I'll get it

It was a starless night. Cold and foggy. Certainly not the perfect time for driving. John Doe knew this, and he knew what laid ahead of him. But he shook it off, relying on two facts. One, he wasn’t going to reach Brookehurt. Yes, his Mama's house was a little away from the town. It took about twenty minutes away to get there from her house.  Two, this wasn’t the full moon. No threat to be wary of. 

And so, he drove. But the unsettling feeling was still in him. 

“Just a little closer,” he said. Just then, something darted across the road. He jammed his brakes, eyes wide open. Heart thumping. He stopped his engine, leaving just the brights on. And listened. All he could hear was the sound of crickets. 

When a minute passed and he didn’t hear anything, he continued, reminding himself not to fret. That he would get home. And when he did, that would be the end of night journeys. Gosh, what had he been thinking setting off at such an ungodly hour? Had it not been for Marie, his ever nagging wife, he should have left long before the sun set. 

He sighed. Let him just get through the journey and as soon as he returned, he would give Marie a piece of his mind. No sooner had the thought come than there was a jolt on this trunk. On reflex, he stomped on the brakes again. Slowly and hoping that this was just a dream, he turned. And there hunched on his trunk was a creature. Its fur as clear as sky, but with eyes so vicious you could under its gaze. It growled, making John Doe shriek. He worked on his ignition, but the car refused to come to life. 

No no no. The creature growled again as John Doe continued to work on the ignition. Then it stopped right beside him, smashed the windows and plunged in its arm. John Doe made a dodge and stretched for the at the other side.  He yanked it open, but before he could make it outside, the creature grabbed his leg. Its claws driving deep into his flesh.

John Doe wailed as the pain seared through him. But he wasn’t going to give in. No, he would fight till the creature —the wolf was forced to let him go. And that was what he did. Using his other foot, John stomped on its arm, but contrary to what he'd thought, it was unyielding. 

In one swift move, the creature jumped into the car and mounted on John. It then silenced him by making a gash on his throat. Fresh blood pumped out soiling the car seat, dehumanising John. It plunged its mouth on the open wound sucking in the liquid of life. 

When it was done, it morphed. Gone were the fur, and deathly pangs. Gone were the bristling ears. 

It was human, with the only thing saying otherwise was the still pointed canine. He got out of the car and disappeared into the fog, ready for another prey. 

*** 

==Olivia==

“Gee, I can’t wait to hit the bathroom,” Leah said, placing her head on the headrest

“You sure do.” I opened the car door. “Thanks for the night.”

Leah gave me a thumbs up. I stood watching her start the car and drive off. When she had gone, I walked into the building and rode the elevator to my apartment. My eyes were pretty heavy. What a mistake I had made by agreeing to Leah's terms. We spent our time drinking. I wasn't going to lie and say I didn’t have fun. I did, I mean, I met new people, the music and everything in the bar was quite good and lively, but man, it could get noisy. And the drinks, they weren’t just for me. I had settled for two shots of vodka, and it messed with my head. 

I was about using the key to open the door when I realised it was already open. Dad was home? A look of shock graced my face. This was quite odd, given that he had said he was going to travel today. Anyway, I shrugged the thought off and went in.

The living room was dark, so I turned on the switch. I yawned, walked to the kitchen at the adjacent side of the room. I opened the fridge, brought out a glass and got myself some water. 

After drinking it, I went to the living room, took my purse and began walking toward my room. That was when I noticed that Dad's room was still open.

It was ajar and I could hear him speak.

I walked closer and leaned my ears on the wall. 

“Please, just give me this week. I’ll get it. Please.” 

My heart leapt as he said that.  It was obviously one of his creditors. A huge lump formed in my throat and I raised my hand to knock on his door, but stopped. I didn’t know how to approach him. I didn’t know how to comfort him. So, I turned around and walked into my room.

I slumped in my bed, looking at the ceiling. The tears that had been in my eyes came trickling down. I couldn’t bare seeing Dad in such state. It just hurt me beyond words. What even hurt me more was my inability to help. I was tempted to start making regrets  but I put a halt to that. It was of no use. What I had to do now was to try and find a way to help him. That was all. 

Sighing, I tossed the other way, looking at the window.