Retribution

Retribution.
By Stephen A Abell.

Number of Words: 499


Undressing, Ahiga kept an eye on the unconscious man bound tightly to the chair. As Ahiga folded and placed his shirt on top of the pile of discarded clothes the man's eyes flickered and slowly opened.

Trying to move, the man mumbled, "Where am I?" Feeling both his hands and ankles securely tied realisation dawned on his predicament. "What have you done to me?"

"I am doing to you what you deserve." Ahiga replied serenely as he began to flex and twist his naked body.

Bemused, the prisoner watched and listened as the Navajo continued loosening up. Issuing from deep within that writhing body were strange sounds. Creeks, cracks, and pops. Noises alien to the captured man.

Slowly, rising above it all issued a guttural growl. Animal. Feral. Predatory.

Around the prisoner the air filled with electricity; the short hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention. A trickle of fear ran effortlessly down his spine and grew into more substantial terror as he watched his capturer’s form start to move and reshape before his eyes.

The rope pulled tight at his wrists and ankles as he fought for freedom. The hemp rubbed and burned on his flesh. His body screamed to be away from this madness. His mind was not listening. So captivating and horrific was the sight before him, the feeling of his sore flesh flaying never registered in his terrified mind. Blood started to drip onto the dirty floorboards.

Ahiga was no longer human. He was so much more now.

Hok'ee was his reason for taking the Witchery Way. She had been his sister and she had run off with this man, leaving the tribe behind. For love. Though her love only brought her death. Death dealt by this man's hand.

In his new form Ahiga towered over the scared little man. The stench of urine and faeces assaulted his nostrils. Though it was the overpowering aroma of fresh blood and fear which excited and urged him onward. Lowering his huge face toward his captive, he drew back the fur-covered skin of his mouth to reveal strong sharp teeth set in a powerful jaw.

The last thing the man in the chair saw were the human eyes staring into his with unparalleled hatred.

Ahiga lunged forward, snapping his jaw closed around his prey’s head and sharply snapped to the right. Blood pulsed to the back of his throat and Ahiga lost himself to the baser primal urges and needs. The man’s head twisted with the movement. Bones snapped and tore through skin, though most held helping lift the man’s body, and the chair to which he was tied, into the air. The strain of the extra weight ripped the already torn skin wider and blood spurted about the room. No sooner had the body come to rest then a large furry paw pushed down hard on its chest. With one final tug the bear rendered the head free of its body, ready to feed.


For the contest "Invalid Item"  and the prompt – “write a were-animal story.”