Howling

Molly's Night

Every night the howls happen. Nine pm on the dot, they sound and echo throughout the forest and town. Everyone knows to be in by eight, everyone did. People would often open doors to hurriedly offer others a place to stay for the night. From nine to the first rays of sunlight, don't stray outside. But, that's all within reason as several businesses still run. For instance, this wonderful gas station that stays open twenty-four seven.

"See you tomorrow Moll!" Carl calls through a yawn as he heads out with Natalie.

"Stay safe sweety!" Natalie states sternly before leaving.

"Thanks, you too!" Molly yells after the couple, all waving to one another. They were the last one she saw of her fellow workers at the start of each shift. Everyone knew the dangers of the shift, but being nearly three times the pay wasn't something Molly could pass up. Plus, the safe room was always available and where she'll spend most of her time.

Howling from somewhere deep in the forest sounds a couple of hours later. They ring out clearly as her hairs stand on end and she uneasily looks out into the night. She tries to steady her breathing as she gets back to stocking, testing the sensors repeatedly as usual.

She restlessly stays at the counter until the familiar alarms start. The sensors being tripped one at a time. It was procedure to wait until they were three sensors out before going to the room. But these beasts could certainly reach her by then, and that thought kept her looking out of the reinforced glass windows and the sensors.

She watched as they slowly made their way closer and closer, as if they knew she was there. The anxiety of watching them steadily come for her never lessened, though she was aware they weren't targeting her but simply moving to town. And the third sensor being tripped instantly had her running with all of her ability to the safe room, slamming the door shut and locking it tight. She squeezes her eyes shut and curls up in the far corner as the snarls and growls surround her. As usual, she tries to calm down as they roam around outside of the building. And just as usual, she finally calms enough to watch the cameras and make sure none were getting into the store. So far so good.

She recalls the one time that they had broken in. The large wolf-like creatures usually didn't enter buildings, but on this occasion two were fighting and tousled straight through a window. They didn't appear affected in the slightest from the glass and wrought iron as they both stood back up, snarled, then started attacking one another again. By the time dawn arrived, the store was a mess. Even though it had been hours since they settled their disagreement and moved on, she couldn't bring herself to exit until her boss came in an hour after dawn. Her boss sent her home straight away, giving her the following day off to pull herself back together after witnessing what she had. After all, the creatures weren't right and one's mind couldn't fully comprehend what they were seeing. Wolf-like being the closest they can come to describe them, that wasn't quite right.

Each creature on all four easily cleared six feet tall, but should they choose to raise on their hind legs, instantly gained some feet to their height gaining closer to nine feet tall. Their eyes always seem to be a solid glossy color, ranging in the color spectrum. Their lips seemed too tight and always pulled back, unable to cover their rows of fangs. Their barbed tongues can easily whip out twenty feet, injecting prey with toxin to immobilize you. It wasn't unusual to hear the screams of a human or animal as they were ripped apart and devoured alive. Each of their fingers and toes were tipped with five inch claws, ready to hook and shred anything they wish to. Their rough and wiry fur coated their bodies in different colors, but usually would be bloodied by the end of the night with chunks of gore clinging to it.

But tonight, she didn't have to deal with them in the store. Pissing herself during that last event wasn't something she'd like to revisit. An hour after them passing through, she'd be on alert for the delivery trucks. Everything more or less followed a schedule after all.