A LATE NIGHT SNACK

I need more than just a rabbit.

As the rabbit’s lifeless body falls, it splashes in a small puddle created by this morning’s rain. A reflection catches in the rippling puddle. In the light of the full moon where once a little girl would have been, now is a beast with a long nose, yellow eyes, and teeth sharper than a woodsman’s axe. The water is muddied by the blood of the rabbit now soaked through.

What’s that smell? That noise?

Raucous laughter comes from a small shack that’s just visible through the thick forest.

People? What are they doing out here? Everyone from the village knows to stay quiet during a full moon. It’s not my fault. The curse in my veins controls me. The elders will understand.

Creeping up to the window she sees a hole in the roof above the door and a hearth with a small fire just bright enough to make out three boys.

Blood…

“C’mon Michael, you’re acting like you fell down a mountain. You tripped and skinned your knee on a rock outside,” A tall boy said.

“Yeah, well if you and Jon would’ve helped me up instead of laughing, I’d be done cleaning this already. It really won’t stop bleeding though,” Michael said.

“Just wrap it with this and you’ll be fine. How are we not supposed to laugh when you fall that hard,” Jon said while putting some alcohol on a rag. Michael began to gingerly clean the gash on his knee.

They won’t be able to stop me. Poor kids, I hope they won’t be missed too much.

As she laments about the loss of the three boys, the hunger takes over. A howl at the moon, a growl rumbles through the walls of the shack.

“Taylor, do you hear that?” asked Michael.

“What the hell is that? It sounds like a wolf!” Taylor said while wearily peeking through the window. “Guys, we didn’t tell anyone we were coming out here. Noone will know where to look.”

“Taylor, chill out. Freaking out isn’t gonna help anything and it doesn’t matter anyway. The “wolf” is out there and we’re in here,” said Jon in a calming tone.

I don’t want to do this.

“Hey! That’s not a normal wolf!” said Taylor in an almost panicked tone. “Guys please, whatever I just saw was like three times the size of a regular wolf. What are we gonna…” As the boy glances up, he sees the beast creeping in from a hole in the roof. “N….no…how did….what do we….”

I’ll try to make it quick.

The beast crawled into the shack, flanked by the beautiful full moon and calming blue light. The moonlight that glimmered on the beast’s wet and matted fur is replaced by the flickering shadows of the flame. Michael was frozen in his seat, tears rolling down his face and a puddle at his feet. Jon stood next to Michael, eyes wide and mouth agape. Taylor was the first to go as he stood closest to the door, muttering, and crying for his mother or anyone to come save them. The boys saw their ends reflected in the yellow eyes of the beast as it skulked closer.

Marcos Velazquez is from the coal region of central Pennsylvania. He studies creative writing at Full Sail University. When not writing then he can likely be found playing video games or Dungeon and Dragons.