Death Wish

Chapter 18

Frank's tattooed fist clenches around bunches of the other man's curls when he hears a scream echo up the hill.

Frank pauses. "Wait, was that..?" 

The distraction loosens his grip and he looks up worriedly, giving his opponent just enough time to reverse roles. Ray flips Frank to the bottom with a single shove and sits on him to keep him down.

Frank wheezes, "Aye, wait a second!"

Ray doesn't listen, he simply folds his arms and sits back on him to prove he's won. Mikey casually takes a photograph of the situation in the background. Ray then clears his throat, "I think we need a plan we won't get carried away on."

Frank growls and glares up at them both, "Would you listen for a sec?"

"What else are we going to do to attract this alpha monster?" Mikey drags a sigh, not hearing him.

"Maybe we can ask someone for directions." Ray rests his head on a hand.

A creature's roars now abandon the screamer below and travel towards the new source of noise - them. Heavy, aggressive steps rack up from behind to come greet the trio's quarrel. Frank switches from impatient to panicked, "Guys!"

Ray and Mikey stop to stare, "What?"

"Listen!" He urges.

Stomps anxiously come up the hill with the roars. Ray is instantly off of Frank's back and grabbing for any form of protection on him. "Shoot, what is that?"

"What we were looking for?" Mikey guesses.

Frank springs up beside them, "I heard someone yelling, too - it sounded like Gerard." 

Ray finally finds a knife on him to whip out, "Where is it coming from?"

A crackle of rumbling growls sneak up behind them. Mikey turns first to look over his shoulder and sees the tall, lanky creature staring at them with multiple hungry eyes. He gulps, "Found it."

~ ~ ~

The creature's claws are clasped around my chest, lifting me from the ground, ready to make my insides outsides, when something miraculous happens. Just before the creature can truly hurt me a series of cries outside catches its attention. 

Its many yellow eyes narrow and the gears in its head turn. For the first time I see the creature hesitate - truly indecisive on what to do. It's unsure of what to kill first, it is the only off putting detail of its finally revealed weakness.

I watch its slitted pupils finally dart away from me and its claws unhook from my shirt. I fall limply to the floor and it scampers to exit its den, abandoning its mission completely for another.

I can't say I'm ungrateful for another poor sap getting killed instead. I weakly pull myself up to sit and retake the Book of Curses. I pinch my eyes shut and take in a deep breath as I hug it in my arms. 

Finally. Step one is done - and all by me. I did it on my own, it just took longer than expected.

I reopen my eyes and work to carefully get to my feet. I grip the wall for support and gradually tug myself up onto my least hurting foot. Both are miserable, but only one of them sports a broken leg. I roll with the sprained side and slowly limp for the exit.

Take your time, you don't want to hurt yourself any worse...but don't be slow either, I mean that thing is bound to come back still wanting to kill you.

No pressure.

I smirk to myself at the thoughts running through my head. I'm a quarter way to leaving when I hear shouts come from outside. I shake my head and try to block them out to focus on my own challenges.