Megan McDuffee

My fingers began to twitch.

My toes began to uncontrollably spasm.

A spasm which starts traveling through my body.

I begin twisting, turning, contorting within my chamber.

The muscles in my face begin to move as I grimace.

It feels like my jaw is expanding.

I can hear the bones creaking and then I feel them cracking as my eyes begin to bulge.

It feels like my front teeth are moving forward, meaning to escape from the confines of my mouth as my jaw changes shape.

Sharp, serrated teeth which no longer feel like they belong to me.

I start violently convulsing and a natural instinct takes over as I begin kicking upwards while I also begin violently hammering the roof of the casket with my fists.

I feel strangely strong now, and the lid of my confined prison begins to crack.

It soon gives way, and before the earth can fall through the gap and bury me tight within the soil, I sit up and begin pushing myself upwards, my arms raised above my head in the shape of a church spire.

I push hard with all my weight, my strength continuing to surprise me, but everything is coming so naturally, and I'm moving on pure instinct.

I find myself burrowing upwards, the earth easily subsiding at my hands, and before long I break the surface.

Rain pours down on me as I part my arms to create a hole large enough to pull my whole body through, and as I do so, I gaze upon the fullness of the moon.

The moon that I intuitively know is providing me with fresh life.

Free of the earth, I open my mouth to scream, but all that comes out is a gargled snarl.

My jaw feels dislocated, and I become aware that my tongue lays paralyzed in my mouth, its tendons ripped and torn.

I cry out as saliva drips down my chin, and I know I have become a monster.

I begin walking through the graveyard, shuffling with the top half of my body bent forward.