, a black swirling hurricane poised to engulf me and swallow my soul. The memory tried to wedge its way into my mind once again; driving, the headlights. No, I would not look. I knew I would be safe once I departed these hallowed grounds. The cemetery gates lay only a few yards ahead. I closed the final gap with my last three steps, sprinting full force to free myself from the evil that descended upon my being.

Then, I hit something that instantly stopped my forward motion. It felt like I had hit a brick wall as my body accordion-ed upon itself, yet there was nothing before me, nothing blocking my path. My face slid down this invisible barrier as my body crumpled to the ground. I blacked out completely.

I awoke to the sound of barking dogs and a stench somewhat akin to bile or vomit…