The Thing | Windows

The Dog-Thing

Francesca's POV:
The sound of an alarm woke me up. I jumped at the sound and went to get up. Then I remembered I had invited Windows back to my room. "Shit." I said. "What's going on?" Windows asked sleepily. My bedroom door burst open and Echo said "MacReady needs everyone to go to the kennel." "What's going on?" I said. "He needs the flamethrowers. And Windows you need to get a fire extinguisher." She said. "Ok. I'm getting up." Windows said. I sat up and pulled my jeans on. I grabbed my jacket and said "come on." Windows nodded sleepily and pulled his jacket on. I quickly put on my boots and Windows was moving slow. "Come on." I said, pulling his arm. The two of us ran for the dog kennel. A screaming moaning sound was heard. "What the fuck is that thing?" Bess said. Garry aimed his gun at it while MacReady shot at it. "No! Don't!" Clark said as he tried to stop MacReady. A gunshot went off along with the whisper of a dog. MacReady held Clark back and I walked over to Clark. "It's ok." I said softly. MacReady let go of Clark and Fuchs stood across from me, his eyes wide at whatever was in the kennel. I still hadn't got to the kennel to see what it is yet. Windows walked in front of me, a fire extinguisher in his hands. "Caspian, what is that?" Echo asked. I got to the fence and saw what was in the kennel. My eyes widened at the creature. Windows stood next to me, his eyes going wide as well. Even though his sunglasses were covering his eyes, he stared in shock. Childs, Palmer and Copper ran in from the other side. "Get your ass over here!" MacReady yelled at Childs. "What happened to the dogs? For gods sake what happened to the dogs?!" Caitlin screamed. Nauls shielded her from the creature and MacReady told Childs to torch it. Childs stared at the creature in the cage. A long arm extended from the creature, reaching for Childs. He immediately turned on the flamethrower before it could grab him. Unworldly screeches and groans came from the kennel. Clark frowned at the sight of his dead dogs. "Put it out!" Garry said. Windows, Palmer and Copper quickly ran in, extinguishing the fire. Nobody said a word. Everyone was in shock. Blair was going to study the creature to figure out what it was. Him and Fuchs were the biologists. Echo told them she'd help if they needed her. Fuchs said he'd like her help and the creature was then carried into the infirmary. I stared at it and Windows said "you ok?" I nodded and Nauls took Caitlin away to calm her down. "W-what was that thing?" I said. Windows shrugged and said "I don't know." I reached for him and then hesitated. Windows opened his arms and then hugged me. "It's face." I said. Windows rubbed my back and MacReady said "is she ok?" "I got her. She'll be fine." Windows replied. Caspian was holding Echo and Bess was trying to get everyone out of the kennel. "Give me your extinguisher." MacReady said. Windows took it off his body and I heard them begin to talk quietly. "I'm gonna take you back to your room." Windows said to me. I nodded against his chest and the two of us began to walk to my room. I didn't let go of him. I held onto Windows the whole walk there. "Frankie, you ok?" Palmer asked as we passed him. "She'll be fine. She just needs some rest. I think she might be in shock." Windows said. "She is. But it's normal. She'll be fine in a couple of hours." Copper said. I looked between Copper and Windows, watching the two of them speak. Copper walked over to me and said "Francesca, you're alright. Windows is going to take you in your room and you're going to get some rest. You'll feel better in a few hours. And you might not remember how you're feeling now in a few hours, ok?" I nodded and I looked at Palmer. He frowned and said "Frank..." I stared up at him. "Can I give you a hug?" I didn't answer. "I don't think you should." Windows said. Palmer outstretched his arms and I let go of Windows' arm. I hugged him and felt his arms wrap around me. He rubbed my back and Copper said "Palmer, let her get some rest." He let go of me and then Windows took me into my room, closing the door behind us.

Windows' POV:
"I'm just gonna take your jacket off." I said to her. Frankie seemed to be in a daze. It was probably from seeing that thing. "Do you wanna sleep in your sweater?" She nodded. Frankie began undoing her boots. "Why don't you unbutton your jeans and I'll pull them off so you can sleep." Frankie slowly looked down at her jeans, unbuttoning them very slowly. She pulled them down past her butt and sat on the bed. I pulled them off her legs and then gently set her in the bed. "I'll be right across the hall. If you need anything." I said. I went to leave and she said "W-Windows?" I turned to look at her and she said "stay." "Ok." She had sat up and I took my jacket off. I took the boots I had on off and sat next to her. I laid down and pulled her onto my chest. "You'll stay all night?" "All night." I replied. I pulled the blanket onto our bodies and sighed. "Did all the dogs die?" "No. Some of them escaped. Clark is with them I'm sure." "What if that thing got one of us? Instead of the dogs. What if we were whatever that thing was." Frankie said. "It's dead. We're safe. Just get some sleep. And I'll be right here. Don't think about that thing ok?" Frankie nodded against my chest and didn't say anything else.

-

"Hey." A voice said. I opened my eyes and saw Palmer. "What're you doing?" I asked. "Blair. He wants everyone in the infirmary. He figured something out about the dog thing. Is she gonna be able to come?" He gestured to Frankie and I said "I dunno. Maybe." I shook her gently and her eyes fluttered open. "What?" She said. "Everyone has to go to the infirmary. It's only for a few minutes." Palmer said. Frankie sat up and said "Palmer, give me those jeans." Palmer quirked an eyebrow and then handed them to Frankie. She climbed over me and pulled her jeans on. I watched Palmer look her up and down and I scoffed. Frankie looked at me and said "what?" "Nothing." I replied. Frankie grabbed her sneakers and said "why does Blair need us?" "The dog thing." Palmer said. Frankie nodded and said "ok. Let's go." I quickly pulled on my shoes and the three of us stepped out of Frankie's room.

Oof this book is gonna get gory soon. I actually can't wait to write it tbh
~skylar🛸🪐🛸🪐