"I promise I'll keep you safe" I said between ragged breaths.

Holding claire tight in my arms, I dashed through the seemingly unending darkness.

I knew these tunnels by heart, but it didn't help that the creatures did too.

Claire was unmoving.

Ever since we ran out of food, my daughter started sleeping more and more.

Kids get tired easily. I don't blame her. I too, just wanted to rest.

The creatures steps echoed around from behind us. Fire was clawing at my lungs. But I kept running.

Claire dropped her toy, it was her favourite one too. Her mother gave it to her before she herself went to sleep.

But she'll wake up soon. She always did, eventually.

l'll take her and we can find another place for us. A place with no monsters to run from.

My pace starts to slow, each step heavier than the last. I curse myself, but knew I can only run so far on a days-empty stomach.

The growls were now practically right behind us.

I finally reach my wife, I grab for her with the last of my strength, and lunge us forward.

Still, it was only a matter of time.

I lose my footing and tumble. My wife and my daughter land with a sickening thud.

My wife's body was stiff, the life snuffed away. I hold in tears, and for one last time, I gently brush my daughter's face.

It was cold.

Guttural screams came from the creature, it'll take us any second now.

Hot tears began to flood down my cheeks, as my daughter's eyes begin to flutter open.

"You promised." She weakly mouths.