Shadows (Book 2)

3: Happy Birthday To Me

I rush back over to help the stranger to his feet. He's conscious now.
The dog runs over to us.
His mouth is covered in black fluid from where it bit Mike.
The dog jumps up onto the couch next to me. He sniffs the stranger then comes back to my side and lays down.
Now that he's awake I start to ask the stranger questions.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?"
He doesn't answer.
He's shivering and barely able to hold his eyes open.
He does manage raise his hand and point to the stove.
"Tea."he says.
I hurry and grab a mug from the cabinet and pour a glass of hot tea.
Considering he's still probably freezing I quickly walk it over to him carefully as I pass the fireplace.
I bring the mug to the stranger and hand it to him.
He grabs it with both hands.
In one breath he blows into the mug and one big cloud of steam rises.
Afterwards there's no more, almost as if he managed to cool it down with one blow.
He turns the mug up to his lips and starts to gulp down the entire mug.
As soon as he's done he sets the mug down on the table and rises from off the coach.
He tosses the blanket from off his shoulders and walks over to the fireplace.
"Who are you?" I ask
"I'll explain everything later when it's dead."he says.
He talks about Mike as if he's some type of creature.
"What's wrong with him?" I ask.
He turns to me with a stony disposition.
"That thing is not your friend"he says
He walks over to the fireplace and stops.
I follow.
I hear the faint sound of clawing and screeching.
"Quick, do you have any blades?" he asks.
I think quick
"Um....there's knives in the kitchen." I say.
I look over and see my knife rack is gone.
"The beast must've hidden them."he says.
It's strange. I could've sworn they were there earlier today.
"Either you find something sharp or we're both dead."the stranger says.
Suddenly the dog jumps down from the couch and starts to bark at the wall.
I remember the dagger from my drawer.
Without saying a word I rush to my room and snatch open my dresser.
I pick up the amethyst blade and hurry out to the living room.
Just as I walk out I see the stranger opening the box my dad sent me.
He pulls out a huge long sword with a black and purple blade.
Just as he does something hits his from behind knocking him across the room.
What used to be my friend Mike is now some kind of beast.
His body is black like living shadows.
He gets down on all fours and starts to circle me like a predator who has cornered their prey.
I grip my dagger tight and get ready for it to attack.
I make sure not to turn my back on it.
Out of nowhere the puppy leaps onto Mike's back and sinks it's teeth deep into his shoulder. The puppy is bigger now, the size of a lion with teeth and claws to match.
He still has the same white patch on his back
Mike screams again letting out a roar.
He bites a chunk of flesh before Mike swings and knocks him back.
I see an opening.
I vault over the couch with the dagger in hand.
Mike swipes at me.
I dodge and jump onto his back.
"Calm down, Mike" I plead.
I hold onto him knowing if I let go he'll rip me to shreds.
From across the room the stranger gets back to his feet.
"You have to stab it in the heart"he yells.
The dagger is still in my hand.
He tries to buck me off but I hold on tight.
I can't do it, not to Mike.
He eventually is able to throw me off and I fly towards the kitchen.
Mike turns to me and bares his teeth in anger.
He stands tall stretching out his clawed hands.
In that moment the stranger has an opening. He grabs the sword with the purple and black blade and thrusts it into Mike's back and through his chest.
Right in front of my eyes Mike's skin starts to turn black and harden.
His skin starts to crack and diminishes to a pile of ash on the ground.
"Dude?!" I say
The stranger stands tall with satisfaction.
To him he just killed whatever beast that was.
I'm more focused on the person he was before the beast.
"What happened to Mike?" I ask.
"That wasn't your friend."he says.
He tosses me the sword and I catch it by the hilt.
"We have to leave." the stranger says
"What do you mean, leave? You just killed Mike." I say looking at the pile of ash on the floor.
"I told you that wasn't Mike."he says.
The puppy, now small again, walks over to me covered in dust and black blood.
It stops in front of me the same way a normal dog would.
It sits and barks twice offering me it's paw.
I reach down and pet his head. He helped me when the thing that wasn't Mike was coming after me.
"You need to pack a bag and get out of here. They're coming for you. That was only the first" the stranger says.
I have so many questions. He'd sound insane if not for the fact that I'd just seen something transform from my best friend into a creature like something from a nightmare.
"Listen, man-"
"Tank" he corrects telling me his name.
It fits.
"Listen,Tank. You can't just come into my house and expect me to trust you. How do I know that thing wasn't after you and if you leave I'll just go back to normal?"
He stops and turns.
" 'That thing' wasn't shape shifted into my best friend" he points out.
"Pack a bag and don't forget to open your present."he says sliding the box across the floor with his foot.
I look down at the box with my dad's handwriting.
The blade that killed the creature came from this box.
Why would my parents send me a sword for my birthday?
This night is weird and I feel like it's going to be be getting a lot weirder.
I look over at Tank still uncertain whether I can trust him or not but if he is telling the truth I can't stay here.