One-Shot and Story Request Book

The Monster in the Woods

I found you. Shadows rise and shadows fall, but you know what a shadow shouldn't do? Rip apart a young woman's throat and leave her body for the wolves. Shadows don't carve names of the dead into the bark of trees. Shadows don't bleed, so why did they send two agents from separate divisions to investigate the same disturbances? That's why you were there, standing outside the woods. Eyes trailed over the shadows within, pulling your hair into a high ponytail. Ears trained towards the sounds around her, chirping birds and twigs snapping. Your partner had already gone in over an hour ago and failed to meet up at the signaled time. Now it was your turn to enter the woods, knowing if you died in the worst way possible you would be required to signal to HQ that neither of you were likely coming out alive. Your lips were pursed as your eyes narrowed into slits. "Goddamnit Leon." You silently cursed him, shaking your head. "A real troublemaker."

You feel your position is being observed from something deeper within the wood, causing your heart rate to rise slightly. You can feel its eyes, unwavering on your frame. Closing your eyes you breathe softly into the dewy spring air. As your eyes open and scan the woodline once more you let out a soft breath and adjust the gun on your hip. You are stepping forward past the forbidden zone line. As the twigs snap beneath your boots and the chirping birds above ring out, you make out the distinct sound of bones cracking under a strong set of jaws. Likely a wolf or bear, you tell yourself. A wolf you hum in your head, shaking it slightly before stepping into a small clearing with a little stream stopping your path forward. Lips pursed together as you kneel to observe the blood staining the edge of the water, red and gooey. Fresh and deep. You cringe as you rub it between your index finger and thumb. It feels human. Human. 

A twig snaps behind you, causing hairs on your spine to rise with suspicion and alarm. How had you been so neglectful to not look behind you the whole time? You turned your gaze ever slowly, lip quivering slightly. "Leon?" You mutter softly, knowing he's not the one standing behind you. You can smell it though. Even before your eyes land on the bloodied monster. You could smell the stench of death and the odor of blood. Your face begins to pale. Its wolf-like appearance sets you off, perhaps a rogue virus caught onto one and made it freakishly misshapen. Instead of launching towards you and tearing apart your jugular, this creature simply watches you from the edge of the clearing. You can see its eyes, sharpened like daggers and wide like a terror. Blood and pieces of flesh linger down its strong jaws, falling damply into the green grass and poppy flowers at its feet. Leon. You begin to worry. If this thing had already gotten ahold of him, then she was next. The only one available to even try to gather information about the monster. It steps forward into the clearing while you stumble backward into the creek. Had you not noticed the blood soaking your hands already?

You fall onto your back on the other side of the creek, feeling something slosh around in your abdomen. Are you dying? Are your organs falling out of your torn open stomach? You scream into the air, unable to contain yourself. The beast stops its advances and turns to run back into the woods, hiding from you. Yet you continue to scream, so loudly even when your shoulders are grabbed and your body shaken slightly. Only when your eyes lock with demanding blue do your screams cease. Going limp in his grasp as he slowly lets you go. Dirty blonde hair falling over his eyes and you can't tear your eyes away from him.

"Leon..." You whisper, voice sounding hoarse. He gives you a small smile and pulls you up to your feet. There's blood on your face, which he gently rubs away with his right thumb.

"I found you." He muttered, adjusting the hair falling into your eyes. Tucking the defiant strands behind your ears where they reluctantly stay. You nod slowly, fixing your clothes and looking to the woods where the beast had been just a few moments ago. You can feel a slight breeze around you while the sounds of the animals of the forest cease entirely. You felt uneasy, hand over your stomach as you began to heave what was left of your breakfast into the grass just before the creekbed. Leon placed his hand on your back and ran soothing circles as he watched the woods around you. "I'm just going to assume it found you too."

Once you recovered yourself you stood up tall, kneeling suddenly at the creek side and cleaning your face and mouth with the cool water. "It?" You questioned softly, looking up at him as he watched you curiously. He couldn't help his amusement with you. So clueless, yet so fucking intelligent. You're meant for greatness, even he knew that. This is why when he came across your body after following your scream made his strong stomach weak. The monster tearing into your neck with delight. Relentlessly carving its claws into the bones of your ribs as it split your ribcage apart. He had leaned behind a tree and watched with disdain. He had told you to wait and that he could do this alone. So why hadn't you listened to him? After the creature had fallen dead at his feet he stepped over the remains of the beast to get to your body. Looking over your face at your beautiful eyes, dulled and grey with death. Crimson blood flows delicately from your body in spurts and gushes. Even in death, you looked lovely. He kneeled beside you and gently took your mostly torn hand into both of his.

"I found you." He whispered, closing his eyes as he radioed back to Hunnigan about the mission's success. And about your death. For three months people back in your sanction mourned your passing. But Leon. Oh, Leon. Sweet Leon Scott Kennedy. He mourned your death like a badge of failure. Working himself twice as hard to keep the same thing from happening again. Working himself nearly to the brink of exhaustion, stopping only when he thought he would catch glimpses of you watching him from the corners of rooms or in the doorways and halls. He stood quietly in front of the mirror of the bathroom, washing his face from the last horrible vision he had of you watching him. Blood still soaking your face. He clutched his hands into fists. Why did it have to be you? As he wiped his face clean he spotted you staring back at him in the reflection, lips pursed on both of your faces as you stared deeply into the other's very soul.

"Leon." He swore he could hear his voice whisper like honeysuckle from your lips. Smiling softly as you reached forward to touch his face, feeling a wave of cold air brushing against his cheek. "I found you." He closes his eyes, making you vanish into the air as he's left an emotional mess. His knees are weak as he collapses to the floor, hands clutching onto the sink basin tightly. 

"Not again." He begs hopelessly into the air. He feels a presence at his back but doesn't respond as another cold wave of air embraces his entire body. "I wish you would have waited for me." He lifts his head and turns around to find the space empty. He hangs his head and forces himself to stand, washing his face again before leaving the bathroom. Visions of you have been haunting him relentlessly like a ghost. He wished so badly he could see you again and the day you stepped into the room of his mission briefing his jaw had hung slacked open. File firmly held in your left arm. A habitual habit of yours. You adjusted the hair that refused to be in your ponytail, tucking it elegantly behind your ear. You turn to face Leon and give him a warm smile. But something about you is different than he remembers. Your eyes... Were they always that dull?

Both of you open your mouths, uttering the words so softly you almost don't hear each other. "I found you."