Chill Harbour

By E. Bard

This book is a teen-discovers-monsters-her-town adventure tale that will likely appeal to a very select group of YA enthusiasts. And it's a small group. Trust me. Why? Because it is the farthest you can get from literature. In fact, it might even be the farthest you can get from good writing. Wait a minute. Why on earth would someone publish and sell such a thing (and why be honest about it)? Well, because people have weird and eclectic tastes. Some people like trashy novels and bad writing. If this is you, here are a few reasons you might be interested in this novel: 1) You're clamoring for something to complain about. You cry tears of criticism. You need to sit down and really tear apart some flawed story telling. Bad grammar. Poor character development. Obvious errors... Well you're in luck. This book has it all. It's for those of you who have just read too darn many good books lately. 2) You have $1.99 burning a hole in your e-pocket (and it's really burning so you need to get rid of it). 3) You just like bad writing. Plot lines that go nowhere. Passages that make no sense. You also like B movies (the long ones) and the knock-off substitute for Kraft Dinner (aka store brand mac and cheese). You probably have brightly colored faux fur slippers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. Bard
• Release date: Sep 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9780987794215

E. Bard

About six years ago I began working on a few stories that I could customize for my children, their friends and a couple of relatives. I had it in mind that I could occasionally produce these customized paperbacks as a small, experimental business. It never fully took shape, but my children and the friends and parents who read the novels enjoyed them. They encouraged me. The books here are the original self published editions so I've priced them for a quick cheap read.Please feel free to leave your honest review. I would really like to know what you thought of the books. They're just meant to be enjoyed - they're not literature. So a great big thank you to all you readers out there who took the time to download them. And please remember... Your reviews will help me decide whether or not to turn these novels into series.Check out my website if you want info on the customized paperback versions. (Yes customizing these novels is still an option. It's just not a full throttle gig. Examples are shown on the website and blog).

Book preview

Chill Harbour

E. Bard

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Copyright 2011 E. Bard

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Note

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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CHAPTER ONE

The hunger was probably going to kill her. At least that was what the slightly irrational, ever so shaky, low on blood sugar brain cells were telling her. After all, it was the third day this week she’d pushed through a hectic day with only a spare moment in the evening long enough for her to fill up. Terri gritted her teeth. Fate and her schedule just had to stop conspiring to keep her from food when she really needed it.

Empty and half starved, Terri hoisted her back pack over her shoulders then picked up her soccer bag and abandoned her locker to jog down the hallway. Pushing open the school doors, she headed straight down the stairs toward the school’s track and field area and beyond to the forest.

The fresh air prickled her skin and filled her lungs as it drew her away from the school. It tasted like freedom. Too bad that freedom couldn’t fill her growling belly. And from the sounds of things, she might even have to listen to her belly complain about it all the way home.

Of all days, why did today have to be the day she forgot her lunch and left her money hidden at the bottom of her locker? It was hidden so well, she’d only just found it after last class. And now the twenty was no good to her when the only thing selling food at this time of day was the vending machine. Three days of this kind of thing was enough already!

Echoing her sentiment, her stomach growled noisily.

Terri re-adjusted the straps on her backpack into a more comfortable position. With the days getting shorter and more than a little colder, every walk home seemed to stretch out that much longer. Not a good thing when you felt faint from hunger and the late afternoon light was rapidly vanishing. Maybe she should detour to the nearest corner store and get a snack before home?

For the moment her stomach was quiet, allowing Terri to think about it seriously.

Standing at the edge of the field, Terri knew she either had to take the gravel path through the forest in the dark, or cut over now to endure the longer route home along the streets. Sure she could pick up a snack if she took the streets, but it would add another ten to fifteen minutes. Terri sighed. Decisions, decisions.

Maybe quicker is better, the girl reasoned.

Wading through the tall stiff grasses, Terri listened to the whishing noises the plants made against her shins and stared forward at the trees along the pathway. The weather had dried things up a little today, leaving the air crisp and fresh. So the path shouldn’t be too mucky. Plus the autumn trees were pretty. Even in the distance Terri could see that the trees were crowned by the same golden browns as the grasses.

Yes, Terri decided, it was enough to distract her. Going straight home was the right decision.

Her brisk pace quickly brought her to the edge of the forest. Terri looked back at the school and was surprised to notice that there was still a fair amount of activity going on. Even now, football practice was only just ending. Maybe things would keep pretty busy around here for a while?

It gave her a reassuring feeling. Sure her town was small, and for the most part safe. But you never could tell. The forest path could get pretty shadowy this late in the day. And from Terri’s point of view, small towns could get a little weird. A forest like this could harbour just about anybody. So it was good to know there were still people around, just in case.

Leaving the soft, muddy ground and spiky lemon grass at the edge of the school grounds, her feet crunched onto the gravel pathway that led through the woods. She shivered in the chilly air, letting her eyes adjust to the dimmer light of the forest. Almost instantly and without conscious intervention her feet adjusted their pace to something more careful but still fast. If she held steady, in just ten minutes she’d be out of the woods and into her own neighbourhood.

As she hurried along, Terri let her mind wander. She found it helped keep her thoughts away from her hunger and those long minutes ahead before she could put an end to that hunger. So Terri thought about her family’s recent move to Chill Harbour and how busy the little town was.

Chill Harbour. It struck Terri as an unusual, alright maybe even stupid name for a town. The actual name of the town was Hill Harbour, but any general acknowledgement of that was rare. It mystified the girl. Even that huge welcome sign, the new one just put up last month at the town line, had been skilfully vandalized with a giant red C placed in front of the town name. No one had bothered to try and remove the erroneous letter even though the sign was new.

According to Terri’s friends, nearly everybody in town used the name Chill Harbour because of the wind. And chill really was the right word for it. In the last ten or so years the name had become so commonly used, it had even shown up in tourism brochures, on maps and in the name of the local paper. And no one seemed to care one way or another. Terri thought it was just plain weird.

In spite of moving into such a small and weird community, Terri found that there was always something to do. And on the days she managed to stay well fed, it was a good thing. There were always plenty of activities to keep her mind off moving away from her friends and the practically chaotic life she’d had had in the city.

Things were different here. At least here you could walk down the street and chat with a neighbour or just about anybody you bumped into. It was almost relaxing that way; and Terri thought with a wince, you could just kind of chill.

It’s the end of the road for us, Terri’s father had joked when they first arrived in Chill Harbour.

In a way it really was. Their comfortable new home was at the end of a long roadway that terminated at the Riverside Forest. After only a month, Terri’s house was unpacked, repainted and professionally decorated. Terri’s parents seemed more content than they had for a long time. Everyday her new home looked a little more permanent. Maybe their moving around days really were over?

The girl nearly cringed at her last thought.

Terri had been the only one in her family to keep some things packed; because as she knew all too well, things didn’t always work out. No matter how things looked.

This time however, her gut feeling was telling her that unpacking everything just might be the right thing to do. Besides, if just this once she let herself get settled, let herself think of this weird little place as home, would it really kill her?

Probably.

Now completely distracted by her thoughts, Terri hardly noticed that the temperature was dropping rather quickly and the light was fading a little faster than she had hoped. She was only halfway through the woods! She gave her head a shake, determined to pick up her pace. Again.

Moving very quickly now, with her head down, she almost didn’t notice the figure standing in the middle of the path just ahead of her. She would have been on top of him in just a few more steps but something must have caught her attention. Maybe it was a flitting shadow, or just a sound?

She stopped a little too abruptly and looked up. The person Terri had nearly run over seemed to notice her at precisely the same time. They must have both been lost in thought, Terri assumed. Although there was little else that Terri assumed, because she only just realized that it was now substantially darker than it had been when she first entered the forest. And meeting someone in a dark forest was never a good thing.

It struck Terri as odd that it had become this dark, this quickly. She wondered just how lost in thought she could have been. For the briefest moment Terri felt a twinge of fear. Maybe it was just the reaction to being startled, a little surprise perhaps? Or, maybe it was the fact that she was running into a stranger in woods.

This is a small town, Terri thought. Anyone could be out for a walk. Maybe a neighbour?

The figure she had stopped in front of stood in the shadow of a tall tree only a few paces away, but Terri couldn’t make out a lot of details. She knew it was a man by the way it moved, the way it looked. There was just something odd about him, something that didn’t seem quite right. Maybe it was just that he seemed hidden in shadow?

Small town or no small town, Terri felt her old instincts kick in. Momentarily undecided about whether or not she should say something to the man, like a quick greeting in passing, or whether she should just ignore him and keep moving, Terri noticed how still the stranger was. She quickly opted for silence.

Just get ready, she thought. This may be a friendly small town but I’m not exactly out of the woods yet.

Terri knew she was close to the edge of the forest and the relative security of her neighbourhood and her house. She started to move forward slowly, keeping her eyes on the figure in shadow. And as she neared the figure, Terri moved over to the far side of the path to avoid straying to close to the man.

Just as she did so, the figure also moved across the path and out of the shadow. He’d mimicked her action and stepped into the fading light.

Facing Terri directly on the same side of the path was a very well dressed, slim young man.

Uh oh, Terri thought as she felt her insides tighten.

Continuing forward, Terri adjusted her steps to move back to the other side of the path. Again she felt a twinge when the stranger appeared to follow her lead.

Oh, she thought. That is not good.

Apparently hearing Terri’s breath catch, the stranger hesitated part way through his motion as though allowing her to pass. Terri could feel the individual hairs on her neck rise as she focused her attention on the stranger. Something about him was just wrong. He had stepped into the light, yet somehow, he still managed to obscure his face in the forest’s shadows.

Pardon me, said the stranger as Terri tried to side step him. I hope you can help. I am looking for someone. I intended to be elsewhere, but arrived here.

Terri wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to him and paused. His speech was a little odd. Not just the words, but the way he spoke. She was caught off guard.

What? I didn’t exactly understand what you were saying, Terri thought as she turned to look at him. She gripped her soccer bag firmly in case she was going to have to use it.

Was he asking her for help? Who would he be looking for in a forest? And how exactly does someone arrive in the woods? Without needing to ask the stranger for clarification, Terri was immediately certain that there weren’t any straightforward answers to the questions her mind posed on hearing his words. Maybe he just said something to get her to stop?

Do you need help? She asked carefully. Suspicion was automatic for her.

As Terri looked at the stranger she tried to focus her attention on his face. Unfortunately, at exactly the same moment the sun dipped behind a cloud or disappeared entirely, causing the nearby shadows to lengthen and play over the man’s features, further obscuring his vague appearance.

It was craziness. How could that happen? But Terri was certain she didn’t need to see his face. She could be ready for anything. Although, she didn’t want to make too many assumptions that could lead her to do something rash, like punching or kicking the man and running away. That could be embarrassing - embarrassing if she’d misjudged him that was.

Still, the guy was a stranger… and in the woods. Terri was only a girl. She knew a Red Riding Hood situation when she was in one.

If I was anywhere else I would have bolted by now, she thought. Years of city life had made her wary of strangers and honed her self preservation skills.

But this was a small town.

Taking a slow breath, she tried to appear calm. I can run right now and look like an idiot later when this guy turns out to be just some guy; or, I can hang out here in the woods and find out he’s a psycho.

Making a snap and possibly unwise decision, Terri opted to give the man the benefit of the doubt. She considered it the most likely to save her some embarrassment in case the guy turned out to be a neighbour or something.

Besides, Terri thought, this is a really small town and I’m almost home. I can run or fight if he tries anything. I’m not a total wimp.

Other than his odd comments, the stranger had spoken with a slight accent. Was it possible that the strange man was just foreign and got lost because he was unfamiliar with the town?

Although she felt certain that was unlikely, she didn’t want to overlook any details or dismiss her own instincts.

I’m sorry, Terri said angling herself into a position that would allow her to watch him as she started to walk. She was going to try this again. I’m not sure I understood you. Were you meeting someone in the woods?

In a sense, the man said, but Terri thought he’d said ‘in essence.’ Her face skewed into knot of confusion.

I am looking for someone. Perhaps you can help?

He was looking por someone? What was that? German? Chinese? French? A fat lip? Accents weren’t really her thing. Besides, Terri thought, who looks for someone in the woods in essence? Or in a sense?

Weirdo it is, Terri concluded. She took the lead by quickening her pace toward the brighter end of the pathway at the edge of the woods.

If we walk out of the forest this way, she motioned toward the end of the path as she spoke, I can show you where we are. Do you have an address for this person you’re looking for? Did you get separated in the woods?

At least she had kept her voice even. Her gut feelings told her to keep moving, to get to civilization quickly. If she was lucky, there would be some people getting home from work and maybe even some kids milling about on her street avoiding their homework.

She transferred her soccer bag to her other hand to ensure it was between her and the stranger. Already she was imagining lobbing the bag at the man if she had to. She’d heard somewhere that visualizing your actions before following through could increase your chances of a successful outcome. She hoped it was true.

As she started moving past the man, Terri noticed that the stranger was cradling his left arm against his chest as if it were injured. How could she not have noticed earlier? It must have been all those shadows. Maybe that’s why he seemed so odd? He was injured?

Sneaking a glance at the man’s arm, Terri could even make out a few details in the better light. There were shiny blackish marks along the man’s sleeve which Terri thought could be a burn. It had that melted rubber look. But he didn’t really act like he was in pain.

We just have to get to the road and I can show you, Terri re-iterated.

I hope I’m just overreacting, she thought. But Terri wasted no time and kept walking. She was feeling deeply uneasy.

It is difficult to explain, the man said as they emerged from the trail and the filtered late afternoon light.

Hmm, thought Terri, Difficult exactly how? Could there really just be a language barrier? Was he in pain? She concentrated on putting some distance between herself, the woods and her strange acquaintance. She hadn’t asked him about his arm because she was focusing on ending this encounter as quickly as possible. Even with her house now in sight, the man still made her uncomfortable.

Oh. There’s the road. Fumbling around in her mind for something to say, Terri pushed forward. The sooner she was away from him, the better. Well, I can point out where things are and maybe give you directions, but other than that I don’t think I can help you. I’m kind of new to the area myself.

Trotting forward without a backward glance, Terri could hear the man following along behind her. With every step away from the forest the air was lighter, Terri thought. Maybe even a little warmer.

When they were almost at the road, Terri turned to look at the stranger. He had kept behind her, a little closer than she was comfortable with. She paused and thought about what she would say to him.

The stranger stopped and gazed directly at her. He was no more than an arm’s length away and Terri could barely contain her surprise. She might have even gasped a little. Under the dramatically improved lighting of the treeless sky, she could make out his features in frightening detail.

He was nothing like Terri had begun to imagine back in the woods.

The man was striking. In no way was he a mysterious and shadowy freak like the one that had started to take shape in her imagination. He was taller than she had first thought, and built like an athlete, lean like a long distance runner.

It took less than an instant for the girl to take in the man’s features. He had a face of strong even lines, perfectly balanced but expressionless. His dark green eyes were round and framed by thick black lashes. So thick in fact, that Terri had to look twice to make sure they weren’t false.

He was also younger than she thought initially. At the very most he was in his early twenties.

The man’s coal black hair fell over perfect skin. Dark, perfectly formed eyebrows arched over his eyes in such a way that Terri could only imagine them lifting to question or plunging to knot over his nose in anger.

He has the kind of face, Terri determined, that people describe as breath taking or to die for. He must be the man equivalent of a supermodel.

In spite of her misgivings, the longer the girl looked at the man, the longer she wanted to look at him.

His dark suit looked expensive, unusual in cut perhaps but tailored to perfection. The fit was incredible. Terri had never seen clothing look so good on anyone. But the more she looked at this mysterious stranger, the more she realized that he was staring back at her with the same intensity.

He had looked so different in the woods.

Although relieved, Terri still felt a nagging worry tugging away at her insides. Because in spite of all those killer good looks and that affluent appearance, Terri felt a chill.

Maybe it was the way he was staring at her?

Looks really can be deceiving, Terri reminded herself. If he didn’t exude all that creepiness, he would be gorgeous… and I would want to stay and talk to him.

But she didn’t want to stay. She was hungry and perfectly content to part from this man immediately. Then Terri looked down at his arm again and inhaled sharply.

You’re hurt! Terri exclaimed. How did you burn your hand? Do you need a clinic? A hospital?

It definitely looked burned. There even appeared to be some blackened peeling skin on his hand. She could see some blisters and ugly red discoloration. How could she not have noticed those details earlier?

She was alarmed by her earlier assumptions and thought she might have misjudged the stranger. How could her instincts have been so wrong? Clearly the man had been in an accident and was disoriented somehow. That must explain his oddness.

And is the hospital that way? The stranger indicated to the road with his good arm.

Terri just stared at him. Is zee hospital zat way? He really did have an accent. But what was up with his mouth? It was like he was struggling to cover his teeth as he spoke. And it just made his lips look funny.

Crap! Was she moving her lips around too? Making a stupid face? Unconsciously mimicking him?

Crap!

She could see his eyes squint at her ever so slightly. And then there was the suspicious head tilt.

Terri got a grip of herself, forcing her face into a blank expression. Maybe he didn’t really notice? This low blood sugar thing was really making her stupid!

Yes.

You’re quite certain it’s that way? The man was pointing the only possible direction down the street. The other direction just ended in more forest.

But Terri was already distracted again. She was staring like an idiot into the man’s gorgeous emerald eyes. And to make matters worse, she’d automatically replied.

Sure it’s zat way.

Double crap! Terri dropped her gaze to the man’s arm again.

Why do I have to let stuff slip like that? Terri panicked. He must really think I’m a jerk now!

In the time it took Terri to look up from the man’s arm to his face, the stranger had closed the short distance between them. He was close enough to touch her. Terri was startled and felt genuine panic rising in her chest. The intensity of his stare had deepened.

But your arm… Terri said weakly.

As the stranger lifted his arm toward her and said, My arm will be fine in a moment, but you …

Shock rippled through Terri. Not just the threatening sound in his words but…less than a second had passed and she saw that the man’s hand, arm and even his jacket sleeve had barely any marks.

Now every warning bell she had was going off. She hadn’t imagined what she had seen.

…are different… The man spat out more of his sentence.

Without thinking or letting the stranger finish his threat, Terri lobbed her soccer bag at him and started to sprint to the road.

There was a second when Terri thought she heard an angry gasp and she hoped she had bought enough time to make it to the street. She prayed she was fast enough.

She wasn’t. The stranger was faster.

Hooking his injured arm around Terri’s ribs, the man easily pulled her back. Then the stranger wrapped his other arm around her, pinning her arms to her sides. She tried to call out but found her chest squeezed too tightly to get sufficient air. She kicked her legs wildly and shifted her weight.

Managing to twist around, Terri nearly succeeded in breaking the stranger’s hold on her. She struggled and tried to slip her school bag off her shoulders so she could fight him off.

Let go of me! she cried out.

Her frenzied squirming had only managed to remove one school bag strap from her arm when the stranger had regained his hold and locked her against him. His face was so close to hers that when he spoke, she could feel his breath.

But she couldn’t understand a word.

She could barely move or even breathe when the stranger lifted her high enough that her feet no longer touched the ground. Again Terri tried to struggle but the stranger’s grip was too solid. With his arms tightly wrapped around her, the stranger launched them toward the forest.

Terri’s head snapped painfully into the man’s shoulder. Her feet flew up. The awkward school pack on Terri’s one shoulder proved to be no obstacle for the stranger.

The man’s speed and strength were terrifying. He moved as if he were carrying nothing. Terri could barely breathe. Freeing her arms seemed an impossible task.

As Terri strained to turn her head and look at the man, she realized with shock that everything had changed. He was no longer the handsome young man he had been an instant ago. His skin was becoming almost transparent. It was as if the entire surface of his appearance was dissolving as he ran. Instead of dark hair and perfect skin, Terri saw a mottled greyish head manifest beneath the increasingly diaphanous layer of flesh.

Was she hallucinating? Was the man cutting off her oxygen?

Realization mingled with disbelief and horror, filling Terri with determination. Sci-fi creature or hallucination aside, Terri knew she was going to have to fight for her life.

Already well into the forest, Terri held nothing back. It might be her last and only chance. She kicked out her legs. She tried to bash her head into her captor’s neck and the grey dissolving flesh of his shoulder. She twisted and wriggled. Finally she managed to free her right arm. Attempting to rid herself of her school bag, Terri ripped at the strap over her arm. She hoped the small movement might swing the pack into her captor’s legs.

With unrelenting effort Terri moved the pack part way along her arm before it stopped. Fortunately that small distance was just far enough. The irregular motion of the man’s running swung the pack slightly away from Terri’s body and into a tree.

When it happened, the impact was jarring. The open strap of the school pack had snagged on a thick broken branch jutting from the gnarly trunk. In an instant the painful jolt lit through Terri’s arm and shoulder. But the backpack arrested her forward momentum. Terri and the stranger were jerked backward with the stranger smacking the ground on his back. Terri was nearly pulled free and landed on her side.

Without thinking or breathing, Terri’s body reacted. With no time to spare her arm easily slid from the pack strap as she rolled. She pushed herself up, turned and fled.

Blind terror moved Terri faster than she thought possible. What she had seen sprawled on the ground, the thing that had only moments before been a young man, was barely human.

Terri scrambled and clawed through tree branches that scratched at her face, hardly registering her surroundings. She had just reached the pathway when she felt the stranger close behind. Gasping for air and forcing her legs to push forward beyond the limit of her ability, Terri turned in the direction of her school. She had gained only a short distance when she felt sharp searing pains penetrate her shoulders. She was hit with a force that propelled her forward into the air.

Flinging out her arms as she dropped to the ground, Terri crashed and skidded along the gravel. She could feel the small rocks and pebbles scraping her arms and face. The air was pushed out of her lungs as she felt the weight of the stranger on her back.

Desperately trying to pull in a single breath, Terri felt the rough motion of being rolled over. Needle like claws pinned her arms against the ground. The creature immobilized her legs with his skeletal knees and feet. She caught her breath as she stared into the face of something she thought couldn’t possibly exist.

Glaring back at her were the deep green eyes of the stranger. The round gem like eyes were largely unchanged, only now they held no more emotion than that of a predator focused on its prey. Tight pale flesh surrounded the eyes and stretched over a bony face. What Terri thought was mottling of his skin was really a collection of delicately interwoven lines. In the frozen unreality of the moment, she could see the elaborate pattern of his skin.

As the face drew close, the stranger’s mouth opened to reveal two wide rows of evenly pointed razor sharp teeth. Terri was frozen. She watched as the mouth lowered, almost grazing her jaw and neck. Terri squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the sensation of being ripped apart. Her mind screamed.

No!

If he gets close enough, I might be able to lift my head fast and hit him. It could give me a chance.

And the stranger hesitated. Terri opened her eyes and saw the stranger looking at her.

Glrrr rrrr lrr.

Terri’s stomach growled loudly.

The creature’s malicious eyes narrowed but his expression was unreadable. Terri watched her curved, reflected image disappear in the creature’s irises as his pupils grew.

Every muscle in Terri’s body tensed. She was ready.

But the stranger did an odd thing. He released one of Terri’s arms. With long clawed fingers, the stranger adjusted his hold, moving a single wasted hand and wrapping his thin fingers around Terri’s neck. His forearm rested on her shoulder. He was staring at her.

Are you hungry? the monster asked almost conversationally.

Absurdity may have ruled the moment but realization was instantaneous. Terri had a free hand.

The stranger bent his ghastly head forward, as if scouring the girl’s face for something. He opened his mouth, baring feral pointed teeth as if he was about to say something else. Terri wondered why the creature hesitated but knew this could be her only real chance to escape.

As the creature lifted its eyes to meet hers, Terri realized he was going to speak. There was just no way she was going to wait to hear what he said. She was only going to get this one opportunity with her free arm.

Unblinking, Terri locked her eyes on the creature’s. She shot her hand upward, jabbed her finger toward one large emerald orb.

At the exact same moment, Terri heard a rapid hail of footsteps on gravel. Swiftly reacting to the noise, the creature’s head tilted, causing Terri’s finger to miss its target by poking into the side of the stranger’s nose. The squelch it made on contact was more of a sensation than a sound.

She heard the grating sounds of someone skidding on gravel and felt something slam into her and her assailant. Suddenly Terri felt the weight of the creature being pulled from her.

She looked up to see a large figure wrestling to get a grip on her attacker. Terri watched as the creature was flung aside with a great force. Terri felt rather than heard the creature make a thud as it connected with a tree.

Instantly the creature was up on all fours, now appearing entirely more animal than human. The creature bounded into the undergrowth of the forest.

For the briefest of moments, Terri was too stunned to move. The creature… man… monster was gone.

Willing her trembling muscles to push her back off the cold ground, Terri curved her spine upward as she carefully placed the scraped heels of her hands on the gravel. As she sat up and looked into the face of a boy she recognized, the boy leaned over and held out his hand.

Can I help you up? he asked.

Ugh, was all Terri could manage.

Terri was pulled to her feet. She felt weak, nauseous and noticed she was shaking.

That was a real ugly…uh…bobcat, huh? the boy offered. Or maybe a mutant bear?

Terri looked straight back at the boy, That was no bobcat, she said firmly. Or bear.

Uh… said the boy, Sure it was. It had, like, mange or something? Lots of poison in the lakes up by the mine. Could have been a mutant.

You’re a terrible liar Jake. You saw what it was. Circus freak would be closer. But thank you anyway. I mean really. You saved my life.

Giving her head a shake, Terri tried to rid herself of the final image of the creature. It was impossible. Without even the mottled grey flesh remaining, it had seemed as if the creature was held together by a milky translucent fascia and those intricate patterned black threads. In places along the creature’s torso Terri had seen the individual muscles contracting, contorting into something else.

Jake looked at Terri and blushed a little. He was a big kid and a good football player. Terri knew he wasn’t shy, and he definitely wasn’t the type to be modest about saving a life, so there had to be another reason he was blushing.

Maybe he was lying? Or maybe her shirt was ripped open. Checking herself quickly, Terri noted that it must be the former.

Okay, he said reluctantly, It wasn’t a bobcat. Or a bear.

Terri had a strong feeling that Jake knew exactly what the creature was. She stared at him.

It was nothing like a bobcat or a bear. The same way a bobcat’s nothing like a bear.

Jake simply shrugged.

Do you want me to walk you home? He asked.

Um, sure, said Terri. But I had a back pack. It’s now… that way in the woods a little bit. It’s probably wrecked. And I really don’t want to go after it. My soccer bag is at the other end of the trail, near the road.

Terri didn’t want to go home either. It was too close to the woods and the creature. She would have to wait for her parents to get home. She really didn’t want to be alone.

I’ll go get your pack, said Jake.

Terri felt a little panic at the thought of being left alone on the pathway.

Don’t worry, Jake’s words rushed out as he noticed Terri’s wide eyes, He won’t be back. It’ll just take me a few seconds.

He? Terri wondered if the boy had just made some kind of slip.

Jake moved into the woods quickly and returned with the school bag in a matter of seconds. He was pretty fast.

Terri carried her pack in her hand and walked beside Jake. She was starting to feel the hurt. However, a little pain wasn’t going to stop her from finding out more about this creature. What she and Jake had seen didn’t fit in the normal world. Terri had seen some pretty weird things before but she never tried to dismiss them.

Looking at her friend, Terri didn’t like to think that Jake would lie to her. He and his girlfriend were Terri’s only real friends in this town. Terri knew Jake had seen exactly what she had seen and she was uncomfortable with the idea that Jake would try to pass the creature off as a bobcat or any other animal.

It was just that Terri was sure Jake knew what had attacked her and she had a lot of questions for him. Terri was about to look at Jake and open her mouth to fire some of those questions at him when he interrupted her thinking.

Would you rather go to the Pizzeria? I’m meeting Carla and a bunch of the guys there. We sometimes go after practice.

Terri was instantly relieved. She would love to go to the Pizzeria. It was only a couple of blocks from her house and her parents often went there when they were running late for supper.

She really liked the Pizzeria. It wasn’t the typical shabby take out, with painful fluorescent lighting and greasy walls she was used to in the city. There were real tables, chairs and atmosphere, not just some mish mash of junk rescued from a series of yard sales and the local dump. Most of the kids in her school used the place as a hang out. Every time she had gone, there was always someone she knew already there.

She could really use some pizza right about now. Once she had some food inside her, maybe she could even ask Jake some questions. And get some answers.

Okay, said Terri as they came across her soccer bag. Jake picked it up and the two of them walked down to the street.

Hitting the pavement, Terri said, But you will tell me about what that was that attacked me? I mean, you know what it was. I can tell.

Maybe I can tell you some stuff. Jake began, But Luke can explain it better. We’re meeting him there. I can pretty much guarantee you won’t believe us though. It really sounds too stupid. Sure you don’t just want to think it was some half dead bobcat? Or a bear?

Jake looked uncomfortable which was a pretty rare occurrence. He was a big blond kid that always walked around with a half smile on his face.

Jake and his girlfriend Carla sat in front of Terri during science lab, and at least one or the other of them shared most of Terri’s remaining classes. They weren’t exactly best friends but Terri felt that she knew them both better than any of the other kids here.

Luke was Jake’s friend and an almost completely unknown commodity. Terri had seen the boy, knew he was a football player too, but had never met him. Plus, he was in his final year.

Terri pushed herself a little to match Jake’s quick stride, relieved that she was about to meet up with friends. Jake and Carla really were good natured and seemed to laugh their way through even the most tortuous subject matter at school. Terri had no idea where all the humour could be found in their uninspired lessons, but the amiable pair was fun to be around and they always broke up the most boring days. They were a perfect cure for a little after school nightmare.

As they entered the Pizzeria, Terri felt a flood of relief. She savoured the smell and warm feeling that rose inside her once she stepped into the place. It was as if brief misadventure had never happened. As soon as she saw Carla, she headed straight for her table.

Hey Carla.

Carla’s eyes opened wide as she saw Terri. Oh my God girl! What happened to you? Leave your bag here and follow me.

Carla grasped Terri’s elbow and led her to the washrooms. Once inside, Carla snatched up her comb from her purse and held it out to Terri. Then she started picking leaves off of Terri’s sweater. She backed away a little to let Terri wash her hands, and pick out some flecks of gravel lodged in the deeper scrapes.

Were you attacked? Dragged through the woods? Fall of a cliff? What?

Terri looked in the mirror and was relieved that the scratches on her face weren’t too bad. But there might be a bruise forming on one cheek. There were bits of leaves and other things stuck to her sweater, and some dirt smears on her face.

Kind of the first two, she answered. It was an animal. I’m just not sure what. Bigger than a coyote.

Bobcat?

Um. Well. Maybe. Terri wondered if Carla knew as much as her boyfriend. Terri fixed her hair quickly and splashed a little water on her cheeks.

That’s better, said Carla. She held out her purse. Makeup?

Maybe not now, said Terri politely. The scratches still hurt a little.

Hmm. Okay but you could use a fix up. Oh and hey, Cutie Pants New Boy’s probably showing up here later. Carla waved her hand holding some makeup around, I could give you a drop-dead- gorgeous-new-boy-magnet makeover. What d’ya think?

Tempting. But I heard him say he was going to a concert tonight. I’ll stick with ugly for now and hope it can win me some pity.

The truth was that she thought she was still a little too shaky to put it on herself. And Carla had way too much of a sense of humour. If Carla did Terri’s makeup, Terri would end up looking like a clown…or worse.

Carla laughed and headed out the washroom door. Terri really liked Carla. She was the one that most kids thought of as the plump cheerleader. Not that Terri thought she was plump. She really just looked healthy, unlike the other stick thin anorexic looking cheerleaders. But still, it surprised Terri that Carla hadn’t been kicked off the squad. She was clearly way too healthy and way too friendly to be a cheerleader.

Having restored Terri’s appearance to something acceptable, the two girls nearly bumped into another cheerleader as they made their way back to the table. The cheerleader was medium height, skinny and had long black hair.

Kali, Terri knew was her name. Actually it was only a nickname, but the only one she ever went by. And the only one Terri had ever known her by from the time she was little. Sadly the move to a small town hadn’t been enough to free Terri of one of her very first frienemies.

Hey Carla. Hey…you, sneered Kali as she walked past.

As an added bonus to her less than outstanding personality, Kali was also a distant cousin of Terri’s. It was just one of those things you had to cope with, Terri realized. Like discovering you’re related to a psycho mass murderer.

Now that the two girls would be sharing space in the same small town, Kali would be sure to be showing up at family functions in the near future. It made Terri cringe to think about it.

Earlier in the month while working on the school yearbook planning committee, Terri had come across the girl’s name and discovered that the girl now attended the same school as Terri. It was a bit of a surprise to discover that the girl’s real name was Kaliene because nobody had ever called her that. The name Kali was shared by a terrifying Hindu goddess of destruction.

No coincidence there, thought Terri as she tried to ignore her.

It was a difficult admission, but Terri vaguely remembered that they’d been friends when they were little, back when they’d both lived in the city. Of course that was a long time ago. They had only recently been re-introduced and both had felt an immediate and mutual dislike.

Once they arrived back at the table, Carla settled in beside Jake. Terri sat across from them. Jake was busy fumbling around with the menus and kicking at the school bags under the table. Carla busied herself by reaching into her purse and sliding her cell phone across the table to Terri.

Why don’t you call your parents and tell them you’re having pizza with us? We hardly ever get to hang out. And we’re getting an extra large pizza anyway. What do you like on it? We like everything.

Oh. I like pineapple. Vegetarian. Great idea. Thanks, Terri reached into her own backpack and pulled out a twenty. She was pretty hungry.

Here. She said as she handed Carla the money.

No, said Carla, You can get the drinks. Just wait ‘till Luke gets here.

Carla popped up and went to place her order instead of waiting for the waitress. She was definitely the girl of action type. Considering that not everyone else was that type, Terri knew Carla would be a while.

Seeing her chance, Terri looked across at Jake who was still sitting directly across from her. Jake always struck Terri as a big overgrown kid. If you put something in front of him, he’d start to play with it.

So can you tell me about what that was that attacked me? Does Carla know? She asked me if it was a bobcat. Is that some kind of code word? Bobcat? Does she know about this… thing too?

Well, he began, Carla sort of knows. She just doesn’t believe that things are as weird as they really are, if you know what I mean. She could accept that a mutated animal attacked you. Carla knows things aren’t exactly normal around here, but there’s a limit to what some people can believe, even if it’s right in front of them. Weird stuff happens and kids go missing a little more than they should in this town. And explanations are a little weak.

Uh Jake, Terri interrupted, Do you hear yourself? Kids go missing?

"Sure. But it’s a small town and people don’t question things too much. Maybe they ran away you know? You have to be used to that kind of thinking; you’re from the city.

Anyway, I’ll tell you what I can. But I can’t explain stuff really well. You should probably just tell me exactly what happened up to when I pulled the … thing off you. Then maybe I can tell you what that thing really was.

Terri related the story of meeting the stranger and his impossible transformation, only editing the part about how extraordinarily handsome and male modelish the guy had been at the beginning. She periodically glanced over to where Carla was to make sure she had enough time to get answers out of Jake. She noticed Carla was still chatting with the cashier and hoped that she and Jake wouldn’t be interrupted.

Jake listened attentively and oddly enough, he didn’t seem to react or scoff at what Terri was telling him. When Terri finished, she said, I know what I saw. I’m not making it up and I’m not crazy, on drugs or prone to hallucinations. So what can you tell me?

Jake sat back and looked Terri in the eyes, You won’t believe me. Whenever I tell anyone, they never believe me. They think it’s a prank. But really, stuff exists. It’s not just diseased animals, or a trick of the light, or you didn’t get enough to eat so you were ‘seeing things.’ Speaking of which, I wonder where the pizza is.

Jake looked around for Carla and frowned when he saw she was still just mingling.

Hey, I’m hungry too. But you were saying?

Okay, okay. Really bad stuff exists. Stuff from nightmares and stuff from stories. Most people just ignore what they are really seeing. They think it can’t be real, can’t be happening. But this stuff is real. Weird, unnatural stuff does happen, but only some of us recognize it. And some of us see them.

Them? Okay. Say I believe you. So are you going to tell me what that nightmare thing was? Who them are?

Just as Jake was opening his mouth to reply, Luke walked into the Pizzeria. And for some reason, this caused Jake to stop talking. It was like the boy was somehow freakishly aware of when his friends showed up out of nowhere. So Terri just watched as Jake snapped his mouth shut and waited for his friend to approach the table.

Luke was a big kid too, like Jake, only slimmer and built like he was made for running. Not surprisingly he was on the football team as well. He was a year older than Terri and her friends but hung out with Jake because they were both on the school team, and Terri thought the two boys were the same age anyway.

Terri had never officially met Luke Eriksson, but she knew of him. Most of the kids at school called Luke farm boy mainly because he lived on a farm and he just had that hardworking farm kid look. His appearance at the Pizzeria was a rarity. If he wasn’t playing football, he was working on the farm. When he arrived at the table, he sat down beside Terri.

Hey, he said.

Jake said, Hey Luke. This is Terri, Carla’s friend. Or sort of new friend I guess. She’s new here and just saw … something. Really saw something. Lucky-to-be-alive saw something.

Oh, said Luke. He turned and really looked at Terri. He took in her golden brown hair and lightly freckled pretty face. She stared back at him with soulful brown eyes that looked like they didn’t miss much. He noticed some faint scratches on her cheeks and what looked like a dark patch forming on one of them.

What did she see? Luke said while he stared directly at her.

She’ll tell you, Jake spoke as he angled himself out of his seat. I’m just going to see what’s taking Carla and the pizza so long. He took enough time getting out for Terri to shoot him a dirty look.

Don’t tell me it was a bobcat okay? Terri said first as she stared back at Luke. Didn’t even have a tail.

Sure. I can substitute mutant bear, because that’s always a good one. But there’s also mangy wolf coyote hybrid, rare cougar, mad cow, flying pig … your choice. He grinned. But seriously, tell me everything. What did you see?

Again, Terri related her story. She included her rescue and finished with showing Luke the scratches on her neck and arms.

So Jake saw this thing too? Luke asked.

Uh Huh.

Crap. I don’t want to tell you what it is. It’ll sound stupid and you probably won’t believe me.

I hear that a lot. Terri thought this was the strangest introduction to another kid she’d ever had. Instead of the ‘tell me about yourself and I’ll go on endlessly about me’ scenario she was used to, she found this matter-of-fact-discussing-a-surreal-event type of making friends meeting a novel idea.

So it scratched you? Luke asked.

Yeah… is that important? Do I need rabies shots or something?

Well, doubtful. But what did the thing look like when it scratched you?

Terri thought that was a very unusual question, worrisome even.

Like a dead sort of human shaped thing. Why?

Just curious mostly. You won’t get rabies, but you might want to wash those scratches pretty well.

Done. But really, that wasn’t anything normal that attacked me. And it scratched me. I’m not going to get some kind of skinny dead thing disease am I?

Did it bite you?

No… but …. should I be worried?

Probably not – not about the scratches anyway.

So I probably won’t get something from it? And why don’t you just tell me what it was?

I could but I doubt you’ll believe what I say.

Try me.

Well. It’s like everything that people imagine – like really imagine – creatures in stupid books, TV shows and movies – it all exists. They may not exactly be what they are in stories but that’s just because they’re stories. No one ever tells what they see the same way, or even sees the same thing... even when they have seen the same thing. Like witnesses and car crashes. Know what I mean?

No.

Okay, take a car crash. For some reason, people’s eye witness accounts hardly ever match. Details are almost always different. And after time, imagination and more details get added. Eventually you have stories about one thing that are almost completely different than what the thing really was. You know? Now just take that kind of thing and apply it to all those scary stories you’ve heard since you were a kid. Like witches that fly on broomsticks, zombies that lurch around eating brains and vampires that fall in love and melt in sunlight. There are all kinds of stories about what those things really are, but none of the stories are really what those things are.

So…?

So. Well. I guess I’m not making sense. Luke bit the bullet, You saw a monster and you’re lucky to be alive. Luke waited to hear what Terri would say.

Well duh. A guy just attacked me in the woods. Of course he’s a ‘monster.’ But what about this skin peeling, hideous transformation, dagger like claws and teeth? What exactly do you mean a monster? A mutant? An alien?

From what you’ve described and the way he attacked, I’d say probably a vampire.

Terri regarded Luke suspiciously. As freaky as the creature had been, there were no such things as vampires. Terri wondered if she should just get up and walk away now. Could it all have been a prank?

Luke was a football player. Most of the players on their high school team were practical jokers. And it was getting close to Halloween. Just how good were Luke and Jake at acting? Luke did look pretty serious. But maybe he was pulling her leg. It just didn’t seem like an elaborate joke when she was in the woods.

Terri narrowed her eyes and said with a healthy dose of suspicion, You’re telling me I saw a vampire?

Before he could answer, Jake and Carla arrived at the table with the pizza. It was piping hot and smelled delicious.

Carla sat down and said, Hey so you two have met? I heard the word vampire. Talking Halloween costumes or is Luke already trying to convince you that some mangy old bobcat is some mysterious otherworldly creature? That happens a lot! You should hear the stuff they try to sell me! They never let up. Carla chuckled and made a hissing fang face at Luke.

And no sucking the sauce off the pizza, the girl continued. But hey, do you think it could even have been a big rabid dog? That thing that attacked you?

Sure, Luke said not looking back at Terri who just shrugged.

Changing the subject, Terri asked, So who wants something to drink? I can go up and order. The waitress looks pretty harried.

Already the Pizzeria had filled up with kids and the waitress was being run off her feet.

Terri turned to Luke first, What’ll you have?

Beer.

Uh, I’m only sixteen and you’re only seventeen. Root beer?

Yeah sure, he said and his eyes sparkled.

Jake and Carla spoke simultaneously. Extra large colas, they said when Terri turned to look at them.

Yeah, Jake added after. Super. Size. Me.

Terri glared back at him, thinking that if he was any more super sized, he might be a monster. It wasn’t that he was fat, because he wasn’t. He was just really tall and powerful looking.

Somebody already did, Luke muttered.

Smiling at Luke’s comment, Terri got up and moved to the counter to place her drink order. There was a boy in front of her and she had to wait a moment. Just as soon as he was served he whipped around and nearly dropped his own drink because Terri was too close behind, startling him. Instead of acting alarmed, he smoothly flashed his enormous perfect smile and said, Terri!

Oh no, thought Terri, Cutie Pants New Boy! I should have taken Carla up on her offer of makeup. But then she thought, If I had let Carla do my makeup all I would be missing is a multi coloured afro and a red ball on my nose.

Hi, Terri smiled back, blushing a little.

Hey, I’m sitting over there. The boy pointed to a table against the far wall with his pizza. Stop by when you’ve got your stuff. We can hang. Then he looked a little closer and said, Hey, you okay?

Uh yeah, sure. I can tell you about it later. But right now I’m rolling with Carla and Jake over there. She used the head tilt technique to point out her table. So I’ll probably be a few minutes.

She looked over at Carla, Jake and Luke. They were laughing and Terri thought the boys probably were playing a joke on her.

Then she turned her head and looked over at new boy’s table. She was dismayed to see that there was a girl already sitting herself down at his table. Her dismay was keener when she saw that it was Kali.

As the new boy squeezed by Terri, he muttered a quick see ya and was gone.

Terri ordered the drinks for her group and carried them back to her table. Well at least the evening is shaping up nicely, she thought. Not only did she get to meet and sit with a pretty cute football player, but she bumped into Cutie Pants – she wished she knew his real name but he’d only been in school one day.

In spite of her recent misadventure, Terri was feeling pretty good about spending an evening with friends, rather than studying as usual. And all it took was a single frightening event and nearly two full months of boring school. Maybe the odd horrific encounter with menacing otherworldly creatures in the woods wasn’t all that bad a thing, depending on how you looked at it.

Arriving back at her friends table, she looked down and noticed that half the pizza was already gone. At least it was still steaming.

Carla was cramming a slice halfway into her mouth when she said to Terri, Huhee up. It’s almost gone!

Terri sat down and saw Carla’s phone in front of her. She said, Oh I almost forgot! I’ll just call my parents first.

Carla made a muffled Uh huh sound and continued destroying her slice. Terri quickly made the call and when there was no answer, she left a message for her parents. By the time she put the phone down, she noticed that now there were only two slices of pizza left.

I better hurry, she thought. Her hand smacked into Luke’s as they both descended on the last two pieces at the same time.

Luke looked at Terri and said, Um, it’s okay. You have them. Both Carla and Jake looked devastated.

They must really love pizza, thought Terri. Good thing I’ve mostly lost my appetite.

There’s another twenty in my pack. If you want desert or something help yourself. Terri suggested.

Best friend ever! yipped Carla. She snatched Terri’s pack off the floor and riffled around in it for a second. Pulling out a bill, she looked over at Jake, Shakes? Sundaes?

Both. he said with a nod and the two of them were up and out of their seats. Carla dropped the pack on top of where Jake had placed her soccer bag.

Terri looked at the pizza and said, Go ahead Luke. I’m not that hungry. You look like you need it.

Luke looked back at Terri, No really, you have it. It looked like a painful decision. I can eat when I get home. Farm you know.

Terri insisted, Really, I don’t mind. Go ahead.

Luke looked relieved and grabbed the smaller piece. Thanks, he replied.

The two gobbled the pizza slices and started on their drinks.

So exactly how many slices did you get? Terri asked. She thought it might be rude but she felt she should ask in case she ever had friends over and had to feed one or more football players.

Two, said Luke.

Wasn’t that a twelve slice?

Yup.

Terri stared at Luke, incredulous.

After this they go home and eat dinner. Eyes