Being Human: When will my Death Begin?

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Fifteen

Little Brother

Josh sprinted across the leaf-covered ground. He needed to get to the designated spot before the vampires caught up with him. He stared ahead, Randal described to him what to look for. Spying a fallen tree next to a stump to his right, he quickly ran around it and went down a small hill.

He now moved through a thicker growth of trees. He had to duck and swerve to avoid low branches. He had been running at full speed for several minutes now, he was about to look back when he heard someone shouting from behind.

"Hey, I think he's over here."

Josh stumbled, that was way to close! He stared ahead, he had to find a tree split by a lightening strike. Randal told him, once he saw it to turn left. Then he would only be a few minutes from where they set their trap.

He blinked his eyes, it was very dark here, it was hard to see anything, let alone a blackened tree. He knew he should have seen it by now. Stopping, he wondered if he may have passed it.

He jumped when he heard Randal shout in his Bluetooth, "Where the hell are you?" just as Cecil suddenly appeared in front of him.

"I know, got to work on my landings," Cecil said.

Josh hissed into his Bluetooth, "I have no idea."

Seeing a movement coming from behind, Josh whispered, "Gotta go." He spun around and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Cecil was right by his side.

"Damn it," he cursed. "I'm lost, Randal. I'm just a city boy, the only time I come out to the forest is when I change."

"Try circling back," Cecil suggested.

Moving to his right, he ran back the way he came. Cecil went ahead, Josh stopped when he saw Cecil running back.

"Not an option, not an option," Cecil shouted. "Bad guy's twelve o'clock."

Turning around Josh now began running for his life. He could hear them behind him, calling out to him.

"Here doggie, doggie, there's a good boy," one of them shouted.

He suddenly came to a clearing, a large overgrown building stood at the far end. From the looks of it, it had been boarded up decades ago.

"Found a building, Randal." He waited for a reply. Tapping his Bluetooth he heard only static. "Perfect," Josh said. "I'm going to die in a dead zone." He sprinted towards the old building. He saw faded letters that read, "Johnston's Flour Mill."

"It looks like a good place to hide," Josh panted.

"I'll go get Randal," Cecil said. "Hopefully you can hide in there long enough until I can get him over here." As Cecil disappeared, Josh ran around the building, hoping to find a way in. Spying a rotting board he kicked it, cracking it in half. The hole was large enough for him to get inside the building.

Getting on his hands and knees he crawled into the building. It was dark and dusty. It looked as if no one had been in there for over fifty years. He searched each room, he found what he guessed was the packing room. A large wooden table sat at its center. Broken chairs and empty burlap sacks were strewn about. Going to one of the boarded windows, he peeked through the wooden slats.

He saw two vampires standing outside of the building. Both fair-haired, their heads were tilted back, he could practically hear them breathing in from where he sat.

"We can smell you doggie," Iggie said. "You can't hide from us. Come out now and we promise we won't hurt you…much." Iggie said with a giggle.

Josh saw two more vampires bolt from the forest, they stopped when they saw the fair-haired vampires on the other side of the building. If there was a way for the plan to turn totally bad, this was it.

Josh began to search for any weapon he could use against the vampires. Spying several old chairs he kicked at their legs, breaking them off he had at least four wooden stakes. Gripping them tightly he went back to the window. He was surprised to see that the vampires had not moved. In fact they seemed more concerned about fighting with each other then finding him.

"Go away, we found him first," Iggie and Innis shouted.

"We saw him first," Miles countered, as he stepped closer.

"That mutt is ours," Innis said.

"You ain't getting a penny of that bounty. The dog is ours," Drew growled.

"Sometimes it's nice to feel wanted," Josh whispered. "But now is not that time." Josh couldn't believe it, they were not even trying to get him out of the building, they were arguing on who was going to get the bounty.

As they continued to argue, he realized that even if Randal did get here, these money hungry vampires was not going to allow him to walk away with Josh. He was trapped, cornered with no way out.

Then he remembered the charm Deanna gave him. He pulled it out of his pocket. "What did she call you? Gwey…gwilly….Gwyllgi," he whispered. As soon as he said the name he quickly dropped it, it became so hot it burned his hand. He jumped back as the small charm began to grow. It grew larger and larger until a black dog the size of a horse stood in front of him.

But this was no horse. He looked like a black mastiff, but his eyes were blazing red. His jowls pulled back, Josh had to hold his breath. The stench from this creature was horrific.

The four vampires stopped arguing when they heard a loud growl coming from within the building. "What the hell was that?" Iggie shouted.

"You can figure that out," Miles said as he ran toward the building, "We're getting that wolf out."

Josh stared at the large dog, his eyes locked with his. He dropped the stakes he made. He was never more frightened in his life. He slowly began to back up as the dog walked towards him. Hitting a wall he trembled as the dog's massive head moved forward until his nose was inches from his face. It took in a deep breath, sniffing him. Josh stood still, afraid to speak or even breathe. This massive dog could bite his head off in a split second.

The dog's nose wrinkled and he sneezed. Pulling his head back, Josh heard a deep voice say inside his head, "Little brother."

The dogs head jerked to the side, a deep growl rumbled from his throat. His lips pulled back revealing yellowed teeth and pitch black gums. Josh immediately brought his arms up to cover his face as the giant black dog jumped towards a boarded up window. The old wood splintered, it flew everywhere as the dog leaped through the window.

Josh quickly used his arms to wipe his face. "Really," he moaned, "Giant dog spit, what else can happen?"

Landing hard outside, Gwyllgi's head slowly moved back and forth. The four vampires froze where they stood.

"That is one big, black dog." Innis whispered.

"What are we going to do, Miles?" Drew softly said.

Before Miles could reply Iggie turned and ran towards the forest. Gwyllgi was on him in a flash. Miles watched in horror as he saw Iggie torn into shreds literally in seconds.

His teeth now covered in blood, Gwyllgi's massive head turned. He snapped at Innis, his whole body shook in terror. Babbling he tried to run away, the dog was on him with one leap. His massive jowls easily tore the vampire in half.

Miles realized that this creature was powerful enough to kill him in a wink of an eye. While it was busy killing Innis, Miles ran to the shack. Drew was right behind him. They leaped through the giant hole in the window and into the mill. Rolling on the floor Miles saw Josh cowering in the shadows.

"Well," Miles said. "That thing outside thinned out the herd." Josh lunged for the stakes he dropped, but Miles was quicker. He was on him before he could reach them. He grabbed Josh's arm and shook him like a child.

"Like I said, I'm getting that reward."

Drew stood up, standing next to the window his eyes turned black. "Who's getting it?"

Josh hoped he was about to see the vampires battle it out for him, that would give Randal enough time to find the factory, but that never happened. Drew's eyes popped open wide, his mouth opened, but no sound came out. Slowly he moved towards the window. It was then that Josh saw four claws sticking out of the vampires chest. He was pulled through the broken window, the sound of crunching bones drifted in from outside.

Miles stared at the window, he saw two red eyes looking in. He weakly pulled Josh to stand in front on him as the giant dog leapt through the window. Slowly it began to walk towards him. Miles head jerked back and forth, he tried to find someway of escaping the same fate as his companions.

Once the dog was close enough, he threw Josh at him and ran out of the room. Josh stumbled forward, the dog's head pushed him to the side and ran after Miles. Stunned Josh shook his head, that was the second time the dog could have killed him, but didn't. He ran out of the room, he heard Miles running. His footsteps on the old wooden floors echoed in the abandoned building.

Josh stopped when he heard a scream, then silence. Close to a full moon, Josh could smell fresh blood, Miles blood. He followed the scent, he saw Miles lying on an old milling stone. Gwyllgi's muzzle was inside Miles ribcage. His dead eyes stared at Josh. The large dog pulled his head up, his huge jaw opened. Miles head easily fit inside. Josh closed his eyes, he heard a snap, then a crack.

Opening his eyes he saw a headless body lying on the stone. Gwyllgi's bright red eyes stared at him. He slowly walked up to Josh. His head tilted curiously from one side to the other. His huge paw moved up, it gently touched Josh on the chest.

"Do not hate him, little brother," Josh heard the dog say within his mind. "For he does not hate you." His jowls pulled back to resemble a large grin. His teeth and chin was dripping with blood. "I thank you for the meal, it was most delicious. Take care little brother, we may meet again."

Trembling, Josh watched the dog turn around. He followed it as it walked back to the packing room. Gwyllgi quickly jumped out the window and ran into the forest. The mill was quiet now, all Josh could hear was his heavy breathing. For the life of him, he just could not get his hands to stop trembling.

"Th…that was close," he whispered to himself. "To close. Josh Levison, your guardian angel really earned his pay tonight."

He jumped when he heard his name called from outside the building. He ran to the window. He was never so happy than to see Randal appear on the other side of the window. Panting hard, Randal pointed behind.

"We found three bodies torn to pieces out there. Did you do that?"

Josh shook his head, "Nope that was my big brother."

Randal looked back at the shredded bodies. "You'll have to introduce me sometime." Randal peeked inside the house, "What about the other one?"

"No need to worry about him warning Mother," Josh said. "That's hard to do without a head, or arms, or legs."

Randal smiled proudly. "Well, Operation Swifty didn't work like we planed but it ended the same."

"And why exactly did you call it that?" Josh said.

As he helped Josh climb out of the window, he explained. "Swifty, that's the name they give to the artificial rabbits for greyhound racing." Winking at him he said, "You made one helluva rabbit."

As his feet hit the ground, Josh twitched. "I don't think the wolf likes being called a rabbit, you may not want to be around next time I change."

Josh grunted as Nora slammed into him, hugging him tight, "Josh, are you all right?"

Josh hugged her back, having her near him helped calm down the shaking. "I'm fine, just gave my heart a real work out there."

"Me too," she whispered in his ear.

"Well if I had a heart, it would have just won the triple crown," Cecil said. "I can't believe you got out of that alive."

"I think that was enough excitement for tonight," Josh said. "Let's get Aidan out of that hole in the ground."

Josh hugged Nora close to him as they walked back. He could still feel his heart shaking inside his body. That creature, it was powerful, it could have killed him without even thinking about it. Vampires, werewolves and ghosts, he only recently began to accept them, now this? As much as he was exposed to the supernatural world, he now realized it was just the tip of the iceberg. He wondered what other horrors lie out there, waiting to come alive.