The Prey

Forgive me

Flinging her backpack onto her shoulder, Becca stepped outside into the hot and humid night. Her chest squeezed from the sight of Jason's bewildered look as he swung at his brother not understanding where he was. She had to step away hearing that someone was in his room a couple of days ago. Knowing exactly who it was, made her skin crawl. She continued to walk letting her feet take her anywhere. Going over and over in her head Jason's eyes, as it turned red and hoping that Alex didn't see it. There's only so much that can be done and it will soon be out of her control.

She looked up to see that she was standing in front of a church on Pitt Street and decided to sit on the steps. It has been awhile since I have been here. She thought as she looked at the fresh red paint on the churches brick walls. Remembering the oath she has made for the pastors of this church, not to step in until her duties are done and to ask for forgiveness. The past three pastors knew what she does and would rather send her a blessing in good faith and hope, than to cast her away from the church. Knowing that the safety of the community and around is more important than burying someone who was evil within.

She closed her eyes, remembering the time when she was only twelve years old, walking home from the Hamilton Fish Library.

Carrying four books in her arms of her favorite author R.L. Stine and was excited to start reading. It was late in the evening and the beginning of summer vacation. The librarian had to drag her out of the library, since it was closing time and Becca was looking forward to spending another summer inside of a cool library. Looking at the covers of the books, she felt at ease knowing that these books will be read twice in two days, she slowly walked to the corner of Houston Street when she heard someone screaming.

Stopping in her tracks Becca looked up to see Father Michael running away from two grotesque creatures. Not knowing what she was doing, she dropped her books and ran behind them towards the opposite of where she was heading. Becca ran as fast as she could behind them and stopped when she couldn't see them anymore. Climbing on top of an old Volkswagen, she searches down the block to a gas station on First Street. Panting loudly, she spots the priest banging on the windows of the mini store at the gas station, trying to get inside. Behind the counter a shaken old man, wearing a turban shook his head as the creatures slowly crawled closer to the scared priest.

Father Michael screamed as he dodged the claws as it scraped the glass windows. Falling onto the floor, he tried to pull himself up as the creature jumps onto his back. Spit spills from its mouth as it opens and snarls at the priest. Letting out a loud cry, Father Michael heard a familiar voice.

Ayudarme padre...

Shaking, the creature leaned closer and hissed.

Ayudarme padre...

Again, he heard the words then noticed it was coming from the creature. Father Michael violently shook, as the creature’s breath grazed his face. Covering his face he saw it open its mouth wide enough to swallow him whole, when he heard a screech. Whispering the Lord's Prayer, Father Michael shook more preparing to meet his end.

Becca watched as the creatures loomed over the priest, preparing to feast. Looking around and spotting a rock, Becca picked it up and threw it hitting one of the creatures on the back. Whipping its body, it growled at her, angry for disrupting the small meal it was going to share. It charged at Becca, while she scrambled around the ground looking for a weapon, landing on a branch, she grabs it and starts to swing at the creature as it lunges forward. Missing, Becca runs behind a car that was parked and the creature crashes into it. Heading to the other side of the car, it moved a few feet, seeing that it has left a dent on the car. The creature shook its body and growled as it slowly searched for Becca who was hiding on the other side. Noticing that is was sniffing out her scent, she slowly moved away and hid behind the car next to it, leaving a pair of her sneakers next to the smashed car. The creature continued sniffing until it stopped near her black Nike sneakers, then sneezed.

Shaking its head, it searched around again, then looked up to see a very slim wild girl jump onto its back. It moved and bucked wildly trying to knock Becca off its back. Becca, squeezed its neck with her slim arms, making sure it's secured tightly around its neck. Just like what her trainer has taught her to try to knock out whatever opponent she may be up against. The creature slowed down and finally slammed itself backwards knocking Becca off its back. Air escaped her lungs as her body crashes onto the pavement. Gasping for air, Becca kicked its back and pushes herself away from it, before the creature tries to pounce on her. Spotting the branch that she had a moment ago, Becca runs towards it and snatches it up, as the creature catches up to her and knocks her to the side, of a parked car. Regaining her breath, she jumps and rolls out of the creature’s way as it tries to crush her against the parked car. Breaking the branch in half she waited until it charged at her again, this time lunging forward and shoving the broken branch into the creatures open mouth.

A loud blood curdling screech filled the air, as the slime and mucous started to escape out of its mouth. Panicking, trying to remove the branch that was forced into its throat, its claws was unable to grab the branch. It continued crying out in pain as blood and mucous squirted out. Becca walked up to the creature and pulled the branch out, and watched it scream, letting out its last breath and crumble onto the ground. She watched as it lifelessly shook and laid still on the ground. Looking towards the gas station, the other creature watched the whole fight to the end. It looked up at the sky, and let out a howl as it pushed the priest away and started to charge towards Becca.

Taking a step back, Becca launches the branch into the air at the creature hitting its head, giving her enough time to run. Mucous falls from its mouth as it shakes its head and looks at the branch and now the corpse a few steps in front of it. Looking up and noticing that she ran behind the fence on the other side of the gas station, it licked its lips and started to sniff around for her scent.

Becca looks around for another weapon, not finding anything, she sees that she was a few feet away from the station and the only option that she has is very scarce but effective. Towards the convenience store the owner, took a peak over the counter, then spotted the creature and hid back behind.

A few feet away, Father Michael laid on the ground, his chest raised slowly, not moving the rest of his body. His eyes slowly watched the creature search for the girl, hiding on the other side of the fence. Watching the girl’s eyes search for something and landing on what would possibly end this chaos. Following her gaze it landed on the gas pumps. Feeling a bit queasy from the idea, he realized that it may be the only option. Looking at the girl as she slowly stood up and walked towards the pumps. The creature, snarled as it caught site of her. The creature jumps towards her as she grabbed the pump and sprayed the gas in the air missing it. Landing next to the fence, the creature howled and gritted its teeth at her. Father Michael, searched frantically in his pockets for matches but couldn't find any as he watched the girl, with white socks on and a blue romper spray the creatures face with gas. Howling as the gas stung its eyes, it spewed and spitted out mucous and gas out of its mouth. Not knowing what to do next the girl put the pump to the side and looked around desperately for another distraction for the creature.

Becca was about to run to the priest when a lighter was thrown at her feet. Looking up, she sees the convenience store man, flicking his thumb. Grabbing the lighter, the creature shook its body then growled at Becca as it watched her pick up the lighter and flicked it on. A spark, then a small flame exited the lighter, before Becca could throw it, she hesitated, hearing something. Becca looked around quickly then noticed what she was hearing was coming from the creature.

"Tiralo!"

Hesitating, she breathed in as she heard the voice clearly, coming from the creature.

"Tiralo! Por favor!"

As told, Becca threw the lighter at the creature, it lit up as some gas was shook into the air. Instantly it lit up and howled as it burned onto the ground.