|
Colin M. Maguire took third place at Saugus.net's scary story contest last year with "Ostrich Night". He makes his home in Seattle, Washington. Recently, Colin's scary screenplay, "Crow's End" placed in the Quarterfinalists for the Screenwriting Expo 6. His favorite TV show is Penny Dreadful's Shilling Shockers. |
When Barrett pulled into Smokey’s Automotive, somewhere off of Highway 61 in Nebraska, his hands were shaking so badly that he could hardly steer. He was so terrified that he feared to unlock the door and step outside. The two mechanics tending the station appeared in the front window of the shop and gazed at him curiously.
It was nearly two in the morning, and Barrett hadn’t seen a soul for miles on end. In such an isolated area, at this early hour, it was only natural that his presence should garner such inquisitive looks. Barrett tried to steady himself, and moved his hand to the door lock, but it froze there. Not yet. Not yet. He took the hand and instead wiped his teary face.
The two attendants were joking about him, he saw. Not huge guffaws, but a good couple of elbows-to-ribs. Great. He was absolutely horrified, and was cornered into resorting to yokels for help. Running his fingers through his long black hair, he scanned the darkness surrounding the car. Nothing. He took a breath, then willed himself to unlock the door and bolt out. Blasting from the vehicle, he ran furiously to the station door, swung it open and then slammed it hard behind him. His shaky hands found the dead bolt and turned the lock. Barrett backed away from the secured door, then turned to look at the other two men. They appeared intrigued, but not alarmed.
“Now just hold on,” said the larger of the two. He towered over the register, and moved his gigantic body from behind the counter. The embroidery on his gray uniform stated ‘Deke’. Barrett was compelled to take a step back, but managed to hold his ground. He had to.
“What in the...hell?” asked the slighter fellow. He lurked after Deke’s massive bulk, compulsively rubbing the full length of his scraggy handlebar moustache. The mousy brown ponytail jutting from his dog-eared baseball cap did nothing to relieve Barrett’s tension. Mutually long hair did not symbolize kindred spirits this far out from civilization. They were basically nowhere, and this guy could easily spell real trouble. Nonetheless, this was the one Barrett felt he could most appeal to.
“Please. Please. I’m...I’m in a lot of trouble. I need help. I need some help..!”
Big Deke examined Barrett. He looked like a scared little mouse. Deke grunted and glanced over to his longhaired partner. The longhaired fella simply shrugged and shook his head. Deke returned his gaze to Barrett with his pleading, quivering hands held out to keep some distance. Whatever the situation was, he felt a little bad for this kid. He put both of his meaty hands on his hips and stuck out his chest. “What’s the problem?” he asked.
“I...” Barrett stammered and peered intensely out the front window. “I...I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?!?” squealed the small one. His voice cracked with a sing-songy lilt. Glancing over to his big buddy, he stroked his moustache again–this time more mischievous. “What you think about that? The boy don’t know!”
Deke gave his little friend a nod and a wink. “Welp, Tex...I think ol’ Shakey here had better know–if he plans on ‘splainin’ himself. I’ll ask you again, kid...what’s with you lockin’ our door like that?”
Barrett was onto them. If he didn’t clarify himself and his condition thoroughly, he could be in for a runaround. He steadied himself, and attempted to speak clearly. “Listen...I...ran into a bit of t-trouble...out there. A couple of miles back. I’m on my way...to Denver from Omaha. I go to college in Denver. I come from Omaha. M-my summer break is over...and I’m returning from Omaha.”
Deke lifted up his Peterbilt cap and ran one of his enormous mitts through his slick black hair. “Alright. Gotcha. What’s goin’ on, then?”
Barrett shuddered violently. His shakes jolted aggressively from his hands through the rest of his body. His knees went, suddenly, and he put an arm out to the wall to support himself. “P-please. Please. Could...could you just...could I just have some of that coffee there, please..?”
Tex moved to Barrett almost instinctively. There was something about the way this kid had been suddenly wracked with trembling that tugged at him. He looked at Big Deke, furrowed his brow and nodded over to the coffee pot. “Sure, man, sure. Have a seat, here.” He put his arm around Barrett and led him to one of the seats in the waiting area. There was a strange knot forming quick in the base of his stomach that made him uneasy. If they had to alert the local law enforcement of anything, he wanted to be sure that they handled this properly. Tex felt a little nervous that they almost badgered this poor guy for kicks, and his gut told him that this could still go wrong somehow. “There ya go,” he said, easing the kid into a chair, “You alright?”
“Yeah. Thanks.” Barrett looked at Tex sincerely. “I...I don’t know what’s happening..!”
“That’s alright. No rush. Catch yer breath. You don’t need us to call the police or anything, do ya?”
Barrett shot his gaze once more to the front window, his eyes searching fearfully. “No. No. I don’t think so.”
“Well, just take yer time and settle down.”
Barrett took the coffee cup from Deke as he came into the room. Deke leaned his massive frame against the doorway and stood surveying Barrett while he stilled his hands enough to take a drink. Barrett swallowed two large gulps, and then eyed the two men worriedly. “I...I was heading west on I-80. You know–from Omaha. I’m not sure how I got onto Highway 61. It’s kind of a blur. I think...I was trying to dodge this...this...thing.”
Both mechanics exchanged a worried glance.
“I saw...that there was an exit, and that there were some service stations...but they’re...this shop didn’t come up for a while.”
“Yep,” said Deke. “We take a long time to get to, that’s for sure. Ain’t nothing resembling any sort of town for miles. Mostly sparse farms around this area.”
“We’re the only automotive shop in a twenty-mile radius, friend,” added Tex.
“Oh. I wouldn’t’ve turned off if I’d known that...but...I can’t recall. I mean-I was panicking. I was scared...I really needed some help and...I’ve been the only car on the Interstate all night. Haven’t seen anyone else for a couple of hours, anyhow. Couple of semis, maybe-but that’s it.”
He finished his coffee and tossed the cup into a nearby trashcan. Holding out his hands, they could all see that his shakes had settled considerably. He leaned forward and looked both men in the eyes. “Listen,” he said. “Something on the Interstate was attacking my car.”
Deke and Tex both eyed the stranger with new summation. All three remained quiet as this information settled in. Deke, shifting his feet, cocked his head a little. “Kid...what kind of thing are you talking about exactly?”
Barrett shook his head. “I don’t know..! I don’t know. At first I thought, I thought maybe it was the wind...but then I kept hearing this thumping. It could have been a tire going flat...but I wasn’t having any trouble with the car. It would go away for a little while, and then it’d start up again. I thought maybe it could be a deer...running up beside the car...but...something? Alongside the car? I mean–how likely is that?”
“Not very,” said Deke.
“No–but...what could it be?! Not the tire...something else loose, maybe? No. No. Couldn’t be...and definitely not when the screeches started in..!”
“Screeches?!” both asked in unison.
“Yeah,” Barrett continued, his eyes getting wilder. “Loud as hell, too! They were awful...high pitched, but guttural. Like an ape or a...banshee or something. Scary as hell–I was getting really freaked out..! I took the nearest exit with a gas station sign on it and that...yeah...that lead me to Highway 61. I didn’t even slow down, I just zoomed right onto there! Once I got on the Highway, though...then the thumping started getting heavier. It started getting heavier...and not only that, it was coming from my roof! There was–I swear!–this massive, massive body...you could tell...landing! It kept landing on my roof!”
“Okay, okay,” Tex said. “Calm down, man. You’re getting yourself all riled up.”
“It was scraping at my roof! It wasn’t just up there, man–it was clawing at the metal on my roof..! I swear! I swear to you guys–I’m not lying!!”
“Alright. Settle down. Deke? What do you think?”
Deke’s eyes were on the floor. “Welp,” he said, “we ain’t gonna call the law, that’s for sure. Kid...what kind of drugs you on?”
“I’m not!”
“Now, be honest...”
“No. No! I’m not on anything!” Barrett rose to his feet and looked from mechanic to mechanic. “This really happened to me! It only stopped once I got near this place..! About a mile back. Here. Here! Let’s go look at the roof! Whatever was attacking was starting to tear clean through...I’ll show you! I’ll show you the marks!”
The three of them trekked out to Barrett’s enormous green Buick. The ancient boat was only in above average shape, but caused each mechanic to react nonetheless. Both of them had been admiring the ’65 Skylark from inside the shop, and were now circling the car with keen eyes of interest. Deke went to the roof and ran his hands along the jagged tears in the metal, assessing the damage. “Jesus Christ,” he whispered.
Tex whistled as he surveyed the slashes up close. “Deke–this is the same as all the other cars. It’s the very same damn thing..!”
“Sure is. I’ll be goddamned.”
Barrett looked quizzically at the other two. “What? This has happened before?”
“All over,” confessed Big Deke. “It’s been happening for over a week, now. We got a load of bodywork we gotta do. Backed up all to hell. That’s why we’re here this late. Goddamn troublemakers. Nobody has any idea what kids are doin’ this.”
Barrett took a step forward. “No, look–this isn’t any kids...”
Deke threw him a challenging glare. “Oh yeah? Then what the hell else is it?”
Barrett began to answer, but was cut off by a horrendously piercing shriek that cut through the night sky and tore it clean open. The three men leapt and rocketed their attention to the night sky above. The gravelly cry burst again through the gray cloud cover and then proceeded to vanish into a strange silence that encompassed all three of them. The men stayed frozen for moments on end, each reacting in their own means, gathering personal assessment and then looking one another in the eye for reassurance.
“Jesus, Deke,” Tex whispered hoarsely, “what the hell is that?”
“I don’t know,” answered Deke, “but Kent’s sure as fire onto ‘im...”
The ferocious barking of a dog was rising from behind the station and echoed into the emptiness surrounding the garage. It was the sound of major alarm, urgent and frantic. There was a loud slamming, then, like fists upon sheet metal, followed by an otherworldly bellow-just beyond the shop. It sent the dog into a new passion of howls. Deke reacted quickly and paternally, striding off in the dog’s direction. “Goddamn kids,” he growled. “We’ll let him loose and that’ll put an end to this real quick..!”
Tex tugged at Barrett’s sleeve. “You betcha. Goddamn kids. Wait’ll ol’ Kent gets a hold of them! If he don’t tear ‘em apart–the sheriff sure as hell will!”
Barrett followed after the two mechanics, shaking his head. “I certainly hope so.”
“Tex, get us a flashlight–quick!” Deke ordered, and Tex jaunted off obediently. Barrett continued with Deke. When they rounded the corner of the garage, he saw a kennel containing the most vicious looking Black Lab he had ever laid eyes on. The dog was ecstatic, bounding along the fence, anxiously ready, as Deke arrived. Deke snagged an old leather leash that hung next to the door of the cage. Kent bounded with elation as the big man opened the gate and stepped inside. Deke soothed the Lab caringly with pets and endearments, then snapped the leash into place. He gave the dog a good couple of pats on the side. “C’mon, boy–we got some huntin’ to do.”
“He won’t kill them, will he?” asked Barrett as he stepped aside. The big dog barreled past him, dragging Deke behind.
“Aw, hell no,” answered Deke, “but he’ll catch their ass–that’s for sure!”
Tex returned breathlessly, flashlight in hand. He handed the torch to Deke, who snatched it up and began to lead them off into the large, open field behind Smokey’s. Tex was right behind the big man, and turned and beckoned Barrett with his arm.
Barrett followed with reluctance; searching the night sky doubtfully. “But what if it’s not teenagers? I mean...how the hell would teenagers manage to get up that high?”
Deke snapped back at Barrett. “You just shut up and watch, alright? This dog is gonna teach you a thing or two that college can’t..!”
Barrett stayed behind a good distance, but continued, “Teens can’t attack a moving car from mid-air, you know!”
Deke ignored him, and followed the Black Lab’s guide. “This dog’ll solve everything. You just watch! This is an ace hunting dog. He’ll catch ‘em. You just shut up and pay attention!”
“Fine. Fine,” surrendered Barrett as he trotted up beside Tex.
Tex nudged him humorously. “Don’t you worry. That dog is a walking miracle. Deke ain’t exaggerating–Kent’ll find ‘em.”
“Fine.”
They walked in silence for a time, until the body shop was merely a small beacon behind them. The moon was only a dull hint of light behind the cloud cover. The beam from the torch was the only source of reference in the blackness. Barrett and Tex followed as close as they could, but Kent’s insistent tugging had taken Deke further up ahead. Deke halted suddenly, and the other two men came up beside him. He stood pensively, beaming the flashlight searchingly up into the sky. The light reflected off of the low clouds, but revealed nothing.
“What is it?” asked Tex after a couple of minutes.
“Shhh. Listen.” Said Deke.
Both men cocked their ears, giving full attention to the probing beam. Barrett looked to the Labrador, who seemed completely ignorant of whatever sky-based sounds there may have been. The eager dog tugged persistently and powerfully on the leash. Whatever was drawing the Lab’s attention, it was further off West–deeper into the fields. Barrett shuddered. If this field was any indication of what lay in the distance, then there was definitely plenty of turf for someone to hide. He looked back up to the gray overcast. Deke’s beam wasn’t finding anything, and Barrett couldn’t hear any sound besides the Retriever’s low growls. “That dog hears something,” he said, “Why don’t you let him go?”
“Shh!” Deke spat impatiently.
“No, really. He’s obviously onto something. How far out does this field go?”
“Quiet! Listen. There! You hear that?!”
From high above the gray blanket of clouds came the ominous sounds of heavy flapping. It was the unimaginable sound of gigantic wings. The noise was uncanny, and moved in a predatory circle around the three men.
“Deke,” whispered an affected Tex, “that ain’t no kids.”
“Nope. Don’t know what it is.” Deke turned his attention to Kent, whose nose was still off to the West. “I ain’t sure exactly what this damn dog is onto...”
“Maybe there’s more than one of them,” offered Barrett. “Whatever it is.”
Deke leaned down and stroked the Labrador’s head faithfully. The dog was pointing with anxious readiness. Deke peered into the black field, and then leaned into the Lab’s ear. “Get ‘em,” he commanded quietly, and with a click he set the dog free.
Kent snapped readily off into the night, then vanished. His threatening barks resounded loudly in the open space with a determined focus. It was a certainty that whatever the hound got a hold of would be torn to pieces by the time the men caught up to it. The barks sounded from straight West for nearly a minute, then after a pause, traveled off to the North.
“What the hell? Is it moving?” asked Tex.
“I think so,” offered Deke, who turned and looked to Barrett. Barrett was focusing his attention to the flapping sounds above them. They began veering off into the field. Barrett looked gravely at Deke. “He’s going after your dog, man,” he said.
Deke was immediately alarmed, shooting the flashlight off into the night field. “Goddammit,” he said. “They’re gonna ambush him!” Deke shot a worried look to Tex, and then to Barrett. “You two gonna be okay here if I go after him?”
Barrett’s eyes widened. The big guy was obviously the most capable of the three. Should he leave, he and Tex wouldn’t stand a chance. Barrett shook his head furiously. “That dog can handle himself..!”
Big Deke looked to the ground. “I’ve worked for Smokey for six years, now. If that Lab gets messed up in any way then I am definitely out of work. He’d never forgive me.”
“Well, maybe we should all go, then.”
“And maybe we all get cut up by whatever handled your roof.”
Barrett’s eyes never left Big Deke’s. “I don’t think any of us should...”
Just then the Black Lab blasted out a horrifyingly high yelp, and Deke’s mind was made up immediately. “You two stay here–I’m checking it out!!”
“But...”
“Stay here!!”
Tex followed after him a couple of steps, but stopped once that Deke had been swallowed up into the darkness. “Shit!” he swore, kicking the ground. He turned and traipsed back to Barrett, who stood watching with his hands in his pockets. He was a little confused as to why Barrett was looking at him the way he was. “What’s your problem?!” he huffed, anxiously stroking his long moustache.
Barrett shrugged and nodded gravely in the direction Deke had disappeared. “Dude,” he said, “that guy’s got the only flashlight.”
Instant regret traveled through Tex. He swallowed hard. “Oh, God. I didn’t even think.”
The two of them stood solemnly as they let their situation flood slowly over them. The only light besides the distant garage was the dull, hidden moon. They remained silent in darkness for a time, listening. Listening for wings, listening for Deke...listening for anything. There wasn’t even so much as a breeze.
After a time the Black Lab’s bellows began to rise from the South. The two men listened in the dark as the echoes moved from South to West to North to South. Whatever was tormenting that dog was having a great time leading him off in all directions.
“Boy, he sure is pissed,” said Tex.
“Yeah,” answered Barrett. “I wonder if your friend can locate him running all over the place like that.”
“I think he’s prob’ly just glad to hear that dog barking again. You do not want to get Smokey mad. That man’d rather pull your lungs out than listen to an explanation. Took us forever to get good with him–and taking care of that dog was a big part of it.” Tex trailed off and they both slowly lifted their heads as the flapping sound returned to circling them. “Goddammit,” Tex said. “These things just ain’t gonna leave us alone.”
The sound was maddening. As the dog’s barks moved in the distance from place to place, the flaps above remained steady and methodical. Minutes went by. The darkness only gave vision to their imagination, and the two of them began to huddle closely to one another. As the steadiness of the voracious circling grated on them, the men both began to breathe jaggedly. Their knees began to go, and each could feel the other tremble as they pressed closer and closer together.
When Deke began screaming, the circling wings abandoned them and hurriedly soared off into the field.
Deke’s shouts were bold at first, but as the shrieks were continually lifted into the air, and flung hard to the ground–they became increasingly shrill and desperate until they were high pitch cries of absolute terror. He had begun to whimper and sob like a small bullied child.
The two men recoiled as they could hear the large man’s flesh being sliced open as he was flung through the air, growing weaker and weaker, until he was reduced to feeble pleading that pierced straight through them. They shivered fiercely, holding one another tightly in each other’s arms. Tears streamed down their faces, their eyes and mouths wide in frozen terror. They couldn’t move from the spot, simply standing there, frozen. They listened as Deke’s begging was reduced to mere pathetic burbles, and it was obvious that he was very near the end.
Howls and gnashes erupted as the innumerable creatures began arguing and combating. Gruff, boisterous snarls were aggressively exchanged as the flying monsters fought for possession of Deke’s ill-fated body.
Deke’s final, tortured scream split the night from high above, as the battling creatures proceeded to gash the man clean in two. The moist sounds echoed through the vast field. Barrett and Tex both spun around at once and began running as fast as they could. The beacon of Smokey’s Garage seemed miles away. Their tears flew from their eyes as they ran, and both men took the other’s hand and gripped tightly.
Tex had begun to say The Lord’s Prayer as they ran. Their knees lifted, their strides long and urgent. The both of them were running like light. The terror began to increase, and the imagination fueled their desperation to top speed. Their hands clenched tightly together, growing numb. Barrett and Tex both whined loudly as the first wing flaps were heard coming from behind. The two men bared their teeth to the wind, eyes wild and crazed.
The station was just within reach. Nearer. Nearer.
Tex let out a distressed yelp, and gripped Barrett’s hand so tightly that Barrett swore there were fingers broken. Barrett felt himself jerked backward. The wind flew out of him as he was tugged violently back, and then upward into the night. Something had him..? No. Something had Tex. Barrett’s arm was being ripped from its socket, still held firm in Tex’s grasp.
Barrett looked up. The overcast sky was nearing from above. He could hear the monstrous beating wings flap loudly, now feet away. He saw Tex, mortally terrified, screaming loudly. Two enormous, gray-furred feet held him bloodily fast, the steely claws piercing deep into his shoulders as it carried him upward, upward. Higher into the thickening overcast.
Barrett shook his arm frantically. He unclasped his hand and swung his whole body in an insane frenzy. Tex screamed as the furry talons dug meanly into his flesh. Barrett could see the hairy feet leading upward, saw hard, muscled gray legs...could see the raw power of the creature.
There was no way. He had to get loose. There was a grotesque tearing sound, and blood spilled down into Barrett’s eyes and face. Tex wailed out, and was cut short. Barrett began flailing out of control. The hand squeezed even tighter, and Barrett swung maddeningly until he finally managed to pry his way out of the dead man’s grip. He fell to the ground, blind with Tex’s blood.
He hit the ground running, and didn’t stop until he had reached the safety of the gas station. Door locked, lights doused-he crawled shakily behind the front counter and cried until he fainted into dreamless darkness...
...and awoke with a start to a harsh kick in the chest. Barrett gasped. As he pried his eyes open, bright pain shot through them. The light in the station piercing them, he closed them back tightly. Another mean kick, and he swiftly remembered his situation.
He opened his eyes again only to see a shotgun barrel aimed directly at him. Barrett swallowed hard, looking up. The silhouette before him pressed the barrel hard into his face. The light burned his blood-stained eyes, but he managed to keep them open.
“You mind...telling me where my two men are?”
Barrett became aware that he was completely tied. The itchy rope poked through his shirt. These were good knots. Smokey. Had to be. “Sir, I don’t know how to explain this, but...your two boys kind of had an accident.”
The gun pressed harder. “Does that explain the blood on your clothes?” Barrett began to cry. He was pressed back behind the counter. Tied where he had passed out. The horror of the night hit him all of a sudden. He wailed in defeat. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. That’s Tex’s blood. Someone attacked us. I think Deke is dead, too. They’re probably still out there. They killed your dog. I’m so sorry...”
Smokey stepped back and examined the frail kid. He didn’t look the type. Smokey gave him another sharp kick to the chest. The boy howled. “That your car out there? That crummy Skylark?” Barrett nodded. “What the hell happened to your roof?”
Barrett snotted. “It...it was our attackers.”
Smokey kicked him again. Barrett cried helplessly.
“These...please...these people attacked us, and...and killed your dog, please. Out, back. Back in the field. They attacked my car and then attacked all of us. You need to call the police..!!”
Smokey looked him over, cigar in mouth, then peered out the window. “Goddamn kids. Every goddamn car in town, all week-been all gashed to hell all week.” He turned and walked off, and Barrett could hear him step outside. Was it still dark? Was it morning? It didn’t look daylight yet. He surveyed his situation, but before he could assimilate a plan, the gruff old man returned.
He bent down and proceeded to add more rope to Barrett’s entrapment. The cigar was moist and billowed directly into Barrett’s burning eyes. Smokey untied Barrett’s ankles, rose and pulled on the leash he had added. “Awright,” he snarled, “get the hell up and show me where my boys are.” Another kick landed Barrett, and he was drug out from beneath the register. Smokey jabbed the gun into his back as he pushed him roughly through the door.
“Go ahead, creep,” Smokey commanded. Barrett sniffed and began leading him back behind the garage, where the massacre had been. He felt the gun deep in his kidneys.
Smokey wound the rope around his left arm, which he also used to beam the flashlight around the dark, now-foggy field. “I find out...you hurt my dog-and I’m gonna just about to have to kill ya. You don’t make a wrong move, boy. I won’t hesitate.”
Barrett got a little miffed. “It’s not me you have to worry about, Mister.”
The gun jabbed into him. “That a threat, son?”
Barrett stopped and turned around. Smokey stood ready. “No, sir. Really. It’s a warning.” The old man aimed at his chest. Barrett nodded to the ground. “This is where Tex died.”
Smokey looked to the enormous circle of blood beneath him. His breath was taken away. “No. Oh, no.”
“Mister-you think a little guy like me can do this to those two guys? To Big Deke? These creatures are dangerous-they got both of them. These creatures got your Labrador...and I thought that they had me, but...”
“Waitaminute. What do you mean ‘creatures’..?”
Barrett stared directly at the old man. He suddenly realized how scared this person was. “These things attacked all those cars from the sky, sir. These aren’t kid pranksters. They’re not even human.”
The gun hurt him, as the butt met his skull. Barrett fell to the ground, splattered once again with Tex’s remains. “Stop it!!” Barrett screamed.
“I’m not gonna call the cops, you crazy son of a bitch-I’m gonna kill you myself. You tell me what happened!” He was dead serious, Barrett could tell.
“You have to listen to me!” he yelled, “You have to get us out of here!! They killed your dog! They’re HERE!!”
The barrel aimed at his chest. Barrett cried out desperately. “Listen, goddamn you! Listen!”
“I’m through listening to you.”
“No!! Not me! The air-listen to the air..!!”
The old man tilted his head upwards. He gasped. In the dark gloom above them, the beating wings. Barrett began to panic. The wing sounds meant certain death if he didn’t get the hell out of here. He wriggled away from the old man, terrified.
But Smokey didn’t hear the wings, all he could hear were the echoes of his beloved dog’s returning bark. From off in the field-rising, the tired barking overwhelmed the wings above them. The beating wings veered off in the dog’s direction and faded. Smokey hadn’t even noticed them. Barrett rose up on his knees. He had to escape.
“Kent, boy..!” Smokey called. He turned to look at Barrett, saw him trying to escape, and quickly went over to him and kicked him face first into the bloody earth. “Oh, no you don’t.”
The old man hurriedly removed the leash, and roped Barrett’s feet back together. Barrett protested, but Smokey was beyond hearing his pleas. Kent bellowed maniacally in the depths of the field. The flapping could be heard, distantly tormenting him. The dog ran back and forth from one end of the field to the other, his weakened barks raw with exhaustion. “I think you’d best forget that dog, Mister,” Barrett warned grimly. “He’ll be the very death of you.”
Smokey turned angrily and spat on him. He kicked dirt at Barrett’s face, gave him one last glare, then followed the flashlight into the encompassing fog. “Kent?! Kent!! Come here, boy!! Kent?!” The old man’s frame vanished into the remaining night.
Barrett sobbed with alarm and disbelief. Why wouldn’t the old man listen to him?! He lifted himself up as much as he could, sobbing. “Don’t go out there! Honest! Please listen, please!”
The thickening fog swelled with silence. Even the Labrador’s barks had faded. Barrett could just barely hear the old mechanic’s footsteps crunching into the field, and he called out frantically, “Come back!! Please! You’ll die if you go out there! They’re going to get you..!! It’s a trap! It’s a trap!!”
Barrett writhed on the moist ground. Arms tied close to his side, feet completely bound, there was nothing he could do. The ropes dug deep into his skin as he fought against them. Tears streamed down Barrett’s bloody face as he continued to cry out after the doomed old man. “Stop!! Please! Listen to me!! Don’t go out there! Something is out there!! Something is out there..!”
![[home]](/Icons/Extras/lilhome.gif){kind=icon}
![[up]](/Icons/Extras/lilup.gif){kind=icon}