Chapter 5
1304 Words
5
The thing was hunched over, but even doing that it stood well over six feet tall. It’s body was humanoid, with legs and arms, but it was covered in long, coarse fur. It appeared to be wearing a torn pair of pants, but she couldn’t be sure beneath all that hair. Long claws extended from the jointed fingers and the feet were stretched beyond those of a human.
It’s head was the most animalistic feature. A long snout stretched out, and sharp teeth extended over the bottom lips. Pointed ears topped the head and a main of thick hair cascaded down its back. Golden eyes stared at her with a hunger she didn’t like one bit.
Stephanie defensively held up her hands and started to back away. The thing growled and that made her stop immediately.
“G-good doggy,” she whispered as lifted up one of her legs. Stephanie grabbed the shoe off her foot, and would have done the same except the creature caught on to what she was planning.
It suddenly leapt toward her and she couldn’t think of anything better than throw the pointed shoe at it. The article of clothing proved to be painful for it, too, as the heel struck it in the face and scraped its eye. It howled in pain and stopped to scratch at its face. That gave her a chance.
Stephanie turned and shot down the direction she’d come. The monster behind her howled and its feet pounded the ground as it gave chase after her. She didn’t dare look behind, but she could feel and hear it cut down the distance between them. The intersection was coming up, and her frantic eyes zoomed in one a pile of boxes to her right. She’d only get one chance to take a sharp detour and hope the thing would be confused enough to give her time to escape.
She hit the four paths just as she felt the thing’s breath on her back. She made as though she would continue forward, but at the last moment she grabbed one of the boxes at her side and flung used that to whip herself around the corner. The monster slid passed and she heard its claw scramble to catch itself along the wet, broken concrete. Now she had a short distance until the road and she would be safe. There was only one problem with that plan.
Another monster stood in her path.
Stephanie skidded to a halt, but she couldn’t stop until herself from colliding into the new beast. She was engulfed in short, soft hair that was warm to the touch. Her hands were out in front of her and flat against the beast’s chest, and she could hear a soft, calm pattering of its heart. She glanced up and gasped as she found herself staring into another pair of golden eyes.
These eyes, though, weren’t filled with the terrifying hunger like the other ones. These were soft and curious, and looked down into her face with a smile in their depths.
A howl interrupted the peace and Stephanie glanced over her shoulder. The other monster was standing in the intersection growling at them. Its head was lowered and its teeth were bared.
The beast she clung onto grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him. His rough claws pierced her skin and she yelped at the quick pain. The beast turned at her cry, but that gave the other monster an opening.
The first, larger beast charged at them and jumped into the air. It came down on top of the smaller one in front of Stephanie, and she was knocked down when they rolled back into her. She scrambled out of the way as their teeth and claws dug into each other. She quickly moved against the wall and pulled off her last shoe. When she saw her chance, she bolted up and passed the brawling monsters.
Stephanie ran to the intersection and took off down the way toward the hotel. She heard a wild howl of pain and glanced over her shoulder in time to see the smaller wolf thrown across the intersecting alleys. She stopped and turned around as the other beast emerged from the side alley. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her pulse was racing as those harsh golden eyes turned on her. It suddenly bolted towards her.
Stephanie didn’t even have time to flinch before it had her pinned to the wall of the hotel. Its bared fangs dripped with the blood of its enemy. Its putrid breath washed over her, and she thought she’d faint from the horrid smell.
Suddenly it stiffened and its eyes widened. It leaned down and sniffed her hair. She froze as a slow, menacing growl rose to its lips. She shut her eyes tight and turned her face away. Whatever was coming, she didn’t want to see it.
“Anyone there?” someone suddenly called out.
Stephanie’s eyes shot open and she glanced toward the light of the streets only a few dozen feet away. A man stood in the entrance and he looked to be peering into the shadows of the alley.
The beast growled in annoyance at the intruder, but it apparently didn’t want any more trouble. The monster flashed Stephanie one last, dangerous glance and took off down the alley. She didn’t stick around to watch it leave as she raced for the light at the end of the tunnel.
The stranger at the head of the alley was very confused when this disheveled woman stumbled into his arms. Stephanie wept for joy as she looked around at all the sane people and bright lights.
“You okay?” the man asked her.
Stephanie realized then how embarrassing the situation must have seemed for them both. With cheeks blushing she pushed away from him and gave a shaky but relieved smile.
“I-I’m sorry,” she managed to mumble out. She glanced over her should at the empty alley. She wondered if it’d all been a horrible day dream. “J-just thought I saw something.”
“You look kinda pale, you need to lay down?” he kindly suggested.
“What? Oh, no, I’ll be fine,” Stephanie promised. She nodded at the grand building beside which they stood. “My hotel’s right here, so I’ll just go up to my room.”
She gave him a steady smile and moved over to the entrance. She was very glad for the doorman now as he opened the door. He noticed her shaky appearance, and missing shoes.
“You need some help there, miss?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine,” she unconvincingly tried to assure him. She was so wobbly on her legs from her fright that she nearly toppled over when she tripped over the rug in the lobby.
“I don’t think you are, miss,” he politely disagreed. He signaled to one of the bellhops in the lobby, anyway, and the young gentleman came over. “Can you help her to her room?” he asked his coworker.
“Sure thing,” the young man readily agreed. “Ma’am?” he asked as he offered her his hand. She wryly smiled at them both.
“Well, I may as well take it while it’s here,” she agreed.
Stephanie was grateful for the help as he assisted her to one of the elevators. They rode up together, and he made sure to deposit her into her room. Thankfully she hadn’t lost her key card in the alley, and she left the kind young man at the door with a hefty tip.
The young woman stumbled over to her bed and gladly collapsed onto the plush covers. Now she had the time to assess what had just happened there in that alley, and probably try to tell herself that it’d all been a terrible dream. She lifted her head from the blankets and glanced out the window.
Scary shadows, check. Monstrous beasts, double check on that. Scared little her running for her life while being chased, triple check on that scenario. That all had happened…hadn’t it?
- Writer
