MONSTRXXS (Book 2, the Cryptid Chronicles)

Chapter 2

Derek dropped his cigarette to the cold dirt and scrambled to remove his rifle from its case. Jason could've gone for his weapon too, but his efforts would probably be better spent providing light for his cousin. He unclipped the spotlight from his belt and aimed it at the noise. One good shot should scare off whatever animal was out there.

They couldn't see a thing— not until a hideous monster emerged from the trees.

It was straight out of a nightmare. Jason wished it had been a wolf or a mountain lion. Either would've been preferable to this seven-foot-tall monster walking towards them on hoofed feet. Dense grey fur covered its entire body except for its human-like hands. Sharp goat-like horns jutted from its skull. Lips curled back from its long snout to reveal blunt teeth capable of grinding bones to dust.

"Fuck me."

Derek had taken the words right out of Jason's mouth. Shit! His bowels threatened to loosen— literally. He'd been in these woods since before he could walk, and he'd never seen anything like this abomination. It would take more than an AR-15 to stop this thing. It would take a bazooka.

Jason's hand shook so badly he could barely keep the light on the beast as it lowered its head and charged. Derek pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the monster between the horns. A perfect shot, but its skull was so thick it had no effect. The bullet ricocheted off into the darkness as the beast closed the distance on the hunters.

It rammed into Derek. The blow knocked the rifle from his hands. Its thick horns struck him in the chest, cracking his sternum. He landed ten feet back, screaming in pain. Out of fear and shock, Jason kept the light on his cousin. He prayed he was dreaming. He had to be— otherwise, how could he explain what he was seeing?

The monster picked Derek up by the throat. The terrified man pulled at the creature's fingers but couldn't pry them from his jugular.

Derek gasped, "Please. Let me go."

The beast smiled and lowered its head. In one swift movement, the point of its horn cut through Derek's jacket like warm butter, piercing his stomach. It sliced him open just like the deer at their feet. Though it wasn't as careful with its field dressing. The horn perforated Derek's intestine. Blood, stomach acid, and partially digested food spilled onto his camouflaged pants. He thrashed in pain. His screams grew louder and louder— until the monster crushed Derek's windpipe with its powerful hand. It tossed him to the ground with a quiet thump.

Then the night was silent.

Eerily silent.

The beast shifted his gaze to Jason. Scared out of his mind, he took two steps back and slipped on the deer's entrails. He landed on his butt amongst the guts and gore. The light shook in his hand like he was having a seizure. He tried to get to his feet, so he could run. Run far away. But Jason's feet wouldn't work. Nothing would work as the beast approached him. Slowly. Menacingly. Fear took over every cell in his body.

"I don't want to die," Jason pleaded.

The beast snickered, "I'se bet youu'se doon't."

Oh, my God. It could talk. Jason tried to wrap his head around that fact as the monster's voice reverberated in his head. The sound was chilling—like someone who used a fifth of vodka to gargle broken glass, but surprisingly that was the least scary thing about the creature. Up close, it was more manlike than animal, given the shape of its body, its hands, and the intelligence behind its eyes. Yes, it was creepy as hell.

Jason begged for his life, "Please. I'll do anything."

"Anythiiings?" The monster loomed over him. "Goood. I'se neeed inforsmaation."

"Ok . . . w . . . what do you want to know?"

The beast squatted in the dirt next to Jason. Its hand shot out and snagged the deer's heart from the pile of innards. Bringing it to its snout, the monster licked the dark red muscle with a devilish smile. Jason wanted to vomit as the beast put the still-warm organ in its mouth and chewed vigorously. Wiping the blood and tissue from its chin, it asked, "Doo'se you'sse know Niick Haayes?"

"Who?"

It swallowed the heart in one gulp. "Niick Haayes."

"I'm sorry. Really sorry, but I've never heard of him— please don't kill me."

"Whaat's about Epiphaaany Caarter?"

"Epi Carter! Yes. I know her," Jason screamed happily.

He'd graduated with the smart bookworm. They'd been friendly but never close. She hadn't been his type. Not that she would've had anything to do with him anyway. She had standards. And big city dreams. So he'd been surprised to see her in the local grocery store last week with a stomach bigger than a basketball. He'd like to meet the guy who finally got Epi to spread her legs— as well as see the sunrise tomorrow morning. Though Jason suspected both those things depended on how well he could answer the monster's next question.

"Wheeere's doo shees liveees?"

"Epi? Now? I'm not sure, but her parents lived off of M-61 past the auto parts store."

"Poooint."

"What?"

The creature cocked its head to the side, bringing one black eye within inches of Jason's face. The blood turned to ice in his veins. It felt like the monster could peer into his soul. "Poooints to wheeres shee livees."

Somehow Jason found the strength to lift his arm. He aimed his hand to the west and extended a finger. "That way."

"Deescriiibes iiit."

"The house? It is a big log cabin on a couple of acres. I think they have a mailbox down by the road in the shape of a large-mouth bass. Is that good enough? Do you need more?"

The beast brought its long bony hand to the side of Jason's face. He wanted to pull away, but he didn't dare— though a muscle in his cheek bounced up and down uncontrollably.

"Nooose. Thaat's goood."

"T . . . then . . . c . . . can . . . I live?"

It traced a sharp nail down his cheek, hesitated at his neck, continued past his collarbone, and stopped at his heart. It seemed to take forever before it responded, "Yees. You'sse can liveee."

The monster stood up, turned, and faded into the night.

Jason waited a full minute before moving.Partially because he was scared the monster was watching but mostly because ittook him that long to regain control of his body. When the beast didn't return,he ran to his cousin to confirm what he already suspected. Derek's chest wasstill. He wasn't breathing. Nor could he find a pulse on his wrist or his neck.Not to mention the huge hole in his stomach. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Derek was dead.Jason ran to the road, pulling the phone from his back pocket to dial 911.