“No, I can’t tell,” Elena replied.
“What else do you see?” Arnie asked.
“Strange, I can’t seem to get anything more than that. Usually I get a lot more than that. Let me see your left hand, Arnie.” Elena ran her fingers through Arnie’s palm, and as she did, her eyes widened, causing her to shove Arnie’s hand away.
“What is it, Elena?” Sarah asked.
“It’s nothing. I’m not feeling too well. I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m going to have to ask y’all to leave. I hope y’all don’t mind?”
“No, not at all, just as long as I don’t have to pay you,” Arnie told Elena.
“No, it’s okay. It’s on the house. Now, please let me show y’all out,” Elena said, closing the door and whispering, “may God help you, Arnie.”
CHAPTER 4
“Why do you think Elena looked so shaken up, Arnie?”
“C’mon, Sarah, you didn’t believe that little stunt she pulled, did you?”
“I don’t know, Arnie. It looked like she saw a ghost or something.”
“So what if she did? Maybe it was somebody that was murdered and has come back for revenge, and it wanted to contact Elena through me,” Arnie said jokingly.
“Arnie, I’m serious.”
“I’m serious too, and you know I think it’s a bunch of bullshit.”
“Yeah, I know, but . . .”
“No buts, Sarah, all that hocus-pocus baloney doesn’t faze me. Maybe spook me a little, but that’s it.”
“I’m sorry, Arnie. I shouldn’t have brought you here in the first place. I mean after all that has happened.”
“C’mon, Sarah, you don’t have to be sorry. I didn’t have to come if I didn’t want to. It’s not like you forced me or anything. Now give me a kiss before I turn into a blood-crazed monster,” Arnie said playfully.
“Oh, Arnie, I love you,” Sarah said, kissing him.
“I love you too, Sarah. I hope we’ll always be together.”
“Who knows, Arnie, just maybe our wish will come true.”
Arnie and Sarah kissed once more and started walking toward Sarah’s house; as they walked neither of them said anything. All the words for the day had ended. When they arrived at Sarah’s house, Arnie walked her to the door and gave her one last kiss and headed home. Arnie had played as cool as he could act around Sarah and Elena – acting as though Elena’s behavior didn’t faze him; when in truth, Elena had scared the shit out of him. He didn’t understand what was happening to him. When he woke up in the morning to clean his wounds, they were gone as if nothing had happened, and now the way Elena reacted when she read his palm. She was terrified, and Arnie could see it. She saw something she didn’t want to tell him, and he knew it. It’s just all too strange. Maybe I’m just going crazy. If I’m not, I’m too scared to even think or try to know why all this shit is happening. For now I just hope this is all just one bad dream, Arnie thought to himself as he headed home.
It was 6 o’clock when Arnie got home, and just as usual, his parents weren’t there. Arnie never liked staying home alone. There was nothing to do, and ever since his dad disconnected the cable, it was even more frustrating being in that boring old house, not to mention that his parents almost never had any food in the fridge. Arnie felt so restless. He couldn’t keep still. Maybe Danny and Jay are doing something, Arnie thought. Arnie called Jay but he wasn’t home. Danny was home, and he always jumped at the chance at getting out of the house, especially when his parents were arguing. Arnie quickly got some sweats on, an old shirt, and rushed out of the house and ran over to the basketball court. Danny was shooting a basket when he noticed Arnie.
“What took you so long?” Danny asked smiling. It was easy for him to say when he only lived two houses down.
“I kind of got mugged by a gang of pretty girls,” Arnie said while playing.
“Yeah, right. Sarah wouldn’t like that. You ready to face me?” Danny asked competitively.
“So what will it be, Danny boy, 21 tip in?” Arnie challenged him.
“But, of course. Nobody’s the master at this court on 21 like me.”
“We’ll see about that, Danny.”
“I break ice, of course.”
“C’mon, Danny, you always break ice.”
“That’s because I never lose. Great night, don’t you think, Arnie?” Danny said, yelling as he stepped up to the basket. “Full moon, nice and cool, and the smell of horniness in the air!”
“Just shut up and shoot the damn basket,” Arnie said, annoyed with Danny’s
boasting.
“What’s the matter, Arnie, scared I might beat you?”
“No, I’m just afraid I might be dead by the time you shoot.”
“Okay, okay,” Danny said, firing the ball toward the rim.
The shot wasn’t a very good one for it bounced right off the rim. Arnie jumped
for the ball, grabbed it, and dribbled away from where Danny was defending.
“So how’s everything at home?” Arnie asked dribbling the ball, shooting it
in the hoop.
“Same as always, parents always fighting.” Danny replied, handing Arnie the ball.
“That’s two for me and zero for you, Danny.”
“The game’s just beginning. Don’t get cocky.”
“I guess the real question is, how are you doing?” Danny asked as Arnie shot the ball, missing the rim.
“I’m fine, but been having these weird nightmares.”
Danny took the ball, dribbling off, shooting it in the rim. “What about?” Danny
asked.
“I’m running through the woods naked and, well . . . forget it,” Arnie said, changing
the subject.
“The only dreams I have of being naked are the ones with Gwen Stefani,” Danny replied with a laugh.
Arnie then drove in, jumping in the air, shooting the ball in the hoop. He came down, ramming his knee into the pole that held the basketball court.
“Are you all right?” Danny asked with concern.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Well, can you move your leg?”
“Yeah, but I think I bruised it.
Danny grabbed Arnie’s hands, trying to lift him up. Arnie suddenly shouted angrily, “No! Put me down! Put me the fuck down now!”
“What’s wrong, Arnie?”
“It burns! It hurts, it feels like I’m on fire.”
“What burns, Arnie?”
“Help me, Danny!”
“How?”
“Please, Danny!” Arnie screamed.
Danny ran over to his bags, opening one of them, and got a quencher and rushed it over to Arnie. “Here, drink some of this,” Danny said, giving the quencher to Arnie. Arnie sipped some water, but all the water seemed to do was intensify the pain that seemed to invoke his whole body.
Danny couldn’t believe what his eyes were witnessing. Streams of hair began to grow from Arnie’s soft, tanned skin. His ears stretched two times their normal size. Danny wanted to scream, but all that came out when he opened his mouth was air. Arnie’s bones began to twist and crack as they reset themselves inside Arnie’s changing body. His face began to pulsate swelling until, finally, all signs of Danny’s friend disappeared. Once the horrific change was over, all that remained was a snarling bloodthirsty creature hungry for meat. Tears of dread ran down Danny’s face. All that Danny could do was cry as he tried to run, but he couldn’t as his body was petrified with fear. The beast attacked Danny, sending its teeth digging deep into his flesh. It began to devour Danny, ripping the meat from his body. Blood squirted on to the monster’s face, intensifying its disgusting hunger. Danny cried in horror as the beast ate him alive. The monster howled in satisfaction until Danny finally died. The beast then disappeared into the night, leaving the remains of its victim for the flies, which would surely in no time feast and mate upon Danny’s slaughtered body.
CHAPTER 5
The man in
the white uniform, who looked to be around forty-five, told Arnie to remain calm as he slowly came to.
“What do you mean? Where am I?” Arnie asked, confused.
“You’re in an ambulance.”
“Ambulance, why? All I did was bang my knee.”
“Relax, son. You’re in shock.”
“In shock of what?”
“Don’t you know?” the man asked Arnie.
“Know what?”
“Last night, apparently you and your friend where attacked, and the way we found your friend, hell, you’re even lucky to be sitting here talking.”
“The way you found my friend? What’s that’s supposed to mean?”
“It means that you are one hell of a lucky person.”
“How was my friend found?”
“Let me put it this way, son. If it weren’t for the ID in his bag, we would have had one hell of a time trying to identify him.”
“Danny’s dead?”
“I’m sorry, son, but you are one lucky kid. God knows why; whatever did this didn’t do the same to you. About the only thing he did to you was give you a slight bump to the head. So tell me, son, do you at least remember what the thing that did this looked like?”
“No,” Arnie replied.
At that moment, the door swung open, and a messily dressed man, who looked as if he had not shaved in a month, walked in.
“Hello, my name’s Inspector Rodriguez. You doing okay?”
“I could be doing better,” Arnie replied.
“I know this is a bad time, but I need to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?” the inspector asked.
“That’s fine.”
“I need you to try and remember what happened yesterday.”
“Not much to tell. Danny and I were playing basketball. I hit my leg pretty bad; after that I remember Danny going and getting me some water and then . . . everything’s a blur after that.”
“Can you at least try and remember why you were found unconscious and half naked?”
“Half naked!” Arnie said in disbelief. “How the heck did I wind up naked?”
“I was hoping you could tell me, Arnie.”
“I just don’t know. I wish I did, but I don’t.”
“Don’t worry, Arnie. Everything’s going to be all right. Now just lie back so we can get you to the hospital and make sure you’re all right to go home. Then we can have your Mom and Dad take you home.”
“Where are my parents?”
“They’re on their way to the hospital. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I hope you’re right,” Arnie said softly as the sirens to the ambulance sounded loudly.
CHAPTER 6
Arnie’s Journal, February 8, 1993:
I am starting a journal because things have been going so bad lately that I really do not know what to do anymore. Everything in my life seems to be going wrong. A few days ago, some animal attacked me. I keep telling myself it was a bear, but something deep inside keeps telling me it was something else. Then there was the way Elena acted the other day when she read my palm. It was as if she had seen a ghost. That’s not even all of it. The day after I was attacked, I was going to clean my wounds but they were gone as if I never was attacked. Then the night before yesterday, that night Danny was killed… no matter how hard I try, I can’t remember what happened that night. I just remember Danny giving me water, then waking up in the ambulance. That’s when they told me Danny was dead and that I was found unconscious and half naked. The scary thing is what or who killed Danny could have killed me, but didn’t. Judging by the way Inspector Rodriguez kept using the word, it must mean whatever killed Danny isn’t human. Could it be the same animal that attacked me? I pray it’s not because there is something very wrong if the same animal that attacked me the other day is the same one that attacked us. Then there are the sick nightmares I’ve been having lately. I can’t seem to stop having them. I’m running through the woods chasing a deer. I catch it and kill it. Then I start to eat it. I’m tearing away at its flesh and it is then that I realize it’s not a deer. It’s a girl. I hate these dreams because when I have them I feel alive in a way that I’ve never felt. A part of me longs for these dreams to become a reality and it scares me. My mom’s worried to death about me. I can see my dad is too, but he always has been one to keep in his true feelings. As for Danny, he didn’t deserve to die the way he did. It’s weird; it doesn’t feel like he’s dead. I guess it’s just I haven’t actually seen him, and even if I could, I don’t know if I would want to. You know when someone who practically grew up with you dies it makes you realize how short life really is. I always thought Danny would always be there. Now he’s gone and I can’t bring him back. I wish I could. It is also a scary thought to think that eventually one day I’ll die. Things like this really wake you up and let you know how vulnerable we really are. On to my other problems. Been avoiding Sarah. My life’s too screwed up at the moment to have to drag her life down with mine. I love her too much to do that to her. Well, I’m getting tired of writing so until next time. I have to go.
CHAPTER 7
A pair of hungry eyes watched in anticipation as a young couple walked through the trail of the park. The creature looked on, awaiting the perfect time to strike and capture its prey. The predator grew hungrier and hungrier as each moment passed. It followed the unsuspecting couple until its hunger for meat rose beyond imagination. The beast jumped out from the trees without warning, sending its teeth deep into the skull of the man, killing him instantly. The distraught lover screamed in horror, ran and stumbled down the trail to the park. Maybe if her stalker was human, she would have stood a chance, but this was not the case. Suddenly an object fell from the trees before the girl. She looked at the unknown object in horror as it rolled into the light revealing her lover’s decapitated head. Only then did she realize the horrible truth that there would be no escaping for tonight; death had come for her, she thought, as the beast jumped out of the trees, sending her body crashing to the floor. As the beast sunk its teeth deep within her neck, screams filled the forest until finally there was silence.
Twelve midnight, halfway across the other part of the city, a homeless man sits against the cold metal of a dumpster, clinging tight to his medium-size bottle, which he kept safely in a brown paper bag that over the years had been his only escape out of the life he so dearly hated. The shots and screams of the city did not bother him for he lived with them every night. You live in an alley long enough you get immune to that sort of stuff. Then for the first time in years, his ears picked up a sound that caught his attention. At first, the man could not tell what it was, but as the sounds of growling grew louder, the man knew exactly what it was. At least he thought he did. Damn dogs, the man thought. The creature revealed himself, stepping into the light of the alley as the man looked on in dread. The poor, homeless man spoke only two words for that’s all he had time for as the beast grabbed his weak, fragile body, slamming it to the wall again and again, breaking every bone in his body. The beast began to devour the flesh from the man. Sirens echoed in the distance momentarily ending the creature’s feast.
12:20 a.m.
Policemen Gabriel Valince and Eddie Rollins drove into Vermont Alley cautiously as reports of someone screaming for their life came pouring in. Eddie flashed his flashlight up and down the dark alley, and suddenly the light shone on a body that looked to be sleeping. But when Eddie’s eyes focused on the body, his heart fell to his stomach.
“I think we found where the screams were coming from, Gabe,” Eddie said, stepping out of the passenger’s side of the squad car to examine the mutilated body.
Gabriel called in what they had discovered. The sight of the body made Eddie sick to his stomach, making him vomit all over the dark alley ground.
“Hey, Eddie, are you all right?” Gabriel asked, concerned.
“Yeah, I’m all right. It’s just, who would do something like this?” Eddie said,
&
nbsp; wiping his mouth.
“You know how it is, Eddie. Nothing but sicko’s in this fucking town.”
“This is nothing, Gabriel. About ten years back, I found a baby thrown in a garbage can. Damn maggots had eaten away at his skin. Poor thing was still alive. I still can hear that baby crying sometimes. I nearly quit the force after that. Took me a couple of years before I stopped dreaming about that poor baby,” Eddie said as he scanned the alley with his eyes. At that moment an eerie growl echoed at the end of the alley where the drunk had first heard the horrific sound.
Bark (The Werewolf Journal's Book 1) Page 2
