*****
“Hurry up Annabelle, we need to get going.” The stranger loaded the last of the luggage into the trunk, then double-checked the list in his mind to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything. Once again he called to his wife to quicken the pace, but was met with a look of irritation.
“I don’t see why we have to leave so late. We could have stayed the night; we were paid up ‘till tomorrow.” She called to him while closing and locking the hotel door behind her.
“Because traffic is almost nonexistent at this time of night which means we’ll get there sooner. We save on time, on gas, and on money.” Thick clouds began to roll through the night sky and the faint sound of thunder was just audible in the distance while a light drizzle of rain began its descent. A gentleman to the end, the man ran to help his wife into the car and shut her door after her, but before getting in himself he couldn’t help scanning the parking lot and the woods beyond for what he was certain was something peering back at him. Water ran down his face as the rain poured on, falling in heavy sheets, he could barely see a thing. This was going to slow them down terribly.
The rain, a hindrance to some, made no difference to the creature that lay in wait. It could see, hear, smell, and feel their presence, all of which inflamed the torrents of rage already pulsating through its veins. Pleasurable thoughts of sinking its massive teeth into the man’s throat while slicing open his gut, along with other demented desires played repeatedly through its twisted mind. As swiftly as the night before the creature dashed through the woods following the vehicle and its prey. This was going to be fast food.
As the car passed each one of the sparsely placed streetlights, Annabelle Sheere couldn’t help but notice the tiniest of movements outside her window. She knew it must have been her mind playing tricks on her a reflection from the rain or something, but as the car continued the feeling of being watched crept up on her so intently she no longer believed that it was just a figment of her imagination. Something was out there. The uneasy feeling grew until not only was she sure something was watching them, but stalking them as well. She opened her mouth, but thought better of it when she realize how silly it all sounded; something was out in the rain chasing after them; ridiculous. Finally, even with all her reasoning skills employed, paranoia overwhelmed her and she was forced to say something. “Hun, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I can’t shake this feeling that there is something out there watching us.”
“Ah that’s nothing; I felt it when we first left the hotel. Just the storm though. Making us feel a little creeped out this late at night. Besides nothing could keep up with us, even if there was something out there.”
“What about wild dogs? I heard on the local news about a bunch of cattle that was slaughtered by a pack of wild dogs just last night outside of town.”
“Sweetheart, wild dogs don’t chase cars for almost thirty miles. It’s just the reflection of the streetlights off the rain making it look like something’s following us that’s all, I promise dear. There is no car chasing monster out to get us.”
Temporarily subdued she peered out the window. Her husband gently patted her hand and jokingly made fun of her.
“That’s not nice!”
“Oh you know I love you.”
“Do I?”
“Of course, now look in the glove compartment and get the map out would you Annabelle sweetie. I need to know where the turn off is.”
The map was an easy find but the flashlight was of little use with dead batteries so the couple was forced to pull off the road and use the interior light to find their way. As the two gazed at the multitude of lines on the map they turned and gently kissed. Then they kissed again and again, each with more passion than the one before, but a sudden case of the giggles broke the growing passion as thoughts of being caught “parking” on a major highway came to mind along with times long ago. The map forgotten, the two began talking of moments tucked away in the fondest part of their memories, ignoring everything outside the world that was their car.
The thing in the shadows watched as the car slowed and its red lights flashed brightly even in the rain, then pulled to the side of the road, it too slowed and halted some yards behind within the cover of the bushes. Barely a sign of its presence existed; not even its heaving breaths could be seen past the pouring rain. Its eyes glowed intensely as the urge to attack grew stronger by the second, though it dared not move into the light surrounding its prey. Pulling under the street lamp had bought them time, but minutes only. Soon they would belong to it. Controlling the urge to rip, tear, and shred became more and more difficult by the second and soon it would have to release the pulsating rage within. Just as the beast could wait no longer, the crimson lights dulled and the car slowly turned back onto the road and away from their unknown sanctuary. Darkness swallowed the car and the creature sprinted from its shroud leaping onto the road chasing down the soon to be victims.
The moment had passed and the young man pulled back onto the highway, but as he glanced into the rear view mirror he caught a glimpse of something that not only confused him, but frightened him. What was it? He turned in his seat to get a better look at the thing reflected in the mirror and saw a beast, black as night, fur matted to its body. Even through the rain he could see it eyes, its unrelenting eyes, glaring right back at him. He swung around preparing to slam on the gas and leave this monster from the pit behind them like a bad dream while Annabelle turned to see what was happening. As she coiled her head around she saw the thing make a great leap into the air and crash through the rear window tearing the head clean off her husband with one great swipe of its massive claws thrusting it into the lap of the horrified widow. The car began swerving violently, but the beast paid no mind and it pounced on top of Annabelle tearing at her chest, stomach, neck, and face with all four claws, ripping huge chunks of flesh from her spasmodic body, spewing her blood back into her own mouth. The last thing poor Annabelle saw as she gurgled on blood was the fierce smile on her tormentors face as it ripped her jaw from her skull, crunching on her lower teeth, crushing her bones.
From the moment the demon had begun its vicious attack on the couple Annabelle had been numb with fear, but in her final moment she closed her eyes and prayed to God to forgive her accepting Christ as her savior. No way she wanted this reign of terror to continue for all eternity, it was a miracle she had clarity enough through the pain and panic to pray and the instant her prayer was finished the pain and fear ceased, though the savagery continued. Now there was peace for Annabelle and she would never know the atrocities her body suffered at the hand of evil.
A piercing howl ripped through the night as the final flash of lightning slashed the blackened sky. The thunder reached its crescendo with one last deafening clash, and the rain ceased as though the water had been turned off from the heavens above. All was still and quiet as if to mourn for the events that had so horribly taken place. Even the creatures of the dark held their peace as though to hide their very existence and grieve for those who had not been so fortunate. The clouds parted and cleared and the moon spread its hypnotic beams throughout the forest, the lake, the town, and the highway, but there was no creature, no bodies, and no car to catch the silvery light.