Killer Koala Bears from Another Dimension

by P. A. Douglas

  “Don’t mention it,” Frank said, pointing the shotgun up as he scanned the trees above them.

  “How many are there?” A fat man wearing a wife-beater, shorts, and one sock, panted.

  “Does it really, fuckin’ matter?” Tim said, his machete unsheathed and gripped tightly in both hands. “We’re dead.”

  “Don’t say that, kid,” Outlaw said, the revolver in his right hand.

  All together there were seven of them stuck standing in the clearing waiting for the next thing to happen. There was Tim, Joana, Frank, Outlaw, the fat guy with the one sock, and two other women. One of the women had blonde hair. The other was wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt. Everyone else had either taken off in another direction or was dead. The sound of pain-filled screams echoed out across the woods. From what they could tell it was coming from the road. Frank thought of all those people in that black van and the old man that had the stuttering problem.

  “We can’t just stand here,” the fat man shouted.

  “We can’t outrun them,” Outlaw said, pointing his revolver toward a sudden noise in the woods off to his right. “Our best chance is defense in numbers. We stick together.”

  “He’s right,” one of the women said.

  “Fuck this… I’m out of here,” the woman wearing the tie-dyed shirt said. “I’m leaving before those things realize we’re back here.”

  “That’s not a smart move, kid,” Outlaw reasoned.

  She wasn’t listening, and in fact, had already started jogging deeper into the woods.

  “Idiot,” Outlaw breathed.

  “Just let her go,” Frank said. “You tried.”

  Just as those words left his mouth and as soon as the girl was out of sight the screams began. They came from the direction she had just gone. They started out high pitched and terrified. After a moment, they became muffled and gurgle-ish. The screams of death faded and the woods fell silent, but only for a moment. They could hear the bears moving about all around them. Both on the ground and in the trees.

  Joana looked to Tim, whose fear filled eyes matched her own. She saw the machete in his hand and followed suit, pulling hers from its sheath. She thought it would make her feel a little better. At least a little safer. It didn’t. Not one bit. If anything, it made her more afraid. Afraid that she would have to do things she wasn’t prepared to do.

  “How many of them do you think there are?” the lady with blonde hair asked, her voice shaking with fear.

  “I don’t know,” Frank said.

  “If I had to guess…” Outlaw whispered, scanning the trees and beyond, “At least ten. Yeah, definitely at least ten. And trust me… they know we’re out here.”

  “How do you know that for sure?” the fat man scoffed.

  As if to answer his question on cue, a spear flew through the air from the trees above hitting the fat man in the throat. Blood gushed from his neck. He tried to scream, grabbing at the spear jutting from his throat, but couldn’t. He just gurgled. Blood bubbled from around the spear’s point of entry. The blood pooled around his throat and down his hands to his elbows. It ran down his double chin and plump neck onto his hairy chest, staining the white wife-beater.

  The blonde screamed.

  With both hands clutching at his throat, the fat man wearing one sock turned and started running in the same direction that tie-dyed had gone. Before he even had the chance to get out of sight, the bear that had thrown the spear fell on him from above. The fat man crashed on his back and the Arktos yanked the spear free. The man gagged against the pain, blood and plasma spraying across the bear. The creature wasted no time striking the fat man in the chest, not once, but countless times. With the spear in both hands, the Arktos enraged, it stabbed the man over and over again. Blood splattered from his chest with each forceful strike.

  “Dear God… please help us!” The blonde just started running.

  “Shit… what do we do?”

  “Back to the car!” Outlaw shouted. I’m taking point. Frank, you cover the rear. You two… just keep up!”

  With revolver at the ready, Outlaw took off in full sprint, not even bothering to look back to make sure that the others had followed.

  Screams of the blonde that had taken off on her own filled the woods. It seemed painful. Horrid. Agonizing.

  “Tim…” Joana cried, grabbing Tim by the hand, determined not to let go.

  With Tim in front of her, the machete in his free hand, they ran, doing their best to keep up with their new friend. Joana was afraid to look back. She could hear someone giving chase right behind her. Whether it was one of those crazy alternate universe things or Frank was questionable. She didn’t want to think about it.

  Then all at once, spears and rocks started falling from the sky all around them.

  Joana screamed as she felt the wind rushing at her side, hearing the thudding sound the spears made as they stuck in the ground around her.

  Someone shouted to just keep going. Not to stop.

  Outlaw’s revolver went off and it sounded like it hit its target. The guttural moan that followed the loud report was somehow satisfying in Joana’s ears. The revolver went off again. This time, that satisfying sound didn’t follow, no matter how hard she listened for it.

  The road was in view.

  They were going to make it.

  “I think the tire dude got hit!” Tim shouted.

  “No… I’m fine, kid,” Outlaw demanded, pointing the revolver into the street and pulling the trigger.

  Joana watched from over Tim’s shoulder as the creature in the street took the bullet and fell to the pavement.

  “Come on, we’re almost there!” Outlaw jumped out the ditch and back onto the highway.

  An Arktos jumped from the trees to his left throwing a glowing rock. He ducked, the rock just missing him. Then he aimed at the creature and pulled the trigger twice. The first shot hit the creature in the chest nearly dead center. The blood exploded at the opening and the bear fell limp to the ground. The second shot clicked empty.

  “Shit… I’m out!” He coughed, blood spilling from his lips.

  When he turned and looked back at the woods, Frank was shoving Joana up the ditch.

  “Behind you!” Outlaw shouted, and wiped the blood from his mouth.

  Frank spun around, shotgun in hand.

  The Arktos that ran on him from behind forced Frank to the ground on his back. He almost dropped the shotgun. The creature pulled a sharp bone-type blade from its loincloth and charged. Frank aimed the shotgun up, pressed the butt of the gun into the dirt for support and pulled the trigger. The gun shook. The loud boom reverberated off the surrounding trees. Joana was reminded of the time that Tim put a tomato in the microwave until it exploded. The otherworldly creature’s head did just like that tomato. And it looked just like that tomato, too. Red. Red everywhere. The thing’s head was just gone. Chunks of muck and blood rained down around it where its head had been.

  Joana’s stomach churned at the sound the falling pieces of matted meat made as they hit the ground.

  “We don’t have time to stand around!” Tim shouted, waving his machete. “Whose car are we takin’?”

  “The white one,” Frank barked, climbing up the ditch.

  Grabbing Joana by the hand, Frank ran toward the Jimmy. Watching Outlaw and Joana’s boyfriend climbing in upfront, he opened the back passenger door letting Joana in. She turned to him and found herself smiling despite everything. She had never had anyone open the door for her like that. He closed her door and ran around to the other side.

  Just before climbing in, more than a dozen creatures filed out of the woods through the ditch to give chase.

  “Go… go… go…!” Frank pleaded, jumping into the back seat and slamming the door shut.

  A seemingly endless number of spears rained down on the Jimmy. The stone tips colliding with the metal frame sounded like they were driving through a hail storm. Outlaw put it in drive, turned sharply and spun the vehicle around.
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  As they drove headlong into the path of more than a dozen monsters, the only thing Joana could think about was what happened to that woman wearing the slippers that took off in the police car. She didn’t make it out and there weren’t nearly as many of them then as now.

  “We’re not going to make it,” Joana breathed.

  “Yes we are,” Frank said soothingly. He put the shotgun on his lap and reached over, giving her a pat on the hand. “We’re gonna make it. I promise.”

  She leaned into him tight and clenched her eyes shut.

  “Hold on tight, kids,” Outlaw said, slamming his foot to the floor.

  Joana squeezed Frank tighter having felt the vehicle begin to accelerate.

  The sound of shattering glass and Tim’s sudden scream filled her ears.

  They weren’t going to make it.

  12

  The white GMC Jimmy crashed into the torrent of gray fur covered bodies.

  The car jolted violently as it pushed through the figures. Bodies rolled over the hood and along both sides, crashing across the cement. The sound of shattering glass Joana had heard had been the front passenger side window. Glass covered Tim’s lap. A bear-thing reached in, grabbing a fist full of his long jet-black hair. He flailed and screamed, trying to lift the machete to defend himself. It was impossible to maneuver the large blade into a striking position in the limited space. With the car still moving forward and picking up pace, the creature pulled itself deeper into the vehicle by using Tim’s head as leverage. It scratched at his face with its sharp black claws and pulled at his hair trying like hell to gain entrance.

  “Fuck me runnin’!” Outlaw coughed, turning the steering wheel sharp right and left.

  It worked and the bear fell out of the Jimmy, taking a thick lock of Tim’s hair with it.

  Tim groaned, holding his scalp and the few cuts on his chin and bottom lip. Bright red blood dripped on his lap. His head throbbed even worse than before.

  The back right wheel ran over the creature, lifting the Jimmy for just a moment before dropping back down to catch traction with the road once more.

  A new torrent of arrows and rocks rained down from the rear, but before all could reach the Jimmy, Outlaw had spread the distance between them. Only two of the spears thrown in the second wave hit the roof of the Jimmy, bouncing away in the road. The rest had fallen short, the Jimmy clearing their throwing range.

  They made it.

  “Fuck you, you stupid animals!” Tim shouted, spitting blood onto the side view mirror.

  They passed the patrol car on their left. When Joana looked, she wished she hadn’t. Two blood covered slippers hung out of the driver side door attached to blood covered legs. That poor woman hadn’t made it. As much as she hated it, at least that hadn’t been them. She looked over her shoulder and watched the distance between them and the Arktos’ grow even wider.

  Although not much, the tension lifted.

  Frank rejoiced with a hooting call. When he lifted the shotgun, bumping it against the roof of the truck, everyone chimed in with him.

  “Damn that was close!” Tim smiled, still holding his bloody lip with one hand.

  “Thank God” Joana breathed, locking gazes with Frank and giving him a hug.

  Tim gave her a stern look, so she pulled away fast, giving Frank an awkward smile instead.

  “Talk ‘bout…” Outlaw coughed again, pulled a rag from his greasy jeans and covered his mouth. “… a close call.”

  “You okay, dude?” Tim asked, shooting Joana and Frank a worried look.

  “I…” he hacked, stuffing the rag back into his pocket rather fast. “I’m fine. Let’s just put some space between us and those fuckin’ things.”

  “Agreed.” Frank nodded.

  “Tim says they’re called Arktos’ or something like that,” Joana said.

  “How would…” Outlaw covered his mouth, “you know something like that?”

  Tim sat for a minute and from what Joana could tell he didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to admit to the blame. Didn’t want to be a real man and fess up to the fact that he was the one that brought all of those damn things here to begin with.

  Just when Tim looked like he was about to speak up, which surprised the hell out of Joana, Frank spoke first.

  “The only thing I can think of is to check the Rec Center.”

  “For what?” Tim asked, seemingly relieved for the subject change.

  Joana didn’t intend for him to let it slide. It would come up again.

  The Jimmy cruised down the winding road of Highway 105 at a fairly rapid speed. When the curves became too sharp, Outlaw applied ample brakes to compensate before regaining speed. At the rate of speed they were going, they would be back to town within the next 15 minutes. Joana looked over her shoulder again and sighed in relief. Those crazy bear-things were no longer in sight.

  “Kathie…” Frank said. “If she isn’t at the apartment and didn’t make it out of 105 to her parents’ house… then all I can think is that she went to my work looking for me. That’s the only other place she could have gone.”

  “Who’s Kathie?” Tim asked, clearly eager to force the conversation away from himself. Frank turned to the back, pulling a t-shirt from behind him and handing it to Tim. Tim nodded his appreciation and used it to stop the bleeding on his chin and lower lip. “You wouldn’t happen to have some pain killers, too?”

  “Kathie’s my girlfriend,” Frank said, pointing for Tim to check the glove compartment.

  Tim dug through it and came away with Advil. Taking several of them dry, he shook the bottle with a thankful nod and put them back.

  “Oh… I didn’t know you were dating anyone,” Joana said.

  “Yeah, most people haven’t met her,” Frank sighed. “She isn’t much for going to the parties and stuff like that.”

  “That’s a shame,” Joana breathed. “If she’s anything like you, I’m sure she’s a sweetheart.”

  “She is…” Frank agreed. “Which is why I need to find her. She means everything to me.”

  “Awe…” Joana said, looking to Tim with concerned filled, glistening eyes.

  Tim just shook his head, shoved a finger in his throat, and pretended to gag.

  Joana rolled her eyes at him and turned to Frank. “I’m sure Outlaw wouldn’t mind making a stop at your work to look for her before we go to Miss Yortsdayle’s house.”

  “Miss Yortdayle’s house? Why the hell would we need to go there?” Frank raised a brow. “That crazy old lady is—”

  “Uhh… guys?” Tim interrupted.

  Joana scolded him with gritting teeth and disdainful eyes. He just needed to grow up and confess that it was he who opened up all those portals.

  “We’re slowing down and Outlaw don’t look so hot.” Tim pointed.

  Frank jumped forward in his seat, grabbing Outlaw by the shoulder. The Jimmy was slowing down—fast. The grease covered man lay limp against the driver side door, his eyes closed.

  “Outlaw…” Frank shook him.

  The truck started to veer hard to the right, Outlaw no longer held the wheel. Tim leaned over the large man taking the wheel as it started to slow to a stop.

  “Outlaw!” Frank shook him again, still not getting a response. “David… wake up!”

  “What’s wrong?” Joana panicked.

  “The front of his shirt is covered in blood, man,” Tim gasped, only taking his eyes off the road for a moment, still steering from the passenger seat. “I told you I thought I saw him take a hit when we came out of the woods.”

  “Fuck…” Frank breathed, leaning back in his seat. “Just stop the car.”

  “I am… I am…” Tim said, keeping the Jimmy centered on the road as it slowed.

  Joana hesitated before glancing over her shoulder at the winding road behind them. She just knew that if they stopped, those things would be on them the minute they stepped out of the vehicle.

  The Jimmy rolled to a stop. Frank opene
d his door and stepped out.

  “Wait… what are you doing?” Joana said, her tone frightened.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” Frank barked, slamming his door and rounding the Jimmy to the front with the shotgun in hand.

  Joana stared at Tim, who stared back still leaning over an unmoving Outlaw. “What the hell happened?” She whispered with wide eyes.

  Tim shrugged, returning the facial expression. He reached over Outlaw’s body, put it in park and sat back into his seat.

  Frank reached the driver’s side door, put the shotgun on the roof and pulled the door open. “Come on, Outlaw. What the hell happe… wow!” Outlaw’s limp body slumped toward Frank almost falling to the pavement outside the car. Frank grunted when he caught him. “Help me… He’s heavy.”

  Tim just sat there, staring at the lifeless man, Frank trapped under his weight.

  “Come on… help me with him.”

  Tim looked on, shocked.

  “Tim…” Joana leaned forward in her seat nudging her boyfriend. “Go!”

  Tim seemed to snap out of it and jumped to attention. Climbing out of the car, he ran around to the other side to help Frank ease Outlaw onto the road.

  “Here… Set him down there,” Frank said, setting him down slowly.

  They both stood and looked down at him.

  “Is he dead?”

  “I don’t know,” Frank said, leaning down to take a closer look. “What the hell happened?”

  “I don’t know, man,” Tim protested. “He was there one minute, fine… just driving… the next out fuckin’ cold.”

  “You said you saw him get hit when we left the woods?” Frank asked, examining the small tear in the large man’s shirt.

  He started unbuttoning Outlaw’s work shirt. There was a small tear the size of a quarter just above his nametag. The front of it was soaked with blood. Blood that looked like it had seeped its way into the fabric from the inside rather than out.

  “Well, yeah.” Tim nodded, putting both hands into his jean pockets.

  “What hit him?” Frank said, peeling the shirt away from Outlaw’s chest. The blood made the fabric stick to the skin, pulling on the large amount of chest hair.