Chapter 3b: Life After Death (2)
Harry looked up and down the street, barely able to see more than ten or fifteen feet ahead of him due to the appalling snow and fog. The snow was now starting to lie on the ground making it slightly difficult to run. The place felt different from the last time, the buildings seemed alive somehow. Harry tried to forget everything except finding his daughter and Ron.
Harry arrived at the alley, very cautious after last time. He crept down the alley, for the second time the radio acted up a sure warning of monster activity. The static grew louder and louder with each hollow step Harry took. Harry's eyes darted to a dustbin which fell over ahead, he was relieved when he saw a dog walking towards him 'Something is alive in this town' he thought. But this small relief was short lived when he saw the dog in detail.
In fact it may not have even been a dog, it had no fur and no skin like it had been burned so it's skin melted. It growled and assumed an offensive stance, ready to launch itself. It leaped at Harry, he threw himself to one side as the dog creature's teeth met nothing but air. Harry got to his feet at a speed he'd never moved at before and quickly balanced himself and drew his arms up to eye-level with a clear shot of the thing. Harry squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet flying into the dog's front shoulder. But splattered from the entry wound as the dog stumbled, but it began to run at Harry, seemingly unaffected. Harry in a frenzy of panic pulled the trigger three times in quick succession as the dog's run become unstable and finally it slid to the floor towards Harry. A disgusting trail of blood lead to Harry where it seemed the dog's slimy skin had scraped off when it slid along the cold, hard tarmac floor.
Harry had to catch his breath after killing the dog-like creature, maybe even a dark side of him was slightly excited by killing something in self-defence. Satisfied the animal was totally dead, he made his way through the mess in the alley but where it once lead to the fenced area, it was now caved in. Harry found Cheryl's sketchbook with 'school' written on it, Harry now had a place to search…the elementary school. He picked up the book and jogged to the alley exit, he found a nearby car and placed a map on the hood. He traced a route to the school with his finger "I'll be there in no time" he said to himself almost mustering a smile in hope. Harry eagerly set off on the northernmost road of Finney Street and began jogging when suddenly ahead the road seemed to stop. He walked slowly to peer over a massive chasm in the middle of the road 'What could have done this?' Harry asked himself, in a state of disbelief over the sheer force necessary to do such damage.
Instead he tried another route, but eventually found all routes to the school were blocked, as well as that he had a visitor as on of the flying monsters screamed after him. Harry sprinted along Matheson, weaving through streetlights and trees, trying to lose his pursuer, but it wasn't working. He turned up onto Levin Street only to be confronted by two dogs, this was not looking good. He noticed a dog house stained with blood and a note he read at one of the road ends which had 'Dog House, Levin St' written on it. 'Screw it' he thought taking the chance and trying the door, amazingly it wasn't locked. Harry dove in and shut the door behind him as the door rattled with the monsters attempts to gain entry.
Harry was out of breath from running, he sat at the kitchen table. It was a small house with just one bedroom and no living room from what he could tell, but it felt warm and welcoming. After he caught his breath Harry looked outside to see a backyard, he looked at the door to see it heavily padlocked. Harry took the gun and from point blank range blew the locks off one by one "It'll take more than that to stop me" he said triumphantly. Harry opened the door and suddenly felt that feeling in the pit of his stomach that he did back at the alley before he 'died'.
The skies grew dark and within seconds it had transformed from day to night, Harry hurriedly flicked on the small pocket torch he'd picked up earler. Harry upon checking his watch found it was stopped at 9:36PM. In no mood to take a chance against more creatures, he loaded another clip into the handgun and took a deep breath. Harry had no idea what was waiting for him at the school, but if there was a chance his daughter was there, even a remote one, he had to try. Harry stepped into the back alley in the darkness as the gate made an unnerving creak behind him and started for the school with bizarre and terrifying sounds in the distance getting closer.