ANAMAY
I looked up sharply, eyes at the backyard door. I could here footsteps and chatter. They are coming. Quickly I straightened up, hands on its fur to make it look Like I was studying it. If they ask me about the blood in my hands I could not be able to explain it if I said I never touched the creature.
The backyard door opened immediately and the trio stepped out again, Handsome Parker wiggling a vintage camera in the air, his eyes fixed on me, around me.
Suddenly I was self-conscious in an exotic way. He felt it too and rolled his tongue over his plump fading red lips, I looked away from him, my cheeks reddening.
'Not again. No, I cannot… I don't have time to be distracted'
I let out a slight false cough to use that as my excuse for looking away.
"Is your throat dry, Anamay?"it was Ugly Parker's voice.
"Oh. No, not at all."
"Anamay, my dear, you look perfect standing next to that thing. Like a circus babe," Mr Parker just let those words drop out of his mouth without thinking as Usual. Handsome Parker laughed with him. He looked at me.
"And a damn fine one at that," It was a silent comment that was so loud in my ears, again the reddening ran to my cheeks. I suppressed it.
'Anamay!! You don't have time for this. Once he sends that picture and his buddies come here, they will slaughter this creature in the worst way possible. Think and stop looking at him'
I huffed a little, regaining my composure. The three men were busy taking pictures around the beast. I was stewing up where I was thinking of how to convince these maniacs to at least leave their friends out of this. Then it hit me.
"Sir Parker, why are you sharing your glory with those creeps again."
"Huh?" Everyone looked at me.
"what, am I wrong? Why share the spoils of such great find with others? You should enjoy it and then send them pics. Let the look in awe what a game your son alone hunted. Let them see that you are the god of the hunt and no one else. Why share your glory with others?"
If there's one thing I know it's that proud men will jump at any chance to brag. Mr Parker smiled.
'"This gal has a good head on those shoulders of hers. Let's do that. Let's make a video of the whole process. Get the knives Leo."
"Yes sir", Ugly Parker saluted.
… Wait, no that's not what am trying to do…
"Wait!"
The words fell out of my mouth before I could reason it. Again everyone turned to look at me.
… Shit, what do I say…
"Ehhhh, it's gonna be… a … full moon tonight. Let's kill it then. A gutting under the might sky would be the perfect scenery. It would make the perfect video." I managed to stop stuttering.
"Perfect." Handsome Parker nodded in excitement.
"Lets do it, Dad. We should brew some Ale to drink too," Leo agreed with his brother.
"I like where this is going," Mr Parker said with a excited smirk. Handsome Parker gave me a thumbs up. Leo leaped past the backyard door which was open ajar.
"Last one to the kitchen is a frog breast."
Mr Parker rushed him immediately. Handsome Parker racing behind him, they all went inside.
I heaved.
"Oh God, I almost blew it. I bent over and stroked the wounds of the creature'
"I will save you, don't worry."
It gave me pleading doggy eyes. I stroked the wound a little more then I heard.
"Anamay, where are you?!"
"Coming!!"
I yelled back straightening up. I took one more glance at the giant wolf like animal and then, paced away.
ELISH
'Leave, please leave'
I said with my sympathetic stare. She stroked my wounds a bit more. Then I heard a shout-out which she responded to. Then I saw her stand and leave. I growled quietly.
She did not understand anything I said. I was losing my consciousness, I could tell. Like falling asleep with your eyes open. I could feel it stirring inside of me, trying to host in my body. It was not good. Not good at all.
I wanted her to leave before it took complete control but she just couldn't understand me. I would try one last time when she came back again. She didn't. The sky got darker. My sanity got fainter. She still did not come back.
The light in the sky hid completely and darkness fell. The moon loomed out of the clouds. A Full Moon. My eyes closed.
… Too Late…
AUTHOR
Anamay ran outside, looking behind her. No one is following, good. She had a knife in hand. She screeched, halting In front of the creature.
"Once I cut you loose…" she said. Her knife in-between the knot.
"Run. Run far away, where no one will find you."
She tore out the first noose. Her hands flew to it's mouth. The beast opened its eyes. Her gaze met them.
…No, Something's not right…
"Ahhhhhh!!!!"
Leo spit out his Ale.
"Shit! What was that."
Handsome Parker stood up immediately.
"Its Anamay," he was out the kitchen door and racing down the stairs before he completed that statement. The backyard door was suddenly completely forgotten because he went for the front door, swinging it open.
"Anamay!! Anamay!!" He yelled from the gather.
"Run!!"
That voice, it was her yelling. Handsome Parker flew down the steps immediately.
"Anamay!!" he shouted again.
She appeared, from behind the back of the house, running. She was waving at him and limping. There was blood on her legs.
"Run!!" she yelled at him. But he was slow, too slow to comprehend what was going on until it appeared behind her.
Thirteen feet and five inches, arm long claws and glowing ash grey fur. The moon shone on its black eyes and a scatter of fang long teeth in it's mouth.
"JESUS…SHIT"
Demetri cursed. The creature looked at him. A direct look and somehow, he felt frozen. There was silence, absolute silence. Like time stopped. He couldn't move. He couldn't talk. He couldn't run.
"Demetri run!!!!!"
Leo's voice was the last he heard before - claws pierced his heart.
"Ahhhh" he screamed.
Suddenly, He could move.
"Oh shit, n…" blood burst out of his mouth. He grabbed the big wolf's claws.
"Ple…" he could only mumble. Blood was dripping off from behind him.
He gripped harder on the claws like he could pull them out but it was on impulse, he was trying to make the pain stop. The beast must have felt his scratching because it gave him a sharp stare, hollowed in anger and rose it's second hand.
"No!!!!!"
Leo pushed forward, pulling the hand that griped him tightly.
"Dad, let me go. We have to help him. Dad!!"
Tears rushed down his cheeks. Leo struggling to get downstairs and save his brother.
"We can't do anything for him. If you go down there you will die too. Leo stop."
"No, dad please. We gotta save him. Da…"
The second claw drove into Demetri's stomach. He screamed. His shriek, it was like a gun shot because everyone stopped moving. Demetri's shaking hands stopped moving. The beast howled a crooked cry and dragged it's claws apart.
There was a shrewd sound of Bones cracking, the best the boy into two before his brother's eyes.
LEO
My legs jellied, my head felt so light. I crumbled into my father's arms. He flung me back, I tumbled into the house. He shut the door In front of me. I lay there, not moving, not breathing. I had fainted but my eyes were open and my tears kept on dropping out from the corner of my eyes.
'This is a dream. It has to be. I want to wake up. Please let me wake up. Please'
ANAMAY
I heard Demetri screams from behind me. I dared not look. I had no idea where I was going but I kept running. My eyes so wet that I could barely see. I heard its growl and then I heard it's heavy foot stomps.
'It was coming, coming for me'
I ran faster, the cut in my leg was literally invisible to my mind. My heart pumping, banging on my chest. My legs propping forward, I did not look down. I didn't not see it. A tree stomp sticking out from the ground. My flesh collided with the hard bark, the rough edge tore my skin. The clash flung me over, I crashed into the forest floor with my neck.
My neck bone cracked.
Instantly, I grabbed my mouth and stifled my scream.
The beast howled demonically behind me. It was close. Very close. I had to go. Immediately, I struggled to find my feet but I couldn't stand. Both my legs were broken.
Tears eroded me… I don't want to die… I cried.
My hands on the grass, I could see a hollow tree before me. I could hide in the hole inside it.
The growling, it was getting louder. Like a bell call telling me it was getting closer. I was crawling, my body climbing into the tree. I could only get my head and my hands in when…
It's claw dug into my back. It pulled them, the tip of it dragging down my spine.
"Ahhhhh!!! Stop please. Please stop. Please!!!!!"
Burning hot tears burst from my eyes as I pleaded for my life. The claw tore down deeper into me but suddenly…
IT STOPPED.
I was crying. Crying so loud. I felt a wrap around my stomach. It pulled me out of the tree and threw me behind it like I was paper. I flew and slammed my back on a tree. Blood covered my mouth, the sore taste of my life slipping away from me, I was dying… I was really dying and alone.
In the fading, my eyes closing.
The night blurring.
I think I saw the beast shrinking.
Pale fair skin emerging from the grey and black.