Predator

An Insatiable Desire

My teeth bared, I stand up slowly, never breaking eye contact with the shaky figure in front of me that seemed to forget how to move or breath. I shift my neck from side to side, cracking it.

It feels so good. Being in control again.

And to have this sight in front of me. A meal. A small meal, but a meal none the less. I won't complain. I'll enjoy ripping his throat out and tasting the blood that flows beneath. Feeling his warm flesh torn apart by my claws. What more could I ask for?

I'm so ready to pounce now and get what I want, but I don't want this to end so fast. I have to drag this out. I haven't been entertained with a human meal in so long. They are the best kind of meal and I'm not going to waste this gift wrapped opportunity. No, I'm not. I'm going to enjoy this for as long as I can.

I curl my lips up into a smirk as I stare, fixated on my prey. His heart is beating at a speed that is remarkably similar to a rabbit's. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. I can barely stifle a chuckle as I draw in a deep breath, holding it a moment to let the boy's anxiety escalate. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump. Then I release a vicious, tree shaking roar that sparks us both into action.

The boy jumps, yelping with fright as he falls backwards, dropping his phone in the process. He scurries back, away from me as he picks himself up and starts running in the opposite direction.

Let the hunt begin, I think to myself with a wicked smile.

My own heart pounding inside my chest, I begin to chase after him with ease. Not directly behind him, but towards the side, hidden within the forest. I'm fooling him into thinking that he might have some sort of distance between us. To taunt him. To play with his mind.

When I say 'humans are the best kind of meal,' it's not only for their taste. It's also for the fun of it. You can toy with humans. You can feel more within them than just the rapid heartbeat as you would a small, fearful animal. Humans get anxious and upset. They try to out think you and have hope that they will outrun you. But the moment when they are finally caught and come to the sudden realization that they are about to die and start begging you for their life. It is unlike any other feeling in the world. It is a feeling of power. Pure power. To know that I am smarter and stronger in every way.

I must savor this opportunity given to me tonight. Sure, I shouldn't play with my food, but who can help it when it's this exhilarating.

I listen to the boy's ragged breathing as he sprints back up his trail, towards safety. Does he think he is going to be fast enough? Fast enough to out run a wolf? How admirable.

I stealthily run in front of him and to the right, still hidden by the night's darkness, to let out a low growl that rips through the air. The boy yells in surprise. Not having heard me move around him, he almost loses balance as his feet slide across the ground and he changes direction. He goes off of the trail, both away from me and away from his safe haven.

I change our direction multiple times, leading him deeper and deeper into the forest before I finally convince myself that the boy is lost enough to not have a clue where he is or even how to get back.

I grin with joy as I run up directly behind him. I'm on his tail and without him realizing it, I lean forward to growl inches away from his ear.

The boy immediately ducks away from my voice, crying out and losing his balance. He falls hard to the ground, rolling a few times before coming to a stop, lying on his back. A few grunts escape his mouth from the wind being knocked out of him.