The Beast of Fox Hill

Sixteen

Sometime during the movie, my eyes fell shut and lead me to a comfortable slumber. I had no dreams, only a darkness that wrapped my thoughts like a sleeping baby. 

My sleep was disturbed by a loud growl outside. It was loud enough to wake me from a heavy slumber and my entire body shot up as it sounded through the air. I look around to see Axel is now sleeping too and my body is against his still. 

"Axel," I say as I begin to shake my friend. He lets out a grumble of protest but I continue to shake him. "Axel there is something outside," I say a bit louder. This gets his attention and he finally opens his eyes but I can see his mind is still groggy. 

"What?" he asks in a low mumbled voice. 

"There is something outside," I say once again as the growl comes again, closer this time. I can tell it is no longer a bit of a distance away. We both look to the window across from the couch as we hear the horrifying sound. 

"Jasper, I want you to stay put," Axel states firmly. I begin to rapidly shake my head in protest. 

"No you don't understand. This thing has been after me for over a week. I have run into it multiple times! It broke down my door!" I yell holding onto Axel's arm. 

"Jasper trust me, I will be fine," he states as if that was really going to calm me down. 

"No! You can't go out!" I yell, tears beginning to blur my vision. "Please don't leave me alone," I say in an attempt to guilt him into staying with me. 

"Stay put. Close the windows and blinds. I'm going outside," he states before pulling away and walking to the door. "Lock the door behind me," he says and he opens the door and leaves so quick I can not argue. 

I quickly rush behind him and lock the door as instructed. I rush down the hallway and go into every room making sure the windows are completely closed and locked. Once I am finished and close my blinds and curtains in my bedroom, I rush down the hall to the living room window. 

My mouth goes dry as I gasp when a behemoth black beastly head with red eyes turns in my direction. In front of it is a second, large creature with reddish brown fur with a dark brown tone mixed through it. The second large wolf turns its head and its eyes shine a shimmering golden color. Though it is not quite the size of the black one that has tormented me for days, it is still larger than any wolf I have ever seen. 

With both their eyes trained on me, the giant black wolf takes its chance and jumps onto the smaller one. I take my opportunity as well to lock the window and close the only way they'd be able to see me. 

I run into my kitchen, locking even the small window above the sink. My heart races as beads of sweat begin to form on my forehead and trickle down to my upper lip. I panic as I realize there are two giant wolves outside and so is my best friend. 

I begin to shake as I try to think of a way to go out and save my friend who could be dead for all I know at this point. My hands grow clammy with all my shaking and I begin to hyperventilate. 

Outside the house, I hear the wolves growling at one another, a whine coming once in a while. The fall leaves and gravel are audibly crunching under the movement of the large monsters. 

My mind, filled with fear and anxiety for not only my own safety, but the thought of my best friend being outside with the obviously angered beasts. My chest begins to tighten as the anxiety grows and breathing is slowly getting harder and harder to accomplish. All I can think of is Axel being out there and that I have to save him, but my bravery is lacking when it comes to the wolves that have tormented me. 

My mind flickers to being in the snow covered woods as a teenager, recalling the similar fear I had that night. Then I realize, this fear is multiple times worse than that night. Though I have run into the creatures before, the idea that now my best friend is in danger as well, my chest and brain begin to shut down.