Excerpt: Untitled

The bloodcurdling scream chilled him to the bone. He would recognize that voice anywhere. It was Joshua. It was his only son.

The terror in the screams that followed, caused him to break out into a frantic run, gripping the rifle in one hand he used the other to push branches back. Running towards the sounds of pain and terror, Luke thought of nothing but his child.

As he burst through the small stand of maple trees into the large clearing near the lake, he searched for his son. The bright moonlight reflected off the lake and lit up the banks enough for him to make out the figures running along the shore of the calm water. The first was his son, Josh was running frantically towards the trees, towards Luke. The pure panic and fear on his pale face was apparent. It only took a moment for Luke to realize what was causing that horror.

The second figure ran behind Josh in an awkward yet somehow graceful run. It ran on its back legs but seemed to be using its long muscular arms to aid in the movement. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. No matter how unusual the creatures run was, it was not what truly held Luke’s attention. The creature’s appearance filled the small town sheriff with a revulsion and terror like nothing he had ever felt before.

It’s face was long and angular the snout was prominent and as it snapped its jaw, Luke caught sight of the long sharp teeth that were covered by a glistening foamy saliva. The creature’s body was lean and muscular and covered in a dark brown fur.

The creature leaped at Josh, knocking the boy down causing him to scream in pain as its sharp talon like claws sunk into the boys back. It bared its teeth and sank them into the boy’s side. Luke raised the gun the moment it had struck his son and fired off a shot. The creature let out a howl of pain and anger as it was struck in the shoulder and knocked back off Joshua slightly. Its dark eyes turned to Luke but before he could fire off another shot it took off running into the trees nearby. Luke didn’t even think about chasing after it.

He hurried to his son’s side and tore off his jacket to press the soft worn denim against the gaping wound on Josh’s side. The ground was saturated with the dark fluid. In the moonlight it looked black and vicious.

“Hold on Joshie, Just hold on. Your old man is gonna get you out of here and to Dr J. Just stay awake.” He cradled his son in his arms for a moment watching the boy’s eyes begin to lose focus and start to close.

“Joshie! Stay awake. You have to stay awake. Talk to me son. Tell me…” He raked his mind to find something for them to talk about. “Tell me about this Chloe girl.”
Josh’s eyes were still unfocussed and foggy but he grinned slightly. He had only been dating Chloe McPherson for three weeks.

“She’s pretty, Dad.” The boys voice was barely audible as Luke picked up his son as though he was still an infant instead of a 5’11” lanky teenager. Moving quickly, Luke hauled his son out of the clearing and back into the woods, not far from where the creature had disappeared only a short time before. The rifle lay on the ground where Josh had been lying. There was no way for him to carry his son and the rifle.

If they were attacked in the woods, there would likely be no escape.

Luke never stopped moving. He continued to keep his son talking about the pretty brunette that had just moved to town a month ago. There was a low long growl. From the speed he was moving and with the trees surrounding them, Luke couldn’t be sure where it was coming from. For all he knew he was walking straight towards the creature. But he couldn’t stop. He had to get his son to some help before he lost him. Josh was his only child and he couldn’t even fathom the thought of losing him.

Then in the distance he could hear a long anguished howl just as he emerged from the trees into the field next the farm that his family had owned for most of his life. He loaded Josh into the passenger seat of the old pick up truck that had been in the farm since long before the boy had even been born.

Tires spinning in the dirt, Luke took off towards the Doctor Jacovich’s office. The drive that was normally only a few minutes into the quiet town of Mystic Montana seemed to take an eternity.