Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I raised my shotgun, took aim, and fired. Boom! The blast hit the creature square in the shoulder, close enough that I felt the heat of the discharge on my face. It staggered, snarling, but it didn't fall. It turned its head toward me, and I swear to God it grinned. Its lips peeled back to reveal rows of jagged yellow teeth, too long, too sharp. Eli screamed.

I raised my shotgun, took aim, and fired. Boom! The blast hit the creature square in the shoulder, close enough that I felt the heat of the discharge on my face. It staggered, snarling, but it didn't fall. It turned its head toward me, and I swear to God it grinned. Its lips peeled back to reveal rows of jagged yellow teeth, too long, too sharp. Eli screamed.

I turned just in time to see him trying to run, but the thing was faster. It lunged, swiping at his back. I heard the rip of cloth, saw the flash of blood as his shirt tore like paper. Eli stumbled forward, the lantern flying from his hand and shattering against a rock, plunging us into near darkness. I didn't have time to think. I fired my second shot into the thing's gut.

I turned just in time to see him trying to run, but the thing was faster. It lunged, swiping at his back. I heard the rip of cloth, saw the flash of blood as his shirt tore like paper. Eli stumbled forward, the lantern flying from his hand and shattering against a rock, plunging us into near darkness. I didn't have time to think. I fired my second shot into the thing's gut.

The blast echoed, and the beast let out a roar. A sound that didn't belong in this world. A mix of a wolf's howl and something deeper, something wrong. But it didn't die. It stumbled, its glowing eyes dimming for just a second, but it kept coming. I could see the blood pouring from its wounds, black and thick like tar, but it wasn't enough. I was out of shells.

The blast echoed, and the beast let out a roar. A sound that didn't belong in this world. A mix of a wolf's howl and something deeper, something wrong. But it didn't die. It stumbled, its glowing eyes dimming for just a second, but it kept coming. I could see the blood pouring from its wounds, black and thick like tar, but it wasn't enough. I was out of shells.

With no time to reload, I did the only thing I could. I dropped the shotgun and grabbed the nearest fence post, yanking it from the ground with a strength I didn't know I had. The old wood splintered in my hands, but I didn't care. I charged. The beast had its attention on Eli, who was crawling backward in the dirt, his eyes wide with terror. It didn't see me coming.

With no time to reload, I did the only thing I could. I dropped the shotgun and grabbed the nearest fence post, yanking it from the ground with a strength I didn't know I had. The old wood splintered in my hands, but I didn't care. I charged. The beast had its attention on Eli, who was crawling backward in the dirt, his eyes wide with terror. It didn't see me coming.

i swung the post with everything i had the weight of fear and rage driving me forward the first hit connected with a crack splintering against the creature's skull it let out a whimper a high keening sound that sent chills down my spine it sounded almost human

i swung the post with everything i had the weight of fear and rage driving me forward the first hit connected with a crack splintering against the creature's skull it let out a whimper a high keening sound that sent chills down my spine it sounded almost human

but it wasn't dead i swung again this time bringing the post down across its spine i felt the bones snap beneath the blow heard the wet choking gasp as the beast collapsed to the ground twitching for a moment the only sound was my own ragged breathing

but it wasn't dead i swung again this time bringing the post down across its spine i felt the bones snap beneath the blow heard the wet choking gasp as the beast collapsed to the ground twitching for a moment the only sound was my own ragged breathing

then the creature let out one last pitiful sound a soft rattling whine like a dying dog and then it was still i dropped the fence post my hands shaking the lantern was out but the moonlight was enough to see the thing's body sprawled in the dirt its head was that of a wolf but too large too elongated its limbs were thick and powerful ending in claws that glistened with blood

then the creature let out one last pitiful sound a soft rattling whine like a dying dog and then it was still i dropped the fence post my hands shaking the lantern was out but the moonlight was enough to see the thing's body sprawled in the dirt its head was that of a wolf but too large too elongated its limbs were thick and powerful ending in claws that glistened with blood

The fur was black as midnight, but in some places, it looked almost mangled, like patches of human skin stretched too tight. And its eyes, even in death they glowed faintly, as if something inside refused to let go. Eli was on his knees, staring at the thing like it might get up again. I couldn't blame him. I half expected it to. "'What the hell is that, James?'

The fur was black as midnight, but in some places, it looked almost mangled, like patches of human skin stretched too tight. And its eyes, even in death they glowed faintly, as if something inside refused to let go. Eli was on his knees, staring at the thing like it might get up again. I couldn't blame him. I half expected it to. "'What the hell is that, James?'

he whispered, his voice barely audible. "'I didn't have an answer. I didn't think there was one. But one thing was certain. This was no bear, no panther, no animal we were meant to find in these woods. And whatever it was, I had a sinking feeling this wasn't the end of it. For a long time, neither of us moved. The thing lay there in the dirt, its twisted body steaming in the cold night air.'

he whispered, his voice barely audible. "'I didn't have an answer. I didn't think there was one. But one thing was certain. This was no bear, no panther, no animal we were meant to find in these woods. And whatever it was, I had a sinking feeling this wasn't the end of it. For a long time, neither of us moved. The thing lay there in the dirt, its twisted body steaming in the cold night air.'

The woods, which had been silent before, now felt dead. Not just quiet, hollow. Like the trees themselves were holding back something worse, something watching from just beyond the lantern's reach. Eli was still kneeling, his breath ragged, his shirt hanging in tatters from his back where the beast's claws had torn through. His blood left dark streaks down his spine, but he didn't seem to notice.

The woods, which had been silent before, now felt dead. Not just quiet, hollow. Like the trees themselves were holding back something worse, something watching from just beyond the lantern's reach. Eli was still kneeling, his breath ragged, his shirt hanging in tatters from his back where the beast's claws had torn through. His blood left dark streaks down his spine, but he didn't seem to notice.