Chapter 1: Nighttime
“All creatures have an irrational fear of the dark.”
BANG!
I almost jumped out of my skin. A huge clap of thunder rumbled overhead and I looked up at the sky doubting that it was going to hold much longer.
I wrapped my jacket tighter around me, trying to ward off the icy fingers of the wind. I shivered as the wind blew strait through my jacket wrapping its cold fingers around my torso.
KABOMB!
Another roll of thunder stroked across the sky with it a bright bolt of thunder lighting up the sky. And the heathens opened releasing a thick curtain of rain down upon the earth.
“Great.” I mumbled to myself.
This was just what I needed. “Rain!”
Someone up there had I in for me.
A furious gust of wind blew icy droplets of rain on my face and soaked through my jeans to my skin. I wrapped my arms around my belly and ted to run along the side of the road. My car was broken down and the pickup truck wasn’t here yet.
Looking down the road I tried to see further than the gloomy darkness but I failed. A shiver rocked up my spine and my hairs stood on end. I was being watched.
Something snapped to my right and I screamed.
I lurched into a run and ran back to where my car was.
I slammed myself into the car and locked all the doors. I sat in the darkness.
Listening to the sound of my heart beat and trying to calm my breathing.
BANG!!!!!
“Argh!!!!!”
I jumped and the dashboard light went out.
I sat completely still in the darkness. My heart in my throat and the sound of my teeth chattering together breaking the awkward silence.
Something smashed against the window and I jumped. Lurching myself against the back of the door.
Everything went quite.
I sat with my heart beating faster than a hummingbirds wings in my chest and peered out into the inky darkness.
Something was out there.
Thunder bombed overhead and I counted out loud. “One elephant, two elephants, three elephants, four elephants…” Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the blackness for a few seconds.
I saw it only for a little bit, but it was there, huge, enormous even. Black scales glistening with moisture, the rain pouring off its tarpaulin like wings onto the ground. The light glinted off its furious looking set of teeth that could make any dentist proud.
Then the light was gone and I was back in darkness again.
I sat still in the car, listening to the sound of my own breathing and the rain pittering pattering on my roof with its many fingers. Another bolt of lightning lit up the sky and this time when I looked at the creature its eyes were open, revealing x-ray blue eyes that were swimming with pain.
“Oh, you poor creature.” I whispered not being able to stop the sadness that came bubbling to the surface.
Before I knew what I was doing, my hand was on the door handle and I had stepped out of the sanctuary of the car, the rain soaking me through.
Very slowly, my boots squelching in the mud I approached the creature. I could hear it breathing in deep whoops that was pushing the water away from its nose. When I had wondered as close as I dared I crouched down and watched the creature, its deep breaths making its shinning scales rise up and down. I placed one hand on what appeared to be its chest and I could feel its heart beating in great dumb dumbs that were steady and strong beneath my hand.
