SOMETHING ROAMS THE NIGHT...

EIGHTEEN

The smell of death hit me in the face the moment I stepped into the living room. This was the place I had just run away from not more than an hour ago, and now I was back inside.

What the hell was I thinking?

Haley...

We've been waiting for you...

I couldn't help trembling. The voice sounded inhuman, with the obvious hisses between the words. 

"God, help me!" Damon cried again. He sounded as if he was in extreme pain. I heard the shuffle of feet, and then an unmistakable growl.

Haley...

Why have you brought company...

You know we hate the Kanes...

We only want you...

We have been waiting for you to join us...

"Shut up!" I screamed. The voices were driving me crazy. "Shut up! Shut up!"

And then a hand on my shoulder made me jump. 

"Calm down," Zac said quietly. He was brandishing a long knife. "Why the hell didn't you stay in the car?"

"I'm sorry, I-"

"No time to explain," Zac said, placing a finger over his lips. "They're everywhere."

I followed Zac closely, treading carefully over the broken pieces of glass. "We need to find Damon," I whispered. 

Haley...

We know where you are...

There is no need to hide from us...

The voices continued. This time I didn't know if they were really real, or just my imagination.

"Please! Help!" Damon shouted weakly. 

"Bedroom," I said to Zac. "On the right."

We stepped into the room, Zac beaming his dim flashlight inside. The light flooded across the walls, and then the wooden floor.

The only thing I saw was red. Everything was covered in blood. The walls, the floor, even the ceiling.

And then something lying on the ground came into view. 

Oh God, no.

"Help," Damon said, barely a whisper.

But the thing that made me woozy was the sight of him.

Blood trickled down the sides of his mouth, his face was clawed, and his clothes were drenched crimson.

And his legs...

They were shredded so badly I could see the hints of bone from where flesh used to be.