The Other Aurora - Chapter Ten: Ghoul

Aurora couldn't believe Philip's words. She had finally been awakened, but her whole family and loved ones were still under Maleficent's spell. It seemed that, even though she was dead, Maleficent still had some power over her. Aurora felt cursed for life.

Philip allowed her to cry and embraced her over and over again to make her feel supported and understood, still he felt he could not quite reach her. They would both need time to open up and act the way they used to act around each other before the curse.

'We'll find a way to make it right, Philip,' said Aurora in tears.

'Of course, my love,' said Philip looking straight into her eyes.

They both stared at each other for some seconds and sealed this pact of hope with a tender kiss.

'What was that?' screamed Aurora, standing up.

'Did you hear that?'

Philip looked all around but couldn't see anything. However, after some time, he could hear a screeching sound, accompanied by a strange grunting.

'Stand behind me!,' ordered the Prince as he took his sword.

Being a cloudy night, the forest was pitch dark and the only light they had was coming from the fire Philip had made. 

'There it is again,' whispered Aurora

'That noise...I think it's coming that way.'

Philip looked to his left and could see a pair of red eyes coming closer and closer.

'Let's go, let's run the other way!' said Aurora.

'Show yourself beast!' screamed Philip.

And so the creature became visible to them.

It looked...undead. Philip had never seen such a creature before. It had straight black hair, long, bony arms and sharp nails. Rags of unrecognisable clothing hanged from it and it seemed to be trying to say something, yet all it managed to say were strange, grunting sounds. This creature had obviously been a man, but he had no trace of humanity left and he had such a horrifying look on his face, a look of despair and grief.