In the Span of a Breath

Chapter 1

                A deep laugh echoed through the foyer of a quiet estate. Two high school boys walked to the large front door. The older of the two, who was a tall Korean teenager with black, uneven, messy hair and a scraggly goatee, had a backpack slung over his shoulder and a small embarrassed smile on his face. He had been the one to laugh and was surprised at the volume of the echo. He shifted his weight a bit uncomfortable when standing next to the other boy who was quite his opposite. His height was below average and his long honey blond hair hung in ringlets just past his shoulders. His posture was completely relaxed and it was clear he was comfortably at home.

"I can't believe we spent the entire time watching the Monster Movie Marathon." He laughed quieter this time as he ran a hand through his hair. "So much for studying."

                An easy chuckle came from the small teenager beside him. "Well at least we managed to finish the assignment for Mr. Pacheco. There would have been hell to pay had we not." The blond paused where he stood "Are you sure you don't want a ride home?"

                The older of the two nodded his head. "I don't want to wake your parents." He smiled and opened the front door. "Besides if I cut through the orchard it won't take long." He stepped out on to the porch and the shorter of the two followed.

                "And what if the cops cruse by? You know there is a police enforced curfew."

The first boy shrugged his shoulders and readjusted the shoulder strap on his back pack and stepped off the porch. He waved his hand through the air and smiled back at the short boy. "G'night, Paige."

                "Night, Erin." He watched his upperclassman walk off into the night, and noticed momentarily how bright the full moon was. He smiled and went back inside as the door gently latched behind him.

                Erin began to hum as he crossed the expansive, trim, green lawn making a bee line for the country highway on the other side of the large orchard. Taking a deep breath of the crisp night air he suddenly stopped, thinking he heard the soft padding of footsteps as he ducked into the orchard. Hesitating slightly he looked around but saw nothing, save for orderly rows of apple trees. A snap of a fallen twig this time was heard from somewhere in front of him. His breath caught in his throat as he peered intensely through the darkness. Just as he was about to shrug it off he caught sight of a large dark shape separating from one of the trees. A low deep growling reverberated in the silence. Erin sucked air into his already full lungs as the shape crept closer and details began to take shape. Bristly fur, the gilt of yellow eyes, saliva dripping from dangerously sharp teeth all became unmistakable as it lunged forward towards the shaken teen.  Erin dropped his bag and took off running back the way he came, his only thought, to get back to safety. 

He could hear the light loping of the animal behind him and could imagine its hot breath heating the back of his neck. He ran with all his might but it wasn't enough. Whatever it was, it was having no problem keeping the teenager's pace. Relief rushed thought Erin's veins as the large ranch house and lit windows, he just left moments ago, came into view. But it was short lived as he realized there was a figure coming towards him. Filling his lungs with air he got ready to yell when he felt it. An incredible searing pain ripped through his whole being as the monster's claws tore the delicate flesh of his back.

                "ERIN!" The shrill holler echoed in the fallen boy's ears. He looked up in horror as the small stature teen pulled the animal's attention away from its fallen prey, to this new development. The black pelt of the strangely lupine creature, rubbed against Erin's face as it stalked forward towards Paige. Erin watched then in stunned silence as Paige lunged at the creature, eyes narrowed, teeth gritted in rage. The animal just as stunned was a moment too late in reacting, which allowed Paige to get a firm grip around the black animal's thick neck. He maneuvered his way on to the thing's back just as it realized what the boy was trying to do. It began to jump and buck and toss its head as Paige's grip tightened, constricting its breathing. Letting out a fierce growl in anger and growing frustrating it turned its head back and made brief eye contact with the teen before he struck.

                Erin pulled himself up on his knees gasping in pain as he shifted. He looked up again in time to see sharp incisors sink deeply into Paige's thigh. Erin's eyes widened as the scream of his friend drilled its way into his mind, never to be forgotten. The beastly creature sunk it's teeth deeper into the boy's thigh, beginning to crush bone. Once it felt Paige's grip loosening, it flung him to the ground and watched in satisfaction as dark liquid poured from the ugly wound.

                "P-Paige." The breathless call spoken from Erin's trembling lips brought the animal's attention back to its original target. Erin sucked in a sharp breath and tried to fight the tears welling up in his eyes. Not only had he never been so scared in his entire life, he just saw the object of his untold affections tossed away like a rag doll. He shakily pushed himself back on his legs wincing as a new wave of pain tore through him.

                "Stay away from him!" demand Paige, his messy ringlets sliding into his face. Erin had never seen him look quite so terrifying. The animal seemed to grin as it padded cockily over to Paige and stood just out of reach. Paige looked up unafraid into its glowing eyes and punched the thing in the snout. It snorted and swiped at Paige's face but missed as he ducked out of the way. Glaring in anger and pain he got ready for the creature to come again when he realized, despite his greatest efforts, his vision was beginning to spot. Ignoring the pain as best he could he lunged at the beast and managed to grab a handful of hair but he was too weak to hold on. If it was possible for an animal to smile this thing certainly was. Paige watched it resolutely realizing he was probably going to die here as it paced in front of him. Never taking his eyes off the thing he began to address the other young man. "Run... quick." It came out harsh and in between bursts of breath.

                "I-I" Erin was helpless to move. He couldn't speak, only watch in terror as the animal lost its patience and relentlessly attacked Paige. The bright moon did nothing to detract from the hellish nightmare before Erin. He could hear skin rip, bone crack, fabric tear, and perhaps sickest of all, smell blood.  A short yell and sudden stillness broke the trance Erin had been in; he fumbled with his phone he just remembered was shoved in his pocket. Clumsily he dialed 911, on the first ring a click was heard and he wasted no time sputtering what had happened.

                "A-an animal, attacked me. Hurry! H-he isn't moving... I-I'm at the orchard."

The animal suddenly looked up and cocked its head as if listening to something. It growled deeply then scented the air, with a sudden snort the thing slowly receded into darkness.

" P-Paige." Upon the disappearance of the monster animal, he dropped his phone despite the burning pain across his back and dashed to the crumpled form that was his friend. He dropped to his knees and hesitantly rolled the unmoving boy into his lap. The overwhelming grief of the loss of Paige socked him in the stomach with such veracity he couldn't breathe. Tears poured down his face and onto Paige's as he began to slightly rock back and forth.

                "H-hold on. You can't die. Don-don't-" a great sob ripped itself from his throat while he clutched at the broken body in his arms. No longer did it matter that the beast was still somewhere lurking, watching. Only thoughts of the teenager he adored filled his head, the lost opportunities because he never told him, the pain his family and friends would be in, and how this was all his fault, how this was supposed to be him, not Paige, not for him.

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I'm super pumped to start  publishing this!! This story is sorta my baby so I hope you enjoy whats to come.

~Kenne