Sheep's Clothing

by Gary Lewis

  Terry whispered to Janice. "Was that a yes?" She shrugged her shoulders. He turned back to the old woman and spoke more loudly as she was walking away. "Is Brad's mom around?"

  The lady stopped and turned to scowl a large wrinkle from her chin to her cheek. "Damn shame. Killed herself last week. My daughter did." She squinted her eyes and turned toward a makeshift clothesline that stretched above a tomato garden filled with weeds. "Couldn't take all that loss. But them boys had it a comin'. Tried to tell them," she said, snorting from her throat.

  Terry dropped his jaw. "What do you mean?"

  "Devil came and took them both." She grimaced and shook her head at the ground. "Sellin' that damn dope to that poor woman all the time."

  Terry's eyes grew wide as he turned back to Janice. She continued mouthing silent words toward Terry. Let's get out of here. She's creeping me out.

  Terry lifted his finger at her for a brief second. "Is there anything else?"

  The elderly woman’s face dropped blank in an instant. "Why, hello sweetie. I didn't see you there."

  Janice walked back to the passenger seat and closed the door as Terry remained outside, attempting to extract senseful conversation from the aging relic that still stood before him. She pulled out her phone. A message from David read, "Please, Jan. Just talk to me." It was followed by a barrage of missed calls. Her thumb hovered above the call button. All the questions she was too afraid to ask rested in the touch of a finger.

  The door clicked open and Janice quickly locked her phone. Terry slumped into the driver seat with a long sigh.

  "I feel like I’m this close," he said, pinching less than an inch of air.

  "Then what?" Janice asked. "What do you do then?"

  Terry's motionless stare did little to provide an answer. He looked away from her to the road. "I haven't really thought about it."

  "Of course you haven't," she said, lowering her eyes toward her lap. "Nobody wants to think about the day they'll shove a knife in their friend's back." Janice pressed her eyebrows as she turned her eyes back to the raised red flag on the mailbox. "But isn't that what everyone has been doing all along?"

  "What's really bothering you, Janice?" His voice pried at the coffin she held shut within her chest. Its contents burning to be set free.

  "Why don't you go talk to David and ask him," she said quietly. "Just take me home."

  "Listen, I'm sorry if I said something wrong," Terry said as he turned around on the narrow gravel drive.

  For the entire silent journey through cracked asphalt backroads to smooth highways and on into the beautifully arranged subdivisions, Janice took his words to mind. It wasn't that he said anything wrong. He lacked the foresight to realize the inevitable truth. No matter how they handled the situation, the end result would be the same.

  As they pulled into her driveway beside her mom's minivan, Janice slowly stepped out and gently shut the car door. "Listen." She leaned her face into the open passenger window and raised her eyes up to meet his. "I think you mean well." Janice paused. "But the more crap you dig up, the worse it will be for everyone."

  "Look. I'm sorry about everything that's happened," Terry said to her. "But bringing the truth to the light will always be right in my eyes."

  She looked in his unwaivering face. His conviction was admirable, but he rested there in his seat as a stark opposition to her. Surely, he didn't think that he could just unravel everyone's guilt to get his evidence and then they could all go out together for pizza the next day.

  She sadly resigned her hands to fall from the passenger side door as she turned to her house without a glance behind.

  #David#

  A passing boat pushed waves across the surface of Moss Lake as David sat alone at the docks. They rippled closer while he dipped his feet to soak, laying back across the creaking boards. He waited. Though the splash hadn't yet made its way to him, he knew it was on its way.

  His phone buzzed on the wooden walkway, just beside his head and as he reached out to grab it, the cool waves swept up against his knees. It was a text from Sarah. "Be careful around Terry. He's been asking a lot of questions and he went out with Janice today."

  David started to type, "Ok. I'll deal with him." Before he could hit send, a message arrived from Terry.

  "I know it's none of my business, but I think Janice could use your company right now."

  David called Terry and he immediately answered.

  "Could you come talk to me alone at the docs? There's something I've got to tell you about."

  "What is it, David?" Terry asked. His voice crackled across the broken signal. After a long pause, his voice continued. "Sure, but I have to work the canned food runs at the church. Is tonight alright?"

  "Come alone," David said, closing his eyes as he hung up the phone and laid his head back down, soaking his face in the warm sunlight that turned the darkness behind his eyelids blood red.

  ###

  The phone rang from the outskirts of David’s awareness as he awoke in the darkness beside the repetitive splashing of water against the thick wooden pillars that supported the docks. He rubbed at his eyes as he focused on the phone before reaching to answer. It was Terry.

  "What time is it?" David asked.

  "I've been trying to reach you all afternoon," Terry said. "Where are you at?"

  "I told you. Moss Lake." David began struggling to put on his jeans and shirt one handed as he held the phone.

  "I found your car." Terry's voice started to break up.

  "I'm at the docks," David said, slipping his feet into his now damp sneakers. "Hello?" David looked at his screen. "Call ended," he said, sliding the notification tray back to the top of his screen. "Shit. Eleven thirty." He squinted in the direction of the distant, blurry parking lot as he stretched his arms with a yawn.

  David slowly approached the small rock building, atop a hill about halfway to the parking lot. He noticed a gray car that sat parked beside the bushes. At least the restroom is unlocked. Standing in the brightly lit bathroom doorway, he waved out at the darkness before eventually turning to walk inside. The interior of the bathroom smelled like mildew and bleach. Thick white paint had solidified into droplets that once oozed down the cinderblock walls. Three toilet stalls stood beside a single broken urinal. An owl let out a loud hoot as the sound of crickets and frogs filled the room through the open doorway and small screen window that stretched across the bottom of the wall.

  The sounds of nature suddenly went silent as he listened for moment. Surely Terry saw me walk in. David turned on the sink, filling his cupped hands with cold water that he splashed into his face. He looked into the cracked, dull mirror and brushed his wet hands back through his hair, shaking it out to fall into its natural place.

  The solid crunch of unmistakable footsteps came from the outside. One after another, they slowly came closer to the building. Took him long enough. He straightened his shirt and turned to face the doorway.

  A sound like spraying air slowed to a deep hiss from outside. The footsteps plopped onto the concrete walkway that circled the small building, gradually getting closer to the wall just behind David. He held still, breathing as slowly as possible. Rapid sniffing sounds startled him as he looked to the open doorway and each wall surrounding him. A large paw dropped into view outside the floor level screen window. Another stepped just beside it as it walked along the sidewalk. Covered in thin, light brown hair, they looked like giant dog feet with thick, black, bear-like claws.

  It took a long stride and then another. Just a few more and it would be at the corner beside the doorway. David quickly snuck into the middle stall. As he pushed the door shut it let out a light squeak. He looked at his trembling fingers as he debated latching it. A loud sneezing sound blasted and David gasped as he hopped on top of the toilet seat and ducked down. It sounded like it was inside the room.

  From the toilet, David peered across the stall to the narrow gap at the corner. A tiny strip of white wall was brightly lit
on the other side. The only sound remaining was the occasional drip of water from the sink. Every second seemed like minutes while he squatted on the toilet seat, resisting the urge to stand and peek over the top.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket as he grasped to cover it with both hands. A sharp clicking sound scraped the floor. David held his breath as the noise began again. It was followed by a snarling huff that rolled out into a deep guttural snarl. The sound reverberated through the stone walls of the bathroom. Slow footsteps beat loudly across the floor where a dim shadow swept across the room. The dark, almost black, form appeared through the thin crack in the stall, outlined in thick, wiry hair.

  The tip of an ear rose over the top of the wooden panel door, just feet from David. The first stall door slammed open. The force of it slapped into the other side of the wall right beside him. He tried to hold his shaking legs still as the rumbling growl grew louder until he could feel the air trembling with the snarling mass of anger just beside him.

  Erratic beeps sounded from outside. The creature grunted as the car continued honking. Its shadow passed again as it seemed to turn back toward the doorway and its steps drifted further away. David listened while his trembling legs rattled at the toilet seat underneath his shoes. The horn stopped honking and then a fearsome roar broke the silence from outside.

  David hopped down from the toilet and ran out of the stall. He paused near the sink, just feet from the doorway. The only way out. It concealed everything outside behind a sharp concrete corner. Several loud pops of gunfire preceded a yelp and then a growl. He ducked as he ran through the entrance door, emerging outside.

  The blinding headlights of a vehicle in the parking lot silhouetted the tall creature as it continued lurching away, downhill, toward the car. Two more shots exploded into flashes from the driver side, stunning it into a kneel just beside a large wooden visitor sign. David ducked into the bushes, squeezing as quietly as possible through the prickling green leaves. They poked at him like a cactus, stabbing and scraping every inch of exposed skin.

  As the beast rose from the ground, long ears tucked back, arms spread wide at its sides, its form became visible against the glare of the lights. Its slender, hairy forearms contrasted bulky, shaggy upper arms and shoulders. The werewolf briefly shook its head, opening its fists into large humanlike hands with razor sharp claws extending from the tips.

  It jumped forward and rushed with a limp toward the car. Another bang from the rifle did little to slow the beast as the car door slammed. The tires squealed and the headlights swung around, revealing that it was Terry's car. David watched as the monster dashed into a charge toward the parking lot. David's arms and legs went cold with fear at the thought of being abandoned out there with that thing.

  The tires screamed with a sharp turn as Terry's car drifted. He began driving in a circle around the parking lot. David snuck out of his cover, shuffling from one tree to the next. He got closer to the pavement with every move as he watched the werewolf bolt across the middle of the vacant lot, trying to cut Terry off. Terry's car sped up and the monster just missed him. It roared out at the sky, raising its claws as Terry flew past, just yards from where David squatted in the grass.

  Large wolven ears stood high as the creature looked straight at David from where it stood. Not even half of the small parking lot separated them as he held perfectly still, hoping the shadows still concealed him beside the trees. The werewolf's eyes glinted bright yellow with Terry's headlights as he continued speeding around the parking lot. Another swinging flash of light from Terry's car swept by, showing the creature's blood covered hair. It lowered its head baring a row of long, bright teeth straight across the empty section of parking spaces. Looking straight where David stood halted in place, its growl became audible and it stepped closer. His skin stung cold with fear while he looked for anything he could use as a weapon.

  It continued creeping toward David, fixated only on him. Drool oozed from its open jaw as it approached the curb just downhill. David stared it in the face, paralyzed by the cold shock of impending death.

  Terry's horn blared as his headlights gleamed behind the large creature. Blinding lights engulfed the werewolf and it turned to let out a snarl. Terry’s car slammed into the beast and it collapsed under his bumper with a thud. David jumped out of the way as Terry crashed his way up the hill, tumbling over the huge pile of fur that rag dolled to the curb. The side of the car crashed across a tree before it came to a dead stop near the small restroom building.

  From the smoking wreckage, Terry's door creaked open, spilling crumbled glass around the ground. David rushed over as Terry stepped out carrying a lever action rifle.

  "I decided guns might not be so bad after all," he said with a quirky smile as he adjusted his glasses.

  "Are you alright?" David asked.

  "I think so." Terry brushed off his shirt as he turned to lower his eyes upon the wreckage. "But my car might not agree."

  "I’m sure glad you showed up when you did," David said.

  "To be honest, I'm a little surprised to see you," Terry said, raising his eyebrows as he turned to look downhill, toward the parking lot. A dark pool began to seep around the large body that slumped against the curb. From the dark brown fur, an arm laid stretched across the pavement with long claws. The exposed skin seemed a dark gray, almost black, under the dimly flickering street light.

  "Thought it might go back to normal," David said.

  "Yeah. Like the movies." Terry pressed his eyebrows as he and David glanced at one another before looking warily back down the hill.

  "If it's not you, then..." Terry raised his gun and started one slow step down the hill.

  David reluctantly followed. His thoughts raced with visions of who might be lying dead on the cold, crusted pavement below. They continued stepping closer. What if it's Janice? David took another step down the hill, just behind Terry. Or Sarah? He resisted picturing either of those outcomes. What if Sarah was right and it's Tony? The thought lingered as he stopped.

  "What is it?" Terry asked. A long pause filled the air as the clap of distant waves smacked against the docks. "I know it's tough, David, but we need to see." Terry descended further down the tire tracks that dug their way up the loose soil only a moment ago. "You can wait there if you want."

  David grunted out a sigh as he followed from a few feet behind.

  A crack sounded from the heavy body just yards away from where they stood. "Did you hear that?" David asked, staring at the lifeless corpse.

  Terry turned to speak. "It doesn't seem to be-"

  It popped again. David continued watching alongside Terry as a squishing, crackling sound began from the motionless body.

  "Maybe it'll turn back." Terry's words traveled to David's heart where they pounded with more images of who might lie below.

  From the noise, a series of gurgling clicks became faster and deeper. The eerie sound turned into a rattle and filled with deep vocals into a steady growl. Bright white teeth flashed through the piled mass of darkness as it shifted over and rolled on the pavement.

  "Terry!" David tugged the shoulder of Terry's shirt, squeezing it between his white knuckles.

  As the dark form of the beast continued to writhe on the ground, twisting into shape, David tugged back at Terry's shoulder. Terry raised his rifle at the monster. It clicked. He fumbled with the lever and hit the side of the gun.

  "Come on," David shouted. "Hurry!"

  Terry took aim at the creature only to give forth another empty click.

  The squirming beast's ears became visible as it shook its head, pushing its broad shoulders up with its arms.

  "Run!" David yelled as he let go of Terry's shirt and made a break toward the docks. The sound of Terry's steps rapidly beat behind him as David took one look back. A snarling ball of movement chased from the distant shadows. They both raced for the murky lake. The inevitable end of earth at water's edge rapidly approached.

  "There!" Terry huffed, pointing
to a lonely canoe beached against the muddy shoreline, just beside the docks.

  "No good." David panted for breath as they bolted toward it.

  "Beggars can't be choosers," Terry said.

  They slowed to a jog and Terry jumped to the right of the abandoned wooden relic. David took the left side as they pushed knee deep through the dark waters of Moss Lake, heaving the small boat further out. He strained to hold it level as Terry climbed into the canoe, tipping it side to side.

  "Careful," David said, now up to his waist in the cold, swishing pool of blackness that glimmered with the light of the moon.

  A loud howl blasted the midnight air from behind him as David turned to see the creature standing beside the rock building at the top of the hill. Its arms stretched low to its sides as it curled long, slender fingers tipped with dark blades. It poised its long snout to the heavens, ears tucked back and cried out its song of death to the stars. The howl rang loud enough to hurt David’s ears.

  "Start paddling," David said as he carefully balanced his weight onto the rocking boat and crawled onto its damp surface.

  The werewolf's tune finally abated as David watched it lower its gaze toward them. He grabbed a paddle and began forcing it through the heavy water with all his might.

  "Keep up with me," he said.

  Terry gasped for air while tugging the paddle from his side.

  The beast charged downhill toward the docks.

  "We're not gonna make it!" Terry said frantically as he pushed even faster through the water.

  "Keep rowing harder!" David shouted.

  "I'm trying!"

  Just as they passed the series of wooden posts, the beast rushed onto the clanking boards. They were about ten feet out from the platform. In an instant, it closed in. David braced the edge of the canoe, squeezing for life. The monster skidded to a hard halt just at the end of the walkway. David noticed they had finally drifted beyond jumping distance as the hairy beast swayed its head side to side across the murky depths that surrounded it. It snarled wildly as they paddled further away.

  "What's it going to do now?" Terry's shaky voice did little to draw David's attention as he continued rowing them further away from the menacing evil that glared across the rippling fluid barrier. It was all that separated them from certain death.