48.
"You're gonna have to pause it again," Samantha turned to Luke with a mischievous smirk on her face.

Luke gave an exasperated sigh. "Are you kidding me?"

"What?" She frowned. "I need to go get a soda."

"Then go get it," Luke hissed.

"...And miss the part where JT takes off his shirt?" Samantha uttered as she got to her feet. "Pause it, Luke."

"Ugh!" Luke grumbled. He stretched for the remote, pressed it and dropped it beside him on the couch. He folded his hands on his chests and frowned at Samantha. "You're the worst person I've ever seen a movie with," he grumbled.
Samantha said nothing. She just gave him a smug and strutted to the kitchen, leaving him in the sitting room with a half eaten bowl of Popcorn.

*

Samantha walked into the Kitchen and went straight to the fridge, pulled it open, and with the cool air hitting her face, she searched, found, and pulled out two plastic bottles of orange flavoured sodas. She closed the fridge and started to walk away, when she suddenly remembered.

"Adam."

Samantha spun and glanced at the Kitchen door leading to the backyard. She remembered that she had told her little brother to take out the trash, and that he had been out there for a while now.

"Adam?" Samantha called, but there was no response.

She turned fully, dropped the sodas on the island table and began to walk towards the door; curiosity written all over her features. "Adam?" she called again, as she kept moving closer to the door. "What are you doing out there?"

Samantha got to the door and stretched forward to grab the knob.

She suddenly recoiled with a startled whimper when the door burst open with Adam darting through it and slamming it shot behind him; pressing himself against it immediately after.

"Jesus Christ Adam," Samantha uttered with heavy breaths as she pressed her left palm to her chest and her wide eyes trained on her little brother. "What the hell? You scared the shit outta--."

Samantha stopped when she noticed the red stains on Adams face and his Spongbob Pyjamas. She knew what it looked like, but she didn't want to believe it because it just didn't make sense.
Where would Adam get blood stains?

"A-Adam?" Samantha stuttered as she eyed her brother askance. He pinned himself to door, as if he was trying to stop something from getting in. Samantha watched as his entire torso moved up and then down as he took deep, heavy and quickened breaths; his terrified wide eyes staring into space.

"Adam?" Samantha uttered again with confusion and worry all over her features. "What's going on?"

For the first time since he entered the kitchen, he turned and faced his sister; startled, like he had just noticed that she was there. "It's - It's - Outside - Ottie - It's.." Adam stuttered as Samantha's confusion grew into impatience at the fact that her brother wasn't making any sense.


"It's what?" Samantha raised her shoulders in frustration. "You're not making any se-"

A loud and deafening "BOOMl!" struck the door. It was so loud, it made the siblings yell in shock. Samantha could swear the entire kitchen shook.
When She saw her little brother's eyes begin to well with tears and his heavy breathing begin to change to sobs, Samantha started trembling.

"What the hell was that?" Luke's voice caused Samantha to turn and find him standing at the Kitchen entrance; brows furrowed with confusion.


BOOM! BOOM!

Samantha let out a sharp scream as two bangs thundered on the door that seemed to shake the entire house now.

"What the Bleep!" Luke shouted; staggering back in shock.

Adam's sobs became heavy and then turned into cries while he was still pinned to the door. Samantha felt her own eyes sting as she stared at him. She felt herself begin to tremble uncontrollably. It was obvious that the little boy had seen what was behind that door and the thought of whatever it getting in the house, terrified him deeply. She wanted to run over and hold him, but it surprised her that she was too scared to even go near him.

The fourth bang, although not as loud as the third, came with a push on the door from the other side . Adam shouted as he stood his ground, planting his bare feet strongly on the hard cold tiles before him, looking for friction.

"Go away!" Samantha's scream was a mixture of fear and rage as tears came down her face. "Leave us alone!"

Luke saw that Adam was no match for whatever was behind that door, and he knew that even if he did not know what it was that was out there, he sure as hell did not want it coming into the house. Luke immediately darted forward, passed Samantha, went over and pushed the door closed. He pressed on until the door slammed shut. Then he spun and pressed his back against it, just like Adam did.

Luke looked to Adam's bloodstained face by his side with wide eyes. "Wh-Who the hell is out there?" He asked with heavy breaths.

Then there was a long and lingering growl. Everyone froze and listened. Samantha's eyes slowly travelled round the kitchen as the growl drew and lingered, from the floor to the ceiling, and then the sink, before she slowly looked up in Luke's direction and mouthed a soundless "What is that?"

Then the growl stopped.

The children waited and prepared themselves for another startling sound, but nothing came. Everything was suddenly quiet. It was so quiet, that the only sounds that they heard, came from their breathing and the humming of the refrigerator at the corner.

Samantha moved closer a little and then placed her trembling hand on the Island table. "Is-Is-Is it g-gone?" She stuttered.

Adam and Luke exchanged glances. They couldn't be sure, and they knew it would stupid to open the door and check. After another three minutes went by without any sound whatsoever, the three of them were convinced that what ever was out there, was gone.

"I-I think it's gone" Luke stuttered; his back still pressed to the door.

Samantha raised her hand to her chest and exhaled heavily as she leaned on the island table beside her.

"Could have been a Bear or something," Luke suggested, as he slowly lifted himself from the door. "It's gotta be a Bear."

Adam, who was still pinned to the door, slowly lifted his face to Luke. "Do-do Bears e-eat Dogs?" Adam stuttered.

Luke turned to face him with a frown. "What?"

"It-It ate O-Ottie," Adam uttered in a shaky and somewhat loud whisper; looking up at Luke with his watery eyes.

Luke's eyes went wide with shock as he looked away from Adam to his sister.

Samantha raised her hand to her mouth in shock when she now realised what the red stains on her brother's face and body was, and who they belonged to.
"Oh my god," was what came out as a trembling whisper.

Luke leaned back on the door. "You should call my Dad," he said as he faced Samantha. "Now."

Samantha turned to him. "Wha-What?" She replied.

"My phone," Luke said. "It's on the couch. Take it. Call my Dad. Tell him to come over with Officers, quickly."

Samantha, who was nodding all the while Luke was talking, quickly spun and hurried out of the kitchen, leaving Adam and Luke still pressed against the door.

She hurried into the sitting room, her eyes darting from place to place. The movie was still playing on the TV and at that moment, Samantha didn't really care that she had told Luke to pause it and he hadn't. Everything was beginning to look like a blur now.

She could not believe what Adam had just told her.

"It ate Ottie."

Samantha suddenly felt her muscles weaken when she remembered those words. What ever was out there had eaten thier dog. She suddenly fixated her eyes on the phone as it lay there on the couch before she reached down and picked it up.

She swiped the screen open and dropped her shoulders with a loud "Shit" when she saw the one sentence that every person on the planet dreaded when they wanted to use someone else's phone in an emergency.

Enter Password

She raked her blonde hair back with her trembling right hand as her eyes darted all over the sitting room in panic. She was supposed to call officer Brent's number, not Nine-One-One. She needed that password.

She thought of dropping it and going straight to her phone, and then she realised that she didn't even remember where she had dropped it and she sure as hell didn't have time to look for anything right now.

"Luke!" She finally called out. "What's your Pa-"

The teenage girl was cut off as the window in the living room exploded into thousands of glittering pieces, before something large and black darted through.

It all happened so fast, that Samantha was knocked to the ground.

She couldn't see what it was because she had to shield her eyes from the thousands of pieces of glass that sprayed all over her body from the unexpected explosion.

Samantha moved her hand down from over her head, pieces of glass falling from her body, before she looked up and saw it.

It shook its entire body hard, like a dog that was just coming out from a bath and then opened it's bright yellow eyes that seemed to be glowing, even with the brightness of the lights in the living room.

Samantha's eyes widened as the animal moved it's eyes and glared at her.

Then suddenly, it snarled, exposing bloodstained red fangs.

Samantha couldn't hold her fear and dread any longer and so she screamed like she had never screamed in her life.

49.
Luke's heart leapt to his mouth when he heard Samantha scream echo through the house.

"Samantha?!" He yelled as he shot himself away from the door and darted towards the kitchen entrance.

He was about to cross the door, when Samantha suddenly bumped into him and knocked him down. The both of them fell to the floor.

For a split second, Luke was startled at the fact that Samantha, instead of being as embarrassed as Luke about the awkward position of she being pressed against him on the kitchen floor, she was more concerned about whatever was behind her. She was more concerned about whatever was chasing her.

"Wh-What's going -," Luke uttered, as he saw as an excessively panicked Samantha darted her wide eyes to the entrance and swiftly drew herself from the floor.

"Get Up!" She shouted as she began to pull on the boy's t-shirt. "Luke get up. Hurry!"

Luke shifted his gaze to the door and saw the floor darken with a large, almost gigantic dark shadow. But it wasn't the encroaching shadow that made Luke stand up, it was that familiar growl. Lower in intensity this time, but still menacing.

Luke scrambled off the floor, hurried and met Samantha at the door that led to the backyard as she kept struggling to get it open. Adam was still pressed against it, not wanting to let go and determined to stop whatever was outside from getting in.

"No we can't," Adam sobbed. "It's still out there."

"No," Samantha hissed heavily as she kept shooting glances between her terrified little brother and the kitchen entrance behind. "It's in here you idiot. Now, move!"

Adam refused. He didn't believe her. He was scared out of his mind. Luke kept his eyes on the kitchen entrance all the while, as Samantha kept struggling with her little brother to get the door open.

Adam!?" Luke heard Samantha's frustration in her voice warn her brother seriously. Then Luke knew it was to late when he saw oily, thick, black fur emerge from beside the door frame.

It was in.

They had to hide.

Luke instinctively pulled the two siblings in his direction with great speed and then the three kids collapsed right behind the kitchen Island table; shielding them form the sight of the black beast.

"We've gotta-."

"Shhhh." Luke cut Samantha's protests off as the children squeezed themselves behind the table, making sure the predator on the other side did not see them.

The animal finally made its way into the kitchen. Sniffing. Grunting. Snarling. The sounds that seemed to make their hearts beat faster and Adam's breathing quicken. They heard the creature pull out the drawers, and the sharp crashing sounds of breakable plates hitting the marbled floor.

Samantha felt her little brother jolt and stiffen at every single sound, and she held him tighter.

Then the crashing stopped and the grunting appeared to get louder.

Luke sat there, terrified and trying to control his trembling body. Here they were, just the three of them, trapped in the kitchen with a blood thirsty beast and the only thing that stopped them from being found and torn to shreds was the island table in the middle. He slowly turned and faced Samantha with his welling eyes. She had never seen him this scared before. The fact that she could see Luke being equally as scared as she was really did terrify her.

"Panther," Adam gave a trembling whisper.

Luke and Samantha faced the little boy. "What?" They both whispered in unison.

Adam's eyes, filled with tears, was fixed on the aluminium trash can right infront of them as he slowly lifted his trembling hands and pointed at it. "B-Black Pa-Pa-Panther," Adam whispered again.

Luke and Samantha looked in the direction Adam was pointing and saw it. The reflection on the trash can was that of the Black beast behind them.
Luke's eyes widened as he fixated his gaze on what was behind them. "Oh god," He heard Samantha sobbing beside him when she saw it too.

Luke had no words to describe it. It's large yellow eyes, razor sharp claws that peeped out its paws, and yellowish bloodstained fangs. This was the only thing Luke could have imagined in his nightmares. This creature was astoundingly the size of a grizzly bear. Luke wasn't an animal expert, but he was pretty sure wild cats weren't supposed to be that large.

Slightly surprised that Adam knew what this creature was called, he himself had no idea such a monstrosity existed until now. Luke immediately stopped thinking of what he was looking at and started figuring out how they were going to get out of this situation, when he saw the creature crawl closer to them; searching.

Luke turned and looked at Samantha. Her eyes were welling as she mouthed a "What are we going to do?" Her face contorted to that of someone who seemed to be in pain.

Look took his eyes back to the encroaching reflection of the black beast behind them.


"Oh God," Samantha gave a quiet whimper as she pressed an equally terrified and sobbing Adam close to her; her eyes fixed on the reflection.

Luke took a look at them and was afraid to accept the fact that this could be thier last few hours alive. He stared at Samantha and her little hold each other close as they both cried silently; they saw the growing shadow of the animal beside them.

Adam held his big sister close, while she held him closer. Luke saw two siblings bonded by blood, who would rather die together, than one leaving the other and he felt his fear somehow morph into anger.

He had to do something.

Then his eye caught something when he looked look up at the wall before him. The two soda bottles on the table. He could see thier shadows, and then his eyes shifted to the door leading out of the kitchen and into the backyard.

Luke had gotten an idea.

He immediately turned to Samantha and her brother. He cupped her wet face between his palms and looked into her eyes. "Hey. Hey," Luke whispered heavily. "Look at me. Listen Okay?". When I say run. You run out the door."

Samantha furrowed her brows in confusion. She could see desperation in Luke's eyes.

"Do you understand?" Luke shook her head to make sure she understood.

"O-okay."

He didn't wait for her reply before he tuned back and saw how close the animal had gotten. It was so close, Luke could smell the wetness of its fur and the metalic scent of blood.

As its shadow grew from the floor beside them, up to the wall infront of them, Luke felt his heart pounding as he reached up to search for one of the soda bottles.

"What are you doing?" Samantha gave a shaken whisper.

Luke ignored her as he got one of the bottles in his grip. He then looked down at the wide eyed siblings and said..."Ready?"

Samantha was unsure, but Adam nodded his head very quickly in response.

Luke grabbed the bottle filled with orange soda, lifted it and threw it across the kitchen. It flew out of the kitchen entrance and then, there was a loud crash out side the kitchen; a loud crash in the dinning area.

The creature, as Luke had expected, spun quickly with a loud roar that startled Samantha, she almost jumped. It charged away from where the kids were hiding, straight for the source of the noise.


"Now!" Luke gave a sort of heavy, loud whisper as he charged for the backyard door, followed closely by Adam and Samantha. He pulled it open and darted outside with the siblings right behind.

The three kids step outside, agitated, not knowing what to do next as their eyes darted from one place to the other.

"What do we do?" Samantha sobbed. "Do we go to the neighbours?"

"They're too far", Adam protested as he shook his head.

Luke cringed when he realised Adam was right. Even if they started running for the neighbours now, there was no doubt in Luke's mind that that thing would catch up with them and that would be it. Again, he was no animal expert, but he had seen enough Lions and Tigers chase Antelopes on National Geographic and he knew they would not stand a chance.


"The truck," Luke uttered as he immediately remembered he had parked the pickup truck infront of the house. "Let's get in the truck."

The kids hurried over to the front of the house, relieved to see Luke's truck parked infront. They ran over, pulled the doors open and got in. Samantha on the passenger seat, Adam behind and of course, Luke on the driver's.

"Bleep!" Luke hissed as he punched the steering wheel after he had searched for something he obviously did not find.

"What?", Samantha asked.

Luke turned to her with a look of despair.
"The keys," he said. "I forgot the keys." His entire body going up and down as his breaths were heavy.

"Oh God", Samantha deflated and slumped back on her seat.

"Shh," Luke stretched his hand to calm her down as he shot a glance between she and Adam at the back. "It's okay. Listen, i'll hurry in and go get it. Okay?"


"Are you crazy?" Adam snapped with furrowed brows at Luke.

"Look, I'll be fine," Luke assured as he pushed the door open. "It's probably in the kitchen, and not in the living room. I'll just grab the keys, run out and we're outta here."

"....Just stay in the car."

Samantha and Adam watched Luke as he slammed the car door shut and walked passed the front of the car towards the house.

"Oh he's definitely gonna die," Adam said.

"Shut up slowpoke", Samantha wheeled scowled. "Don"t say that."

Luke walked over to the house, got on the steps, and up to the deck. He spun back and faced the kids in the truck and then raised his trembling hands in a nervous thumbs up.

Samantha gave him a nervous smile.

Luke turned back and faced the door, went close and slowly began to reach for the knob.

It suddenly darted out of the already-shattered sitting room window with lightening speed, and landed on its paws outside the house.

"Oh My God!", Samantha screamed. "Luuke!!"

Luke spun and saw the creature standing between him and the truck. "Holy shit!" The teen gave a shaky whisper.

The creature then turned and faced him. It snarled at him and began to move closer.

Luke began to back away from the door slowly, unsure of what to do. The creature kept moving closer and closer and Luke kept moving away slowly.

Luke thought of running, but he knew it would be no use. Even from the way the Creature was staring at him, he could swear the beast was daring him to run.

"Come on kid, I dare you to run. Make this interesting for me."

Luke stole a glance at a crying Adam and Samantha with her hand over her mouth as they stared helplessly. He knew what they were thinking, and he was thinking it too.

This was it.

50.

Luke was flushed.

He stood there and watched as the black beast pressed it's body to the floor; a ritual for most wild cats to gather momentum for a powerful pounce.

Luke was afraid to even turn around and weigh his options. He was scared to take chances with the creature before him. He knew if he looked away, that would be the end. He took one last look at Samantha and Adam crying in the truck before he took a deep breath and exhaled; squeezed his eyes shut and swallowing hard to prepare himself for death.

The sharp and unbelievably loud sound of a car horn struck the still and chilly night. Luke jumped and opened his eyes in time to see the disoriented and confused creature equally raise its stiffened body up right before looking back to the source of the loud noise.

"Ruuun!" Luke could hear the screams of the siblings drowned by the shout of the horn. Samantha and Adam kept shouting as they pressed down on the middle of the steering wheel. "Run,Luke Run!"
Luke looked down and realised that the wild animal had lost interest in him now. It had turned away, with its attention on the pickup truck as it slowly moved and roared at the horning truck.

This was Luke's chance, and he took it.

The teen swiftly dashed into the house through the door and got into the sitting room with his eyes search the whole place.

"Come on!" He screamed as his eyes searched for the keys. "Where the Bleep is-," he stopped when his eyes fixated on the lamp table beside the two sitter couch. The keys were just laying there.

He was about to move when the front door crashed open as the black Panther broke through it and headed straight for Luke.

"Bleep!" He exclaimed as dove away, knocking his shoulder on one of the side tables.

"Shit," the young boy grimaced as a shattering pain shot through his body. He opened his eyes in time to see the beast move towards him quickly.

The cat was close, but the glass bowl of Popcorn on the three seater was closer. Luke knew he wouldn't move fast enough, so he instinctively picked up the glass bowl, swung and shattered it on the head of the approaching beast. It recoiled; shaking away, what Luke guessed, was the pain with a loud roar.

Luke caught sight of the keys one more time and charged for them, but he stopped, startled at how quickly the large black Panther had regained it's composure.

"Oh Come On," Luke moaned as he carefully got to his feet.

The large Cat charged at the teenage boy with lightening speed, but even Luke was shocked at the strength he mustered when he lifted the three seater couch up in the air and blocked the approaching monster, mid-air. The couch tipped over and knocked the animal to the ground, and Luke suddenly saw his cue.

He dashed out of the house, surprised that he didn't care he wasn't able to get the keys, but at the same time, happy to be alive.

Adam and Samantha saw Luke run out of the shattered front door and then few seconds later,they saw thier three seater couch fly out through the same door Luke had run out of; bearly missing him with inch. Thier eyes widened as they saw the black figure charging right behind him as he darted towards the truck, holding his shoulder with one hand.


"Oh my god!," Samantha panicked as she stretched and pushed the driver's door open.

"Hurry!" Adam Screamed.

As soon as the beast was close enough, it took a swing at Luke's back and slashed at his jeans with it's claws, hoping to slow it's prey down.

"Ahhh!" the boy screamed, but didn't stop.

Adam stretched forward and pressed on the car horn hard, in order to confuse the beast again, and it worked.


The animal slowed to a stop for what seemed to be a micro-second before it leapt for the truck. Luke dove into the driver's seat as Samantha and Adam pulled the door shot immediately and then, a loud BANG! followed shortly after.

The Impact dented the door, caused the truck to rock from side to side afterwards with the kids praying it would not top over.

Then there was silence. All they could hear was the sound of thier hearts beating and growl of the creature out side the vehicle. Samantha and Adam both collapsed back on thier seats, panting heavily. Luke pulled himself up, wincing in pain as he held his shoulder.

"Did you get the keys?" Adam asked and Samantha stiffened when she heard that question. She faced Luke, waiting for an answer.

Luke said nothing. He just looked up and gave Samantha a look of despair. A defeated look that made her slump back to her seat.

"Oh God." She sobbed.

Luke equally fell back on his seat. He was tired. Hell, they were all tired.

The three kids just sat there in the truck, quiet. Helpless and at the mercy of the beast outside. Everything had happened so quickly. One minute, they were watching a movie with Popcorn and soda, and now, here they were, fighting for thier lives. Adam was covered in the blood of his pet dog, Luke probably had a broken shoulder and Samantha was scared out of her mind.

Adam stretched and looked out his side window, searching for the creature that was suddenly nowhere to be found.

Luke groaned as he lifted his right leg and brought his injury into view. There was a red slash were the animal had struck him.

"Oh No," Samantha groaned as she moved forward for a closer look. "You're bleeding."

"I'll be fine," Luke grimaced.

"Where is it?" Adam's question made everyone pause and then turn to thier windows to search.

"Is-Is it gone?" Samantha spun to Luke with a glimmer of hope on her face.

With his face still fixed outside, he shook his head and then looked at her. "Can't tell. I think it's better we stay in here till someone comes."

"If someone comes?" Samantha deflated and looked out again.

Luke spun to her. "Wait. Thought you called my Dad?"

"I couldn't, okay," she spun to him with a sigh. "Your password was on."

Luke's jaws clenched as he turned away.

Adam looked away from his window and said, "But we're safe in the truck though, Right?"

Luke sighed heavily and stared into space before he looked at an equally distraught Samantha.



"Yeah," he replied. "Yeah I guess we-"


BOOM!


Samantha screamed in shock as the truck started to rock from side to side when something enormous hit it.


"Oh God!" She started to sob. "It's back"

Another thunderous BOOM shook the car and rocked it from side to side. Adam and Samantha yelled in horror as they held the seats to balance themselves.

Then, just like that, the banging stopped. Everywhere was quiet once more. Nothing could be heard except them breathing heavily and Adam's silent cry for his mum.


"Shhh," Samantha sobbed as she wheeled to face her brother. She pulled him in an embrace and kissed his forehead. "It's Okay."

Suddenly, the kids tensed when the truck began to rock itself sideways. There was no loud bang like before, just a silent rocking. It was as if something was pushing the vehicle on its sides, back and forth.

"What's -What's going on?" Samantha asked wide eyed. "What's happening?"

The rocking stopped and everything became still. The kids were so startled, no of them dared to move.
Luke was confused at first, but then, he raised his wide eyes to Samantha when he realised what the beast outside was trying to do.

"Ho-Hold on to-to something," Luke's whisper was low and haunting.


"Wh-What?" Samantha furrowed her brows in bewilderment.

Suddenly, the entire truck began to tip sideways and nothing but loud voices could be heard in the darkness.

"Oh my God!"

"AHHHHHHH!

"Hold On!"

Everyone was screaming at the top of thier lungs now as Luke's pickup truck began to tip over on its side. Loud crushing sounds of metal filled the air. It was as if the vehicle was groaning along with thier screams.

Samantha felt her side go up so high before she slid down and knocked into Luke. She looked out the wide screen and saw the world before them turning sideways.


"This isn't happening."

The truck moved over until it landed on its side. Samantha was on top of Luke now and the passenger seat and window was right above them.

Then, once again, there was silence.

Adam's moans were heard from the back-seat.

"Adam?" Samantha called. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Before anyone could answer any questions, the truck began to tip again.

"Oh God No!," Luke moaned. "No."

Samantha began to sob and Adam's moans slowly turned to screams as the truck fell side ways once more until the entire truck was completely upside down.
It hit the ground with a force so powerful, Adam's side window shattered to pieces, while the rest of the windows in the truck just cracked.

Silence.

51.
Samantha opened her eyes to a vision of nothing but pure darkness outside the car. Blurry at first, but it started to clear. It was clear enough for her to see the world which was now upside down outside the windscreen.

It was wasn't until she moved that she realised her neck hurt. She let her legs fall from above her, down to the bottom, which was now the hood of the car.

"A-Adam?" She called as she struggled to look back at the back seat.

The passenger and driver's seats now hung from the top of the truck and there were pieces of glass everywhere. Samantha let out a gasp of pain when she unwittingly pressed her elbow on a few pieces and raised the bloodied elbow to her view. "Shit."

She spun quickly to face Luke when he let out a low groan that made her realise that he was in pain.

"Luke?" She said as she scrambled close to him and held him. "Hey, you okay?"

He turned over to face her while still upside down, revealing the cut just above his brows that cause an uneven trail of blood to run down to his brownish-black hair. Samantha then reached up on his seat and tried to pull his legs down. "Hold on," she whispered. "Let me get you down first."

She pulled Luke's legs down before he fell to the ground with a loud thud and an "Ouch."

"Sorry," Samantha whispered, before she twisted to face her little brother in the back. "Adam?" She called out in a whisper, as she stretched for his body laying limp beneath the hanging back-seats.

"Adam?," Samantha uttered as she shook his body a bit. She was particularly relieved when she saw his shoulder flinch. "Adam. You okay?"


Adam groaned. His face contorted in pain as he flipped over for Samantha to see his bleeding nose.


"Oh God," She let out a light gasp. "You-you're bleeding." She then reached out to touch his face. "Let me see."

"Hey," Adam immediately protested as he waved her hand away, his eyes suddenly widening. "Are you nuts?"

"Sorry," Samantha frowned. "Just wanted to see of its hurts."

Adam pulled himself to rest on his elbow. "I'm bleeding Sam," He scowled, "Ofcourse it hurts."

"Everyone okay?" Luke interrupted with a groan as he sat up and balanced himself in the tight space below his seat.

"I think so," Adam replied.

Samantha turned to face Luke and noticed that apart from the cut on head,there as a cut on his lip too. Beads of blood rolling down his face.

Samantha saw him and immediately took his face in her hand. Luke moved his weak green eyes to face her and she felt her stomach flip. She felt really sorry for him.

Is-Is it still out there?" Adam stuttered in a grimace.

It was as if Samantha and Luke became suddenly aware of thier surroundings when Adam asked that question, they began looking out the cracked and shattered windows.

"I can't see anything," She uttered, as she strained to see through what used to be her side window.


"Me n-neither," Luke replied.

They both looked back at Adam who was behind them and were slightly astonished to meet the little boy's bulging eye.

"Adam?" Samantha uttered in a somewhat breathy whisper. "What's wrong?"

Adam said nothing. His bulging eyes were still fixed on something beyond Samantha and Luke.


"Adam?" Luke furrowed his brows. "You alright?"


Adam opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Samantha could suddenly see that her little brother was trembling. She moved closer and reached for him and held his arm tight. "Adam you're scaring me."

The little boy slowly lifted his trembling finger and pointed to something behind Luke and Samantha. The two teens slowly spun in the direction Adam was pointing.

Outside the surprisingly uncracked windscreen, two large and menacing yellow eyes glared into the truck.
"O-Oh-Oh God," Samantha let out a trembling sigh as she fixed her wide eyes on the windscreen.

"Don't. Move." Luke whispered the separated words. Samantha turned to him and saw his wide eyes fixed in the same direction.

They knew this was a delicate situation. After the entire truck had flipped over, there was no doubt in thier minds that, even if the the windscreen was still intact, and that it had not shattered like the other windows, it was most definitely weakened and it wouldn't take much to break through it. So, here they were, the windscreen standing between them and the beast outside.

Samantha gave a whimper when the animal snarled at them.

"Press your feet down," Luke whispered the words slowly with emphasis.

Samantha turned and faced him in confusion. "What?"

"Press your feet down on the-."

The Windscreen suddenly crashed forward as the creature began fighting it's way into the car to get its meal.

"OhmyGod!" Samantha gave a screaming gasp, with Adam screaming behind her and Luke giving a haunting wail.

The beast kept scratching and wiping, trying to squeeze itself into the vehicle. The kids kept screaming at the top of their Lungs as they pressed thier feet down on the windscreen, pushing it forward and protecting themselves.

"Pin it down!" Luke kept screaming. "Pin it down!"

Adam laid behind them, terrified and crying as he watched as the two teens fought and struggled to keep the creature out of the car.

The animal shot back a bit, heaved and charged straight for the glass. It's impact causing it to crack. Samantha and Adam Screamed in horror.


"Push it back!" Luke shouted as he pressed his leg against the cracked glass in desperation. "Push it back!"

The two teens kept pressing on the split up glass with their sneakers. Breathing heavily and quickly. Realising that the only thing keeping them from the creature's jaws of death was that glass.

They kept pressing down on the large piece of the windscreen with their sneakers as the animal scratched and roared and pushed in rage from the other side.
Samantha faced Luke in time to see him grimace. A sign that the force he was applying to the glass below, was causing him a substantial amount of pain.

The pressure the kids applied, together with that of the beast, suddenly shattered the windscreen of the truck.


"Oh God!," Samantha screamed in horror. "Oh God."

Luke's eyes widened when he saw the animal start to force it's way in and then he and Samantha began to fold thier legs in, with Adam giving out light sobs behind them.

"Kick it!" Luke whispered at first.

"Wha-What?" Samantha turned to face him with furrowed brows.

"Kick it!" Luke roared with the rage of someone who wasn't going to give in. He roared with the rage of someone who wasn't ready to die. "Kick it!

Then the teens began slamming thier sneakers into the animal's snarling face.

The creature roared, obviously frustrated, as it started to push itself further into the truck with a violent force that rocked the car from side to side.

"Ahhh shit!," Luke screamed in pain as he suddenly shot his left leg back up and Samantha could see the Animal had ripped the lower part of his jeans with it's claws, exposing Luke's bloody wound.

"Shit," the teen boy cursed.

Samantha then faced the animal, still forcing it's way in. The entire vehicle rocking sideways, and her little brother crying behind her. She felt this explosion of bitter rage inside her. Everything suddenly began to taste metallic.

She spun to face the struggling monster and saw it snarl at her.

"Motherfucker!" Samantha screamed as she started to kick once again. Ramming her sneakers into the face of the animal as it tried, but failed, to get a hold of her leg.

Then, Luke joined in. Kicking in very quick succession.

"Get! The! Bleep! Away! From! Us!" Samantha screamed each word with a kick.

The animal didn't appear to back away, until two hands stretched forward from behind Samantha and Luke. Luke spun and saw what the hands were holding.

"An Extinguisher."

All of a sudden, the interior of the car was filled with white dust. A suffocating mist of white thickness. Luke and Samantha were caught by surprise, that's why they screamed.

The Animal's Loud roar was heard as the entire truck was jerked around violently. The truck shifted so sharply to the right at one point, Samantha hit her head at the side.

"Hold On!" Luke's scream was drowned by the roar of the animal before them and the deafening hissing sound of the extinguisher.

Then suddenly, as fast as it had all began, it stopped.

The car and stopped jerking around. The roar had stopped, but Adam refused to put off the extinguisher.

"A-Adam!" Luke screamed. "Turn it off!"

Then it stopped.

A grave silence fell in the misty interior of the truck and the only thing that could be heard was the heavy breathing of the kids.

As the white dust began to clear, Luke stretched forward a bit and narrowed his eyes at the windscreen. It was empty.

The animal was gone.

Then he collapsed back with a loud sigh.

"Is-Is it dead?" Adam stuttered.

Luke was then suddenly aware. He tensed when Adam asked that question. It was gone, but was most likely not dead.

He spun and looked out his side window, nothing but darkness. Then he spun in Samantha's direction and stiffened when he saw her bleeding from her head.


"Shit," he said as he leaned in and reached for her. She looked unconscious. She was moving, but Luke could tell she had lost touch with where she was or what was happening.

"Sa-Samantha?" Luke uttered. The panic in his voice was unmistakable as he cupped her face to face his and began to tap her cheeks lightly. "Sam, can you hear me?"
Her eyes began to flutter, before she opened them slowly. Everything was a blur, but she new she was looking into Luke's green eyes.

"Where-Wh-What happened?" Her voice was weak and strained. Her breathing was uneven. Then she grimaced and reached for her head. "Ouch."

Her eyes were brighter as she faced Luke and then shot a wide eyed glance at the windscreen below. She suddenly tensed and drew close to Luke.

"Where is it?" She asked as her eyes darted from one corner to the other in panic. "Where is it?"

"Hey. Hey. hey," Luke suddenly reached up and cupped her face in his palms, calming her down. "Shhh. Hey,It's Okay."

Luke moved his trembling hands from her face, down to her shoulders and realised she was trembling too.

"Is it gone?" Samantha asked in a breathy and trembling whisper as she faced Luke with her wide eyes.

Luke opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He then turned and began looking out the cracked windows and could swear the entire world outside had flashed in a sudden brightness.

"Lightening?"

He was frustrated at the fact the he could see nothing but darkness. He also knew that getting out of the truck could be the most stupid thing he could ever do. He knew the animal was still out there.

Waiting.

The night was silent once more. A silence that was short lived thanks to the sound of rolling thunder that broke through.

"Ca-Can we-Co-Come out now?" Adam whispered.

"Noh-Uhn," Luke uttered as he shook his head and turned to face Adam. "I don't think that's a good Idea, buddy."

Adam frowned and looked around at the windows and then he gestured at the extinguisher beside him. "We could use this when--"


With lightening speed, two giant paws broke through one of the windows behind, and Luke watched in disbelief as Adam was pulled out of the truck with an unbelievable force that Luke had no doubt, was strong enough to tear the little boy in half.

52.
When Adam opened his eyes, everything was a blur, but when he spun to the side and felt the prickle of the blades of grass on his face, he knew he was outside the truck.

"Adam!" Samantha's voice was unmistakable but distant. "Run!"

The little boy felt his entire body burn as he lifted himself off the floor to a sitting position, with his palms pressed against the grass behind him for support.

He looked down and realised his Pyjamas had been torn to shreds and that it was just draping down his shoulder now.

"Adam!" Samantha's scream caused him to look up.

Adam saw his sister struggle to get out through the side window of the inverted truck but Luke was holding her back. Luke was equally shouting, but Adam couldn't make out his utterance.

"Adam!" Samantha cried, her face contorted in pain. "Run. Adam please Run!"

Adam sat there, confused. His head hurting and spinning like hell.

He was still trying to grasp what was going on when he felt the warm, wet breath at the back of his head.

He stiffened at the sound of the growl behind him.
His entire body began to move up and down as his breath became heavy and began to quicken. His eyes widened in realisation as he raised his head to the two teens in the truck.

"Don't Move!" was what Luke was screaming. "Adam, Don't Move!

At that point, Adam knew it was behind him. Luke was telling him not to move and Samantha was screaming for him to run. He had never been so terrified in his life, because he knew no matter what he did, the Panther would get him. It was just too close.

Adam swallowed hard and licked his lips. He felt beads of sweat run down from his neck to his back, even though the night was chilly and most of his body was exposed thanks to the rag that used to be his pyjamas.

He started to tremble when he felt the intensity of the heat behind him as the animal was getting closer.

"Oh God Adam Run!" Samantha screamed in tears. Her face filled with agony.

"No! Adam! Don't Move!" Luke countered.

Adam slowly looked up to face them. He tried very hard not to believe this would be the last time he was going to see them. He was trembling so much, he didn't know whether it was the fear or the cold of the night, but his heart was beating so loud, he could hear it loud and clear.

There was a flash of lightening and then thunder followed some seconds later.

The night was cool, but the only hot air Adam could feel was the one being blown at the back of his head.

Then the animal gave a loud grunt that made Adam almost jump before he squeezed his eyes shut in fright as he held himself from crying and sobbing out loud. At that point, Adam knew he was nothing but a prey, a piece of meat the animal wanted, but was watching first.

Suddenly, a large force pushed the little boy to the ground so hard, he was sure the impact would split his head open.

"Ahhh!" Adam yelled in fright as he began to breath heavily. The animal pressed him down to the ground and Adam could not deny the possibility that he was about to die.

He still heard Luke and Samantha screaming out loud as the creature seemed to add more pressure on him by the second. It got to the point where Adam could hardly breath. At that point, the little boy was sure he was staring death in the face.

"P-please," Adam whispered, suddenly thinking,in desperation, that the creature would listen to him, have mercy and let him go. Nothing seemed silly or crazy at this point, especially when he was about to die. "Please don't kill me," Adam was crying now.

There was a roll of thunder as the creature lowered it's head towards the helpless, sobbing boy. Its warm, smelling breath was so intense, Adam swore he could taste it. The creature's pressure on him increased so much he couldn't move anymore. He felt as if an entire car was on top of him. Hell, an entire truck.

The Panther snarled down at the boy, and Adam felt what he was sure was saliva, drop to his cheeks.

From the side of his eyes, he could see the razor sharp fangs exposed as the animal leaned in.

Adam cried softly when he felt it's sharp claws dig into his back. He could feel warm beads of wetness flowing down to his sides. He was Bleeding.

"Nooo!" He heard his sister's haunting and screaming voice.

Laying there, helpless and unable to breath with white hot pain tearing through his back as razor sharp claws tore into his flesh, little Adam Hayes was sure now, that it was all over.

53.
BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Huh?"

Adam opened his eyes when he heard what he thought was the shortest, most abrupt thunder he had ever heard and realised he was still alive.

Suddenly, his entire lungs were flooded with air when the enormous pressure of the animal's giant left paw was lifted of him.

BANG! BANG!

Adam shook and screamed when he heard the thundering shots again. He raised his hands and pressed them to his ears as he turned to face the source of the shots.

Relief washed over the little boy when he saw three, or was it four men, slowly walking towards him with thier rifles trained at something beyond. Adam could immediately recognise one of them.

"Liam."

Another staccato of loud gun shots caused Adam to press his hands against his ears as he grimaced. He heard a loud roar behind him as someone shouted, "Get the kid! Somebody get the kid!"

Adam suddenly felt someone pull him up from the ground and the next thing he knew, he was hanging on someone's shoulders, bouncing in his limpness as the person trotted away with him.

"Adam!?" He could recognise his mother's voice anywhere. "Oh my God!"

It was only when Adam was brought down from the strangers shoulder that he could see it was Donovan who had carried him away.

Claire run and fell to her knees close her son. Sobbing heavily as she pulled the boy up for a hug that made Adam believe his mother wanted to crush him to death. Claire was scared when she realised her son wasn't even strong enough to hug her back.

"Oh Honey," Claire sobbed as she held the weak boy tight, rocking him back and forth. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

Adam could feel her wet cheeks rub against his face. He was surprised that the loud gunshots from the background didn't scare him anymore. The safety of his mother's arms were warm and reassuring.

Claire then tensed when she felt something. She realised her hands were slippery as she wrapped them behind him. A warm wetness. She raised her hand to her view and widened her eyes with a gasp.

"Blood."

Claire immediately spun and screamed for her colleagues with whom she came with.

"I need help here?" Claire cried, as she laid her son down and began to rip what was left of his pyjamas off his body.

*

Liam, Brent, Patrick and Donovan kept thier guns trained on the beast and kept firing. Patrick's bullet had hit it on its shoulder, but it didn't seem to have any effect.

"Son'ava bitch," Patrick cursed as he pulled back and reloaded.

Liam, on the other hand, was slightly puzzled at the fact the animal knew it was being fired at, hell, it had gotten a bullet to the shoulder, but all that didn't seem to scare it away. It just stood there, some few yards from them, growling and snarling at the men.

Then the creature started to do something Liam had rarely seen any creature do before. With its menacing yellow eyes trained on the men, it started to back away. It was moving back.

Liam slowly lowered his rifle and spun to an equally astonished Patrick.

"No fucking way," Patrick's whisper made the hairs on Liam's neck stand.

The animal didn't just spin and walk away; no, it was backing away. One of its large paws moving backwards after the other. It's eyes on all of them.

"Come on!" Brent shouted as he hurried and struggled to reload his rifle. "It's getting away!"

Liam and Patrick were too awe struck to take any action. Brent wasn't an animal expert, so he wouldn't understand what was actually happening before him.

"Well," Liam heard Tate's voice from behind him. "That's strange." Liam didn't need to look back to know that Tate was equally stunned.

Brent reloaded and finally raised his rifle to and started to fire. Donovan then followed.

"No! Wait!" Liam's voice was drowned by the loudness of the gun shots as they struck like quick and short bursts of thunder.

"Brent!" He screamed, but he also doubted Brent could hear him through all the sound. He spun in the direction of the creature and saw it roar in rage. Liam was sure none of the bullets had hit it.

Then suddenly, the creature started to back away faster, with its eyes still on its attackers.

"Come on you bastard!" Donovan roared. "Where do you think you're going, huh?"

Liam,Tate, Patrick and Elliot stood there watching the animal in awe as it backed away. It didn't seem to bother about getting hit by a bullet as the deputies fired; it just kept it's eye on them.

There was something about the way it's yellow eyes settled on the men that made Liam's skin crawl. "What are you?" Liam whispered to himself.

Suddenly, like a reply to Liam's question. the creature spun and disappeared into the darkness.

"Shit!" Donovan cursed as he lowered his gun and ran in the animal's direction hoping to catch it.

"Ehm... not a good idea!" Tate shouted after the officer before he disappeared.

"What the hell was that?" Elliott's voice caused Liam and Patrick to turn.

Liam and Patrick tried hard to hide thier amusement when they saw the dread in the man's eyes while they were still fixed on the creature's former position. Elliot then turned to face them; his eyes still wide with shock and expecting Liam's answer.

Liam glanced at Patrick before looking straight into the darkness where the creature had disappeared. "I don't know Elliot," Liam sighed before he faced Elliot with a smirk. "What did you think it was?"

Elliot opened his mouth, but nothing came out, then he looked out into the darkness again. Liam looked at him with a mischievous grin. He was enjoying this. He knew that there was no way Elliot could have expected what he had just seen.

"It....Uhm..I mean.." Elliot was dumbfounded. It was as if he had suddenly lost the ability to speak.

Brent tapped Elliott's trembling shoulders reassuringly and faced him with a smile. "Why so scared?" The officer mocked. "This is what you signed for, right?"

Elliot closed his eyes and clenched his jaw at the realisation that he was being made fun of. He heard Liam and Patrick chuckle and suddenly felt the anger rise in his throat. Elliot shrugged Brent's hands off his shoulder, turned and walked away from the group vehemently; ignoring thier chuckles as he did.

The men stood and watched Elliot walk away for a while before they heard Donovan's voice, wheeled and then saw him emerging from the darkness beyond.

"Did you get it?" Brent asked.

Donovan stopped a few metres from the men looking at him. He shook his in defeat before he sighed a reply. "Bastard got away."

"Ofcourse," Patrick threw his hands in the air and back down again in frustration.

Brent looked away, sighed and clenched his jaw; holding himself from cursing loudly. He then faced Patrick and Liam with intense eyes that seemed to tell them that he was tired of it all.

"What the hell is this thing?" Brent asked emphatically.

Liam knew that it was a panther and he knew Brent knew that too, but surprisingly, he didn't answer the officer's question because he didn't think that would be the correct answer. It was strange.

"A Panther," Patrick replied unexpectedly; a smile on his face.

Brent looked at them for a while before shaking his head and walking away. Donovan the followed.
Liam then looked away and focused on the vast darkness before him.

"He's scared," Patrick said.

Liam faced him and saw that Patrick had lost that smile he had. He was serious now. Almost terrified. Liam looked away slowly and sighed.

"We all are," He said.

53.
BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Huh?"

Adam opened his eyes when he heard what he thought was the shortest, most abrupt thunder he had ever heard and realised he was still alive.

Suddenly, his entire lungs were flooded with air when the enormous pressure of the animal's giant left paw was lifted of him.

BANG! BANG!

Adam shook and screamed when he heard the thundering shots again. He raised his hands and pressed them to his ears as he turned to face the source of the shots.

Relief washed over the little boy when he saw three, or was it four men, slowly walking towards him with thier rifles trained at something beyond. Adam could immediately recognise one of them.

"Liam."

Another staccato of loud gun shots caused Adam to press his hands against his ears as he grimaced. He heard a loud roar behind him as someone shouted, "Get the kid! Somebody get the kid!"

Adam suddenly felt someone pull him up from the ground and the next thing he knew, he was hanging on someone's shoulders, bouncing in his limpness as the person trotted away with him.

"Adam!?" He could recognise his mother's voice anywhere. "Oh my God!"

It was only when Adam was brought down from the strangers shoulder that he could see it was Donovan who had carried him away.

Claire run and fell to her knees close her son. Sobbing heavily as she pulled the boy up for a hug that made Adam believe his mother wanted to crush him to death. Claire was scared when she realised her son wasn't even strong enough to hug her back.

"Oh Honey," Claire sobbed as she held the weak boy tight, rocking him back and forth. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."

Adam could feel her wet cheeks rub against his face. He was surprised that the loud gunshots from the background didn't scare him anymore. The safety of his mother's arms were warm and reassuring.

Claire then tensed when she felt something. She realised her hands were slippery as she wrapped them behind him. A warm wetness. She raised her hand to her view and widened her eyes with a gasp.

"Blood."

Claire immediately spun and screamed for her colleagues with whom she came with.

"I need help here?" Claire cried, as she laid her son down and began to rip what was left of his pyjamas off his body.

*

Liam, Brent, Patrick and Donovan kept thier guns trained on the beast and kept firing. Patrick's bullet had hit it on its shoulder, but it didn't seem to have any effect.

"Son'ava bitch," Patrick cursed as he pulled back and reloaded.

Liam, on the other hand, was slightly puzzled at the fact the animal knew it was being fired at, hell, it had gotten a bullet to the shoulder, but all that didn't seem to scare it away. It just stood there, some few yards from them, growling and snarling at the men.

Then the creature started to do something Liam had rarely seen any creature do before. With its menacing yellow eyes trained on the men, it started to back away. It was moving back.

Liam slowly lowered his rifle and spun to an equally astonished Patrick.

"No fucking way," Patrick's whisper made the hairs on Liam's neck stand.

The animal didn't just spin and walk away; no, it was backing away. One of its large paws moving backwards after the other. It's eyes on all of them.

"Come on!" Brent shouted as he hurried and struggled to reload his rifle. "It's getting away!"

Liam and Patrick were too awe struck to take any action. Brent wasn't an animal expert, so he wouldn't understand what was actually happening before him.

"Well," Liam heard Tate's voice from behind him. "That's strange." Liam didn't need to look back to know that Tate was equally stunned.

Brent reloaded and finally raised his rifle to and started to fire. Donovan then followed.

"No! Wait!" Liam's voice was drowned by the loudness of the gun shots as they struck like quick and short bursts of thunder.

"Brent!" He screamed, but he also doubted Brent could hear him through all the sound. He spun in the direction of the creature and saw it roar in rage. Liam was sure none of the bullets had hit it.

Then suddenly, the creature started to back away faster, with its eyes still on its attackers.

"Come on you bastard!" Donovan roared. "Where do you think you're going, huh?"

Liam,Tate, Patrick and Elliot stood there watching the animal in awe as it backed away. It didn't seem to bother about getting hit by a bullet as the deputies fired; it just kept it's eye on them.

There was something about the way it's yellow eyes settled on the men that made Liam's skin crawl. "What are you?" Liam whispered to himself.

Suddenly, like a reply to Liam's question. the creature spun and disappeared into the darkness.

"Shit!" Donovan cursed as he lowered his gun and ran in the animal's direction hoping to catch it.

"Ehm... not a good idea!" Tate shouted after the officer before he disappeared.

"What the hell was that?" Elliott's voice caused Liam and Patrick to turn.

Liam and Patrick tried hard to hide thier amusement when they saw the dread in the man's eyes while they were still fixed on the creature's former position. Elliot then turned to face them; his eyes still wide with shock and expecting Liam's answer.

Liam glanced at Patrick before looking straight into the darkness where the creature had disappeared. "I don't know Elliot," Liam sighed before he faced Elliot with a smirk. "What did you think it was?"

Elliot opened his mouth, but nothing came out, then he looked out into the darkness again. Liam looked at him with a mischievous grin. He was enjoying this. He knew that there was no way Elliot could have expected what he had just seen.

"It....Uhm..I mean.." Elliot was dumbfounded. It was as if he had suddenly lost the ability to speak.

Brent tapped Elliott's trembling shoulders reassuringly and faced him with a smile. "Why so scared?" The officer mocked. "This is what you signed for, right?"

Elliot closed his eyes and clenched his jaw at the realisation that he was being made fun of. He heard Liam and Patrick chuckle and suddenly felt the anger rise in his throat. Elliot shrugged Brent's hands off his shoulder, turned and walked away from the group vehemently; ignoring thier chuckles as he did.

The men stood and watched Elliot walk away for a while before they heard Donovan's voice, wheeled and then saw him emerging from the darkness beyond.

"Did you get it?" Brent asked.

Donovan stopped a few metres from the men looking at him. He shook his in defeat before he sighed a reply. "Bastard got away."

"Ofcourse," Patrick threw his hands in the air and back down again in frustration.

Brent looked away, sighed and clenched his jaw; holding himself from cursing loudly. He then faced Patrick and Liam with intense eyes that seemed to tell them that he was tired of it all.

"What the hell is this thing?" Brent asked emphatically.

Liam knew that it was a panther and he knew Brent knew that too, but surprisingly, he didn't answer the officer's question because he didn't think that would be the correct answer. It was strange.

"A Panther," Patrick replied unexpectedly; a smile on his face.

Brent looked at them for a while before shaking his head and walking away. Donovan the followed.
Liam then looked away and focused on the vast darkness before him.

"He's scared," Patrick said.

Liam faced him and saw that Patrick had lost that smile he had. He was serious now. Almost terrified. Liam looked away slowly and sighed.

"We all are," He said.