. that big plot twist I told you guys about a couple chapters back? Well, here it is. Short chapter but it packs a punch! I really hope it shocks the hell out of you and leaves you yearning for more! Never be afraid to tell me what you think! I always appreciate your words! .::.

Refugee

Chapter Ten

"Dead, I am the One

Exterminate His Son.

Slipping through the trees,

Strangling the breeze."

-Dragula by Rob Zombie

Next thing I knew, a rush of cold water completely washed over me and I rapidly awoke and sat up. I opened my piercing blue eyes, but soon had to close them again until I could get adjusted to the brightness of the sun. Molly stood to her feet and immediately started to gather our slightly dampclothes in her arms. Damn. Musta' fell asleep when we was cuddlin' last night. I glanced at the time and saw that it was close to 7am. People would be here soon and we were still naked as newborns.

I stood to my feet and stepped into my boxers before sliding my jeans on. Molly pulled her shirt over her messy head and looked up at me with an amused smile and sleepy eyes. "Mornin'." I smiled back.

"You hungry?" She asked, lifting her arms high above her head in a deep stretch.

"Lil bit. You?"

"I could go for a cup of coffee."

"Anything yer little heart desires, birthday girl."

We stumbled our way back up the sand dune towards her car. I was trailing a couple inches behind her and I made sure to appreciate the nice view. Oughtta send a thank you note to whoever made them damn jeans. Watching the sway of her large hips made me completely forget about the fact that I was dog-tired only halfway up the hill, but I was quickly thrown back into reality as she stopped abruptly in front of me. "Daryl." She whispered. I could tell something was wrong just by the sound of her soft voice.

I took a few more steps until I was at her side, and what I saw standing directly in front of us will be etched in my brain for the rest of my life. A man. Covered in blood.

His eyes were like two hollow graves holding a gut-wrenching pair of bloodshot eyes. His clothes were slightly torn, as if he had been playing in a briar patch for shits n giggles. And lying on the ground next to him was a body. I was unable to tell if the blood-soaked corpse belonged to a man or a woman, and the putrid stench of exposed entrails soon found it's way to my nostrils. I could feel my stomach turn.

Quickly, I grabbed a hold of Molly's wrists and pulled her behind me. "Ay. I don't want no fuckin' problems. We're just headin' to the car." I spoke to the man bravely, even though on the inside I was trembling like a fuckin' Chihuahua. Molly grabbed hold of me tightly and I could feel her shaking too.

The man did not speak, but looked at me with the most menacing, blood-thirsty gaze and forced out a loud, violent groan. Immediately, he began to stagger towards us at a fast rate and I didn't hesitate to shove him as hard as I could with both hands. "I said fuck off. I ain't tellin' you again. You best be on your fuckin' way!" He lunged towards me again and I swore he tried to take a bite, but luckily I'm quick as a squirrel and shoved him even farther the second time and he fell flat on his bottom. I took advantage of the opportunity, grabbed Molly's hand, and we quickly scurried to the car.

We reached it within seconds, and while Molly fumbled with her keys I looked behind me and saw that our attacker was coming up quick on our tail. Finally, we climbed in and locked the doors immediately. "Go, baby. Just drive." I demanded as she put the keys in the ignition and I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and instantaneously dialed 911.

"Operator, what's your emergency?" Said a female voice on the other line.

"I'm at Glenwood Beach and there's some crazy guy covered in blood. I think he killed somebody."

"He killed someone, Sir?"

"Yeah. I dunno, there was a body on the ground on the way back to the car but I got away as fast as I could. He tried attackin' me n my girl."

"Glenwood Beach?"

"Yes'm. Please hurry."

"I'm sending someone out immediately. Stay calm. Are you some place safe?"

"On the highway. Just left."

"I'm sure the officer would like to speak with you. I'm going to ask you to come by the station within the next hour."

"Um, yeah, I guess I can do that."

"They want us to go by the station." I said as soon as I ended the call and sat my phone down in my lap.

"Now?" Molly glanced over at me. I could see the trauma written all over her facial expressions and it was easy to tell that she was still visibly upset by the way her body was trembling. Shit, so am I.

"'Bout an hour."

"You, um, you wanna get that breakfast still?"

"I don't think I can eat right now." I admitted.

"Me either. Just...just a place to sit and think for a minute to pass the time."

.::.

"Two coffees, black. Can I get yall any cream or sugar?" Our Waffle House waitress, Jalenda, asked, setting our full mugs down in front of us.

"Both, please." Molly answered.

"Same."

She appeared a few seconds later with sugar and cream in hand, and we each said "thank you" before she turned away and walked to a table of four to take their order.

The clanking of spoons as we stirred our coffee seemed to be the only thing that was making sense at the time. What the fuck just happened? I wondered as I took my first sip. The smell of coffee always had a way of relaxin' me...but not today. I sat quietly for the next five minutes and racked my brain for any kind of answer or reasoning to what I had seen only a few minutes before. Finally, I looked up and saw Molly staring down at her lap with a sullen look of bewilderment.

"Hey." I held my hand out over the table. "You alright?"

She placed her hand in mine and somehow mustered a small smile. "Yeah, I just...what the fuck happened back there?"

"I don't know. I ain't never seen no shit like it. 'Cept in movies." I rubbed the edges of her knuckles with my fingertips, offering a small amount of comfort to the shaken up girl in front of me. She returned the favor seconds later and I was thankful for the soft feel of her skin rubbing against mine.

"Think he was on somethin'?" I asked, taking a sip of coffee.

"Like drugs? I dunno. I've heard stories on the news about people usin' bath salts and tryin' to eat other people but he just looked so..."

"Dead."

"Yeah. Like a hollow shell. Nothing on the inside. Nothing human, anyway."

"I'm sorry you had to see that. 'Specially on yer birthday." I apologized honestly. Girls aint meant to see such gnarly shit. 'Sposed to be protected from all the bad stuff out there. Least that's how I seen it.

"Me too." Was all she replied.

It didn't take long for us to finish our coffee before we headed back out the door and made our way to the police station.

.::.

So! What's going through your brains right now, my sweets? Shit is about to hit the fan.

Thank you! Love you all!