There is a moment in everyone one's life, just one single moment that can change you. It could be the smallest thing like changing your usual seat on a bus or taking a different route home from work. Then there are the big things, like the death of a loved one or a great disaster that changes the way you think about yourself or what you are doing with your life. Each moment whether big or small has consequences that you would never expect, good or bad and you know what people say?

That's life.

So you know what I did when that moment happened to me?

I lived.

Jess rolled her head on the back of the old, worn-out green, striped sofa in the dingy apartment. The view that met her was a nicotine stained, white peeling ceiling. Damp had turned half the white area a mucky brown that floated above her like someone had mopped the ceiling with muddy water. The small kitchenette to her left was a tacky olive green, the vinyl of the cupboards cracking and peeling at the ends. The broken tiles on the floor fared no better, they were stained brown with, God only knows what and to Jess, God could keep it a secret. The small portable T.V that sat on a second hand, faded, walnut table flickered as the signal dropped for the fifth time that night, causing Jess to sigh. It was a sigh of frustration, more at the fact that it had brought her wondering mind back to reality than the fact it had disrupted the cheesy, zombie movie that played.

Now Jess wasn't one to enjoy horror films, though she must admit she had a soft spot for Bruce Campbell's cheesy b-movies, but horror movies, these were the only thing that made her feel alive. Well them and of course the man in her life, the one being who had ever loved her just for being herself. That guy's name was Rex and at that moment he was lounging on the sofa beside her, his head resting in her lap and snoring so loudly that he drowned out the sound of the violent screams echoing from the screen. Rex to her was her soul mate, the one true love she had searched for her entire life. The one thing that made her know she was alive and he had just farted.

Jess gagged as she covered her mouth with her palm, the smell hitting her so severally that it felt as if acid burned her nostrils. Rex opened his eyes and stared up at her with his soulful, brown irises before shaking his black hair out and rearing up into a sitting position.

'Oh my God,' Jess spat out and coughed as she retched once again, 'how can something living make that kind of smell?'

Yawning Rex shook the sleep from his eyes and stretched, before becoming still and watching her as Jess dashed from the sofa and banged her fist against the wooden frame of the window to unstick it. Forcing the pane upwards with a large heave, she stuck her head out of the gap and sucked in the deepest breath she had ever taken.

'I can taste it Rex, what the hell have you been eating?' she gasped through her mouthfuls.

Rex snorted loudly and as Jess turned her head she pinned him with an angry glare, but all Rex did was tilt his head to the side and wag his small, stumpy tail. Rex was a small Patterdale terrier, black fur covered his entire body, expect for one small strip of brilliant white that ran down his chest.

Then he did it again. The smallest puff of air that had Jess hanging onto the window as if her life depended on it, even the cool, night air couldn't get this one out of her lungs. Sliding down the frame like her legs were made of jelly, Jess slumped to the floor and pinched her nostrils together in an attempt to block out the smell.

Dragging herself across the worn, bare wood flooring with her free hand, she shot the dog a baleful glance before reaching her small kitchenette. Using her free hand to pull herself up she reached for the small cupboard beneath her sink and pulled out a cheap tin of air freshener. After a moment of watching the spray float in the air she gingerly released her nostrils and took a tentative sniff. The action caused her nose to wrinkle as she took in the merged aroma of lemon zest and dog.

'Yeah, this isn't going to work,' Jess muttered to herself and fishing back into the same cupboard she pulled out the black dog leash for the second time that night.

Pulling on the drawer by her left hip she grabbed a small, silver whistle threaded through with a long, black cord. It wasn't much of a defence against the violence that coated the city and mostly there wasn't much hope of anyone coming to her aid if she blew it but the feel of it was a comfort, much like the small tin of pepper spray she picked up next.

Bending down to clip the leash to Rex's collar she gently fondled his ears as the small dog danced with joy before leading him towards the front door. Jess did a double take as she passed the small mirror that hung on the wall just beyond the kitchenette and groaned loudly as she caught a glimpse of her reflection. The long, waves of her chestnut brown hair were pulled up into a thick messy knot, loose strands dangling on either side of her slender face. There was no make-up coating her face causing her natural creamy skin to show pale under the unflattering light. Leaning closer she poked at the slight bags forming under her oval eyes. The vivid green turned pale against the dim bulb, sighing for what felt like the hundredth time that day she glanced down and took in her dark blue, flannel pajama bottoms. Hugging her torso was a pale blue tank top covered by an overly large, grey iron-wool cardigan, its buttons large and brown.

'Well it's not the most glamorous look in the world, right?' throwing her arms out to her sides she glimpsed down at Rex, who stared at her with keen eyes before trotting over towards the door, 'Let's just hope that nobody sees me.' She whispered to herself before wrapping the cardigan around herself and tucking her keys firmly into one of its deep pockets.

There was a crispiness to the air, not exactly cold enough to say that autumn had arrived but definitely cool enough to indicate the turning of the season and it was dark, very dark. Jess shivered as she waited, rubbing her hands down her arms as she did so in an attempt to create some friction heat.

Hopping from foot to foot she glanced nervously around the silent wooded park. It was only around the corner from her apartment, but still far enough that the eeriness of the secluded area caused her nerves to quiver violently.

'Hurry up,' Jess muttered under her breath as she gritted her chattering teeth together.

Rex just ignored her the way dogs do when they are finding the perfect spot to mark their territory. Only a snort as he sucked in a stray blade of grass was any indication that the dog was actually still there.

Groaning with frustration Jess dropped her head back and stared at the midnight sky. It was a clear night, the clouds scattered due to a storm the previous day and the array of stars lit up the sky like pinpricks of silver. Then she saw it, a star blazing across the night like an arch of hope and before Jess really knew what she was doing she closed her eyes and wished.

Laughing to herself she shook her head at the childish notion and looked down at the spot where her dog had been only a moment ago. Rex was still there, not in the exact same spot but crawling in between the gap of two large bushes. Rolling her eyes Jess clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and gave the leash a gentle tug.

'Come on, I really want to go home now' Jess muttered softly, watching impatiently as the small stub of his tail disappeared into the foliage.

'Rex' Jess gritted out firmly and gave the leash another tug.

The last thing she expected was the leash to tug back. Frowning Jess took a step closer trying to peer into the gap of the bushes.

'Rex?' she asked hesitantly and yelped when the leash pulled again almost taking her off her feet.

'Rex?' she called a little more loudly than before, 'what are you doing in there?'

Giving the leash another hard pull she gulped when it pulled back just as hard. Then a light appeared, faint at first then increased in brightness casting an eerie orange hue just beyond the leafage.

Jess's eyes widened at the unnatural light and giving one more hard pull to guide her dog away she screamed as the leash hauled her forward. The strap gripped her wrist, rubbing against the skin with a burning friction, the force of the pull dragging her feet across the dry dirt. The soles of her hi-tops met no grip and as she slid closer and closer she cried out in fear as she saw the leash disappear into the light. It crackled as if a current ran between its shinning rays and as she scrambled her cold, numb fingers against the tightness of the strap around her wrist she screamed for the final time as she was yanked from her feet and sucked into its orange depths.

The air rushed out of her lungs as she hit the ground, the rough feel of grass beneath her palms. Puffing out at a blade that tickled the side of her nose she stilled as the rough, guttural sound of growling filled the night air above her.

'Rex?' she whispered uncertainly and slowly lifted herself to her elbows before rolling herself unto her back.

The sight that greeted her was not her dog. The thing that stalked towards her was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was a creature straight out of a nightmare. It was huge, standing at over seven-feet-tall, with long muscle bound arms that ended in fierce blades. The blades were circular and as it neared her they began spinning, the sound of grinding metal echoed around the air as sparks flew out in burst of molten red. Its face was mask-like, the only markings on it were eyes painted on like a baby-dolls. The large body was lean and hunched at the shoulders where a ragged black cloak-like gown flowed around it.

It growled again, a crack formed where a mouth would have been and opened impossibly wide showing a gaping mouth full of razor-sharp teeth that rotated with increasing speed. It sounded like a chainsaw roaring into action causing Jess to crab-crawl backwards as terror and panic soared through her veins.

Then it stopped its approach abruptly, slowly turning its towering body away from her and blocking her view. Its body jerked as the length of a large, board sword pierced its torso, the tip dripping with thick, lumpy, crimson blood. The sword rocked slightly as Jess's rear hit the grass and with one swift motion the blade was brought upwards and the large creature swayed.

There was a ripping sound as Jess watched the torso and head of the creature split in two before a sucking noise followed as the creature's body was ripped downward on either side of its hips as gravity brought it downwards.

A man stood there, his body now visible as the remains of the creature fell and bounced off the hard ground. The moonlight gleamed against his hair, highlighting his head with a silver halo as he brought the sword down slowly and rested the blade across his shoulder. A long, red coat covered his body, the lengths floating down past his knees and as he met her gaze the light of the full moon gave the impression that his eyes were like sharp steel. He made slow, strides towards her, the worn-out looking leather boots crushing the grass beneath his footfalls.

A smirk etched itself across his face as he sauntered towards her, the confident walk striking fear straight into Jess's heart. Every step he took towards her caused her to pant heavily, the air finding itself trapped in her lungs and as he stopped, his form towering over her, Jess felt the panic build inside her chest.

Then he crouched down towards her, his arm dangling effortless across his bent knee, the smirk on his face turned into a smugness that caused Jess to recoil as he deliberately took in a long, slow sweep of her body before meeting her gaze once again. A gloved hand reached out for her and Jess knew it was now or never, fight or flight her only option to escape his clutches. That man had taken down that creature without breaking a single sweat and she knew deep inside herself that fighting him would only get her killed. So she let her body take over as the instinct to flee overpowered her.

Thrusting her hand into her pocket she felt her fingers touch the smooth metal container. With one swift motion she pulled the can from her pocket and forced it into his face. There was a hiss as the spray left the tin, before the stranger cried out and fell backwards away from her. The skin around his eyes took on a red tinge as the pepper spray took effect and Jess took her chance and ran.