Beloved

What Did I See?!

So here I am, on my way home from work. When I decide to take a stroll through the alleyway that would shorten my walk by at least ten minutes. But, with my luck, when I get there, I see a man being eaten!!!

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"Oh my God!" I scream and the animal turns to me just as I reached for my phone. When we locked eyes, it was like a wave of fear paralyzed me. It only lasted for a moment because I blinked and it vanished. I hurried and reached for my phone while running up to the guy to check and see if he was okay.

911, what is your emergency?

"Hello, yes! I have a man here who is bleeding out from an animal attack!" I spoke frantically and the receptionist asked where we were located. I told her near the Cali food mart, in an empty alleyway that intersects fifth and eighth street.

OK sir, stay where you are and stay alert. The animal could still be lurking nearby. The police are on their way. If you have any self defense weapons, take them out and I will inform the officers.

I thanked her and hung up. I grabbed my mini can of spray mace from my keychain and held it in my hand. I looked down at the man again but more closely this time. "...The marks are evenly spaced and don't seem to be that deep. That animal must have hit a major vein. Hold still, I'm gonna apply pressure. Just stay with me until the ambulance gets here!" I told the guy as I took off my tee and pressed it to his neck. He scowled and gurgled more blood. I don't know if this is the right thing to do but I sure hope he survives... I don't want another death on my conscious.

The sirens grew louder and the cars swerved in front of the openings. The EMTs ran over to us and I backed away while putting my mace back on the keychain. The officers approached me and told me that I'd need to be questioned and I complied while the guy was rushed to a hospital. I sat in the back of the police car, feeling like a criminal because of the blocking they had between us.

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And he was already being attacked when you approached?

"Yes sir." I responded irritably to the same question I had answered five times already. "Its nearly four in the morning, can I go home? I already told you that he was being attacked by an animal with glowing red eyes! I didn't see anything else because the alleyway was nearly pitch black!" I said to the guy who seemed to be irritated with me as well.

That's exactly what a criminal would say!!! You know you did it, you had his blood on your hands!!!

"From trying to save his life!" I countered and we both stood angrily. He towered over me and was probably double my weight but I definitely wouldn't back down, even if he was a cop.

Why I oughta-

"Harry, leave the boy alone! A Mr. Ymir Stella, you are free to go home. Thank you for your time." A lady stepped into the room right as he reached for me and told me I could leave. I smirked at the cop, blew him a raspberry, and left the police department. As I was walking home, I fell back on the reality of last night. I nearly watched another person die and I was hiding it at the precinct but I was actually near breaking point. When I reached my house, I stepped inside and looked all around my three bedroom house. It was small yet cozy and I was tired so I went to lay in my bed but passed the bathroom on my way there. I decided to shower first and took everything off in the hallway.

I stepped into the tub and turned the setting to the hottest my body could take. The hot water created steam and it flowed around the bathroom. I scrubbed and scrubbed but never felt clean enough so I just let the water rinse me for the last time. Just as I was coming to my senses, there was a clang coming from the kitchen. It scared me so I fell but I got up and turned off the water. I grabbed the pocket knife from the medicine cabinet and a towel from the rack and crept around the corner. I quickly turned into the kitchen but found nothing there. I looked to see that a pan had clattered to the floor so I just picked it up and went to my room. I dried off and jumped into my bed. I was nearly sleep when I heard another clang, this time closer to me. I jumped up and looked at the closet door. "For fuck's sake, why is everything in this damn house falling?!" I asked myself, outraged. I didn't even get up to check the closet, I just rolled over and looked toward the window. It was still dark outside but something else caught my attention.

There was a feint glow outside and I thought maybe it was the neighbor's primed car alarm but the glow grew brighter and formed the shape of eyes. I screamed and rolled over to my dresser, sure that it was the same beast that attacked the man earlier. I pulled on some boxers and reached for the bottom drawer of the dresser. I picked up the handgun and looked back to the window but the eyes were gone.

Then came heavy beating on my door and I cautiously approached the front of the house. The beating continued and I checked the window only to see my neighbor, Adam. I opened the door and he rushed in. "I heard you scream, I thought you were in trouble!" He, like I, was in only his boxers and held a bat in his hands. He looked over the house and then back to me and then to my hand. "Oh, it seems you actually were in trouble. Was it burglars?" He asked and I shook my head and wiped at the newly formed tears in my eyes. "Oh Ymir." He said affectionately before wrapping his arms around my waist and hugging me. "Its okay, you're safe now." He said while looking me in my eyes but I wasn't okay and I just wanted him to leave.

"You're right. Go home Adam, I'll talk with you later..." I told him and he nodded, clearly missing the part where I didn't actually want to talk to him and also missing that he was still rubbing his crotch against mine. He left and I sat on the sofa.

"What is that thing?"