Chapter VIII
"The Good, the Bad, and the Elderly"
And then the sound of a gun shot was made, and the hound burst away into the bloody stain of oblivion, just before he could consume his helpless victim. The torn hound flew through the air, and smashed into the concrete foundation of a brick wall, in which it fell, and was disposed into a set of trash cans.
Alex lowered his hands, in a state of shock, but also confused. What had just saved him from that monster?
Alex looked to his left in which he caught the shadow of a man, hidden in the shrouded and blanketed fog. He was medium height, and appeared to wear a long trench coat. His hands carried the contents of a rifle, with smoke escaping out of the muzzle.
Alex stared and pondered for a split second, this must be the individual who rescued him from death.
It was then that the man raised the rifle again, except now the muzzle eyed on Alex. The man's aim seemed sure and absolute; it was indeed the intentions of this person to fire again.
Alex stepped back, staring with dread and alarm. This man… he really is going to fire that rifle at him!
Alex lifted his hands again, hoping that the being would spare the sake of his life, and not pull the trigger, initiating the death of poor Alex. Ending the so called life, of this lost and poor unfortunate soul.
The man then screamed in a powering and eager voice:
"Get down, god dammit"
In realization to this; Alex immediately shot his head down and fell on to his hands and knees. In which a second hound came shooting behind Alex. Countering the beast, the rifle fired, and within a split second, the beast was projected to death as the force of the mighty bullet came upon it.
Alex, still on the ground, eyed back and caught the sight of his attacker plummet to the ground. Drained and utterly lifeless.
The stranger lowered his pestilent weapon. He slowly stepped into view, making his appearance known to Alex, still nestled on the ground.
He was a middle aged man, probably distinguished in his late fifties. Signs of gray hair had already overcome him, yet the stature of his foundation was descent enough to compare to all the other elderly folks Alex had met in his life. And still, the very sight of this elder was enough to fit the needs of something normal, instead of the usual loneliness Alex has seen for the past five days.
But Alex couldn't help wonder what this man's intentions were.
Oh well. Doesn't matter for the time being!
This established vagabond just saved his life from those grotesque monstrosities and demons.
It was then, that the howls of the eager hounds reached the ears of Alex and the elderly man.
Before long, the man rushed past Alex and headed for the designated vehicle. Rushing ever so quickly, supplied along with a: "Hurry kid! We gotta get out of here"
Alex swore he sensed movement arousing on the other side of the alley behind him, but he wasn't exactly in the mood to stick around and find out. Without hesitation, and a desire to spot any incoming beasts, Alex obeyed the man's rule and rushed for the shelter of the automobile.
As Alex grasped the vehicle's door handle, he could hear the assembling sound of shuffling feet and speedy bodies race into the street. The tension was too unbearable for Alex to look behind, it may be apparent that the very beasts themselves have already made their entrance to the street. Instead of taking that short glance, he dove into the shelter of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. It is at this hour that their need of survival is eager. Eager and willing to grant them the need of the many, yet granted for the few. And these hounds; are not in the mood to grant them anything, except death.
"Where are the keys!" The old man shouted, searching in an eager state for his ignition to salvation.
Heh, salvation indeed.
"Shit!" The man's search was in futility, yet in his desire, he shot up his head and noticed the young boy staring at him with anticipation.
"What are you staring at, help look boy"
Alex blinked and then shook his head, coming out of the mortified trance. He then proceeded to search for the missing keys which have hid to the shadows of the vehicle.
Alex's eyes met the sight of the outside, only to feel the shivering essence of dread slid down his back.
A pack of hungry hounds had surrounded the vehicle, drawing closer to pick their gourmet of serving from this closed containment which has stored away Alex and the man.
Alex's head twitched for a brief moment while staring at the drawing of the hounds, and soon enough, his eyes caught a shiny metal thing sticking from the backseat's ash tray.
"I found it!" Alex blurted out, grasping the attention of the elder.
His hands grasped on to the tray which had imbedded itself into the crevice, but to fill the needs of the two individuals, the tray was stuck!
"Oh, crap!" Alex yelled, knowing that the phrasing won't help the tray budge.
The canines were now situated no more than three feet from the vehicle. Pacing around the being, ready to pounce, and grab the achievement they have been eager for so long.
"Come on you stupid...little...piece of..."
David! Watch your mouth young man!
Alex yanked with great force, and the tray shot out, spilling out the keys into the open air. Alex eyed on to the projectile, slowly flying through the space. Flying, flying, flying, coming up to the point of its peak and slowly free falling down, down, and down. Down through the open air, down to a wide range, down to an uncertain destination. Down...Down...Down...and a simple little hand made its entrance, intervening the projectile's system, and coming to a close as the projectile landed on to the hand in which it grasped ever so tightly.
The elderly individual snatched his tools of ignition, ready to make an escape. He fumbled with them, making an attempt to spot the right key to insert.
Alex could nothing but ask eagerly: "Don't you know which one it is"
"Hell kid, it's not like there's a crap load of keys to choose from"
Alex only eyed in a tortured state. For God sakes...just find...the right key!
His head shot to the right, in which Alex's face came face to face with a keen and famished hound. It almost seemed as if the beast were smiling...smiling at its achievement of gourmet, now only separated by this thin layer of glass. Piercing and keen. Like a certain animal, with a certain ambition. A supply of drool strung out of the beast's mouth to show its hunger for fresh meat. Meat! Fresh, gourmet, filled with warm liquefied blood. Yes!
Tasty, wouldn't you say, David?
The two passengers immediately strapped their safety belts in, as to a rush of a ride was to proceed.
A key inserted into the ignition hole, in which the elder's hand twisted, summoning the vehicle into life. Renewing hope of perhaps escape.
The rumble of the engine startled the incoming beasts, causing them to dart back a few feet. In only a few seconds, their concern of caution ceased and they continued their approach to the vehicle with the same desire of filling.
The man shifted the car into gear, ready to make a dash to escape. Just then, a hound leaped up on to the hood of the vehicle, staring with viciousness at the two passengers. A second canine pounced on to the rear, causing Alex to look behind in terror. And a third made its ascension on to the roof. It is now that the beasts are ready to commence their skirmish.
A foot came down on to the pedal, peeling out the vehicle's wheels for acceleration. The car shot forward, creating enough force to send the hound in the rear to fall off on to the avenue. Inertia also caused the front beast to plunge on to the windshield. The impact caused a slight crack in the window, not enough to blind the passengers though. The beast continued to roll forward, swaying on to the top where the second hound stood. In the course of all this, the two canines collided with each other, sending them off the vehicle and on to the hard cement of the street.
The vehicle swerved from side to side, attempting to avoid the pursuing hounds. But in the midst of this attempt, a single canine failed to realize the physics of mass and velocity. And without the action of avoidance, the car impacted the poor creature with its large scale of a face. The canine dragged across the street only a few feet, until at last the vehicle's front tires met the structure of the creature's cranium. The enormous mass caused the head to split, and contents of red and green fluid spilled out on to the cement, wrapping some of itself on to the vehicle's tires. Holdings of greenish organs were immediately crushed as the first tire came upon them, followed by the second.
Alex shot his head back in reaction to the enormous bump they just encountered. He caught the sight of the car's work of trodden. A slight look of disgust fell upon Alex, but he noticed something even further grotesque. Some of the pursuing hounds ceased their chase of the vehicle, and started to gather around the slain yet gourmet filled creature.
Alex immediately turned forward, a pale look on his face, daring not to look back at the canine's dealing with fallen comrades.
The vehicle raced down the street, the needle of the speedometer ever so increasing. The man eyed at his rear view mirror, discovering the sight of an enormous pack in pursuit. His eyes then shot forward, only to find the sight of a ninety degree turn into the highway. His foot suddenly slammed on to the brake pedal, causing both passengers to lean forward. Without hesitation, the matured driver rotated the wheel ever so sharply, the two passengers leaning far to the left. The wheels of the car screeched with a loud pitch, the vehicle turning slowly to the rules of terminal motion. Until at last, the car made a perfect parabolic path on to the highway. The side of the vehicle skimmed on to the metal barrierdesignated for situations such as this. The driver then rotated the wheel, causing the car to make it back into its set of path.
Alex once again, shot his head back to check the progress of their escape. To his relief, he saw the fading of each hound as the vehicle motioned faster and faster. One by one, they faded back into that shrouded blanket offog.
To utter relief, Alex slumped on to his chair, eyeing the vehicle's ceiling. He couldn't help wonder the miraculous exit he and this stranger had just made.
"Holy crap!"
