Chapter Four: Deadly Creatures

I didn’t manage to get even the tiniest hint of sleep after meeting with the police officer, not only due to the deep fear which pulsed my body or the graphic images of that very building presenting right in my face whenever I would close my eyes but it was as though my body felt a shift in a air. Each time I’d try to rest, I’d been hit with this sudden rush of adrenaline so much, the thought of laying in bed was the last thing I wanted to do.

It was as though my body was begging me to leave the house, as though something was outside waiting for me which I needed to see and if I didn’t soon, my body would give out.

Jake refused to leave my side for the entire night, a blowup mattress on the floor of the spare bedroom right beside the bed I lay on. I believe his presence and the fact I’d wake him if I walked by, was the only reason I didn’t listen to my body and walk outside.

So, as I sat at the kitchen counter completely alone due to Jake and my parents all leaving for work, I was not only utterly exhausted from the lack of sleep, but mentally drained from the day prior, the thoughts that seemed to rush in my brain all surrounding that one man and his beautiful eyes.

The moment I felt as though I was finally, about to welcome sleep as my head lay against the cold granite countertop, three loud knocks sound on the front door allowing my body to jump out of complete shock and fear. Instantly, all logic seemed to sprint out of my mind and convinced me this man and his friends who killed all those men yesterday had found me to finish the job.

All I could seem to do was stare at the closed front door with such terror, I thought my heart would soon give out from how fast it pumped in my chest. Even louder knocks banging on the door allow my body to get up from its position and slowly creep my way closer, these people don’t seem to be leaving and somehow know I’m in here.

The moment I reached the door and allow my shaking hand to grasp the handle; the same ringing of my ears that erupted yesterday made an appearance before I pulled the door opened and saw who was on the other side. It wasn’t any of the men from yesterday to my relief and hidden disappointed that I didn’t see that gorgeous man from yesterday, but a youngish man with bright blond hair, shifting eyes and his mannerisms shaking as he watched me.

“Are you Ivory Howard?” Was this guy’s first question, where I immediately, felt deep in my gut this overwhelming feeling of hatred, as though this man who I’d never met before had wronged me in such a profound way.

“Who’s asking?” I asked crossing my arms over my chest and staring at this man suspiciously, hoping to push the odd anger in my gut to the side for a moment, I’d never felt anger quite like it before.

“The only man who could arm you with the tools to stay alive.” This odd man says not fully telling me who he was and why he was here, but his explanation only allowed me to stare even closer at him with utter confusion.

“My name is Earl Thompson, my father, Spencer Thompson was one of the men who were killed in that building yesterday, the one you found. These police officers may think they can find who killed my father and his friends but with who we’re dealing with, they never will! To make sure you don’t end up the same way, you need to come with me.” This man called Earl begins to explain seeing the utter confusion on my face and realising he’ll have to explain.

I didn’t know if it was because he said his father was one of the men I had seen in the building or due to the exhaustion, I wasn’t myself but as he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the house, I somewhat allowed him.

Watching as I’m pulled around the house and over to the side where my fathers parking space sat, the tiny rocks which made up the driveway hurting my feet as I was pulled from the house in only my socks, Earl finally, releases my hand as we reach his black van.

“They’re close so we have to be quick… give me your hand a minute.” Earl began to say in a hushed voice looking out into the woodland which sat behind my parent's house with a worried look, my own head turning in complete confusion hoping to see what he meant.

Now I was somewhat distracted, Earl takes my hand once again, pulls the sleeve of my crew neck up and dumps some odd warm metallic liquid on my skin, turning to stare at him shocked than down at the liquid which sat on my skin, it was as though Earl was waiting for a reaction.

“Good you’re not one of them.” Was all he said once I didn’t give him the reaction he was looking for, a white cloth now placed over my hand to allow me to wipe the odd substance from my skin.

“One of who and what is this?” I now spoke for the first time wiping away the odd metallic substance from my arm, the oddness of this man in front of me only growing in this moment.

“One of the deadliest creatures walking this earth, those are the animals who killed my father and his friends yesterday and are planning to do the same to the rest of us! What I placed on your skin was liquid silver, such a substance burns these creatures.” Earl began to explain as he dug through the large boxes which sat in the back of his van, where I could only stare at this man who I already thought was beyond odd, even more confused.

“What are you talking about?” Was all I could seem to ask taking slow steps away from him and his rambles, maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to allow his man to pull me out of the safety of my parent's house.

“My father and his friends were hunters of these creatures; they’d managed to kill so many of them through the years and were starting to catch the attention of others! That is why they were killed yesterday and from experience working with these animals, it won’t be long until you’re next so, I’m giving you a box of weapons, poisons and other vital items to keep you and your family alive.” Earl continued to ramble pulling out so many odd objects from his van, silver swords, jars of luminous liquids.

“You know what I appreciate the concern and I’m really sorry about your father, but I think I’m okay.” I smiled wanting to be as polite as I could understanding the death of his father could be leading Earl to react in his way, but I didn’t want to be around him or these dangerous weapons.

But as I went to step away, he lunged at me, takes my arm and pulls me into him again so fast, my body pressed up against his while my face was forced to move backwards away from him.

“No! You don’t understand! These animals don’t care about us humans, they have killed so many of us for no reason! If you don’t want to end up like my father or his friends, you need to take this with you!” Earl began to shout in my face as though I was the insane one for not taking what he was giving me but instantly, the lowest and deepest sound which resembled a growl rumbled from the woodland beside us.

My head whips to look into the trees as though I was going to see what this sound was but for Earl, he simply gulps, let’s go of me and due to my distraction, picks up the heavy box of odd supplies and dumps them into my hands allowing me to fall forward slightly at the weight.

“They’re here! Trust me, if you want to survive, use all I’ve given you!” He says with such a serious look in his eyes, it somewhat scared me, it seemed as though he truly believed all he was telling me in this moment.

Watching as he closed the doors to his van and sprinted to the passenger seat, I was left standing alone with this huge box filled to the brim with different objects and liquids I had never seen before. Turning my attention back to the woods this odd sound seemed ripple from and what spooked Earl, I turn back around and head into my parent's house with the box still held in my hands.

Walking through the wide-open front door, I dump the box on the floor not giving it much thought but knowing Jake and my parents will have questions when they get back, I return to my spot back at the counter with my head down, my body still felt beyond exhausted. But with what happened next, maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to bypass Earl and what he gave me.

The moment the door knocked again, I couldn’t help but sigh thinking it was Earl wanting to give me even more objects that didn’t make any sense. Knowing this man doesn’t seem to care when he’s ignored, I get up from my seat and walk towards the door with anger in my step.

But the moment I open said door and lock eyes with those ocean blue ones once again, the world seemed to stop.