the monsters of the night (Done)

The fall of a monster and the rise of anew

The creature, now driven by desperation, charges toward the hut. Mark steadies his breath, his heart racing. As the creature closes in, Mark fires two rounds, the shots echoing through the stormy night. The creature stumbles but keeps coming.

Quickly, Mark loads two special rounds into the shotgun, knowing they’re designed for something far stronger than any ordinary animal. As the creature charges again, he fires. The first shot lands with a powerful impact, slowing the creature, but it doesn't fall. The second shot hits its chest, sending it reeling.

Inside the hut, the gunfire wakes the group. They scramble to their feet, disoriented. Ethan rushes to the window, his heart sinking as he sees Mark standing alone against the creature. Suddenly, he understands why Mark asked about the talisman earlier.

“The talisman… Mark knew…” Ethan whispers, panic rising as he realizes the situation.

But before Ethan can react, the creature, wounded but still dangerous, roars and lunges at Mark. Mark fires again, but the creature’s speed surprises him. It swipes at Mark, sending him crashing through the window of Bill’s hut. Mark lands inside, stunned and injured, as the others gasp in shock.

Meanwhile, Francis drives through the forest, the truck’s headlights cutting through the storm. As they approach the hut, the creature suddenly appears in their path, struggling from its wounds.

“There!” Bill shouts. Francis doesn’t hesitate—he hits the gas, the truck hitting the creature hard. It shrieks in pain but quickly gets back up, more desperate than ever.

The brothers and Bill leap out of the truck, weapons ready. They open fire, the creature thrashing in a frantic attempt to defend itself. Despite its injuries, it fights back fiercely, but the group’s combined effort is too much. The creature is forced into a corner, trying to escape.

In a final, desperate move, it attacks wildly. One of the brothers is knocked back, his arm injured. Bill grits his teeth and fires again, while Francis moves closer, aiming carefully. Before Francis can take the final shot, the creature, in a desperate attempt to escape, grabs Mark and hurls him through the window of the hut.

Mark crashes inside, landing among the shattered glass. The creature, now barely able to stand, turns back to Francis and the others. With one last effort, it charges, but they are ready. They fire in unison, finally bringing the creature down.

Inside the hut, the group rushes to Mark's side. Ethan is the first to reach him, his hands shaking as he checks Mark’s injuries. Mark groans but manages a weak smile when he sees Ethan.

“I’m… okay,” Mark mutters, though his injuries tell a different story.

Ethan shakes his head, tears in his eyes. “Don’t scare me like that again,” he says, hugging Mark tightly.

Outside, the brothers and Bill stand over the fallen creature. The storm continues to rage as they catch their breath, the rain washing away the mud and dirt.

Bill reloads his weapon, looking at the creature. “We need to make sure it’s really finished,” he says, his voice steady.

Francis nods, determined. “Let’s end this for good.”

As the rain begins to lighten, the group gathers inside the hut. The once imposing creature now lies still on the muddy ground, its body slowly disintegrating into ashes. Bill watches closely, his eyes narrowed as the remains of the Wendigo fade away.

“We did it…” Francis mutters, but there’s no sense of victory—only relief.

Inside the hut, Mark groans as he tries to sit up. Ethan is by his side, his hands trembling as he tries to patch up Mark's wounds. The gash across Mark’s chest is deep, but not life-threatening.

“Hold still,” Ethan says softly, his voice full of concern. He gently cleans the wound and wraps it with a torn piece of cloth. Mark winces but stays quiet, his eyes never leaving Ethan's face.

Meanwhile, one of Francis's brothers, the one who was slashed by the Wendigo, sits against the wall, cradling his injured arm. Bill kneels beside him, quickly and efficiently bandaging the wound. “This will hurt for a while, but you’ll be alright,” Bill says, his voice calm.

As they work, none of them notice a pair of eyes watching them from the forest. A new creature, silent and cunning, observes from the shadows. Unlike the Wendigo, this being is more careful, more patient. It doesn’t move closer, instead choosing to watch and wait, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

Back inside, the group finally relaxes as the worst of the storm seems to pass. Mark, now patched up, looks over at Ethan. “You saved me,” he whispers, a small smile forming despite the pain.

Ethan shakes his head. “We all saved each other. That’s what matters.”

Francis, Bill, and the brothers share a look, knowing that this isn’t the end of their hunt—just another battle in a much larger war.

As dawn breaks, the group gathers their belongings, weary but ready to leave the forest behind. Bill and Francis help everyone into the truck, the atmosphere somber as they prepare to head back to safety. The muddy roads are difficult to navigate, but Francis drives carefully, avoiding any obstacles left by the storm.

Mark and Ethan sit close together in the back seat, their hands intertwined. Mark, despite his injuries, keeps a watchful eye on the surroundings, still on edge from the night before. Ethan leans his head on Mark's shoulder, his eyes heavy with exhaustion.

As they near the college dorms, the truck’s engine hums steadily. The group is silent, lost in their thoughts. Jessica occasionally glances at her phone, hoping for a signal to reach Sarah and the others.

Once they arrive, the group quickly exits the truck, eager to be back in familiar territory. “Thank you,” Tom says to Francis and Bill, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Francis nods, his expression serious. “Stay safe. And if you see anything else… strange, call us.”

The group rushes into their dorms, desperate to leave the horrors of the forest behind. Jessica immediately pulls out her phone, relieved to find that the signal has returned. She quickly dials Sarah’s number.

Back at Sarah’s apartment, the rain continues to pour outside, but the streets are flooded, making it impossible to leave. Sarah, Linda, and Nancy are gathered around the TV, trying to distract themselves from the unsettling weather. The phone rings, startling them.

“Jessica?” Sarah answers, her voice filled with concern.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Jessica replies, her voice shaking slightly. “We made it back… but it was bad, Sarah. Really bad.”

Sarah listens as Jessica recounts the events of the night, her heart sinking with each word. “I’m glad you’re all okay,” she finally says, trying to sound reassuring. “Stay safe. We’re stuck here because of the flood, but we’ll be back as soon as the roads clear.”

“Be careful,” Jessica warns. “There’s… more out there than just the storm.”

As the day progresses, the group tries to return to normal, but the memories of the night in the forest linger. Meanwhile, the new creature that observed them earlier moves quietly through the trees, its presence unnoticed by any passing person. It’s not the only one—across different locations, other creatures begin to stir, each more dangerous and elusive than the last.

In an old, abandoned building on the outskirts of town, something monstrous lurks in the shadows, its eyes glowing with malice. In a darkened alley, another creature prowls, its movements swift and silent. And in the depths of the forest, the ashes of the Wendigo are swept away by the wind, leaving no trace of the creature that once terrorized the group.

But the hunt is far from over. The creatures are still out there, and it’s only a matter of time before they strike again.