howl // c. hood

three

the wind was cool and crisp as i walked home, playing with my hair and the leaves in the trees. twigs snapped underfoot and small animals scurried through the bushes as i approached them on my trek home.

i had decided to walk through the trails leading through the woods. it was the quickest way home, and i didn't want to deal with timing traffic to run across certain streets. i had my earbuds in, and i couldn't hear anything that was happening around me. however, i did see the glimpse of something running in my peripheral vision. i took out an earbud and looked around. maybe it was just a rabbit or a squirrel or something. i shrugged and put the earbud back in. i continued walking.

i paused when i thought i saw something again, putting the music on pause and taking out my earbuds. "hello?" i asked, but all i could see were the trees and a few bushes scattered about. "is anyone out there?"

of course, no one answered, and i suspiciously started walking, deciding against putting my earbuds back in. i walked quicker this time, though, and kept an eye out for whatever could possibly be following me.

i was nearing the edge of the woods when there was a distinctive growl that sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing. i stopped in my tracks, as i watched something emerge from the edge of the trees, blocking my way out of the woods.

there was a figure stood in the shadows, hunched over and with a predatory stance. i tried to squint and make out features, but it was too dark to make sense of anything. what stood before wasn't human, at least not entirely. it stared at me with unwavering, dark red eyes, and i could feel my fight or flight response kicking in as i turned and sprinted away from the humanoid figure and into the darkened woods.

my heart was racing rapidly, adrenaline spreading to every part of my body. i could feel tears run down my cheeks as the wind burned my eyes while i ran, my lungs working overtime while i breathed heavily. i could hear the humanoid's footsteps thump against the ground, the steady beats gradually getting closer and closer as my thighs began to burn and a stitch made its way into my chest. but i wouldn't stop. i couldn't stop.

"help!" i screamed, my voice coming out hoarse and panicked. the woods were secluded and for the most part isolated, but that didn't stop me from trying to call for someone. maybe by some stupid chance an idiot was walking through the forest at night during the full moon like i was.

branches from the trees tore up my arms and shoulders, tangled themselves into my hair and scratched my cheeks, leaving tiny little trails of blood. "someone help me!" i shouted into the darkness, no longer able to see what the moon's light didn't shine down on. and then suddenly it was like a cliche seen from a horror movie. my left foot hit a rock, the blunt object sending pain shooting through my foot and ankle and me into the foliage and dirt. most of the adrenaline blocked out the pain, but what i did feel sent me howling in pain.

the beast slowed, noticing the predicament that i had gotten myself into. it began to circle me, lips pulled back over its sharp teeth and drool gleaming in the moonlight and dripping from its jowls. i grimaced and scooted my body to continue facing it, keeping my eyes on the animal. i was breathing heavy with silent tears cascading down my bloodied cheeks and pain pulsing from every part of my body.

it paused in its circling, observing me and studying me, letting out a low growl. i screamed as it suddenly pounced, soaring over towards me. on impulse, i kicked my right foot upwards as hard as i could, sending the thing to my side while i hurried back on my feet and continued to run from it.

with white, hot anger, the beast was close behind me, hunting me with revenge lacing every growl, and i noticed a small clearing coming up ahead that i knew led straight to the river. so i pushed myself as hard as i could, leaping from the edge of the clearing and into the cold, blue waters, the beasts claws barely catching my ankle and scratching deep into the skin. i was submerged into the water, the freezing temperatures shocking my body. but i didn't care about that. i was safe.

for the moment.

as i reached the surface, i watched the beast pace around the edge, following me with a menacing look in its eyes. it was mad. hell, it was pissed off, and i was the one to blame. there was a mark on its snout where i had kicked it with my docs. i closed my eyes for a second, drifting downstream towards the shallow parts and trying to ignore to pain in my ankle and the stitch in my side from running for so long and so fast. but my resting period was short lived as i neared the edge of the riverbank and had to crawl out of the now-shallow water before the beast realized the depth of the water and begun to chase me again.

i breathed heavily as i climbed to my feet, whimpering as i put pressure on my left ankle. "help! someone! anyone!" i screamed one more time, the adrenaline leaving my body and the pain growing hundreds of times worse than it was. i just felt weak, but by the sound of splashing behind me, i knew i had to keep going. no matter how tired and weak and faint i was. i was able to get a good enough head start, but that wasn't enough.

unfortunately for me, the beast was too quick was the pain set it, and the next i knew, it had me pinned to the ground, it's sharp claws digging deep into my wrists. my wide eyes were staring up at it. i could feel the warm streams of blood run down my arm and into the dirt. as its lips curled back, i closed my eyes, turning my head and whimpering. its cold snout traveled from my cheek, to my neck, ghosting over my chest as it's hot breath warmed my torso.

i cried out as it growled and bit into my side, the excruciating pain dulling my ankle in comparison. its teeth sank deeper as a howl echoed through the forest before it released me from its jaws. i could feel my breaths becoming shallow and uneven as it looked up for the source of the howl, and black spots covered my vision. this was it. this was how i died. by something inhuman while walking home on a full moon.

a shadow crashed into the beast, sending it flying off me and the shadow following it, standing in front of me, almost like it was protecting me. the shadow growled a warning, snarling at the beast. my eyelids fluttered as i tried to keep my eyes on the two, seeing them charge and crash into each other, teeth snapping and claws swiping at both of their necks. however, with the amount of blood i was losing and how much pain i was in, i could feel my body going into hypovolemic shock and my eyes closing.

but just before i could pass out, there was a shrill howl of pain and then warm hands touching my cheeks. "stay with me, grace, please stay with me." but i couldn't, as the world and all thoughts went dark.

why is all my writing such absolute trash jfc