The Monsterous _____

It’s 10:16 a.m. and the playground continues to sit quietly.

2020 is the year when no one is allowed to go outside. I go to the playground with a black mask covering, purple hoody, loose jeans, and black sneakers. I sit on a swing with earbuds and listening to music on my phone.

The empty playground was quiet and creepy at this time. Then again, no parent would send their child here anymore. The streetlights give little light just as they give little comfort to the playground. The sandbox shows little trace of children playing here. Even their small footprints from previous outings have faded from time. A playground isn’t a playground without children.

Music blocks the world from my ears. I sit and listen while staring at the emptiness around me. Such a depressing sight. I swing a bit and wait while pondering for the future. Then a long, creaking sound interrupts my song so I remove my earbuds to listen.

“Is someone there?” Is what any normal person would say.

It wasn’t just a normal creak from the carousel being pushed by the wind. Or tree branches rustling and dropping their crunchy leaves. Not even this swingset made this long, creaking noise that sounds more like an eerie moan. I remain silent and turn my direction to the center of the playground. There was no one there or anywhere on the playground. It didn’t sound like someone hiding in the dark either.

I get off the swing and as soon as I put my foot down the ground shook. The loose soil shifts from this miniature quake and the metallic groaning slowly grow louder. I kept my balance when suddenly I hear a chain snap behind me. The swing broke loose one of its chains and whip itself around my waist. The chain lifts me higher than the swing and suddenly I was flying left and right.

The playground roars while its metallic bars creak and bend and shifts to that of a monster. Its roots burst out from the ground and form into twisted, crab-like legs. Its crooked pipes shape like fangs, the colorful slide a snout, the monkey bars a mishappen tail. It swings me over and hangs my dangling body over its face and growls. It's hungry for blood and it has been waiting very patiently for a snack. The chain of the swing tosses me into the jaws like some meaningless grape; however, I react and grab the edge of the slide and climb my way in. Good thing I’m wearing brand-new sneakers because I was able to keep my grip and crawl up the slide.

The monster was trying its best to shake me off and, damn, it was dizzying. Inside the tunnel slide, my head was banging hard! Left, right, up, down! Bang, bonk, thump, bam!

Despite my throbbing head I finally reach the top. The playground monster sends its metallic tentacles at me, ready to turn me into a bloody kabob. I quickly dodge and slip through this way and that, hoping to get the beast tangled. The playground roars and the bars vibrate intensely; loosening my grips and increasing the throbbing in my head. I grab hold on to the monkey bars and steadily climb my way down before the beast could shake me again. When I'm close to the ground I let myself fall and fell flat on my ass. Sore but safe.

I pull myself up and start running. My vision is blurred from the dizziness, but I managed to keep my balance. The playground's crab-like legs carry its heavy body and chase after me. I continue to push myself and run faster while cars and small buildings are being crushed right behind me. I head for the beach and jump over a fence with a "No Trespassing" sign on it. The beast stomps its way and follows me to the docks. I took the longest dock and race to the end of it before turning to face the monster. The playground monster breaks through the wood and stomps closer towards me. When the monster reached the end of the dock I quickly jumped on its face and climb up once more. This time over the tunneled slide, practically running and climbing with haste, while the monster sinks deeper into the ocean.

The support beams break and the dock crumbles underneath the monster's weight. The monster roars loudly yet slowly turns into gurgles. A thousand pipes aim to grab me and take me down into the ocean, but I only look ahead and run. I jump and slip through the bars that try to stab me but I ignore my bloody scratches and rip clothes. My last jump was one big jump and my feet manages to land on the sandy shore. I don't turn back. I keep on running because I know the monster could still swipe me off my feet.

When I am far enough I look back and see the playground beast's small roof peeking out from the water. It's semi dome-shaped head splashes frantically before sinking under completely and let out a few bubbles. I pant heavily and stare at the empty surface of the water and could not believe what just happened.

I barely escape from the Monsterous Playground.