Monsters in the Dark

By Donovan Monster Smith

Step into a world of nightmares with Monsters in the Dark, the debut collection of short stories from Donovan 'Monster' Smith. Including thirteen disturbing tales featuring a host of horrific creatures – from aliens to sea monsters, hellish abominations to demonic pumpkins – Monsters in the Dark is the perfect read for fans of creature-features and horror.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Cape Publishing
• Release date: Jan 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201616441

Book preview

A Night in Hell's Cabin

The moon was full and bright, piercing through the overhanging branches as they made their way up the hill. A few rays of light managed to penetrate the umbrella of darkness, however, without a clear visual of the path, it was hard to tell which direction they were headed in. The humidity was thick and stuffy, and they felt physically drained. A wave of dense heavy air sucked the energy right out of them, and they knew they had to keep going or risk being caught. They were tired and the smell of dirt and pine filled their nostrils, causing Kaitley to cough.

Quiet, they might hear us, said Bark.

Sorry man, I can't help it. This smell is choking me up, complained Kaitley.

Just keep quiet, will you. They could be tracking us, whispered Bark, as he scratched at his beard.

They had escaped on foot after the accident, but he was positive that someone had called it in by now. It was only a matter of time before they came looking for the missing transport van, and Bark wanted to make sure they were long gone by then.

Slade Johnson, better known as Bark to his friends, was a tiny, dark skinned man with a larger than life personality. He was all of three foot six, bald and covered in tattoos from head to toe. Famous for having a violent, mountainous temper, with a mouth to match, he was doing five years hard time for an assault with a deadly weapon in his hometown of Black Lake.

Late one night a heated argument ensued between Slade and his sister, when out of nowhere her fiancé tried to intervene. Furious at the situation he found himself in, Bark went to his room and grabbed his rifle from underneath his bed, threatening to shoot the man if he didn't leave the property.

The fiancé refused to go, thinking that he could easily pummel the tinier man due to their size difference, but what he didn't know was that Bark had fought plenty of guys bigger than himself, for as long as he could remember. People had underestimated him his entire life and he wore the scars to prove it. Sure, he was small in stature, but what he lacked in size he made up for with strength and determination. He was freakishly strong, like a miniature bulldozer, and he had the strange ability to absorb an abnormal amount of physical punishment and keep going.

Fuming at his sister's fiancé's refusal to leave, Bark attacked the man and proceeded to smash him in the head over and over with the butt of his rifle, staining the walls and carpet red with blood.

His sister, distraught and concerned for her safety, called the police the moment she saw the gun come out. She was scared out of her mind, but she was also furious at what he had done. She was terrified of her brother, but refused to let on, for fear that he might try and hurt her in a fit of rage.

By the time it was all over, Slade had sent her fiancé to the hospital with several orbital and skull fractures, along with possible brain damage, or so the doctor had claimed. The man was said to be in a coma and there was no telling when or if he'd ever recover. A few hours later the Black Lake Police found their suspect hiding out under the only bridge in town, alone and hostile. It was then that he got his first taste of prison.

While behind bars, Slade got into his fair share of altercations and scuffles. He'd grown up in a rough, tough neighborhood and was no stranger to a fight. However, as the years went on, he suddenly found God and began giving uplifting, inspirational speeches, gaining him a ton of respect and earning him the nickname Bark. The other inmates said he'd bark your ear off about the word of the Lord if given the opportunity, and just like that it stuck. But he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he kind of liked it and thought it had a certain ring to it.

Being out in the dark woods with no actual sense of direction was frightening, even for hardened criminals like Kaitley and Bark. Every little sound sent them into a panic, thinking they were being followed. But there was absolutely no chance they were going back, and they'd do whatever they needed to keep it that way.

Unbeknownst to them, no one had called in the accident, and the driver of the prison transport van had died in the wreckage. But neither of them knew it and they weren't planning to stick around long enough to find out. In the wake of the crash, they bolted, heading deep into the wood for cover, hoping to disappear before anyone noticed.

Luckily, the two of them had escaped the wreck with just minor cuts and bruises, unlike the driver. Kaitley's forearm was lacerated, his nose was busted, and he had a pretty nasty scrape just above his right eye, but that was the extent of it. Bark came out of it virtually unscathed with only a few silly scratches here and there. They were both very lucky to have survived the incident without sustaining any serious injuries.

The driver had died instantly, splitting his head against the windshield when the vehicle flipped and tumbled end over end. He had swerved to avoid clipping what he thought was a dog, when he suddenly lost control and tipped the van on its side. It skidded for what seemed like forever before finally coming to a halt against a copse of trees.

Kaitley Simon was a rather large individual. He stood at six foot two with blonde hair and blue eyes and had a face like an angel. He was an extremely handsome man, getting his good looks from his mother's side, or so he was fond of saying. Most folks said he looked like Clark Kent, aside from his short, stubby nose, and he was the perfect physical specimen, if there ever was one.

He was serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for attacking an elderly woman at an ATM late one night, and he didn't regret it for a second. Down on his luck and in desperate need of money for more drugs, he snuck up behind the old broad and demanded she give him everything she had, or else. After taking too long to comply, he snatched the old broad's purse and sliced her arm for his troubles.

This was his first time outside the walls in years, and despite the pain he was in, it was all worth it. He wasn't going back, no matter what. It was all or nothing, and he liked his chances.

Kaitley gagged, trying to clear the blood from his nose.

Shut up, fool. I told you to be quiet, snapped Bark.

Sorry, man. I can't help it. My fucking nose is smashed up. Besides I don't hear anyth....

Just then the sound of police sirens whistled through the trees like a disembodied voice in the dark. They turned and looked at each other.

I knew they'd be on our asses soon enough. Now, hurry the fuck up and let's get out of here, said Bark, annoyed with Kaitley's bullshit.

All right, all right, Kaitley whimpered. They sound pretty far away, though.

Yeah, but at the pace you're going, they'll find us before sunrise, for sure. So, let's get a move on already, we've got a lot of ground to cover if we're going to outrun them, said Bark.

I can't see shit out here. My fucking nose is broken, and my eye is killing me, Kaitley cried.

For fuck's sake, man. Just move your ass.

They trekked on, hoping they were heading in the right direction, but there was no telling which way they were going. With almost no light to shine the way, they kept walking, despite the treacherous conditions. All around them crickets chirped and the occasional howl from a coyote was heard, along with the faint sound of police sirens.

As they continued, Bark heard the faint trickle of running water coming from a nearby creek. As long as they paralleled the stream, he knew they'd be okay. He was paranoid and convinced that the police knew where they were, but they'd have to kill him before he'd ever go back.

In the distance, something gleamed, catching Kaitley's eye. What's that, over there?

What the hell are you talking about? said Bark, confused.

That thing over there. That bright light. I don't know, maybe it's like a place to hide out or something, said Kaitley.

Shut up, you hear that? asked Bark, holding his finger up to his lips.

What, the sirens? said Kaitley.

No. Shhh, said Bark, with a concerned look on his face.

Kaitley paused for a moment, listening to the forest. I don't hear shit, man. You're losing it. There's nothing out here but us..

Just shut the fuck up, will you, snapped Bark.

Out of nowhere there was a low rumbling followed by a terrifying growl. Something moved to their right and they spun around, trying to get eyes on whatever it was. A branch snapped and chills ran up their spines. Immediately they knew they weren't alone; something was stalking them.

Okay, I heard it that time. What the fuck is that? said Kaitley, his voice shaking.

I don't know, but we better get the fuck out of here, quick, said Bark. He pointed towards the bright light. There!

Something's out here with us, man. It gives me the creeps! You don't think it's like a bobcat, or a wolf or something, do you?

I fucking hope not! replied Bark. Just shut up and move. Whatever it is, it's close, but I ain't going back to that hell hole. If you want to, that's on you, but I'll die before they take me back there.

***

She bent down, investigating the body of the dead animal. This must be what the transport van hit, she thought. It looked like the driver tried to swerve but clipped it. The only problem was that there were long jagged cuts and incisions that were so precise, they could only have been made by something razor sharp and extremely powerful. It was hard to make out, but it appeared as if something had attacked the thing before it had ended up as roadkill.

Picking up a stick, she poked at the shredded carcass, making sure it was indeed dead. It looked like a pile of mush soup, and it took everything she had to keep herself from vomiting. Upon further inspection, she noticed that there were multiple gouges and slashes on its lower half, leading her to believe it had probably been attacked by a pack of wild dogs or something similar. She was almost certain it had been injured and was being chased when the van came into contact with it.

The front of the transport vehicle was covered in bloody chunks of hair and flesh, and it was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. She'd been to some gruesome crime scenes in the past, but never anything quite like this. Proceeding around to where the driver lay, she began to get a clearer picture of what had gone down

He flew headfirst into the windshield, dying instantly upon impact, she said out loud.

A voice came from somewhere behind her, I agree, Sheriff.

There's no sign of the passengers, she said, looking up from where she kneeled.

They must have escaped into the woods, since no other bodies were found, said Deputy Price. They have about an hour head start on us. We think they headed north, toward the mountains.

Is there anything out that way?.

Not that we know of, said Deputy Price.

Well, call for backup. I'm going to try to pick up their trail, said Sheriff Wilson.

You can't go out there by yourself, that's crazy. Wait until morning and we can do a full sweep of the area. Going out there alone is suicide, said Price.

There's no time to waste. Just radio for backup and tell them I headed north, she said, as she walked around to the back of her squad car and popped the trunk.

***

Convinced that someone or something was hot on their heels, Bark and Kaitley closed in on their destination. They were only about a hundred yards out when a sour, putrid smell hit them. It was so strong, it reminded Bark of the toilets in prison, and he shuddered at the thought of them. It smelled like a mixture of rotten eggs and raw meat that had sat and baked in the sun for about a week.

They paused for a second, trying to catch their breath when something moved in the darkness and Bark had a sinking suspicion that whatever was out there, it had them surrounded. He froze mid stride, staying completely still, and Kaitley, scared out of his mind, followed suit. Whatever it was, they had to keep going or risk being caught, and that wasn't an option. They'd just as soon die before they'd go back, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

There was a rustling followed by a howling cry like nothing they'd ever heard before and Kaitley jumped, frightened by the sound. Unbeknownst to them, they had alerted the creatures to their location, leaving them vulnerable and wide open for an attack. Knowing they had to act fast, Bark quickly seized a thick fallen branch to use as a weapon and mimed to Kaitley to find something to defend himself with as well.

Their visual was limited to about five feet in front of them, thanks to the overgrowth of trees, and Kaitley snatched up a large rock, preparing to protect himself at all costs. He was burning up and sweating profusely, and he ripped his shirt off, trying to cool down.

Why are you stopping? said Bark.

I'm drenched, man. And I'm sure they can smell me, said Kaitley, wiping the sweat off his face with his shirt.

To hell with that. We're close, so get your ass in gear, said Bark.

After a few minutes, they came to a clearing and were about thirty yards away from the gleaming white light when the smell became substantially worse. Bark gagged and held his nose, trying to keep from spilling the contents of his stomach. Both men looked at each other simultaneously, and then at the light. As they inched closer, it became apparent that they were staring at a huge carrion pit in the middle of the ground.

Light beamed directly in Bark's eyes, and he threw his hands up to shade himself. It was coming from the moon, which was reflecting off something shiny down inside the pit. As they stepped to the cusp of the gigantic crater, the hair on the back of their necks stood to attention.

Is that what I think it is? asked Kaitley.

It's...it's full of bones, said Bark, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Like some kind of animal graveyard or something.

What could do something like that? asked Kaitley.

I don't know, said Bark. But this must be where they dispose of their kills after they pick them clean. There are thousands of fucking bones here.

We've gotta get out of here, now, said Kaitley, in a panic.

***

Sheriff Wilson unlocked the rear passenger side door of her patrol car, twisting the leash around her hand, making sure to hold on tight. She commanded her K-9 partner out of the vehicle, closing the door behind him. It was time to get to work, and there wasn't anyone she'd rather have by her side than her best friend. They'd spent twelve long years together, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Tank was a German Shepard and had been on the force for a little over seven years. Together they'd survived some of the scariest situations she'd ever experienced, and there was no one she trusted more than him. He was her best friend, and she was his. He had her back, no matter what, and that was a comforting thought.

Using her partner to track the two men's scents, she took off into the night, disappearing amongst the trees as she ran. Chasing two escaped convicts through the woods by herself wasn't her smartest idea ever, but she couldn't just let them go. There was no telling what they might do or who they might hurt, and she couldn't have that on her conscience.

A mile in, Tank became agitated and started growling and baring his teeth. Sarah stopped, second guessing her pursuit as strange sounds swarmed all around them like bloodthirsty entities. Nervous and afraid, her mind started to unravel at the thought of potential danger. She thumbed on her flashlight, checking her surroundings for any sign of a serious threat.

Removing her long-sleeved uniform top, she tied it around her waist, doing anything she could to cool down. It was beyond humid, but she wasn't going to let that slow her down. She knew it was going to be a challenge, but she was up for it, no matter how tough it was.

Come on boy, let's go catch us some bad guys, she said, patting Tank on the top of the head.

She took a couple steps forward, when out of the blue something yanked her backwards with force. Despite the tugging on his leash, Tank refused to cooperate. A moment later, an eerie feeling raced through her like a raging fire.

Tank started to whine, which was uncharacteristic of him.

What's wrong? What is it, boy? she whispered.

Tank's eyes shot to the canopy of trees, and he began to tremble and shake as if he was afraid of something. Sheriff Wilson didn't understand what was happening. None of it made any sense to her, but something was definitely wrong. She tried to calm him by gently rubbing the top of his head and behind his ears.

Worried out of her mind, she inspected her surroundings. Unfortunately, all she could see were shadows. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move and her blood ran cold. It was sleek and fast, maneuvering on all fours, staying as close to the ground as possible.

Tank growled. Shhhhh, quiet boy, she whispered, stroking his back.

Remaining as quiet as she could, she unsnapped the button on her holster and carefully slid her 9mm out. She clutched the handle firmly and cocked the slide back as quietly as she could, desperately praying she didn't have to lay anyone to waste tonight. What a hell of a way to spend your New Year's Eve, dummy, she thought. When will you stop chasing bad guys and have a family like Mother always wanted?

Shaking the thought from her head, she pushed on through the darkness, her sidearm out in front. As she walked, she practically had to drag Tank alongside her, and it made her extremely worried. She'd never seen him so spooked before, and an uneasy feeling began to creep over her.

Sarah Wilson was a beautiful, stern, strong, independent woman. She was short, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and was the perfect weight for her size. She was in her early forties and had experienced two shootouts during her time as Sheriff; one which resulted in the killing of a man, another that seriously injured a six-year-old girl. She was warm and loving and usually all smiles, although tonight she was all business.

Sheriff Wilson was a very optimistic person, and therefore believed she could track the fugitives and bring them in without any hassle. It had been just over two hours since the accident occurred, and hopefully with a little luck she'd be able to catch up to them and take control of the situation. She grew up in the woods and knew her way around then better than most, giving her the upper hand.

***

Around a half mile away from the pit, the duo mistakenly headed east, unaware. They continued to hear things as they got further down the path, and it wasn't long before Bark noticed something moving in the shadows. He saw three dark silhouettes forming a half circle around them, and he freaked. He had no idea what they were, but he knew they were about to find out.

Those things are still on our tail, Kaitley. I've seen three of them over the last half mile, said Bark.

What are they?

I have no idea and I really don't want to find out.

It's got to be wolves, right? asked Kaitley.

Don't know. But we need to find somewhere to hide, fast.

I'm with you, replied Kaitley.

They continued moving along the path, keeping a watchful eye out in case of trouble. Kaitley noticed something to his right move, and he began to run. Scared out of his skin, Bark chased after him, unaware of what they were running from to begin with.

A couple hundred yards later, Kaitley slowed from exhaustion, stopping in a clearing that was slightly illuminated by the moon. He paused to catch his breath, when suddenly something pounced on him. It caught him by surprise, startling him, and he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Due to their size difference, Bark was about thirty yards behind and watched in horror as the silhouette attacked his friend. Kaitley had his back turned and didn't see it coming.

Watch out Kaitley, get outta there, shouted Bark. Run!

Kaitley turned to see what he was yelling about, right as the silhouette lunged at him and sunk its teeth into his shoulder. The thing had hit him with such force, he spun around in circles and flailed his arms in an attempt to break free from its clutches.

Ropes of blood squirted through the air as the beast continued its assault. Bark was sprinting in Kaitley's direction, hoping to get there before something worse happened. In the chaos of it all, Kaitley had managed to drop the big rock he was carrying, rendering him defenseless as the creature clawed and tore at his back.

Bark was screaming as he ran, Kaitley! Kaitley! Noooo! Get the fuck off him you piece of shit! Get the fuck off him!

***

Through the window he could see a large, light skinned man, and a small, dark skinned man heading his direction. He watched as one of the beasts jumped on the light skinned man's back and mauled him. He wanted to go out and help them, but he was petrified and couldn't move an inch. He'd hidden out in the cellar of the cabin for the last few days, alone, trapped. It seemed like he'd been in here for over a week at this point, but he wasn't really sure as all sense of time had been completely abandoned.

He heard the ruckus outside and let his curiosity get the better of him, climbing the stairs to see if the demon animals had left yet, which they clearly hadn't. On a good note, though, at least there were others here besides himself now, and he knew if he was going to survive he'd have to rely on them to get him out of this mess. With quick thinking, he made a loud bang, striking two pans together, the sound echoing and bouncing off the trees, ringing throughout the woods.

***

Sheriff Wilson was about two miles behind the convicts, with no clue of the horrors that lay ahead. She just knew she had to catch them, soon, and she was ready. Sensing something in the trees, Tank started going ballistic and she knew immediately that something hostile was out there. Her flashlight battery was almost dead and without it, she wouldn't know which direction she was going.

She had a decision to make, and fast. If the flashlight battery goes dead then it's just me and Tank out here all by ourselves, she thought. I have no idea where we are, but if I turn back now, I'll lose the escapees for sure. As she debated