Bright eyes seen in darkness, looking, scanning. – Wait.
A squint, quick.
What?
Huh.
What.
No way.
That smell in the air, though. There.
There?
No, there. What is that?
I don’t smell anything.
Right there. What is that?
No idea.
*
A quiet rustling
Leaves whispering, trees swaying in the sudden wind.
Behind the clouds, the moon rising
Peaking past dark cumuli.
*
We really shouldn’t be here.
Aww. Are you scared?
Haha.
You’re just chicken.
Guys, I mean it.
Cluuuuuuck-cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck.
Hehe.
We really shouldn’t be here –
There! Again!
What?
Didn’t you see that?
See what?
There! I swear I saw something!
Guys, we really shouldn’t be here.
Cluuuuuuck-cluck-cluck-cluck.
*
A sudden haunting
Echoes howling faraway
The silver back and shanks glide between shadows
Halting once, twice; waiting.
*
A shiver, real, tingling icily down young spines.
Oooh! Did you feel that?
Yeah, creepy!
Nice!
What was it, though?
Guys, I think we need to go.
Would you stop with your whining!
What was that, though?
Guys, I mean it. We really should go –
Would you shut up already?
There! Again! What the hell is that?
We need to leave. Now.
I’m not going anywhere.
P-kawk!
Chicken!
*
A lone figure standing, seeing
A glance, flickering
Shadows enveloping
The seven hiding
Six disbelieving, waiting in suspense.
*
What is that?
Guys. We need to go. Now.
Would you shut up! You’re spoiling everything!
What is that?
You can see it, too, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
What is it, though?
Guys.
There! Again! I swear to God, it moved.
Guys. Now.
What is wrong with you?
This is amazing.
We need to leave. Now.
Oh, piss off!
Go yourself then!
This is amazing.
*
Gasping, a whispered shout:
Did you see?
Did you see!
Look!
A hand cupped over a mouth
A fierce whisper
Sssshhh!
Heartbeats racing
Silver bullets waiting
Waiting for the ancient terror
Lingering in the Dark.
*
See, I told you!
Shut up!
I told you! We need to go! Now!
Shutupshutupshutupshutup!
*
The howl
So sudden
So close
No!
Shut up!
There!
RUN!
Screams piercing the night
Gunshots exploding
Bright flares in darkness deeper, louder
Howls and Screams
Growling
Too close! Too close!
RUN! RUN!
Confusion – Terror – Understanding
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
I told you! I told you!
I TOLD you it’s there!
SHUT! UP!
*
Crimson spreading, dripping
The scent intensifying, leaving a trail
Cursing – Crying – Prayers flying
From sputtering lips, trembling
This can’t be –
They’re myths –
They’re not real –
They’re just make-believe!
*
That’s blood!
No shit.
What do we do?
If we carry them together, we can move –
We can’t, that’ll slow us down!
The fuck’s wrong with you?
In case you didn’t realise, that thing is out there!
We can’t leave them here!
We have to or we’ll all get killed!
You monster!
But that’s blood!
That’s real!
It’s a bite! A bite!
Do you know what that means?
I don’t want to be here!
Stop crying! That’s not helping!
I want to go home!
We’re not leaving anyone behind.
But -!
We’re all going, that’s final!
I want to go hooooome!
Would you stop with the crying!
MOVE!
*
Open the door!
What?
The car, shithead! Open the door!
Oh yeah.
It’s everywhere!
I don’t care, get them inside!
It’s all over me!
Who give’s a shit! Get inside!
I hate this!
I want to go hooooome!
Get inside, asshole!
What?
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A scramble, a struggle
Back into the car all at once
Doors slamming, tires screeching
Lights fleeing into the night.
*
Luna declining, silver fur gliding
Under old shadows into the vast Night.
Long breaths at dawn, rising
Ancient spells alive, living
Awaiting the full moonlight.
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