Seeking to Devour

by Kyle Alexander Romines

  Ellie’s father lingered near the sink, putting dishes in the dishwasher. “Your mom said she wasn’t feeling well and asked me to do the dishes.” He looked worried, which was never a good sign. “Did you notice the way she looked when she saw Alexander’s ring? I’ve never seen her like that before.”

  “That’s what I wanted to ask her. I think she recognized it from somewhere.” She found her mother in her bedroom, sitting on the bed. The lampshade next to the bed was on, and a photo album rested on her mother’s lap. Even in the dark, Ellie could tell that her eyes were red.

  “Mom, have you been crying?”

  Her mother didn’t answer.

  “Does this have something to do with Alexander? Who did he remind you of? And what upset you about his ring?”

  Her mothered stopped flipping through the photo album and let out a sad sigh. “When I was in high school, I was best friends with a boy named Alex Hawthorne.”

  The name made the hair on Ellie’s arms stand on end. It was disturbingly similar to Alexander Thorne.

  “We became more than friends. We dated. I thought I was in love with him until I met your father. While we were dating, Alex went missing for months after a camping trip, and everyone thought he was dead. I met your father not long after.”

  “How does the ring play into this?” Other than the similarity of their names, Ellie didn’t understand the connection.

  “When Alex returned, I told him about your father. He tried to propose to me. The ring was the same one I saw Alexander wearing tonight.”

  Ellie’s brow furrowed in confusion as she attempted to make sense of the new information. “I’m sure there are plenty of rings like that. Alexander could have gotten it anywhere.”

  “Maybe.” Ellie’s mother looked down at the photo album, and Ellie glanced at pages full of old pictures of her mother when she was younger.

  Near the bottom was a picture of Samantha with a young man. Apart from shorter hair, the boy in the picture was identical to Alexander Thorne.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Fog gathered around the house. The full moon hung low over the neighboring forest. Alexander tore into the house in a fury. Rage clouded his thoughts. He seized an antique chair from the corner and hurled it against the wall. It shattered on impact. He concentrated on the sound of his heavy breaths in an effort to reassert control.

  His boots thudded against the creaking floor as he walked into the next room. Candles burned low, illuminating the staircase leading deeper within. There was nothing there but shadow. Wind whistled in the entrance hall, and the front door slammed shut behind him. He glanced over his shoulder.

  “You did well.”

  When he looked at the staircase again, Aristae loomed above him. He hated how she was always able to surprise him.

  “Everything went as expected.”

  “More or less.” Alexander felt his anger rising again. “She said she was happy. She hasn’t thought about me in years.”

  “I heard. I was there too.”

  Of course you were. He’d spotted her outside the window during dinner. Thank God Ellie hadn’t noticed her. It would have ruined everything, and he was finally so close.

  “You stirred her memories, my love. Trust me, she will know the truth soon enough. Fear will not be far behind.”

  “I hate her.” He spoke more for his own benefit than Aristae’s. “I loved her, and she chose him. She was mine. She belonged to me.” Even after so many years, Samantha still evoked powerful emotions in him.

  “Yes.” Aristae all but purred when she spoke. She delighted in rage and violence. It was her way. “To feel so strongly…vengeance will be all the sweeter for it.” She started down the stairs. “How will you do it? Kill the daughter? Turn her into your weapon?”

  That stopped him. “No.”

  “You’re right not to turn her. Not much fight in that one, is there?”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “No?” There was confusion in her tone, and something darker underneath. “Twenty years ago, I promised you retribution. One month ago—one moment ago—you were ready to deliver. What changed?”

  “It’s the girl. Ellie. I can’t kill her. I’m not…”

  Displeasure flashed in her green eyes. “Not what? A monster? Oh, but you are—and you know it.” Suddenly, Aristae stood directly in front of him. “What is this new sentiment? Who is this girl who has managed to bewitch you so? Her mother played with your heart the same way, or have you forgotten?”

  “In another life, she might have been my daughter.” Alexander’s voice wavered, unsure. They had planned this for so long. “She’s a good person. Innocent.”

  “Remember my words to you.” Aristae’s ring shimmered in the dark. She was in his blood, part of his very soul.

  “Make her suffer the same heartbreak she caused me. I haven’t forgotten.”

  A malevolent light danced in Aristae’s eyes. “To do that, you must rip away the thing she cares most about in the world—her daughter. She will burn as you have burned. Forever.”

  “Maybe there’s another way.”

  She snarled at him. “I knew it. Your resolve is too weak.” Aristae leaned closer, until he could feel her breath on his face. “You must kill her. Only then can you be truly free. Don’t you want that, Alexander?” She held out her hand. “Give me your ring.”

  Alexander jerked his hand back. “What?”

  “The girl has tamed you. You value control too highly. It makes you weaker—forces you to hide from your true nature. No longer.”

  He tried to move, but she was much faster and stronger. Aristae grabbed his arm and slid the black ring from his hand with inhuman speed.

  “You will thank me for this later.” She placed the ring next to its twin on her left hand.

  Fire filled his veins as all the anger came flooding back.

  “Yes,” he said, his voice almost a growl. “It’s time.”

  “It can’t be.” Ellie forced herself to remember she was looking at a picture of her mother and Alex Hawthorne and not one of herself and Alexander. “It’s him.”

  Her mother shook her head. “That was twenty years ago. He can’t be Alexander.”

  “They look identical. They could be twins.”

  “I never saw Alex after that night. After the wedding, I moved on with my life. Seeing Alexander tonight brought everything rushing back.”

  Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off the picture. The similar appearance, names, and ring were all too much of a coincidence. What if Alexander was related to Alex? “Do you think Alexander could be your friend’s son?”

  Samantha shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  If that were true, why would Alexander seek me out? Their encounter in the arcade had been an accident—hadn’t it? Alexander couldn’t have sinister motives. He just couldn’t.

  Ellie hugged her mom. Whoever this Alex had been, he’d obviously had a profound impact on her. “Thanks for talking to me. I guess I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.”

  “We both do, honey.” Samantha bowed her head. “We both do.”

  Her mind aflame with questions, Ellie left her mother with her thoughts. Who was Alexander, really? And who was Aristae, whose sudden appearance remained a mystery? As Ellie did her best to consider all possibilities, a new text message flashed on her cell phone.

  The message was from Sarah.

  Her hands shaking, Ellie opened the message.

  We need to talk about Alexander Thorne. I’m near Mrs. Wells’ land. Don’t tell anyone you’ve heard from me. Come alone.

  A chill ran down Ellie’s spine. Everything about the message seemed wrong. Sarah had never visited Mrs. Wells with her, and she’d only met Alexander once.

  She won’t return my calls for almost a week, then this? Ellie tried calling Sarah’s phone, but there was no answer. She started to phone the police but stopped, recalling Sarah’s plea for secrecy. If she’s in trouble, I have to help her.


  She borrowed her father’s pocketknife just in case, snatched her keys from the counter, and headed for the door.

  Her father approached. “Going somewhere?”

  “I’ll be back soon. Can you text me Matt Simmons’ number?”

  “Matt?” Her father scratched his forehead. “Why him?”

  “It’s about Sarah. I don’t have time to explain.” Ellie hurried to her car and started on the way to Julianne Wells’ house. The lights were off when she arrived, and there was no sign of Sarah until she spotted Sarah’s car off to one side of the road. She pulled her car next to Sarah’s, got out, and inspected the area.

  What were you doing out here?

  Apart from a patch of fog the night was clear, thanks to the full moon. Ellie noticed the nearly invisible trail Alexander had showed her near the forest.

  Another text message appeared on her phone.

  I’m in a house somewhere in the forest. I think there’s someone in here with me, and I’m scared. Come as soon as you can!

  Every fiber of her being rebelled against the idea of venturing alone into the dark. The more she thought about it, the more the two messages didn’t sound like Sarah at all. If it was some kind of trap, she was about to walk right into it. But what if Sarah really was in danger? Her car was there, and she had been missing for almost a week. Ellie didn’t intend to wait and see, even if it meant risking her safety. Still, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be smart about it.

  Ellie dialed Matt Simmons’ number. “Deputy Simmons—this is Ellie Sullivan.”

  He sounded confused. “Ellie? Is there something wrong?”

  “I received a text from Sarah. She said she’s in an old house in the woods near Julianne Wells’ farm. I found her car nearby, but there’s no sign of her. I think there’s someone dangerous with her.”

  Confusion turned to alarm. “Ellie, we ran a search on Sarah’s phone records. She was exchanging calls and messages with Winston Henderson a few days before they went missing.”

  Winston? What did he want with Sarah? “I’ve got to go.” She was too worried to listen to reason.

  “I’m heading out your way right now, but I’m on the other side of town. It’ll take me twenty minutes to get there. Stay put until I arrive.”

  “I can’t do that. Sarah needs me.” Ellie hung up before he could protest.

  The wind howled as she followed the path into the forest. Eventually, the desolate mansion came into sight. It was even creepier in the night. Fog clinging to the cold air partially obscured the moon, and summer’s heat died abruptly on the back of her neck.

  Ellie listened carefully. She didn’t hear anything coming from inside the house. She calmly approached the front door and eased it open. Still nothing. Her footsteps reverberated through the dimly lit interior as she advanced inside. The windows were cracked, and the curtains and furniture were dated. Shadows concealed things unknown in the main hallway. Candles burned on a table in a room off to her right.

  “Sarah? Winston?”

  “They’re here,” said a voice from the darkness, “but you won’t find them.”

  Alexander watched her from atop the main staircase. There was a wild look on his face.

  Ellie couldn’t hide her shock. “Alexander? What are you doing here?”

  Alexander merely stood there, staring at her. Winston’s warning sounded in her head.

  She tried her best to put the pieces together. “Winston tried to follow you, didn’t he? Sarah too.”

  “Right on both counts.” He still hadn’t moved.

  “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Is Alex Hawthorne your father? Is he making you do this?”

  “You’re a clever girl, Ellie, but you still don’t get it. I am Alex Hawthorne.” His face was filled with feral hunger, like a predator’s.

  Ellie backed away slowly as he descended the staircase. Her heart was racing, and her body screamed at her to run. She slipped her left hand into her jeans pocket and searched for her pocketknife. The front door loomed a short space behind her.

  “Running won’t help you, Ellie. Nothing will help you now.”

  The fog parted, and moonlight seeped through the windows, bathing Alexander in a silver glow. A faint rattle echoed from his throat, and he started rocking back and forth. His eyes glowed amber in the moonlight, and his pupils contracted and disappeared.

  Ellie remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the scene unfolding before her. Alexander’s fingers dislocated themselves and grew as his hands enlarged and sprouted black claws. Twisting and expanding, his body tore free of his shirt. Hair covered his chest and quickly spread across his body.

  In that moment, Ellie realized what had left the strange tracks at the Taylor farm. As the monster’s snout took full shape, she regained her senses and bolted through the front door and down the porch steps. Cold air struck her like a fist. A roar emanated behind her. On her way across the yard, Ellie cast a glance back at the house and glimpsed a monstrous form barely visible in the fog.

  Don’t look back. She had to make it to her car, almost a mile away. You can do it, Ellie. Ellie brushed aside the thousand questions in her head and sprinted down the trail. All that mattered was staying alive.

  A howl echoed through the night. It was coming.

  The fog thinned. She was too vulnerable—too exposed. She thought again of Patrick Doyle. If she stuck to the path, she would never make it back alive. Ellie ventured deeper into the woods in hopes of losing the creature, but her foot caught on a rock, she lost her balance and landed on her face. A branch cut her cheek on the way down. She grazed her face, and when she pulled her hand back, blood glistened in the moonlight.

  Ellie pushed herself up and waited in a thicket. There was no sign of the monster anywhere. Her breathing slowed, and she wiped sweat from her brow. Another howl echoed nearby. It was close. She tried her best to listen above her pulse racing in her ears. Something stirred in the brush, and she spotted the creature moving on two legs less than twenty yards away. Terror gripped her heart at the sight of it in the moonlight.

  You have to stay calm. What was it doing? She squinted for a better look, and it dawned on her the creature was sniffing the air. It was stalking her scent. Ellie carefully retreated. Maybe she could double back to the path. Otherwise, she risked losing her way. Without warning, a twig snapped under her feet, and the beast’s head turned in her direction. A guttural growl rose from its throat, and it came bounding toward her on all fours.

  Ellie threw herself from the thicket and ran in the other direction. So much for making it back to the path. Even under the full moon’s light, she was hopelessly lost. She searched in vain for some sign of the road and managed to pull out her cell phone while she ran.

  The monster’s amber eyes glowed from the trees above her. It dropped suddenly in front of her, and Ellie nearly crashed into it. When she jumped out of its path at the last moment and again lost her footing, the cell phone slipped from her hands. The monster opened its mouth to reveal a set of terrifying fangs. It reached for her, and Ellie scrambled back and kicked at its claws.

  She made it to her feet and ran through a cluster of trees as the monster struggled to fit its massive frame between two of them. Its claws came within a hairsbreadth of her, but there was no time to savor the temporary reprieve. Ellie slid down a muddy hill and made her way across a stream. Ice-cold water seeped into her shoes.

  Something low on the ground waited ahead. Ellie’s heart skipped a beat when she recognized Boomer watching her.

  “Boomer?”

  Boomer regarded her without recognition. Although he made no move to attack, he had her cornered.

  “It’s me, Boomer. Don’t you know me?” Ellie glanced over her shoulder. If the creature hadn’t picked up her scent again yet, it soon would.

  Boomer barked when she tried to move past him. The monster came running in her direction and jumped for her, its mouth open. Ellie ducked, and the creature went sailing ov
er her. She brushed past Boomer and fled as fast as her legs could carry her.

  Ellie’s breath stuck in her chest. She was tiring, and her legs burned with lactic acid. Moonlight peeking through treetops uncovered the road. She was close. Ellie redoubled her efforts. She stumbled out of the forest with the monster close behind.

  Siren lights blazed across the sky, and a police cruiser appeared farther down the main road. Ellie waved her hands furiously to get the driver’s attention. Suddenly, she felt herself pulled back into the darkness.

  Ellie kicked free and tried to run but slipped in the mud, and her ankle twisted under her weight. She cried out in pain and fumbled for her pocketknife as she crawled toward the road. The monster opened its mouth, but before it could sink its teeth into her, Ellie plunged the pocketknife into its claw. Letting out a shriek, the monster swatted her into a tree.

  The impact rattled her teeth, and she slid to the ground. Blood trickled down from her forehead, and the sound of the siren grew distant. Her mind was clouded; her body responded to her mental commands far too slowly.

  The monster roared again. The wound from the pocketknife smoked, and the smell of burning flesh lingered in the air. It towered over her, raising its claw to strike her down. Ellie struggled to keep her eyes open. She tightened her grip on the pocketknife but couldn’t muster the strength to use it.

  She glared up at it with as much defiance as she could muster. “Do it.” In a few moments, it would all be over anyway.

  When the monster’s gaze met hers, it hesitated and lowered its claw.

  A distant shotgun blast reverberated loudly, and Ellie glimpsed Matt Simmons discharging his weapon a second time. The shot hit the monster in the chest and knocked it back into the night.

  “Ellie!” Matt lowered his shotgun and ran to her side. “Can you hear me?”

  Ellie’s vision blurred as he bent over her. She tried to answer but couldn’t.

  “You’re going to be OK.” Matt squeezed her hand tightly. Another siren sounded nearby. He had radioed for help. “Over here!”