by M. J. Parker
I ran for it. The fear had built up and in my panicked state my legs took over. Up the stairs I climbed and fell once, when the door crashed open behind me I felt splinters of wood flick against my back as I scrabbled up. The scrapping of claws on wood beat against the floor as the heavy sounds of padded footsteps ran towards me.
The sound of growling was behind me, and then hot wet pain coursed up my leg. I was afraid to turn around. I didn’t want to see what had ahold of my leg. I just gripped the banister and kicked back at the face of what had ahold of me. It pulled and I felt the wood slipping out of my hands. I landed bent and turned to see slashing jaws barking and growling as an enormous wolf stood over me. It’s warm drool mingled with the blood from my leg dripped from its teeth and down onto my face as it’s keen eyes watched over me.
In my head, I wanted to scream. It wouldn’t come out though. I felt as if I was a rabbit, cornered and scared and about to faint from the fear. And then I heard the beating of paws coming from the stairs. The same sound I’d heard when the wolf beast had broken through the door and sprinted to catch me. Suddenly the growling animal was gone, and a torrent of hair and teeth fell to the bottom of the stairs.
The two wolves were fighting then, snarling and ripping at each other’s fur and face. Sprinkles of blood littered the floor around them. They were unlike other canine’s I’d seen, and they didn’t look like I’d imagine wolves looked. Their hind legs were different, when they stood they had no trouble balancing, and their paws were more like hands with claws rather than fingers. They were monstrosities.
I screamed then, when the realization hit me that I was staring down at two unknown monsters. One of which had just taken a bite from my leg. I attempted to stand but fell hard onto the step where I was perched. I dragged myself up the steps and away from the dog fight, my incapacitated leg dripping and hot with pain.
When I made it finally to the top of the stairs, the growling and ripping sounds had stopped. I turned my head to find that the wolf that had bitten me was now laying still on the floor. The other was staring down at him soundlessly. I wanted to scream again, but I also didn’t want it to notice me. Without a sound it turned it’s great head in my direction.
I met its gaze. It had blue eyes that didn’t blink or leave my face. Suddenly the beast on the ground quivered, hair began to fall from its body and dispersed into wisps of smoke when it hit the floor. The long legs and overgrow snout morphed into a human face and the beast was gone. A naked old man lay there now.
It was the old man Charles who was still and unmoving. The other monster then sat back and howled that same echoing call before lying down on its side, panting hard. The same events happened. The hair began to fall off it, leaving little puffs of smoke in its wake. The face contorted, the claws retracted and there was Rex, naked and laying amongst the small streaks of blood at the base of the steps.
I wanted to scream then too, but it didn’t come. Instead everything went black. I don’t really remember falling, or what happened during going out. I hadn’t even realized I’d fainted until I woke up. It’s never happened to me before, and I hope nothing like that ever inspired my body to just drop out again.
When I woke, I was laying in Rex’s living room on the couch I’d previously been sitting on before that thing had attacked the door. I didn’t instantly know what was going on until Rex, now clothed, walked into the room with a wet cloth. The image of him with the hair and the fangs came back to my scattered thoughts.
I stood up immediately and backed into the nearest corner. My heartbeat shot up and I could feel it pounding in my chest.
“Get away from me!” I screamed at him.
He quit walking towards me and raised his hands, “Lacey. I’m not going to hurt you. I can explain everything you saw. I swear.”
It seemed like just seconds before he’d been whispering tantalizing statements. I don’t know what time it was, but it was pitch black outside. Rex continued to raise his hands, but sat down on the now unoccupied couch.
“Look. What you saw is a big secret. I know it seems absolutely insane, but I’m not a monster. That was Charles, you know the guy that had me locked in the basement. I had to do that. He was forbidden from the area and very angry. He was coming after me, you just happened to be here.”
I had seen the old man, “What happened to him? Where is he now?”
I scanned the room searching for anymore wolves or broken battered bodies. There was nothing here.
“Remember my club that I mentioned? Well we all have the same uhh problem you know. We take care of one another. Well, they helped me get rid of Charles. He was sort of low man on the totem pole and wasn’t happy about it. I’d taken him under my wing by giving him a job and this is how he repaid me. He’s gone now Lacey. You can attempt to call the authorities and there could be an investigation if they take you seriously, but they’ll find nothing.”
Even in my frightened state, I knew that the description of what happened would sound insane to anyone who hadn’t witnessed it themselves. I was still frightened though. If he could dispense of the old man so easily, and I was a witness, what would happen to me?
“What do you want with me?” I accusingly shouted at him, while staying put in my corner.
He sighed and rubbed at his forehead with his free hand, “I don’t want anything from you really, just an understanding of what happened. Look, you saw what I am. The only person who doesn’t have the same problem. You know what I am, and really, I hired you because I was lonely. I didn’t know this would happen.”
I felt bad then. Even though he was just about the scariest thing I’d ever witnessed, it was still sad to see someone open up and admit that they were alone in the world. Again if this series of events hadn’t happened I should feel lucky. A good looking, successful, wealthy man was admitting he’d purposely wanted to seek time with me because he had no one.
When words of sympathy finally came to mind, a grey haired sharp looking man came into the living room.
“Rex. It’s done. Get rid of the female.” He then shot a glance at me.
Rex stood, towering over the man by nearly an entire foot. He glared down, and both men locked eyes.
“Brother, I thank you for your help. I will do as I see fit.” The man backed away from Rex’s face, looking away from him then and down at the floor.
“You know what could happen Rex. I’m only reminding you.” The man still didn’t meet Rex’s face again.
Rex then breathed in deeply, “I know, but this is my territory. I can do what I want. She’ll be staying with me.”
I’ll what? If this guy thought I was staying here. Then he really was out of his mind. I just witnessed a murder and had my entire perception of reality totally changed. The older man left then. Slamming the door behind him.
“Look Rex, I’m not going to tell anyone what happened here. I swear, but I have a life outside of this. I have my own place and a cat and friends.”
He looked at me then, and strode forward until he was within inches from my face. I tried to back away, but my back hit the wall. He leaned in then and took my face in his hands, and slowly touched his lips to mine.
“You can still have those things, but we have to be careful now. There are people out there that won’t be pleased with you knowing the truth. Please trust me.” His lips were centimeters from mine and his warm breath came out in bursts.
I don’t know if it was all of the adrenaline, or if I really enjoyed having him so near, but I closed those centimeters between us and met his mouth with mine. His hands cradled my head and my hair wrapped around in his fingers. Our tongues flicked across each other’s teeth and met and entangled with one another.
I stopped and pulled away, both of us breathing hard, “I can’t do this.” I whispered and then ran from him.
“Lacey NO!” he yelled. I’d already made it out of his living room and to the door. I flung it open and took long strides to my car. The keys were nowhere to be
found in my pocket, so I took off running down the driveway and along the street. My apartment complex was only a mile away. I kept running, although with a limp my speed was slow.
I kept turning my head, expecting to see Rex running after me, whether in human form or not, but there was no one chasing me. When I finally made it to the street and was so close to home I stopped and leaned against a stop sign breathing in deep gasps of breath. The headlights of a car passed over me highlighting the upcoming road. It was late. The town seemed empty and nearly dead save for one or two motorist driving away.
After a few minutes of heavy breathing, I felt steadier on my feet, and calmer on my path home. I limped a few more feet before a car pulled up next to me and stopped. It was Rex in his shining overpriced car. The window rolled down.
“Lacey. Please, let me at least drive you the rest of the way to your apartment and make sure you get in alright.”
I hesitated, but relented when my leg began to throb with pain. Just as I was about to walk around the front of the car to get in a deep rumbling growl came from nearby. I turned in time to see a pair of gleaming eyes approaching me from the dark. I backed against the car in terror.
Rex looked over and immediately got out. He stood in front of me, and deep from his chest I could hear a growl erupt.
“Back off Duke. I told you she was staying.”
The figure lumbered into view. A silver snarling wolf snorted and continue to bare it’s fangs at us. Snarling and snapping at the air just a foot from Rex. I gulped back my fear and closed my eyes. Listening to the throaty growl coming from Rex.
“Duke. If you attack, I have no choice but to end you. You know I can.”
I could hear the wolf’s feet hitting the pavement as the snarling got closer. I opened my eyes and saw that the wolf was pacing back and forth in front of Rex. Staring at only me, while waiting to lunge. Rex took action then. He jumped forward and hurled his fist into the wolf’s face and jumped back. Duke yelped out into the dark and jumped back.
“I warned you Duke. Get out of here.”
The silver wolf’s tail was tucked between his legs, but still he was growling, now focused on Rex. He retreated slowly off back into the shadows, looking back at the pair of us only once before disappearing.
Rex then turned to me, “Lacey. I know you’ve been pulled into this without wanting it and it’s a lot to take in, but please. Come back with me.”
I knew things wouldn’t end well if I refused. I thought this entire thing would be over. I kept expecting to wake up, laying in my bed confused about having a really vivid dream, but no. I didn’t wake. Rex was still there, pleadingly looking at me. The ache from my leg brought me back into focus.
“I suppose we can give it a trial run. I don’t really have an option here anyway.”
He brightened then. I carefully hopped over to the passenger side and plopped into the seat. Rex took his place behind the wheel. He didn’t take off right away.
“Do you need to get some clothes or anything?” He asked.
Well yeah, I guess I really needed everything from my apartment now.
“Yeah.” I didn’t know what to say to him then. I owed him more. He’d been kind. I’d found a man locked in a basement and yet he’d saved me now twice over. Although both times it was really his fault any of it had happened in the first place. What really did I have to lose now? A crappy apartment and a dull life? I decided then as he started the car that I should go into the situation with a better attitude.
“Thank you Rex. You saved me from, I’m sure, some horrible end.”
He grinned and looked over at me, “I owe you. Besides, these other wolves are idiots. Why would I dispose of such a good looking woman?”
That made me laugh, “Well thanks, glad that’s all I have going for me.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. I looked into his playfully bouncing blue eyes that swept me up into a sea of uncertainty. Rex then kissed my nose.
“I’m sure you have a lot more to you. We’ll find that out with time.”
Oh yeah I had forgot to tell him. I kissed his nose in return.
“Yeah actually, you know my cat that I mentioned? He hates the smell of you and he’ll be joining me in the move.”
