Creature

by Hunter Shea

  Andrew looked and felt his balls draw up.

  What looked to be two mini yellow suns floated in the air. Based on their position through the slats, they had to be almost eight feet from the ground. For a second, he thought he was staring at some kind of bug, like fireflies on steroids.

  Until they blinked.

  He brought the rifle up, aiming at what could only be eyes, despite the impossibility of the height and color.

  Dear God, they were glowing!

  There wasn’t enough light coming from the house to make that kind of reflection.

  Don’t shoot, he reminded himself. If he did, he’d shatter the glass and there would be nothing between them and…and…

  It could also be kids who had rigged up a pair of lights. He did not want to be responsible for killing someone, no matter how stupid and misguided they were.

  But something in that malevolent, fiery gaze told him these were no lights and there were no foolish youths out there.

  Kate was right.

  She’d seen the face that held those eyes.

  “Katy!”

  Ryker was the first to notice that Kate had gone into a seizure, her arms and legs locked at her sides, back arched, bucking up and down on the bed.

  As terrifying as it was to turn his back on those eyes, Andrew set the rifle down, grabbed one of his used paperbacks from the end table, and inserted it in her mouth to keep her from biting her tongue. Nikki held on to the arm and leg on her left side, Ryker doing the same on her right. Though they had all shifted their attention from the fiend staring in at them from just several feet away, Andrew could feel its alien stare rippling his flesh.

  “It’s the fever,” Andrew said. “Kate, honey, I’m right here. I’m right here.”

  Unfortunately, he’d been with Kate when she had convulsions before, and knew that as scary as it was, they just had to ride it out. It shouldn’t last more than a minute or so, but each second stretched to an eternity.

  Her wide eyes were glued to the ceiling. He wasn’t sure if she could hear him, but he kept talking to her, reassuring her that she would be all right.

  “Should we get her in a cold bath?” Nikki said.

  “Not while she’s having a seizure,” he said. “It won’t last long.”

  He noticed Ryker kept stealing peeks at the window. If they’d had more light, he was sure he would have seen his brother-in-law’s complexion growing paler with each look.

  Kate writhed under them, her seizure seeming to be getting stronger, not weaker. Her teeth bit into the paperback, piercing the cover and yellowed pages underneath. Andrew’s gut tightened, wondering if he should chance it and run with her to the car and get her to the hospital. With no cell service, they couldn’t even call for an ambulance…or the cops.

  “Hyaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!”

  The monstrous roar made all of them lose their grip on Kate. Andrew looked out the doors. The eyes were gone.

  “Where the hell is it?” Ryker said.

  Andrew peeled his attention back to his wife, reasserting his hold on the book. She was tearing it to shreds. For such a frail woman, she bounded with the strength of a full-grown man. Her arm flew up, sending Nikki’s hand into her own face with a loud slap.

  Thump!

  Something heavy crashed on the roof above them.

  “What was that?” Nikki screamed. Even in the wild light, Andrew could see a red welt forming where she’d hit herself.

  “Rocks,” Andrew said.

  There were loud thuds as whatever was outside found bigger and bigger rocks to toss. Each impact made them jump, Kate practically juddering free of them.

  Andrew felt so exposed with the blinds open. It could see them clear as day, whereas they could only guess where it was going from moment to moment.

  Unless it bore down on them with those gleaming, demonic eyes.

  Andrew desperately wanted to pull the blinds closed, but he didn’t dare leave Kate.

  More and more rocks peppered the roof. Nikki started to hyperventilate. To her credit, she held on to Kate, Ryker doing what he could to calm her down despite the growing panic in his own voice.

  The cottage was under assault. So many rocks were hitting the structure, it seemed impossible they could all be coming from one source.

  That thought sent a deep chill down Andrew’s spine.

  What if there’s more than one of them?

  He couldn’t think about that now, though it was hard to ignore as stones battered the sides of the house. Any second now, a rock – or a boulder from the sound of some of them – would come crashing through one of the windows.

  “Katy’s seizure isn’t stopping,” Ryker said.

  “Don’t you think I know that?” Andrew blurted.

  Each tossed stone frayed their nerves more and more until Andrew’s entire body felt like a drilled tooth awaiting a root canal.

  Nikki was openly weeping, flinching every time a rock hit the house.

  Andrew wiped Kate’s forehead, his hand coming up dripping with sweat. Her skin sizzled. He could only imagine what her fever was now. If something didn’t break soon, she would be in serious trouble. It was getting to the point where he didn’t care what was outside. If he needed to rush her to the hospital, he’d just have to take a chance.

  The monster – Kate had called it a monster, hadn’t she? – bellowed as it unleashed volley after volley of heavy stones. Andrew trembled when he heard the window in the bedroom crack. It wasn’t followed by the sound of glass tinkling on the floor, so there was hope it hadn’t given way completely.

  The power of Kate’s convulsions had finally started to dissipate, but she was far from being out of the woods. Her eyelids fluttered as her hands opened and balled into fists over and over.

  “Is there anything else we can do?” Ryker said.

  Andrew shook his head, white-knuckling the paperback.

  Christ, when would the seizure end? He remembered one of her doctors telling him that any seizure over ten minutes required immediate medical attention.

  How long had it been? Two minutes? Ten? Twenty?

  He hadn’t thought to check the time when it started. The wild beast attacking the house hadn’t made his perception of time any sharper.

  “Katy, please stop. Please, Katy,” Nikki sobbed. Andrew had never seen her upset before, much less broken like this. She was near hysterics, which wouldn’t do them any good.

  When the rocks stopped, the silence was almost more disturbing.

  Nikki and Ryker were able to let Kate go, her muscles still twitching but without the same power as before. Andrew removed the book from between her relaxing jaws, feeling terrible that it had left deep lines at the corners of her mouth. The pungent staleness wafting from her pores virtually smacked him in the face.

  Andrew put Kate’s head in his lap. Her eyes were closed, but her breathing was steady. He kept repeating her name softly, hands caressing her face. He couldn’t tell whether she was asleep or had passed out. It seemed a narrow distinction, but he knew it was quite the opposite.

  “Do you think it’s gone?” Nikki said. She was on her feet now, Ryker embracing her.

  Andrew nodded at the blinds. Ryker caught his intention, keeping one hand around his wife while he used the other to shut the blinds.

  “I don’t know,” Andrew said.

  “Maybe it just ran out of rocks,” Nikki said, sniffling, getting herself under control.

  “I want to know what the hell it is,” Ryker said.

  “We all do,” Andrew said. Kate’s skin felt a bit cooler, her sweat beginning to dry.

  “I’ll tell you what I think it is,” Nikki said. “And you might think I’m a world-class prat for saying it, but you both know Katy described a bigfoot. Don’t fucking pretend it didn’t occur to you.”

&nbs
p; In actuality, the insane notion that it was a bigfoot had never entered Andrew’s mind. And he wasn’t going to start entertaining the thought now.

  “That’s ridiculous,” he said, watching Kate sleep.

  “Unlike those terrible screams, the yellow eyes, and the stones crashing around the house, right? That’s all quite normal for Maine, is it?” Nikki said.

  “Baby, just calm down,” Ryker said.

  She broke away from him. “Are you both so daft that you don’t see it? I’m no bigfoot expert, but I’ve seen enough specials on the telly to know that everything fits perfectly.”

  “There are no bigfoots in Maine,” Ryker said, peering out from between the blinds.

  “And how do you know that?” she replied, hands on her hips, the dark streaks of her makeup running down her face.

  He whirled around. “Because there’s no such thing as a bigfoot, that’s why!”

  He was suddenly very glad they hadn’t told her about the dead birds. That would only fuel her ridiculous speculation.

  She turned away from him in disgust.

  Andrew sighed. “Look, Nikki, I’m with Ryker on this. I don’t know what the hell is out there, but I’m pretty sure it’s not Sasquatch.”

  Nikki went to the kitchen and lit another candle. She did her best to avoid looking at them.

  Andrew tapped the inside of Kate’s wrist. “Kate. Can you hear me? I just need you to wake up for a second and make sure you’re okay.” He said her name louder, his tapping more insistent. Kate’s eyes didn’t so much as flicker.

  He looked to Ryker. “I’m starting to get worried.”

  “What do you mean? She’s not seizing anymore. That’s a good thing, right?”

  “It would be if she were conscious. But not if I can’t get her up. It could be a sign that something else is very wrong. I think I need to get her to the hospital.”

  They slowly turned to the front door.

  “What time is it?” Ryker said.

  Nikki checked her phone. “Half past one.”

  He punched the top of the chair. “I was hoping it would be closer to dawn. It feels like we’ve been up for days.”

  Andrew pulled the sheet up to Kate’s neck. The fever had definitely broken, but at what cost?

  “It doesn’t matter. This can’t wait until light. Look, I’ll take her to the car. You two can stay in here and keep everything locked.”

  “Not a fucking chance,” Nikki said. “I don’t want to stay here with that thing.”

  Ryker said, “Nikki’s right. We’ll all go. It’s not safe here.”

  “It’s sure not safe out there,” Nikki said, eyes on the kitchen window, the blinds and white curtains protecting her from seeing the glowing, jaundiced eyes if the beast happened to be on the front porch.

  “You carry Katy,” Ryker said to Andrew. “I’ll go out first with the gun. We should find something for Nikki, any kind of weapon.”

  “There’s an ax handle in the closet. It’s thick and sturdy.”

  “You couldn’t spring for the whole fucking ax?” Nikki said. Andrew couldn’t tell whether she was serious or making a joke. The expression of bubbling terror hadn’t changed on her face.

  Ryker got the ax handle and handed it to her. She banged it against the counter a couple of times as if to make sure it wasn’t made of brittle timber. A candle on the counter fell over on its saucer.

  And still Kate slept. Andrew’s growing concern was fixed less and less on the unknown creature outside.

  “Let me get the car keys,” Andrew said, fishing them from the cereal bowl on the pedestal by the door. He wished they had an honest-to-God flashlight. The one he’d bought in town had been cheap, the bulb burning out one night when he wanted to sit on the dock with a beer after Kate had gone to sleep. It was now in the trash can. Candles would be useless outside in the breeze, and the cellphone flashlights weren’t all that powerful. If Ryker was going to cover them while he got Kate in the car and started it up, Andrew would need as much light as he could get.

  Andrew wrapped Kate in the sheet the way a mother would swaddle her baby. She didn’t so much as make a sound as he shifted her around and lifted her from the bed.

  “You guys ready?”

  “No,” Nikki said, both hands on the ax handle.

  “You open the door, and I’ll see what we’re dealing with,” Ryker said to his wife. He turned on his phone’s light, but Andrew could see it was difficult juggling the phone and rifle. Nikki did the same with her phone, a cone of light illuminating her feet. Andrew’s hands were full, the key ring looped around his index finger.

  They would have to move fast. He had no idea what they were rushing into, but he had a sinking feeling things weren’t suddenly going to go their way. He stood behind Ryker, shifting Kate in his arms to get a better grip. She looked so peaceful. In a way, he was glad she was someplace else at the moment. She’d experienced enough terror as it was. Sooner or later, her heart was going to send up the white flag. If what Kate had seen was truly out there, he wasn’t sure she could endure another encounter.

  “Let’s just go straight to the car,” Andrew said. “Watch my back while I get Kate inside. Nikki, you go in next to her while I start the car. Ryker, the second you jump in, I’m punching the gas whether you have the door closed or not.”

  Ryker nodded. “I’ll ride on the roof if I have to.”

  Andrew’s muscles tensed and he took a deep, warm breath. He nodded at Nikki. She ripped open the door.

  They peered into a darkness thicker than lead.

  Ryker sprang onto the porch, rifle raised, the light from the phone giving him several feet of visibility. Andrew scanned the night, sure he’d see those saffron eyes rushing toward them. He followed his brother-in-law, the door slamming behind them, Nikki bumping into his back as they descended the two steps to the walkway.

  He couldn’t even see the car.

  But he could hear the pounding rush of footsteps getting closer.

  Closer.

  Closer.

  He ran in the direction of the car, Kate clutched tightly to his chest.

  “Where is it?” Nikki shouted.

  Ryker twirled in circles as he shuffled to the car, pointing the rifle at Andrew and Nikki over and over as he searched for the source of the footsteps. It sounded like they were coming from every direction.

  Andrew spotted the car as Andrew’s light flashed across it and sped past his brother-in-law. With a flick of his wrist, the key fob flipped up so he could depress the door button with his thumb. The car’s lights flashed twice as it beeped, the locks opening with a loud click.

  Nikki grabbed his collar, her nails raking the back of his neck.

  He could hear the creature’s labored breathing as it pounded the uneven terrain. It was heading straight for them.

  “To your right! To your right!” he shouted.

  Ryker turned.

  There was a sharp and terrifying growl.

  The rifle cracked, a brief flash of light blinding Andrew.

  Ryker screamed.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Nikki pulled on Andrew’s collar with such force, he was yanked back from the car door, his fingers grazing the handle. His ankle rolled and he staggered, hip smacking the front fender. Kate started to slip from his embrace, at least until his elbow struck the hood of the car. He used the hood to rest for just a second, giving him time to readjust his hold on his unconscious wife.

  Nikki’s unsteady light wavered on Ryker. He was on his knees, the rifle hanging limply from one hand. His phone was nowhere to be seen.

  Ryker sobbed in obvious pain. When he looked up at them, Andrew saw why.

  Three long, ragged gouges ran from the top of his forehead down to his chin. It looked as if he’d been clawed by a lion.

  �
�Ryker!” Nikki bleated, rushing for him.

  “Get him in the car!”

  Nikki dropped her phone, the light shining into the impermeable sky. There was just enough dull radiance for Andrew to make out Nikki helping Ryker to his feet.

  “My face is on fire,” Ryker moaned.

  Andrew felt something at his back.

  He took a quick glance but could see nothing but infinite black.

  It’s there, he thought, restless panic clawing at his chest. It’s intentionally keeping quiet, but I know it’s right behind me.

  Andrew froze, the flesh of his back tingling.

  Nikki was having trouble with Ryker, and the phone was still on the ground. Ryker couldn’t stop screaming about the burning wounds on his face.

  The car was so close, but the monster was closer.

  A soft night breeze flitted over Andrew’s shoulders. An animal musk sailed on the wind, affirming that they were not alone.

  Andrew knew with dreadful certainty that they were not going to be able to get in the car. The obstacle between them and escape was waiting patiently for them to make the unfortunate move of stepping right into its clutches.

  He could see the open front door to the cottage, the lit candles spilling dancing light onto the porch.

  “Nikki,” he said.

  “I’ve got him. We’re coming.”

  “I need you to run back to the cottage.”

  He kept his voice as calm as possible, considering the rapid pattering of his heart. The monster surely couldn’t understand his words, but it might be able to read his tone. Let it think he was calm and unsuspecting. Andrew was not going to fall into its trap.

  “Andy, the car’s right there,” Nikki said, her voice tinged by tears. Ryker had settled down, but his breathing was wet, as if blood were pooling in his mouth and nostrils.

  “Just do what I say and go.”

  “Ryker needs a doctor too. Just let me get my phone.”

  He saw the light rise from the forest floor.

  “No!”

  The crunch of rending metal and shattering glass set Andrew’s feet in motion. The beast roared at his back as it assaulted the car. Nikki screamed.