One Night

 

We were wrong.  So very wrong. Dani thought to herself as she ran through the thick forest, scraping her face on the branches.

            The moon was bright and full, and a terrible howling pierced through still air.  In the background her village was aflame.  She was the only one left.

            It didn’t take long for her neighbours to turn on one another.  Fear does that.  It takes a rational mind and twists it.  If only Henry was still with her.  How she wished to be in his strong embrace, whispering encouraging words to her.

60 Days Ago

              Jed was always up with the first rays of light, as they poked his face through the wooden shutters.  He put on his wool coat and went on his daily walk around the perimeter of his farm with his faithful companion Rusty.  Jed was a sheep farmer and provided his community with wool to last the winter months.  Rusty ran ahead and atop the crest of one the hills on his land and started barking furiously.

              "What is it, Rusty?" asked Jed.  "What is it boy?"

            Jed reached the top of the hill and leaned down to comfort his dog.  He looked up and saw a field of blood.  His sheep were shredded.  Torn apart by some wild animal.

~

            "What are we going to do?" asked Mary.  "What of warm coats and blankets for the winter?  We're to be harvesting soon.  What are we to do?!"

            "Calm yourself Mary, we'll set things right," Logan was a man of tall stature and had a commanding presence.  He led the village through other disasters, and he was determined to do the same with this.

            "Jed, see if you can salvage any of the wool.  We should also have some stores of it from last harvest.  Henry, you and Mathew survey the lands around the village, see if you can hunt down whatever did this.  The rest of yeh' go about your business.  We'll sort this out."

 

            The townsfolk of Brookshire dispersed.  They whispered their concerns to each other but trusted in their leader.

            "What do you think happened to poor Jed's sheep?" asked Dani.

            "Oh, I dunno, could be coyote.  Maybe a wolf," replied Henry.  "Don't worry about it love, Mathew and I will track it down.  Him and I have had a good season, may not have left enough for the predators in this region.  They're probably just hungry and ventured into our village to hunt for food."

              "May get a bit cold, but we definitely won't starve," Mathew said with a chortle.

 

              Henry and Mathew ventured out beyond the boundary of the village, hoping to find whatever could have torn-up poor Jed's sheep.  They tracked for hours, and only passed a few small critters, some rabbits and squirrels.  Even caught a few for themselves.  

            Dusk was setting in, and it was about time the pair returned to the village.  A cold wind snaked between the trees and whistled in the tall grass.  A rustling came from some bushes, deep within the forest they were travelling out of.  With their torches lit and help from the rising full moon, they decided to investigate.

            Mathew made a gesture for the two of them to split up, and surround whatever was making the noise.  They each made a wide pass around the trees, keeping an eye on each other, until only the dim light of their torches could be seen.  Mathew heard a faint scream and saw Henry's lantern disappear.  He rushed over to his friend, rifle at the ready.  He darted his head in all cardinal directions, desperately trying to see any sign of his friend in the pale moonlight.  He heard a sort of choking sound, and turned around to see Henry covered in blood, and his clothes torn.  Henry fell to the ground, and a moment later something big and hairy ran the other way.  Frightened, Mathew took off towards the village and didn't look back.

 

            "It got em'!"  Mathew cried.  "It got Henry!"

              Lamps could be seen being lit through the opaque windows, and villagers poured out their doors to see what all the commotion was about.  

              Dani ran up to Mathew, frantic, "What happened Mathew?  Where's my Henry?"

              Logan made his way, with Pastor Abel in tow.

            "I- I'm sorry Dani, I couldn't help ‘em," Mathew sobbed.

              "What happened Mathew?" Asked Logan.

              "It got ‘em" Mathew replied.

              "What did?" questioned Logan.

              "I- I dunno," said Mathew, his voice quivering.  "But it was big.  I- I didn't get a good look at it.  I- I'm sorry, I was scared.  I ran the other way.  It got Henry though."

              Logan dropped his head for a moment, before lifting his chin-up high to address his people.

            "Alright, this is what's gon' happen.  Zeke, you, Peter, and Luke, along with myself, will take watch tonight.  Elizabeth, if you could tend to Mathew.  We'll go look for Henry in the morn' and bring him back to us.  Until then, try to get some rest."

            “You take care of yourself, you here me Zeke,” Mary said worriedly.

            “It’ll be alright love, I’m just keepin’ watch.  I’ll have Peter, Luke, and Logan wit’ me,” Zeke replied.  He kissed Mary’s forehead in reassurance.

            “Poor Mathew,” said Peter to his wife.

            “Aye.  I’ll make him some calming tea.  Poor man’s in shock,” Elizabeth replied.  “Be careful tonight, would ya Pete.  I have a bad feeling about what’s going on.”

~

            Calm was the night after the events that transpired mere hours ago; still, the four men stood like sentinels, ready to protect their quaint little village.  Dawn approached, and nothing more happened.

            Logan led a small team to the woods Henry and Mathew were in in search of Henry’s body.  Without Mathew they didn’t know where to look, so they stayed close together and walked a line trawling the forest floor.  After a few hours of searching, they came upon a patch of bushes with blood splatter.  No Henry though.  They could see a smear of red and some big prints heading off away from the village.  Whatever got Henry must have run off with him.

            Disheartened, Logan and the others went back to the village to mourn their loss.  It was a solemn day.  Pastor Abel led a service in memory of Henry.  Dani was distraught and wouldn’t get much sleep that night.  None of the villagers would.

            Deep in the night a howling could be heard, the kind that made the hair on your arms stand on end.  The villagers each looked through their windows to see if they could catch a glimpse of whatever was making the sound.  It was close. 

            Luke peeked through the curtains.  He lived near the edge of town facing the forest and so watched for any movement.  Cutting through the darkness a large figure raced past his window.  He grabbed his rifle and darted out the door.  His neighbour Tom ran out having seen the same thing.

            “What in god’s name was that?” asked Tom.

            “I dunno,” Luke said, “A bear maybe?”

            Tom clutched his lantern tightly, peering around in the dark.  Luke used the dim light to aim his rifle, following Tom’s movements.  Whatever it is it was still close.  Luke could hear the panting.  A heavy thud sounded behind them.  Luke spun around ready to blast a hole in whatever was there.  Another thud, this one much quieter.  Luke turned around again.

            “Tom?” Luke said, puzzled.

            Tom’s lantern was on the ground, but Tom was nowhere to be seen.  Luke carefully walked backwards towards the door.  He reached back, fumbling with the handle, but making sure he kept his sight in front of him.  Still having difficulty with the handle he looked down for just a second to get a firm grasp on it, when he looked back up he saw the creature lunging at him.  He fired a shot, but the creature got his meal.

 

            Back in the village, Logan along with Pastor Abel, Zeke and Mary heard the shot ring out in the dark, followed by a scream coming from the edge of the village.

            “What was that?” whispered Mary, her voice quaking in fear.

            “We should go check it out,” Logan said confidently.

            “Aye, sounded like it came over from where Luke and Tom live,” said Zeke, “Perhaps Luke got a shot off on the animal?”

            Logan nodded his head in agreement.

            “No Zeke!” Mary’s voice squeaked, “What if the animal got Luke, just like it got Henry?”

            “Come now Mary,” Pastor Abel gently started to lead her back to her house.

            “It’ll be alright Mary,” Zeke assured her, “I’m sure Luke got whatever it is.  He’s a decent shot.”

            “Then what of the scream?” Mary retorted.

            “Probably just startled him,” Zeke said, trying to convince himself now.

 

            Logan and Zeke made their way to Luke’s place, rifles at the ready.  They came upon the road between Luke and Tom’s house and found the ground wet with blood.

 

            “Luke?  Tom?” Logan said in an almost whisper.

            “I don’t think they’re here Logan,” Zeke said quietly.

            “Aye.  Best we go back,” Logan agreed.

 

            A dark figure rushed passed the two men.  They both got a shot off, but both men missed.

            “It’s headin’ into town!” Logan exclaimed.

            “Mary!” Zeke yelled, running back towards his place, Logan followed closely behind.

 

            The sound of breaking glass and screams could be heard.  Whatever it was, was breaking into the homes and taking its fill.

            More villagers joined Logan and Zeke, all firing hysterically whenever they saw, or thought they saw the creature.  Eventually, the creature left town; but not after it claimed many lives.

~

            Logan took stock, along with Pastor Abel.  The creature claimed eight lives this night.  Luke and Tom were the first two.  Joshua and his family: Emily his wife, and Bran his eldest.  Darrel, along with his wife Sue and their daughter Danielle.

           

            “What on God’s green pastures could’ve done this?” Pastor Abel asked, looking to Logan.

            “I don’t know.  Never have I seen anything like this,” Logan replied.

            “What are we to do Logan?” asked Zeke, striding up towards Logan and Abel.

 

            Logan furrowed his brow, thinking hard about what his next steps should be.  He looked around his once peaceful town, and then out towards the forest.

            “Pastor, if it’s alright wit’ you, I’d like everyone to stay the night in the church.  We can fortify the doors, and have every able-bodied person on guard,” Logan said.

            “I’ll gather a couple of the villages to help me move the pews to the sides, and set up some beds,” Abel said.

            “Should we not be hunting down whatever did this?” Zeke questioned.

            “I don’t think that’s wise Zeke,” Logan replied.  “We don’t even know what this thing is.  Besides, the size and the speed of this thing… is unnatural.”

            “I’m going to go back to Mary.  Her an’ I are going to check on Elizabeth, Peter, and Mathew.  See how they’re holdin’ up,” Zeke said.

 

            Logan was left to contemplate the fate of the village.  Fear would soon spread like wildfire in a dry field.  He’d have to get ahead of it before it consumed everything.

~

            The next night was calm, as were the following days.  A couple of weeks went by before the villagers returned to some semblance of normalcy once again.  Though there were no more attacks by the beast, the village was very much healing from a deep wound.  One that scarred deeply.  The villagers of Brookshire were uneasy, some believing it was the work of the devil.  People began to become untrusting of their neighbour.  The once close-knit village began to fray and unwind, as fear played with their mind like a cat with a ball of yarn.  Logan was at a loss for how to move forward.

            A month went by, and the attacks began again.  Jed was the first new victim in a string of gruesome assaults.  By the end of the week, the village reduced to half.  Logan lost the ear of his people, as terror took root and rotted all sensibility.

            Another month passed and the village, along with the villagers was as isolated from the world as the moon up in the sky.

 

            “I just don’t know what to do,” Logan said to Pastor Abel.

            “People are frightened.  The Devil has found a home in Brookshire and is eating away at their faith,” Abel replied.

            “What do we do then?” responded Logan.

            “When hope is abandoned, are we truly lost.  We need to give them hope once more,” said Abel.

            “How?” asked Logan.  “Whilst that beast is out there, what do we have to hope for?”

            “We must put our faith in God,” Abel said.

            “I believe God has forsaken Brookshire,” Logan replied coldly.

            “No.  God is still with us.  He’s only testing our resolve,” Abel said.

 

            In the village things were getting heated as distrust and anger flared, sparking fights in the streets.  People were accusing one another of witchcraft, devil worship, or angering God.

 

            “Witchcraft!” yelled Mary, “You brought this upon us, didn’t you!”

            “What are you on about Mary?  You and Elizabeth have been friends since you were girls," said Peter, clearly confused by the accusation.

            “Mary, where is this coming from?” asked Elizabeth.

            “What of those so called herbs you’ve been feeding Mathew?  Two months have passed and he still isn’t right.  Still just staring into nothing.  What have you done to him?  To us?!” Mary was frantic.

            “Mathew is in shock.  That’s all.  Ever since he witnessed Henry’s death.  There’s no witchcraft,” Elizabeth explained, but Mary wouldn’t listen.

            “Zeke, we have to run em’ out of town, before more bad fortune comes over us,” Mary pleaded to her husband.

            Zeke didn’t know what to do.  He loved and trusted his wife, but Peter and Mary were his friends.

 

            “What’s all this commotion about?” Logan yelled.  Pastor Abel by his side.

            “It’s Elizabeth.  She’s the one that’s done this to us, with her witchcraft,” said Mary.

 

            The more Mary talked, the more people listened.

 

            “That’s ridiculous,” Logan replied.  “Elizabeth has been helping this village for years with her medicines.”

            “That’s just what she wants us to think,” Mary shot back.  “Zeke, you believe me, don’t you?”

           

            Zeke continued to remain silent.  The other villagers were restless.  Others began to throw accusations towards Elizabeth as well.

 

            “You either get out of town, or we’ll shoot you!” Mary yelled.

            “No one’s shooting anybody,” Logan declared over the crowd.

            “You don’t speak for us anymore Logan!  Zeke, be a man and do something!” Mary screamed.

           

            Zeke took a moment, unsure what to do.  He lifted his rifle towards Pete and Elizabeth.

 

            “You’re joking, right Zeke?” Peter asked his friend.

           

            Zeke had made his choice alongside his wife, and stood steady.

 

            “This is ridiculous,” Logan said stepping between the two couples.  “This needs to end.”

            “Oh for God’s sake, Zeke, do something,” Mary shouted as she grabbed onto Zeke’s rifle.

 

            Zeke was startled and pulled the trigger.  Down went Logan, caught in the crossfire.  His body still, the shot killed him instantly.

 

            “You killed em’” Peter exclaimed.  “You killed Logan.”

            Horrified by what he’d done, Zeke raised his rifle at his defense.

            “I’ll kill you too if you don’t get out of town,” he said.

 

            Elizabeth grabbed Peter’s arm, and with a sad look, they walked back towards their house.  The villagers yelled at them to leave.

            Pastor Abel kneeled by Logan’s body with tears in his eyes.  Dani had been watching things unfold from behind the corner of one of the houses.  She came and sat next to Abel in comfort. 

~

            Abel, Dani, and the few villagers that had not taken the side of Mary gathered at the church to mourn Logan.  Elizabeth and Peter, along with Mathew were invited as well.  Amid all this madness, there was still decency amongst the people of Brookshire.  However small a sliver, hope could still be found.

            Fear had other plans.  Whatever hope there was, was to be snuffed out.  The villagers, led by Mary, came up to the church with pitchforks, rifles, and torches in hand.

 

            “We know they’re in there!” yelled Mary.  “You disappoint me, Pastor.  You disappoint God, by harboring those Devil worshippers.

 

            Abel, Dani, and the other looked out the windows at the mob surrounding them.

            “Give them to us, and we’ll forgive your transgression,” said Mary.

 

            “We can’t,” said Dani to Pastor Abel, “We can’t give Elizabeth and Peter to them.  They’ll kill em’.”

            “Fear not my dear, I’d do no such thing,” Abel said to Dani, and then looked over to Elizabeth and Peter in reassurance.

            “Give em’ up Abel!” shouted Zeke.

 

            Abel opened the doors and came out alone to face the aggravated mass.

            “Leave here.  I will not allow bloodshed in this sacred place,” Abel spoke. 

            “What of the bloodshed they’ve caused?” Mary said angrily.

            “Please, friends.  Peter and Elizabeth are our neighbours.  They’ve done so much for our community,” Abel pleaded.

            “Step aside Pastor,” Zeke said, pointing his gun.  “No one has to get hurt, just give us what we want and we’ll go.”

            “I’m afraid I can’t do that Zeke.  Not while they’re under my protection.  God’s protection,” Abel stated.

            “Sorry to hear dat’” Zeke said, sending a round into the Pastor’s belly.

 

            Dani and the others screamed in disgust of what they were witnessing.  Peter rushed to close and bolt the doors.

 

            “We’ll smoke em’ out.  The lot of them,” Mary said.

            One of the villagers with her, threw their torch towards the Church, and a couple of others followed suit.  It didn’t take long for the building to catch fire.

 

            “What are they doin’?” Peter asked.  “Do they mean to burn us?!”

            Dani started walking towards the back of the church.

            “This way.  There’s an exit back here,” Dani said, motioning the group towards her.

            “How’d you know ‘bout this Dani?” Elizabeth asked.

            “I’d help Pastor Abel sometimes, cleaning and dusting.  We’d sometimes sit outside the back lookin’ o’er the moor and just talk,” she said.

            “What if they’re waitin’ for us out back?” one of the other villagers asked.

            “I don’ think the others know of the exit.  Besides, it’s dark out.  Be hard to see,” Dani reassured the woman.

            They all made it out of the burning building, and watched as the roof began to crumble in.  Years of history, of friendship was being erased by the ignorant flames.

            After a moment of silence for what they’ve lost, they headed across the moor.  Alas, the mob behind them wasn’t the only thing they had to contend with.  A faint growl could be heard in the dark.  The villagers froze, looking around, trying to spot whatever made that noise.  Patting of footprints could be heard circling.  A yelp came from the back of the group.  Dani and the others turned around to see a large beast dragging away one of their friends.  The others panicked and dispersed, running each way.

            Dani, Peter, Elizabeth, and Mathew decided to head back towards town, knowing there was no hope of reaching across the open field.  As they ran towards the village they could hear the screams of the other behind them, who were frantically trying to escape.

            The four of them darted past the mob that was still watching the church burn.  A confused Mary and Zeke didn’t have time react, as the beast descended upon their group.

            In the chaos torches with arms still clasped, splayed across the town, sending the whole place up in flames.  Dani and the others tried to hide, but they were running out shelter.  Soon there would be no town left, no sanctuary to keep them safe.  The only place left was the forest. 

            As they made their way to the edge of town, past where Luke and Tom’s houses were, they were intercepted by Mary and Zeke.

 

            “Look what you’ve brought upon us!” yelled Mary, here eyes red.  “The village is gone.  Our friends are dead.”

            “Mary, it’s over,” said Dani calmly.  “This wasn’t Elizabeth’s fault.  This was no one’s fault.”

            Hearing those words, Mary crumbled over, losing faith in her own conviction.  Zeke stood by his wife, trying to console her.  The six of them were all that was left of Brookshire.

           

            “I’m sorry, Pete.  Elizabeth, I-“ Zeke began, but was interrupted by the beast charging towards them.  He raised his rifle, but the beast was too quick.

            “Noo!  Zeke!” Mary cried out.

            The beast could very clearly be seen in the glow of the burning village.  It was a wolf, massive.  Not like any wolf they’ve seen.  It reared on its hind legs, like that of a man.

            Mary reached for Zeke’s rifle.  The wolf bared down on her before she could get at it. 

            Frozen in fear, the others could only watch, their legs wouldn’t move.  That is until Mathew charged the beast in a fury.  He clearly snapped out of whatever trance he’d been in the last sixty days.  He managed to grab the rifle and get a shot off, but it did him no good.  The great wolf shrugged off the shot and batted his head clean off.

            Dani, along with Elizabeth and Peter took their chance towards the forest.  Weaving between the trees, and jumping over bushes, the trio darted through the green gauntlet of foliage; but the wolf was close behind.

            Elizabeth’s skirt got caught on a broken branch, snaring her legs together and toppling her over.  Peter rushed towards his wife, the wolf lunging at them.  That was the last Dani saw of her dear friends. 

            Further and further she ran, the forest becoming more unrecognizable.  She wondered if anyone had ever ventured out this far.  She wondered if Henry had ever been here.  Funny the thoughts that race through the mind when one’s mortality is on the line. 

Dani had made some distance, taking the opportunity her dear friends presented for her.  The first rays of dawn started to break through the slates of trees.  The wolf now caught up to Dani, circled her left side and around a clearing.  Dani stopped dead centre of the clearing, expecting the moment the wolf would make its final pounce, but it never came.

As the sun peaked over the horizon, a rustling could be heard ahead of her.  Dani braced herself, not knowing if she was going to run, or if she’d make her last stand.  The sound grew louder, and out through the bushes stepped Henry, covered in mud and blood.