Sinner

Part 1 Encounter

Hairs on my nape stood on their ends and goose bumps erupt across my skin as a cold shiver runs through my whole body. I feel I'm being watched. But when I furtively sweep my eyes around me, I was alone, on an empty deserted dark stretch of street.

There is no one about, animal or human. It is as still as a tomb. I am the only one still out at this ungodly hour. The landscape is beginning to take on a sinister look when the flickering yellow dim lights behind me suddenly blows, plunging the entire section into darkness, like a yawning gaping black abyss. The pitch blackness brings to mind of a dark cavern from which things better left unnamed are hiding out of sight. But are crouching to spring out of the dark opening and pounce at me.

Lengthening my strides, I hurry to reach the better lit road a few hundred metres ahead of me. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest when a black cat streaks across my path and darts into an alley.

A loud yowl and a long mewl immediately sound out of the alley. Calls of a dying cat in its death throes disturb the soundless night. Restless shuffling noises are heard as unseen things move in the dark. Not daring to disrupt whatever animal or evil that has caught its prey, I squeeze my eyes tightly closed as I rush past the alley opening.

Clicking sounds resembling nails scrabbling on the pavement start to follow me after I passed the alley. An evil presence and tense anticipation fills the air. My hackles rise as blood courses furiously through my veins, preparing me for fight or flight.

One meter...5 meters...10 meters...the clacking sound continues behind me, showing no signs of hesitation or stopping. Whatever that is following me is getting closer with each second.

The dim street lights start to blow out one by one behind me.

Unreasonable fear finally sinks its hook into me, causing me to break into a run in a bid to reach safety as fast as possible. Heart pumping wildly, my breath shortens as I panic. Cold sweat pours out of me in rivulets, streaming down my face and stinging my eyes. My damp clothes cling to my body as I lift my legs higher with every step hitting the pavement, willing my muscles to go faster, to outrun my pursuer.

Worrying that my pursuer is catching up, I quickly risk a look behind me as I dash for the brightly lit road. What I saw will be carved into my memory forever.

A pair of hungry glowing red eyes floating within a huge black formless mass trails behind me, drawing closer at a quick pace. The ominous orbs are staring unwaveringly straight at me as if I had been marked as its next prey.

I scream in fright and run even faster, my life depends on it now. It's now or never. Move, damn it! Run faster, faster, faster! Don't let it catch me! Just a bit more, I'm almost at the road now!

Nearly reaching the road, I feel pain exploding down my back. A keening wail screams out, shattering the night's silence.

Agony shrieks through my mind as I feel sharp claws sinking into my flesh, digging in firmly. My back involuntarily jerks and arches backward, trying my best to shake off my assailant and extricate myself from the claws. The copper smell of blood rents the air and I feel faint from the loss of blood. My mind threatens to black out, numbing me from the awful pain. But I bite down hard on my lip until I taste the metallic tang of blood, keeping myself conscious.

With a surge of energy, I lurch forward. There is a sick wet tearing sound of flesh, and I fall. Burning pain sears my back and I fight to regain my balance. Stumbling, I struggle to right myself and propel forward. Blood trickles copiously down the back of my thighs and drips onto the pavement. Gritting my teeth, I hunch to ease the pain somewhat and take quick shallow breaths. Not looking back, I run as fast as I could toward the light.

Maybe I had the element of surprise; I did not hear any sounds of pursuit behind me for the precious few seconds I needed to reach the lit section.

After entering the lit road, I hurriedly turn round the corner, hoping to lose my attacker. And run smack into a solid wall of male chest. The impact knocks me senseless and I stagger backwards. Tripping over an uneven tile, I fall...

...just as I am expecting to hit the cold hard ground, a muscular arm round my waist breaks the fall. Safe, I thought, hissing at the immense agony burning my back while the lights go black. My last vision is the furry face of an extremely tall werewolf grinning wolfishly at me. Oh shit.

Hi, I'm trying my hand at incorporating horror into my stories. Writing horror fiction in the middle of the night gives me the chills. Hope you like it so far.