Claws in the Dark | ✔

XVI

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Darkness engulfed the town as night prevailed, but the moon shone nevertheless. It was quiet, with the exception of the low growls from Clawdens resounding in the unlit streets.

A patrol car screeched as it pulled up to Hinkson High School, and Dolph and Kelly emerged. They ran towards the school's entrance, not bothering to lock the car's doors.

Dolph pulled on the handle, but the door didn't open. "Shit, it's locked," he said.

Snarling sounds came from up the road they'd travelled, and Kelly began to panic. "I think we have company," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "Maybe we can try the back?" she continued, shifting her weight and readying her gun to shoot.

Dolph followed her gaze as the monsters came into view. "Don't shoot. They haven't spotted us yet," he whispered to her, pushing her hands down.

They were hidden in the shadows, so they didn't really have to worry.

"Come on, the back is worth a shot." He ran around the school's compound. Kelly kept close behind, constantly looking back to see if they were being followed. They both had their guns out and were on high alert.

Approaching the back door of the school, Dolph reached out and pulled on the handle. That too was locked, causing him to mutter a curse.

"What are we going to do?" Kelly asked. "If we stay out here, we'll die."

Dolph scanned the exterior of the building, squinting. "There," he said, pointing at an open window two storeys up.

"Great. How do we get up?" Kelly asked, crossing her arms.

Dolph walked away and looked around the yard. She saw him peer around the corner and then disappear.

"Where are you going?" she mumbled, running after him. As soon as she banked the turn she saw him bringing a ladder.

"This is how we get in." He went back and placed the ladder near the open window. "Ladies before gents," he gestured so that she could climb.

Kelly shook her head. "I'm afraid of heights."

"Kelly, you won't be afraid of heights if one of those things get you."

"You go ahead. Make sure up there is safe, and then I'll come up."

Dolph pondered before letting out a long sigh. "Fine. If any of those monsters appear, I want you to start climbing, though. Got it?"

"Last time I checked...I was the Chief. I give the orders, and I'll do what's necessary if they appear," she told him. "Now, get your ass up there and stop wasting time!"

He gave her a weak smile before beginning his ascent up the ladder. Kelly kept a keen eye out for the Clawdens while acting as a support system at the bottom of the ladder. The cold night's breeze chilled her and her goosebumps came out. She looked up to see Dolph's retreating behind now climbing into the window. She smirked at the sight and whistled playfully.

Dolph poked his head back out the window after a while. "It's clear!" he whispered. "Come on up."

Kelly took a step onto the ladder to begin climbing, but a few growls coming from her left caused her to stiffen.

Dolph heard the growls, too, and look towards where they were coming from. One Clawden appeared, followed by another, and then two more. Soon there were seven of the vile beings staring at their prey – Kelly.

"Kelly, climb!" he shouted, and she snapped out of her trance and gripped the ladder tightly. The shout caused the monsters to break into a sprint towards the police chief.

She began climbing the ladder as fast as she could, the metal clanging with each rung she went up. She was almost there and Dolph was reaching out to grab her hand. But then it happened.

The ladder budged out of place. Kelly froze and glanced down. One of the Clawdens was nudging at its base.

"Oh no," she said, going pale.

"Fuck, Kelly, move it!" Dolph shouted from above. She looked up and resumed climbing, as fast as she could, before the monsters could knock her and the ladder over.

The nudging turned into shoving as she neared the top. Dolph kept his hand outstretched and she reached for it. And just as she grabbed his hand, the ladder shifted beneath her, and everything went.

The loud clang down below made the monsters grunt viciously. Their meal wasn't delivered to them as ordered. Kelly yelped as she was now dangling from the open window, holding onto Dolph's hand as best she could.

"Don't you fucking drop me, Dolph," she warned angrily, looking over her shoulder.

"This wouldn't have happened if you'd have fucking came up when I told you to," he said, gritting his teeth as he strained to hold on to her.

"Pull me up!" she ordered.

Dolph heaved, groaning as he pulled her up, but Kelly's clammy hands caused her to start slipping.

"Oh, shit, shit, shit!" Kelly squealed. "Move faster!" she shouted.

Her subordinate tried with all his might, but her hands were just too sweaty from nervousness. Her grip on Dolph started to loosen and she looked at him in fear. He tried to use his next hand, but it was too late. He barely scraped the top of her hand before she went plummeting to the ground.

"No!" Dolph bellowed, and Kelly screamed. The sound of cracking bone made Dolph wince as she impacted the ground.

Kelly moaned as her eyes blinked repeatedly. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Not even as much as twitch a finger. The Clawdens gathered around her, growling, and she started to breathe heavily. Her breaths were seen in the small white clouds leaving her mouth.

Dolph took his gun out and fired shots, taking a few of the hairy beasts down, but it did little good, as more of them just appeared and crowded Kelly. She was blocked from his view, and all he could hear were her shrieks for help, shrieks of pain and suffering. Dolph knew she definitely wasn't getting out of this. Kelly's screams were cut off by her gurgling, and also the ripping of flesh and bone from her body; blood sprayed across the ground with each part of her the Clawdens took. He just watched as they devoured her.

"No..." he rasped, his hands hanging limply from the window.

He pulled back inside and turned around, sliding down to the floor and bringing his knees up to his face. Tears burned his eyes as they left, staining his cheeks. Although Kelly was annoying, she didn't deserve to die...at least not the way she did, anyway.

But Dolph wasn't going to let her nor anyone else's death be in vain.

He stopped his crying and lifted his head, observing the room he was in. Counters littered with laboratory equipment lined the sides of the room. Some of the same equipment hung on racks which were bolted to the walls above the counters. Large glass bottles were scattered about on the counters, each filled with different coloured chemicals. Buckets and larger plastic bottles were underneath some of the counters, as well as near the sink, and an area right where he was slumped has a shower overhead – the wash bay.

This was the school's laboratory, and Dolph's face lit up – he was going to use this opportunity to his advantage.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶