They Hunger

Nathan knew the property. It was in his family for more then 200 years. Familiarity though never stopped the feeling that he was being watched as he walked the dogs through the woods. Smells of rotting leaves and sweet pine filled his nostrils as he ventured further into the dark looking for the spot to set up camp.

“SNAP!” Nathan jumped, twisting hard, and looked around for what made the noise. It was then he felt the pain of ten thousand knives penetrating his leg. He heard maniacal laughter off in the distance, but his own guttural screaming drowned it out. Looking down, Nathan saw his ankle had been caught. Rusted, black metal gnarled denim jeans into flesh. Blood oozed from his ankle. Nathan tried to stand, but the pain of open flesh and newly crushed bone was too excruciating to bear.

Jack and Mutt came running back. Jack stepped forward to investigate. As he approached the contraption a jet of blood squirted him on the muzzle. He took off running, back to the entrance of the woods. Mutt, the faithful companion, nuzzled Nathan, trying to comfort him. As Nathan’s cries grew quieter, the laughter got louder. It was deafening, yet there was no one providing it.

Through gritted teeth Nathan pulled out his grandfather’s hand forged blade. He unsheathed it, grabbed a twig to bite into, and tried in vain to pry the bear trap from his foot. Mutt whimpered as a long howl rose from Nathan. The device quickly snapped back into place. A new spray of blood exploded.

Nathan grabbed a shirt and hatchet from his pack, tore a long strip of material and made a tourniquet. Raising the hatchet and looking away he hacked, tearing flesh and crushing bone, freeing himself from the trap.

The laughter came to a gasping hush. The eyes that had guarded this area widened with astonishment. The foolish human had sacrificed to be free from their plaything. This had never been done before. They wanted their meal.

Nathan held on to Mutt for support with his trickling stump dragging, the leaves behind him crunched with the patter of several feet. Nathan stopped, turned around and saw them, leprechaun like creatures with razor sharp teeth. Their tongues darted in and out of their mouths. They eyed him, his bloody stump, and Mutt.

They moved closer. Nathan tried to move away, but felt another unbearable shot of pain. He looked down and saw that his hand was trapped now. Mutt whining, looked at his master, and ran off. One by one, the creatures leaped on to Nathan. Pointed claws dug into his flesh, peeling back skin to reveal Nathan's muscles twitching in reflex against the pain. They buried their grotesque faces into the open wounds, teeth seizing and pulling at chunks of meat and flesh. They were hungry, and nothing would keep these abominations from their meal.



Word Count: 484