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Dark Breed
By: Erin C. Maddox
DARK BREED
The following tale has been designated "Horror". The stranger about to call you is already inside your house...
-The Sci-Fi Channel.
Session One:
The smoke could be seen rising from the sewage lines beneath the streets. The city lights illuminated the clouds of smoke like something almost heavenly (or hellish, depending on your own world view). Much of the streets were littered in trash and homelessness.
She walked home. Alone. Blood on your shirt and hands. No memory of how any of it came to be there.
She just walked, staring blankly ahead.
He came out of the alley, holding a near-empty bottle of Jim Beam. His head was shaved completely bald. He reeked of the alcohol he was toting.
"Hey, doll-face, where you goin'?", he slurred, "Hey. I asked you a question. Could I get an answer please?"
He appeared in front of her face, but she didn't see him. She only heard him and smelled his breath. He walked in front of her, blocking her way.
"Hey. You deaf or somethin'?. I'm talkin' t'you. Nobody ignores me."
He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her against the side of a building.
"I'll teach you to ignore me, bitch!"
He held her against the brick with one arm, and reached for the zipper of his jeans. He pulled his sorry excuse for a male genitalia out.
Then looked up just in time to see her transform.
Her face was no longer human.
"What the hell...!?"
His throat was torn open with a single swipe of a clawed hand. Blood spit from the wound. He just fell to his knees, eyes filled with horror. One more swipe sent him flying into the streets. His body was mangled by the oncoming traffic. The truck driver swerved and skidded to a stop. The tires screeched and sparked against the asphalt. He jumped out of his vehicle.
The wolf ran into the dark alley.
The smoke continued to rise beneath the city.
Session Two:
"And how long has she been missing?", the cop at the Ninth Precinct asked, with a hint of boredom and disinterest in his voice.
"She didn't come home last night.", Edele Lynch responded, "I'm really worried about her, like."
"She probably just spent the night with a friend after partying too hard. Go home and take a shower. I'm sure she'll turn up."
"Damnit! I'm the only person she knows here. Except for my twin sister, but she's in Portugal for the Summer, and I really miss her, but that's beside the point! And I already had my shower! Now get someone out there to find my Lindsay! I mean, my friend!!"
"Ma'am,...if you would please remove yourself from the desk...You're causing an unnecessary scene."
Edele suddenly realized that people were staring at her. And for good reason, as she was mounted on the officer's desk.
She got down very slowly, brushed his uniform lightly with her hands.
The arrogant cop relented, "Listen. It's apparent you care a great deal about this...Lindsay person. But there's no need to stand on my doughnuts. Why don't you go home and relax. We'll find her. With any luck. she's probably already there, waiting for you."
****
Edele walked through the front door of her apartment ('flat', if your English). Sure enough, the officer was right.
Lindsay Armaou sat on the sofa, facing the door.
"Lindsay! Where the hell have you been!? You shouldn't wander this city by yourself! I am so pissed off at you right now! I've been so worried about y-."
Lindsay got off the sofa, grabbed Edele's head and planted a deep kiss right on her mouth-all in one, single movement.
Edele just stammered dumbly now.
"Relax. I'm fine. I feel great! I feel like an athlete! How 'bout a quickie?", Lindsay wrapped her amrs around Edele's neck.
Edele remained surprisingly unrelented. She kept a straight face.
"Where were you?", Edele said.
Lindsay frowned. She dropped her arms and backed away from her roommate.
"I went to the city."
"You didn't come home last night. I just got back from the police station."
"I don't remember everything, Eddie. Can we just drop it?"
"You don't smell like you've been drinking. Have you?"
"I did a bit. But I didn't get drunk. And then...Damnit, Eddie! I don't want to talk about it. Can't we just go in the bedroom?"
"I think you need to get some rest.", Edele said.
She headed to the kitchen to get a drink.
"I told you I feel fine. Why won't you sleep with me?", Lindsay said, almost whining.
"Because you don't really want me. You're just excited and horny for some reason. God, Linds. You've been acting strange since..."
Session Three
And now, a flashback (three weeks prior)
"I can't read this fucking map!", Edele said, turning it in circles in front of her face, "Where are we?"
"Let me take a look at it?", her twin sister, Keavy said.
They navigated the Jeep-Keavy at the wheel-through the rugged terrain that stretched through an opening in the forest.
"It's around here somewhere. Okay, we're headed South. We just need to keep going straight, then make a turn...this way", Keavy said, pointing to the right.
"Where'd you learn how to read a map?", Edele said.
"I didn't. I just remembered what Sinead told me."
"Oh. That's real clever. Make me feel like an idiot, like. Real funny."
"Loosen up. Gee."
"Who says 'Gee'?"
"Who says 'Make me feel like an idiot, like'? That's not even correct grammar."
"It's like friggin' Blair Witch out here."
"She seems pretty content.", Keavy said, pointing her thumb to thier third passenger in the back.
"She adapts to everything."
"Where'd you find her?"
"In Greece."
"Greece, huh?"
"Yup."
"She's pretty."
"She's asleep."
"Let's camp out. It's going to a long drive. Learn how to drive, Edele."
****
"I guess we should've learned Greek.", Keavy said.
"Oh, no. She's just really quiet. Aren't you, Linds?"
Edele pupt another marshmallow over the fire. The Greek-Lindsay-leaned against her shoulder. Keavy broke into a dirty rendition of a classic campfire song.
The singinig was interrupted by a sharp, peircing howl.
They all jumped up. Edele lost her marshmallow.
"What was that?", Keavy gasped.
"Probably just a wolf. A big, scary wolf that's going to eat us. Let's go to the Jeep now.", Edele said, pushing them towards the idle vehicle.
They heard the howl again. It sounded almost human.
"Oh, god. Oh, shit, Edele. What the hell is that?"
"Just get in the Jeep, Keavy."
"Yes. Here we are, going to Jeep. Nice doggy."
The three of them huddled in the Jeep as quick as they could.
The wolf came out of the trees. It was large with gray and black fur. It's eyes were gleaming yellow. It snarled, revealing two rows of sharp, razor-like teeth inside it's blood red mouth. Then it cocked it's head back and howled again. There was something demonic about the way it moved. Suddenly, it jumped on the hood of the Jeep. They sat, transfixed for a moment. Then screamed in unison. It came throught the side door before they could close it.
The wolf grabbed Lindsay's leg with it's teeth and began dragging her out of the Jeep. Lindsay, who'd remained silent most of the night, was now screaming for her life.
Edele and Keavy tried to pull her free.
"Let her go!", Edele yelled, "Lindsay!"
The Greek held tightly to Edele's shoulders as she tried to shake her bleeding leg free.
The shot came out from behind them. It tore the beast's head open. And a naked, young man laid there in it's place, wide-eyed, blood pouring from his blasted skull. Keavy and Edele were confused. They kept looking at the body in disbelief. Finally, a lilted voice broke their shocked silence.
"You really ought to be more careful out here.", the woman said, resting her still-smoking shotgun on her shoulder.
The twins looked back and forth and between the gun-toting stranger and the naked, dead man. Finally, Keavy spoke,
"Edele, meet Sinead."
****
"What the hell was THAT!?", Edele said, holding Lindsay close as Keavy dressed her wounds.
"THAT was a lycanthrope", said Sinead, silhouetted by the moonlight from the window which she sat, "And you're very lucky to be alive. Can't say the same about your friend."
They were all in Sinead's cabin, further up in the forest. Isolated from everything, but trees.
"What the heck is a lyco-whatever you said?", Edele asked.
"A lycanthrope is a person with the ability to change into an animal. They are most commonly thought of in referrence to werewolves."
"Were-whats?"
They had all seen the animal change into a man, but it was still hard to believe.
"You're friend's been bitten. She can't stay. I suggest you both get out of her. And you should drop her off. Preferrably over a cliff."
"What an awful thing to say! I'm gonna come over there and kick your butt!", Edele said, jumping to her feet.
"Edele, just take Lindsay and go.", Keavy instigated.
"I'm not dropping her over any cliff.", Edele said, with a glare at Sinead.
"No one said you had to.", Keavy said.
"This werewolf stuff is bullshit."
"You've seen it, yet you still don't believe it?", Sinead said, "I'm warning you. Kill your friend. Before she kills you."
Edele just grabbed Lindsay by the arm and stormed out the cabin door.
Session Four
Back to the present day.
Edele splashed the cold water against her face. She was trembling.She glanced at herself in the bathroom mirror, water dripped off her nose. She could see Lindsay over her shoulders, passing between the rooms.
She just couldn't kill her. There had to some other way.
Edele turned off the faucet and wiped her face dry with a towel.
****
"Come on. Light the fucking thing!", one teenager said to the other.
His friend tossed the firecracker into the dumpster behind the local liquor store. The clerk ran out the back, shot gun in hand.
"What's going on? Who's out here!?"
Meanwhile, a third teenager swiped a twelve pack of beer. The clerk came in and caught him just as he bolted out the door.
"Hey! Get back here!"
He hopped in the back of his friend's car just as it sped off. The clerk fired, but they were too far gone.
****
He popped the tab on his beer can.
"Here's to another successful beer run.", he said, taking a large swig.
He was the oldest and clearly the leader. The other two did exactly what he told them to in exchange for being in his company. He was Nicolas, the most popular boy in school.
The tree of them tapped their beer cans together and took long swigs in unison.
The park was pretty isolated around midnight (mostly because it was closed). The Park Rnager lived in a little house just outside the gate.
Tonight, he slept eternally in his own blood, his throat gaping open. But the teenagers didn't know that.
"Ah, this is the life.", Nicolas said, "Good beer. Good friends, Good t-."
They heard the howl.
"Nicky, let's out of here", one of the boys said, "I don't like the sound of that."
"What are you? Chicken-shit? It's probably just the Ranger's damn dog."
"What kind of a crazy mutt howls like that?!", the boy said.
"Relax. I got a gun.", Nicolas said, "Get your shit together, dude.
"Uh,...guys...", the third suddenly piped up.
The wolf stood directly in front of them. It growled low.
"What are you lookin' at, you stupid mutt?", Nicolas said, reaching inside the car for his father's pistol.
His body was slammed into the side of the car. The wolf scratched him above his eye. It chomped down on his shoulder. Nicolas screamed in horror and tried to fight back.
One boy stood frozen, the other ran for his life.
"Oh, god! Help me!", Nicolas screamed in agony.
The wolf attacked with fervor. It bit his face and neck. Nicolas became unable to fight back and the wolf finished him off.
The wolf's eyes met with the remaining teengaer's. He just stood there, as if in a trance, shaking.
The wolf lunged at him.
****
Edele lay on her back on her bed, flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine. She didn't notice Lindsay crawl up the other end of the bed. She tucked her head under the magazine and appeared right in Edele's startled face.
"Jesus, Lindsay!!"
She kissed Edele softer than last time. She nibbled a bit at her bottom lip. Edele dropped her magazine and wrapped her arms around Lindsay. She ran her hands up her back, under her shirt.
Lindsay lifted herself up so she was stradlig Edele. She threw her shirt over her head.
Her face changed into that of a monster's.
She came at Edele's throat.
Edele jerked awake. She was sweating.
"Oh, shit."
It had just been a dream.
She was alone in the dark.
Session Five:
"I'm telling you, they were attacked by a big wolf", the teenager told the police, "I'm not making this up."
"We believe you.", an officer told him.
"Chief, you need to see this.," another said, coming from the gate.
The chief came over to him, "What is it?"
"Mr. Lewis, The Park Ranger...He's dead."
****
Two men at the pub played a drunken game of Rock, Scissors, Paper. The loser bought the winner another round. The bartender was the referee.
Lindsay walked through the front door. The other patrons watched her from the door to the bar.
She tried to get the bartender's attention. He held up his pointer finger, as if to say "one minute", without even looking at her.
One man hit Rock. The other Paper. Rock reluctantly forked over the money to buy Paper a round of drinks. And the bartender made his way over to Lindsay.
"Boy are you ever in the wrong place.", he said.
"Whiskey.", Lindsay said.
"That's awfully strong for a pretty little lady, he said, "How 'bout a glass of water."
She came over the bar and grabbed his collar. She pulled him towards her.
"Whiskey. Now.", she said.
"Okay. Okay. Don't get testy. I was only foolin'. Whatever you want."
He poured her a glass of bourbon. She poured it down her throat, put the glass back on the bar.
"More."
"Yes, ma'am."
****
Edele twired the knife in her hands. She watched the blade reflect the ceiling light and bounce it off the walls.
Kill your friend. Before she kills you.
"No!"
She threw the knife into the south wall. The blade stuck.
Session Six:
The bar patron unzipped his pants and relieved himself behind the dumpster. The tie on his business suit was loosened and hung around his shoulders. He zipped up and reached for a cigarette.
****
"Ma'am, are you all right?", the bartender asked Lindsay.
"Where's your bathroom?"
"At the right end of the bar. Mind the stalls. Some are out of order."
"Thank you."
Lindsay went into the restroom and locked the door. No one else was in there. The heat was unbearable. She tore her shirt off and threw cold water on herself, trying desperately to cool down.
Another woman banged on the door from outside.
"What the hell?! Open up!"
Lindsay backed away from the mirror. She watched herself change into the monster. She could feel the bones twisting and contorting their shape. Her face became enlongated, her ears grew upward and pointed. Her hands and feet became paws. Her hair grew to cover her entire body, becoming coarser as fur. She fell to all fours, grunting and screaming at the pain. Her arms and legs changed structure. Her clothes tore. She grew a tail.
"Hurry up in there! I have to go!", said the woman on the outside.
The wolf burst threw the door, splintering the wood. People screamed. The bartender dropped the bottle he was pouring, letting it shattered on the floor.
The businessman came back in from his smoke break. The wolf ripped him apart.
****
Edele stared at the knife, still sticking out of the wall. If she had to make this kind of decision, she couldn't make it on her own.
She picked up the phone and dialed long-distance.
Session Seven:
The wolf ran amuck through the pub. The bartender tried to shoot it, but his arm was ripped off.
Finally, some of the other patrons began fighting back, throwing their beer bottles at it. One managed to get a cut on the wolf's side with his barlow knife. But his luck was short-lived.
The wolf jumped on the bar and howled
****
Lindsay awoke behind the bar. She could hear voices murmuring. Then she realized she was completely naked. There were bodies everywhere. She was covered in blood that was not her own.
My God. What happened?, she thought to herself. Then she remembered the pub and...the restroom.
What have I done?
She heard the voices become louder. The Police.
"Okay. Let's check behind the bar", one said.
****
She ran for home as fast as she could. A couple of men whistled. Women gasped. Teenager's thought she was a streaker and cheered her on. No one seemed to notice the blood.
Lindsay just wanted to get home and crawl in a dark corner.
Or lock herself up in a cage.
****
Edele was awakened from her sleep by a loud pounding on the front door. She nearly fell off the couch, where she had been sleeping all night.
She answered the door. She stood with her mouth agape, looking Lindsay up and down.
"Help."
Lindsay fainted into Edele's arms.
Session Eight:
"Don't worry. We're going to take care of this.", Edele said.
"You have to kill me. Eddie. You know that."
"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that."
"Why? We both know that's what you have to do. Please. End it before it's too late."
"Stop it, Lindsay.", Edele said, trying not to cry, "Do you want to die?!"
There was moment of silence in the den. Both girls looked at their feet. Lindsay held onto her cup with both hands.
"No", she said finally.
****
The plane arrived at the airport around six p.m. Keavy came through the baggage check. She had company. Sinead carried a guitar case. Something told Edele there wasn't a guitar in it.
"What is she doing here?", Edele said.
"Oh, come off it, Ed. She can help us.", Keavy said.
****
Sinead set the guitar case in the corner.
"I'm not going to kill her.", Edele said.
"From the way it sounds, that may be your only option."
Edele sat on the couch with her elbows on her knees, head buried under her hands.
"No.", she mumbled.
"There is another way, but it's not garanteed. And she'll be feeling the guilt from all the lives she's taken. Not a good way to live. I can't promise she'll be the same."
"Another way? What is it? Tell me?", Edele stood up.
"Wolfsbane."
"What's that?"
"It's a plant. You have to grind it up into a fine powder and-"
"Where do I get it?"
"Edele, I really think-"
"I don't care what you think! I've said I'm not going to kill her and that's final."
"You love her."
"What?"
"You love her. You're in love with her."
That's crazy! I don't feel that way. I just...like her lot."
"Are you always this stubborn?", Sinead said.
"Look. Just tell me where to find some wolfsstuff. Please."
"I don't know?"
"You what?"
"I don't really know. I've never used it. I've only heard about it. When a human becomes a lycanthrope they canm no longer control their own wills. Usually death is the only out for them."
"Then why'd you even bring it up.", Edele grimaced.
"I didn't want you to worry so much. You seem so stressed."
Session Nine:
She morphed under the moon, letting out a long howl to signify the end of her transformation.
The wolf sulked through the park. It's senses perked up. The wolf turned it's head and saw a man in a hunting jacket, craddling his Winchester. The wolf bounded away.
"Damn. It saw me. It's headed your way, Ernie!"
The shot hit the ground beneath the wolf's front paws. It jumped back and ran another direction.
The hunters chased, stopping to fire thier rifles every now and again.The wolf disappeared into the dark.
****
The wolf began to change. It's body stood upright. It's snout shortened. It's hind legs stretched and it's front legs became human arms. It's fur vanished into taunt human skin.
Lindsay collapsed on her knees, and fell forward. She was exhausted. She was running from something. Someone.
Someone was trying to shoot her.
She was starting to remember it all more vividly.
Lindsay rolled over on her back. She gazed at up at the night sky.
There was only one person she wanted with her at this moment.
****
Edele stewed over what Sinead had said. There was the sound of the door latch opening. Edele stood up as Lindsay burst in.
"Edele! You have to help me!", she panicked.
"Calm down. What happened? Where are your clothes? Again."
"Oh god. Please help me. I've changed my mind. I don't wanna be a werewolf!"
"Linddsay, breathe. Sit down. Let me get you something to cover up with.
Lindsay sat on the couch. Edele wrapped a large blanket around her.
"I'm tired.", Lindsay said.
"Tell me what happened. Slowly.", Edele said.
"All I can remember are gunshots and running for my life. I think some people were trying to kill me."
"Were you...a...y'know?"
"I don't remember anymore. I'm tired."
Lindsay fell asleep against Edele's shoulder. The clouds moved over the moon.
Session Ten:
Edele awoke alone on the couch. Lindsay wasn't around. Edele crawled off the couch. The phone rang. Edele couldn't remember where she'd put it earlier. She searched for it. The more she couldn't find it, the more the ring was beginning to annoy her.
Finally.
"Hello?...Where are you?"
****
Lindsay had vanished again that night while Edele still slept.
Edele drove down the back roads. There was nothing but meadowlands and asphalt.
There was an overturned truck. The driver was hanging out of the front window, his shirt bloodied.
She was close.
Edele came upon an abandoned, isolated storage warehouse. She pulled up along the side.
The door hung open, the windows were broken. It wsas three stories high. The inside was full of busted shelves and torn carboard boxes. Clouds of dust rose into the air with each of Edele's footfalls. It was dark She turned on her flashlight. Something ran in front of the beam.
"Lindsay?", Edele said, "Is that you?"
The shadow moved again, up the stairs. Edele chased after it.
"Lindsay? Is that you?"
She walked through the second floor, shining her flashlight whenever something caught her eye.
Edele heard a noise coming from the ceiling. She ran up to the third floor.
"Lindsay, come home. We'll figure something out. Lock you in a cage. Something. Let me see you."
She heard a low growl, coming from above her head.
****
Sinead had been tailing Edele the entire time in her own car. She had a tranquilizer gun in her lap, loaded. A trapping net was in the seat next to her.
The warehouse appeared over the next hill. She saw Edele's car.
****
Edele turned and looked up. The wolf appeared on the shelf. It snarled. Edele's eyes widened.
The wolf jumped on her and knocked her down, knocking the flashlight out of her hand. It bit her on the forearm. Edele pushed the wolf off her. She reached for the flashlight. The wolf jumped in front of it. She was face to snout with the growling beast. She could feel it's hot breath. But she recognized it's eyes.
Suddenly, something unseen knocked the wolf on it's side. A small dart stuck out of it's shoulder. The wolf slept.
"You have a knack for showing up at the critical moment.", Edele said to the woman in the doorway.
"Your sister asked me to follow you", Sinead said, "Come on. Before she wakes up."
"And what if I don't want to lea-"
Edele fainted as the tranquilizer hit her neck. She fell to the floor.
"God. You're stubborn."
****
Something wet hit her face. She opened her eyes. The image was blurred. A figure was squatted in front of her. She realized she was on the floor with her hands and and feet bound.
"Wake. Up. You fucking dyke.", Sinead said.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"Taking an oppurtunity."
"I don't understand."
Edele saw the wolf running about in a small cage.
"I want some money, honey. Three million dollars. I'm sure you have it in your treasure trove somewhere."
"I'll give it to you if you ask nicely.", Edele said.
"Shut up!", Sinead shoved the barrel of a pistol in Edele's cheek.
The wolf became more anxious by the second.
"Who are you?", Edele said to Sinead.
"Just a treasure hunter like you."
"No. You're an actor. And a thief, apparently."
"Shut up."
"Shoot me now or get that thing out of my face. You won't get away with this."
"Oh really? Says who?"
"I... I don't have that kind of money."
"Stop lying. I know everything about you, Edele. So, I don't want any bullshit. Now. Help me get the money."
"Go to hell, you freak."
Sinead screamed in anger and hit Edele in the face with the butt of her pistol.
The wolf finally burst out of it's cage. It charged and Sinead. She fired. She wolf jumped on her.
They both fell through the floor, down three stories.
****
Edele stood outside the warehouse. The police were behind her.
Keavy walked up behind her.
"Goes to show you don't know people. She was wanted for theft in another state, they said.", Keavy said, "Are you okay, sis?"
"I'm fine. Just a little shaken up."
"They can't find them anywhere.", Keavy said.
"She's alive. Lindsay. I know it. I got a feeling."
Keavy put a hand on her shoulder.
"Well. Never give up hope. I'm going home."
****
Edele sat on the roof of her house, gazing at the sky. Searching for any signs of Lindsay's return.
The moon was full.
Edele looked up at it with gleaming, yellow eyes.
THE END.
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