Watchers in the Woods

Chapter 1: Run!

"What's happening?" I felt a sharp pain strike my leg as I struggled to stand up. It was vague but I swore I saw people running frantically and I could smell the irritating burning of wood in the air. The crashing and collapsing of tables and chairs were everywhere in sight.

"Sean?" I surveyed the area with heavy dark smoke blurring my vision. I spotted my friend carrying a wailing little girl with an severely injured arm and in his soot covered hands held a baby. I managed to win the throbbing battle in my head and finally snapped to reality.

"Hey Rach! you okay?" Sean yelled from across the room. His voice was drowned by the incessant screaming and yelling from survivors.

"Yea I'm fine, just a little knocked out" My throat hurt. It was dry, really dry, I needed water badly.

"You do not look fine at all Rach. Here let me help you get up" Sean wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up off the ground when all of a sudden, I yelped in agony. It was coming from my right calf.

"I can't walk sean, my leg. I think its broken or something" looking down, my leg was engulfed in fresh blood intwined  with dry blood. It was a sickly site, the pain that came along with it was all I could feel. It sent shockwaves throughout my body.

Just when I thought the searing pain was the worst thing possible then, right at that moment, I could hear it.

They were just round the corner. There were at least eight of them. "Oh no, they're closing in. Quick hide!" urging Sean. Accompanied with a dozen squeals, a thousand more "Ow" 's and "Ouch" 's , and a lot of limps, with Sean's support, we managed to hide behind a knocked over refrigerator in the kitchen of the restaurant we were in. It was one of the most uncomfortable state I had ever been, but it was the best we had.

I could hear the banging and clanging of the knocking over of tables and chairs creeping closer and closer. They were definitely inside now.

I could hear the sniffing of their snouts.   " They're here. Find them!" That must have been Alpha. Oh no, how did they find us?

"Did u get everybody out?" I nudged Sean. He seemed too shaken to say a word but he gave me a slight nod. Blood was drained from his face for fear of our lives. I prayed a silent prayer. Please don't find us, please don't find us.

We both knew exactly what to do, it was survival 101. I grabbed a ketchup bottle and threw it at the south entrance of the restaurant. Almost instantly, the pounding of hooves were diverted away from us. "Run!" Sean whispered. He yanked my arm and soon we were set off on a sprint for our lives. I almost forgot about my leg with all the adrenaline and fear pumping through and flowing through me. Initially, pain shot through me from my calf all the way to my head when I took my first step on the ground. It was excruciating. But shaking it aside, decided my life was more worth a leg

"Get them!"

Oh no, they heard us. We darted past all the furnitures and plates that were sprawled on the floor. The whole restaurant had been burnt down and what was left of it were just ashes and half burnt furniture with broken shards of ceramic from plates.

We passed the entrance that had been ripped apart violently. We darted past a few dead bodies and a few car parts that were lying on the ground everywhere. "There it is, thank god it it isn't battered up" Sean's car was one of the few cars that were left standing. The pounding of hooves were rapidly closing in.

We hastily hopped into the car and tried starting the engines.

"It's not working!" Sean panicked.

"What? What do you mean it's not working!" Sean was turning the key back and forth trying to start the car. 

"There they are!" Great. They were catching up to us.

After a dozen attempts, the car eventually started. "OKAY OKAY GO GO GO! " Sean stepped on the accelerator and the engine roared to life. We both sighed a sigh of relieve but it was shortlived.

 The sight that greeted me made my jaw drop. Everything was in ruins. Houses were destroyed, cars had been ripped apart, buildings were on fire. How long more will this continue? I pondered.

My thoughts were interrupted when there was a loud bang at the back of the car.

"I'll handle it" I groaned as I made my way to the back seat. I unfolded the seats and uncovered the revolver Sean's dad had hid.

Suddenly, staring straight at me, with nothing but a thin piece of glass between us, was Jake.

"There you are" he hissed. He started to use his snout to break the glass window that was preventing him from getting to me. When he finally broke an opening, I lifted the revolver with my hand and aimed it at him. I shot once, and it hit him right in the snout. Damn it!

These creatures do not die easily. Their only weakness is their heart, which could only be destroyed by 3 bullets aimed right at it, to break off the thick, multiple layers of fur and skin. But for now, all I wanted was for it to get off the car.

"Better luck next time Jake" I uttered as the bullet striked him.

True enough, he lost his grip and dropped onto the ground. I watched as i saw the pack shrink in size as we drove further and further away. I heaved a sigh of relief and went back to the passenger's seat.

"That's my girl" Sean mocked.

"Oh shut up asshole" I teased back while giving him a playful punch.