seemed to be darker than those surrounding it. Slowly, the shadow approached, allowing her a better look at the beast itself.
Thick grey fur covered a crouching body that seemed to be an over-muscular caricature of a human form, with lengthened arms ending in long, cruel-looking claws. Shorter, but still sharp claws adorned the beast’s feet, which her closer to those of a wolf or large dog than a man, but with longer toes. As it lowered it’s head, staring at her with large, golden eyes that almost seemed to glow in the limited light, she could see it’s large, wolf-like muzzle, filled with large, vicious teeth. Pink-tinted froth lined the creature’s curled lips while thick droplets of blood seemed to congeal on the tuft of fur at it’s chin. It’s large nose glistened wetly, large nostrils widening as it inhaled.
Tootsie, finally seeming to gather it’s wits, gave another of it’s high, yammering barks, making the beast shift it’s attention to the small mutt, it’s lips curling back as a rumbling growl emitted from it’s throat. As the tiny terrier continued to bark at the monster, Gloria saw the beast open it’s large mouth and tense, preparing to spring forward.
“Joseph Alfred Franklin!” Gloria screeched angrily, reaching out and smacking the top of the large beast’s head with the flat of her palm. “You will stop tormenting my dog this very INSTANT!”
The beast’s jaws snapped shut and it let out and angry roar, lifting it’s head to stare accusingly at it’s attacker, one long foreleg raising as a claw was extended to point at the small dog.
“I don’t care how much you dislike Tootsie! You will mind yourself!” Gloria raised her hand in warning, prepared to smack the beast again should he prove to be stubborn.
The creature growled again, then lowered it’s foreleg, pushing itself up to it’s full height and towering over the old woman, but she watched the beast without fear, and soon it began to shrink in size, it’s claws retracting into it’s thick fingers, arms shortening while legs straightened. The thick grey fur seemed to fall away and leaving a ring of course hair. The long, angular muzzle seemed to soften and pull back into the figure’s head, reforming an all too human face. Within half a minute, a nude Joe blinked down grumpily at his wife. “Put your damn arm down, woman! What’d yah go an hit me for?!”
“You were going to eat Tootsie!” Gloria protested, accepting his offered hand as he helped her back to her feet.
“I was not!” Joe protested, turning away and walking back toward the car. “I just wanted to scare him a little. Annoying little mutt.”
“Like you scared that young man?” Gloria replied accusingly. “Did you really have to EAT him? Really now, I thought you said you weren’t going to do that anymore.”
“That was different!” Joe snapped, retrieving his clothes from the trunk of the car. “He was threatening to kill you. Couldn’t take the risk of him coming back some day to finish the job, you know. Now go wait in the car for me with the mutt while I get this tire changed.”
“I hope this isn’t going to make us late to Mark’s graduation.” Gloria sighed. “We still have a long way to go and we’re still lost.”
“How many times I got to tell you, we ain’t lost!” Joe snapped irritably. “We’re almost at the end of this here road and then we’ll be right back on the highway. Would have saved us a whole hour had it not been for that damn kid. He set us back a bit. But we’re going to get there on time! I know-”
“Exactly where we are. I’ve heard that one before. Just change the tire, Columbus. Maybe the hotel hasn’t given away our reservations yet.” It was an old argument. Gloria knew they would be late, as usual. But someone would videotape the ceremony for her to watch later, and there was still the after-party that they would be able to attend.
To this day, the police have never managed to recapture Raymond “the Razor“ Alton. He is suspected to be hiding somewhere in Mexico, confirmed by occasional reports of false sightings.
© Melody Hewson
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