Claws in the Dark | ✔

VII (Part II)

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Landon threw himself into bed and cried into a pillow. He was devastated because the man he truly loved was taken from him by that dreadful beast. All the fun times he'd had with Dolph busting bad guys, and all the drinks they'd had on Fridays when they got off from work, were some of the best times of Landon's life.

All the opportunities he'd had to confess his feelings towards Dolph, especially recently in the washroom back at Grandville PD, were now considered wasted. He was always putting it off, and now regretted not telling him sooner.

He got up and paced around the room, shaking his head. He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. Dolph couldn't be dead! Sitting back down on his bed, he stared blankly at his phone screen. The wallpaper of his phone screen was a picture of him and Dolph on their first investigation. It was a stakeout and they were cooped up in their car until they could make a move, and so to pass the time, they took pictures.

He shut off the phone as the picture just made him get more emotional. He needed to take a shower. That always seemed to help him clear his head. He stripped down and took a towel from in his dresser and went across the hall of his apartment, and into the bathroom. Turning it the knob fully to the hot side, he rubbed his skin with the soap and began to wash off.

He wrapped his towel around his waist and left the bathroom. As he was walking across the hall to go into his bedroom, something in the corner of his right eye made him glance in that direction. He paled and screamed at the sight of the monster with sharp teeth growling at him, and ran into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. It braced his back against the door to prevent it from coming in. Four sharp claws pierced through the door barely missing his right cheek. He yelped and jumped away from the door, his towel becoming undone as it was stuck in the space between the door and its frame. He backed up and bumped into the edge of his bed as the creature beyond his door continuously smashed into it.

Eventually, the door started to crack, and a panicking Landon ran into the closet, locking the door. He covered his mouth as the monster finally broke in. Its low growls sent chills down his spine as it searched the room for him. Tears streamed down his face as his breath hitched. The pace of his breathing picked up as he tried to remain calm. The creature walked up to the closet door and sniffed. Landon's eyes widened and he held his breath. What would he do if the Clawden saw, heard or smelled him?

He was a dead man, just like Dolph, but at least they'd be together.

After a few moments, the beast snorted and retreated from the room. Cupping his face with his hands, he let out a shaky breath. How did it even get in?

After waiting for half an hour, Landon finally stepped out of the closet. The monster could be anywhere in the house but he couldn't stay in there any longer. Taking a clean robe that hung in the closet, he threw it on and tied the knot in front. He crept to the broken bedroom door and peered into the hallway.

Clear.

He crawled through the hole the monster had made and tip-toed across to the bathroom. He took up a pair of scissors (which laid on a table near the sink) in his hands and gripped the handle tightly.

He needed his gun, which he'd left on the kitchen counter when he just ran in and dumped everything on his way to the bedroom. He sauntered over to the bathroom door and, just as a precautionary measure, peered into the hallway again. When he saw that it was still clear, he stepped out and inched towards the front of his apartment, keeping his back to the wall. He stopped moving when he heard a low growl. The creature was still in his apartment, and it sounded close by. He continued until he was at the kitchen's opening, and sneaked a peek around the corner with one eye. He spotted the monster sleeping on the counter. Whatever it was, he had no clue. He just stared in mere trepidation at the scary creature.

The silver of Landon's gun gleamed and caught his attention; it was under one of the monster's paws. He took a deep breath and came out of hiding. He crouched and walked up to the counter, and tentatively lifted his left hand to feel around on its surface for the gun. His hand brushed against the cold metal, and he tugged at it lightly. After a few agonizingly slow moments, he finally got the gun free and dragged it towards the edge of the counter.

Just when he was going to make it, something sharp pierced his hand. Landon screamed at the immense pain he felt, looking up at the monster, now wide awake with four of its claws stuck into his hand. Blood was rushing out, covering the counter with a new coat of crimson. He tried to pull his hand free, but to no avail - the claws of the creature only ripped his flesh as he struggled. It glared and growled at him.

Landon was sure he was dead now. He was filled with fear as he stared into the monster's deadly eyes. He was hyperventilating as it raised its other forelimb, its sharp claws extended and ready to slash.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶