The Mountain Town

by Josh Olsen

  “This is horse shit Jason!” Clark demanded, sitting across the desk, he stood up, staring out the window of the office. “That thing could be coming here right now! We either get rid of him or we go kill this thing right now!”

  “Sit down Clark!” Jason shot back, a scowl on his face, “You think I don’t fucking know that?! The man is in shock, the second his body gets a good dose of that cold out there again he’s gonna collapse, or worse. Then what good is he to us?”

  “Clark has a point Sheriff,” said Macklin, lowering his voice, “You have your wife and kids in the back room and if your right, your bringing that thing right to them!” he hissed out, his hand on his gun as he watched the windows steadily.

  “Don’t you dare bring my kids into this!” Jason whispered out loudly, scowling back. “You don’t think I fucking know? I’ve been watching those windows since the second we got here, if he dies where the fuck are we?!” Jason stood up, walking over to Billings, still shaking, forcing him to sip some of the coffee.

  “Square one, that’s where.” Jason said, looking back up.

  “That’s all well and good Jason.” Clark spat out, “But when he does recover, what do we do then? What’s our game plan huh? We go out shooting blindly into the snow?”

  Jason pressed his hands down onto his desk leaning, staring off, he thought to himself.

  “The Paradise!” he exclaimed. The overlook on the east! We get someone up on the balcony as a look out and us down on the floor level. We sit there ready to blast that thing we and we may just have a chance, that balcony overlooks the clearing, we’d see it coming from a mile away, no surprises.”

  Clark thought for a moment, clutching his rifle as he leaned against the doorway. It could work, and Clark knew it, though it wasn’t much of a plan. Sitting and waiting to be a hot meal for that thing wasn’t much better. Shit, it was the best they had.

  “We’d need shotguns, if that thing gets close enough to us we need some serious knock back power, get it out of our face real quick…” Clark thought to himself, trying to make it sound as if his suggestions had some merit to them.

  “Spotlights.” Clark said to himself, thinking.

  “So far that thing has only killed in the dark as far as we know, maybe it doesn’t like light, maybe that could stun it, give us a chance to take it down.” Clark said.

  “That room had lights, the room in the Paradise.” Macklin said quietly.

  “I’m not talking about a couple of 60 watt bulbs here kid, I’m talking about a spotlight. Piercing light, blinding.” Clark said, standing up. “We burn that thing’s god damn eyes out.”

  “If it has eyes.” Macklin scoffed back.

  “I don’t hear you shooting any suggestions here! I’m getting real tired of the shit kid.” Clark spat back at Macklin, staring angrily.

  “Look you haven’t seen what I have!” Macklin said back firmly.

  “Anderton….oh my god, what it did to him…” Macklin thought to himself, horror behind his eyes.

  “That….that thing..that creature is….its something evil…vicious.” Macklin stared back up at Clark, “It’s not going to go down easy.”

  “Clark…” Jason said, turning back around. “Even if that would work. Where are we going to get a spotlight? You’ve seen the shit we have around here, it ain’t exactly top of the line.”

  “The floodlights!” Clark said, “We tear one of them off the side of the hotel, get it to where we can aim it, can control it. That’s what we do, get it as close as we can and burn the fucker up. Then as soon as we can, we blast it with everything we’ve got before it can even try to run.”

  With a loud click and whoosh overhead, the power went out abruptly. The room was covered in utter darkness. The men shot to their feet, staring upwards. Their eyes struggling to adjust in the black.

  “Shit.” Clark said. Pulling the action back on his rifle, an audible click echoed in the room.

  Jason barked out orders rapidly, “Clark get into the cupboard outside the office! We have some oil lanterns and flashlights! Get them going!” Jason rushed out of the room to tend to his frightened and screaming children just next door.

  Running out of the room, Clark tore open the cupboard, fumbling blindly with its contents. Flashlights rolled out and fell upon the ground, lanterns jumped out, shattering at his feet. Hands shaking with adrenaline, he lit the flashlight. Shining the comforting beam of light in the darkness, he lit the remaining lanterns.

  “Clark! Bring a light in here!” Jason’s voice called down the hall. Grabbing the lantern from Clark, Jason held the light up to his child’s face, gently brushing a tear from his face.

  “It’s okay son. I’m here.” Jason handed the lantern to Sandy, huddling his children closely.

  Jason stood up, “Come on Clark we-“ Jason’s voice cut off as he nearly tripped over Nate, still sitting silently in the darkness, Owen clutching to him closely.

  “Shit, Nate. Come on! “We’ve got to go!” Jason said leaning over, offering a hand to the blank stare of the man. “Nate! Come on!” Jason yelled in the dark at the unresponsive man.

  “Fuck it!” Jason yelled, shaking his head, he continued out into the darkness of the hallway, faded paintings hung on the wall dully illuminated by the dim flashlight sat eerily on either side of the hallway.

  Clark opened his mouth to speak but was cut off loudly by a horrifying shriek, just down the hall in the office, Billings.

  Rushing into the room, both men saw Macklin, sitting on the ground close to Billings. Billings thrashed back and forth violently as Macklin struggled to steady him, he held the flashlight close to the man’s arm that shook, seeping with blood, just where the creature had struck him.

  “It burns! Dear God, help me please!” Billings yelled out, his chair shook as he thrashed back and forth, threatening to tip over.

  “Macklin! Try to stop the bleedi-“ Jason started, a loud cry in the other room cutting him off, Nate.

  The two men rushed down the dark hall, crashing into objects in the darkness as they fumbled around. Gradually, they made their way to the source of the screaming.

  Clark shone the light into the room, Nate stood in the corner pressing against the walls, clutching his leg as he shook back and forth.

  “God Dammit!” Nate yelled out, striking the wooden paneling to his side from the pain, his hand print soaked with blood leaving an impression on the wall. Owen sat at his side, trying to calm his screaming father. The man’s leg weeped blood through his torn up pant leg.

  Staring into the darkness, Jason made the connection. “Oh my God Nate. What did-“

  The wall exploded. Splinters and metal shards flew in every direction. The creature burst into the room from the howling storm outside, shaking snow from its matted hairs, it growled and hissed. Saliva dripping from its jaws stained the floor as it strode forward. Eyes locked on Nate.

  “Clark shoot!-“ Jason said, turning to Clark, stopping dead at what he saw. Neither of the men held a rifle.

  Jason snatched his wife and children up, pulling them from the room as they screamed in terror. Leading them down the dark hall, Clark and Jason fought the darkness back to the room that held their weapons. Macklin rushed by them, clutching a lantern, he rushed toward the carnage.

  None of the men could speak to each other, their lips sewed shut from complete and utter horror.

  The creature eyed the man, cowering in the corner as he screamed. It’s hair perking up with the ecstasy of the hunt. Its prey’s stench filling its nostrils that steamed in the cold night air. Suddenly, its attention shifted, its stone cold eyes locked on the boy, just feet from it. It could sense him, feel him. Its prey that had escaped it, had eluded it for so long.

  The creature growled loudly at Owen, it’s new prey within its grasp, it inched closer, cornering the boy.

  “Dad! Help me!” Owen cried out, his arm stretching out towards the safety of his father as the thing closed in on him.

  Nate
pulled away, dodging his son’s outstretched hand. Silently he ran by the creature, disappearing out into the night.

  Owen screamed. “Dad!” his voice cowered into a whisper, iced to the floor from fear, he stood defenseless against the ungodly creature, mere inches from his face. It’s stench filled his nose. Opening its jaws, the creature reared back, ready to pounce.

  With a yell from the darkness, Macklin smashed his lantern down hard on the creatures head, glass and flames exploded into his hand.

  The creature shrieked. Doubling over backward it rolled onto the broken glass, and splinters of wood. Writhing on the ground, it desperately tried to douse the flames that burned its skin and fur, melting its hairs to its enormous body. Writhing back and forth, its razor sharp claws slicing dangerously through the air, cut deeply into Macklin’s chest. Macklin screamed, clutching his chest he fell over, blood seeping through his fingers.

  Rolling to its feet, the creature darted out into the night snow, its fur still smoldering and smoking. Disappearing into the trees, the night once again fell into silence. Owen rushed to the man’s side who lay on the floor. Clark and Jason burst into the room, rifles pointed out as they scanned the room. Lowering their rifles, they rushed to Macklin’s side.

  Nate ran. Through the low hanging pines and snow covered rocks, he ran. Sprinting through the dark woods, low hanging branches whipped and stung his face. Carelessly, he had neglected to grab a light. The darkness and swirling snow reduced his sense of direction and sight into a state of almost nonexistence. Chills of fear pulsed over his body as the cold cut and bit his face, taking the feeling out of his fingers and toes. He began to slow when he believed he had put enough distance between him and the station, when suddenly the ground gave way.

  His leg soared downward under the snow, sinking into a crevasse between the large rocks below. Falling forward, his body pressed all his weight on the trapped leg. Snapping loudly, the bones broke. Trapped, he screamed face down in the snow, his shrieks muffled by his snow filled mouth and nose. Frost clung to his eyebrows as his pant leg filled with blood.

  Black surrounded his eyes as he fought to free his leg, nearly vomiting he tried desperately to pull the shredded mess of tissue and bone free of the mountains grip.

  He froze. Loudly, he could hear heavy footsteps sounded behind him. The hot, foul stench of the creature’s breath filled the air.

  Nate turned to face it just as the creature’s claws sunk deep into his chest, silencing his screams into a mere gurgle. The creature pulled him upward, high into the air. He could feel the flesh of his trapped leg giving way, tearing. With a grotesque popping noise, the limb tore straight from his body. Hanging limply in the air, his remaining strength allowed him to scream faintly, his mouth choked with blood. The creatures jaws surrounded his skull, silencing him.

  The snow howled and blew deep within the forest, the only witnesses, the pines.

  Chapter 43

  “Oh thank God, he’s still alive,” Jason breathed out, his two fingers pressed to Macklin’s neck. The young man lay on the ground, unconscious. His shirt was torn open, but no wound was seen below. His dark red soaked shirt and hands stood as the only evidence.

  Jason stood up. Grabbing his pistol, he slipped it into his holster. “Clark, we’re going to the Paradise, now.” Stooping down, he grabbed Macklin by the wrists. With a loud grunt, he began dragging him down the hall.

  “What are we gonna do with him?” Clark said. Snatching up Jason’s rifle that lay on the ground, he gestured to Macklin.

  “Well we can’t exactly leave him here can we?” Jason said, looking up as he breathed heavily, pulling the man down the hallway.

  “We drag him into the Jeep.” Jason exhaled dropping Macklin’s arms to the floor, “And hopefully he wakes up before we have to drag him up on the mountain. That thing slashed him. It could be coming back any time. I’d rather be ready.”

  “Billings you whimpering sack of shit, let’s go.” Jason said, turning his head into the room. Staring back down at Macklin, he sighed. “Fuck he’s heavy.”

  Jason stopped as he stooped once again, something catching his eye as he leaned down. Staring back, he gazed into his wife’s eyes, heavy with sadness, concern. Her hand pressed hard against the glass of the office at the end of the hall, the warmth of her love fogging the pane of the window.

  Jason turned away, he wouldn’t do it. Wouldn’t say goodbye. His mind lied and twisted itself, if he didn’t acknowledge it, it wouldn’t happen. Everything would be fine if he didn’t think about it, he’d be safe and more importantly she’d be safe. But his mind jumped, snapping his gaze from the floor. He looked back up, gazing into Sandra’s eyes. Their stares sang sadly with each other.

  His filthy, dirt encrusted fingers scratched and ruffled his grey whiskers as he gazed back. Sighing heavily, he turned to go. Clark standing on the opposite side, stooped to pick up the man that lay trapped in his state of absent conscious.

  Walking slowly down the hallway, his boot kicked open the door to the outside, out into the swirling snow and biting cold of the mountain.

  Hoisting Macklin’s limp body into the cab, sprawling him out in the back seat. Shifting his legs to the side, Billings climbed into the cab, swinging the squeaking door shut. Clark shuddered walking to the opposite side, Jason spoke to him as he loaded the trunk. “We’ll have to stop by your cabin first Clark, we need your shotgun. How many shells you think you have left?”

  “Shit…”Clark said, thinking, his hands scrambled inside his pockets, escaping the cold. “Maybe a little more than half a box. Not much more.”

  “It’ll have to do.” Jason said, reaching up to close the trunk’s swinging door, bringing it down hard, the resting snow shook and fell to the ground.

  All in the car were silent, Clark, Jason, and Billings stared out the windows, silent. Clark held the rifle on his lap, his breath fogging the window of the jeep as he leaned on it. Macklin’s head hung limply, his mouth hanging open as the shaking of the jeep caused his head to jostle back and forth like a rag doll.

  Clark spun around in his chair, trying to steady him. Sliding his head back into a notch on the headrest, the young man’s head came to rest. Clark breathed out, turning back to the front of the car.

  Billings held a cigarette lazily in his hand, not smoking it. The embers fizzed and burned quietly, whips of smoke glided upward. The smell of stale cigarettes and old clothing hung heavy in the air of the cab.

  It seemed to transition in an instant. Clark’s eyes hanging on the dimly lit road through Jason’s dirty windshield. But now he found himself sliding the door open to his home.

  This place seemed almost frozen in time, he noticed it now. He hadn’t changed nearly anything since Cass had died, a picture from the past hung in front of him seemingly. Exhaling, he strode through the living room, his snow covered boots cleaning the dirt from the dingy, filthy carpet.

  “Now where are you off to?” A voice asked him from behind.

  Clark froze. Hairs prickled up on his neck, as he squinted his eyes, fighting. He turned around slowly.

  “You’re leaving me all alone again?” Her soft voice asked. Her soft hair hued with gold hung thickly over her shoulders, she stared off, brushing stray strands from her beautiful, sparkling eyes.

  Clark ignored her, turning back to his gun cabinet he rifled through the drawers, searching for shells.

  “When are you coming back? She asked with her soft voice. Brushing Clark’s ears with every breath.

  “Baby you can’t go again, don’t leave.” she said again. Clark squinted his eyes, gripping onto reality with all of his might. He knew she wasn’t there but his mind tried to tell him that he could still feel her warm hands on his cheek.

  Slowly, he breathed out deeply. “I didn’t leave. You died.”