Ed grabbed his pipe and book from the end table beside the chair. He checked the bowl to make sure it had tobacco in it, then lighted it. He took several puffs before putting the pipe back on the table.
He found the page in the book he’d dog-eared, then folded it back. He didn’t like that the page now had a crease in the upper corner, but it couldn’t be avoided. This was another book he’d ordered from the back of a crime magazine. Written by Henry Cartwright, the book was thick as the bible and covered a wide array of monster information. Ed thought it might be a good idea to read something that offered insight on monsters of all sorts. The mailman delivered it yesterday, and he was already almost finished.
Maybe when he was done with the book, he’d venture out to a cemetery. Just to look around. He hadn’t dug up anything in almost a month.
The idea sounded just fine to Ed.
As he began to read, a high-pitched, raucous howl resonated from somewhere in the distance. Ed jumped to his feet, dropping the book. It stayed open to his page when it hit the floor. Looking down, he stared at the artist’s illustration of a large wolf, walking on its hind legs. A small child was clamped in its mouth, arms and legs dangling.
The chapter’s heading said—Werewolves!
He looked back to the window.
Another howl tore through the night, and made Ed flinch.
He walked on legs that felt frail and puny to the window. Bending over, he put his hands flat on the sill and leaned out. The crickets and frogs had gone quiet. The howl had sent them into hiding.
Ed twisted his neck so he could look up at the sky. His mouth went dry as a handful of sand. His back felt cold and tight.
The moon was full.
He heard the howl again and shoved away from the windowsill. The back of his head bonked the bottom of the window, but he ignored the pain and stumbled back. Though the howl had sounded as if it had come from the hills, he stared at the open window as if a wolf might lunge through.
He looked down at his opened book, at the scary drawing of the child-eating wolf.
It can’t be.
But living in Plainfield, Wisconsin, Ed had heard plenty of wolves howling at night. Tom Worden hadn’t sounded out of his mind when he suggested wolves had come in to find more food. Things like that happened every so often.
But no wolf Ed had ever heard sounded as menacing and…evil as this one.
Ed returned to the window, and pulled it down. Then he closed the curtains.
He picked up his book on the way back to his chair, then sat down.
And began to read.
Somehow, he knew he would need to learn as much as he could about werewolves.
About the Author
Kristopher Rufty is the author of several books, including Jagger, The Skin Show, Proud Parents, The Lurkers, and Bigfoot Beach. He has also written and directed the independent horror films Psycho Holocaust and Rags. But what he's best at is being married to his high school sweetheart and the father of three amazing children. Together, they reside in North Carolina with their giant dog and numerous cats.
For more about Kristopher Rufty, please visit his Website www.lastkristontheleft.blogspot.com
He can be found on Facebook and Twitter as well.
Coming Soon
Fort by Mark Allen Gunnells
Relic of Death by David Bernstein
Gardens of Babylon by Sara Brooke
Find these and other horrific books at sinistergrinpress.com
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Author’s Note
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About the Author
The Vampire of Plainfield Page 31
