39.
As Claire drove back from the hospital that hot summer afternoon, she looked out her car window and had no doubt in her mind that something had changed about Cherrywood.

Everywhere was more crowded than usual.

Claire could see things that weren't usual; things that weren't there before. The quiet little town she knew had some how come alive. There were more cars on the roads now. Hell, there were more people in the streets, and looking at them, Claire could tell many of them weren't locals.

A group of young people; two girls who wore nothing but bikini tops over hot jean pants and thier sun-shades over thier dark hair, and two shirtless boys with one of them who had a tattoo on his chest and the other with his long blonde hair tied into a man-bun.

She shifted her eyes elsewhere and noticed that most of the shops and the cafés had been adorn with blue, white and red ribbons and decorations. The street lights also had these coloured ribbons swinging between them. The coloured ribbons that showed America's national colours.

Claire was slightly surprised when she saw the unusual crowd of people at Billy's Ice-Cream shop and most of the road side eateries.

She was also slightly surprised at the type of music she heard blasting out from some of the public places, I mean songs like "You're On" by Madeon, "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes and "King" by Years and Years, weren't really popular music choices with Cherrywood locals.

Claire's heart leaped when she shot her attention forward and pressed hard on the brakes of the car the moment a boy; who was obviously in his teens, rolled into the road on his skate-board unexpectedly.

He frowned at Claire as he rolled passed. "Hey, watch were you're going, Lady!" Claire heard the boy yell.

She shook her head and licked her lips before she glared at the boy as he moved passed, then she began to move again.

"City kids," Claire sighed, still shaking her head. She felt a pleasant smile tug on her face when she caught sight of what looked like a happy family as she stopped when the traffic light before her was on red.

Two couples walked hand in hand with thier kids. The man had a little girl licking on her Ice cream; she was obviously his daughter, sitting on his shoulder, with her daddy's head between her legs. The man's wife looked quite pretty. She had a toddler in her arms. Claire watched as the little child shoved his own ice cream filled cone in his mother's face in an attempt to let her have some of his Ice cream.
The woman, in her Ice cream stained face, along with her husband, threw thier heads back in Laughter.

Claire gave a weak smile when she saw how happy they looked. Then she noticed that the man and his wife were wearing the same t-shirt. A black t-shirt that had what Claire could tell was an artwork of the head of a snarling black cat.

Claire narrowed her eyes and tried to get a better look. A loud horn of the car behind her caused her to almost jump in her seat before she shot her eyes forward and saw that the light was green.

Claire couldn't deny the fact that she felt excited with everything that was around her. The change in the streets of Cherrywood gave her this undeniable joy. If she had not felt the summer spirit before, she was feeling it now.

She saw a large colourful billboard on the road side. It was an advert of the upcoming festival and fireworks display at Norton Park on Friday.


Cherrywood Carnival and Fireworks
Date: Friday, July 3rd.
Venue: Norton Park.
Time: 7:00pm till Dawn.


As Claire zoomed past the billboard, she couldn't help but feel sick. Anyone who laid eyes on the billboard and the message would definitely be excited, but she knew better. She knew what could possibly happen that night if care wasn't taken.

Then she thought of the family she had seen on the streets some minute ago, the group of young people she passed by, and she felt herself get sicker.

"Oh God,"Claire sighed. "Please help us."

"...Please."


***

"What the hell does he wanna see us for?" Tate asked as he followed quickly behind Liam; the both of them hurrying into the police station.

"Don't know Kate," Liam said. "That's why we're here."

Tate gave Liam a deadpan look as soon as he heard Liam call him "Kate."

Liam couldn't hide his anxiety ever since he got the call from Brent telling him that Chief Kent wanted to see him urgently.

He had told Tate, Brent and Claire that he wasn't going anywhere and so, when Kent's message was conveyed, Liam had thought Kent was calling him for a warning or something. But it was when Brent told Liam that Kent knew he wasn't going anywhere that he got confused the more.
"And something tells me he's happy about it," Brent had said.

Liam made his way into the incredibly busy office space. police officers running helter-skelter. Most of them had files in thier hands, while others just remained focused on the desktop computers.

Liam stopped in his tracks and scanned the vicinity, before he caught sight of Brent, Larry and Helen gathered at a certain desk, with thier eyes fixed on a computer.

Larry raised his eyes to find Tate and Liam and his face lit up with a smile before he reached up and tapped Brent.

"Hey", Larry uttered tapping Brent very quickly. "They're here." Brent looked up at the two men who were just standing there. They looked confused.

Liam stood there as Larry and Brent began to walk towards them.

"Hey," Brent uttered as soon as he got to the scientists. He nodded over at the Chief's office and said, "You'll have to wait a little, they're still in there."

Tate and Liam shot confused looks in the direction of Kent's office, before they looked back at Larry and Brent. "Who?" The two men uttered in unison.

"The assholes," Larry appeared to be growling at Kent's office.

Brent rolled his eyes and then pinched his nose. "Not now Larry," Brent sighed.

"What?" Larry frowned at Brent. "Calling me a kid just because I was watching Pokemon."

"Huh?", Tate raised a brow.

"Yeah....I mean who doesn't love Pokemon," Larry hissed as he tore his angry glare from Brent and faced Kent's office again. "Pokemon is the shit."

There was a short and awkward silence in the group as Brent hung his head low and shook it, while Liam and Tate exchanged confused glances through furrowed brows.

"Liam," Patrick's voice caused Liam to spin quickly.

Patrick walked into the station with his eyes darting around. At least he looked more cheerful than the time he left the Mayor's office anyway.

"Patrick thank God," Liam said as he inched towards the zookeeper. "What the hell is going on?"

Patrick smiled and shot glances between Liam and Tate. "To be honest, I don't know," Patrick said. "Helen just gave me a call that Kent wanted to see me. That's all I know."

Just then, Brent's phone rang to life in the pocket of his jacket, catching the attention of the group. He picked the phone, swiped it and raised it to his ear.

"Chief?" Brent uttered.

He then shot Liam and Tate a nervous look. "Ermm...yes sir, they're here."

"But sir, I thought...".

"Oh okay...okay sir. Of course. Right away."

Brent then dropped the Phone back and moved forward, nodding for Liam, Tate and Patrick to follow him as he headed towards the Kent's office. "Come on."

Brent walked to the front of the door, and turned to face the men behind him.

"Here we go," he said. He knocked in three quick successions before he heard a loud, "Come in" from the other side, and then Brent turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Liam walked in as soon as Brent gave way for he, Tate, and Patrick to enter the office. His eyes flew straight to the chief as he scratched his moustache and then relaxed back on his seat.

"Dr. Price," Kent uttered. "How nice of you to join us."

Liam furrowed his brows before turning to glance at Tate and Patrick who looked equally confused.
"This is Elliot Grey", Kent uttered as he gestured towards a somewhat young looking man sitting opposite him. "He's a zoologist. Sent here from Brazil."

Liam turned and looked at the man Kent was pointing at. He was serious looking, his eyes were wild and his brown hair neatly pulled back in a short pony tail.

There was another man standing behind him. He was tall, lanky looking and had a smooth clean skin cut chewing on his gum. His sleeveless t-shirt showed an array of tattoos that ran from his wrist, up to his neck.

Liam knew there was something off about the young man when he smiled and gave him a curt nod, but the man didn't respond. Elliot Grey just spun and gave Liam a quick once over.

"Mr Grey is here to help us with our ferocious problem," Kent muttered with what appeared to be a pleasant smile. "He's from the National Geographic Society." Kent then gestured to the lanky skinhead standing behind Elliot. "..and that's his assistant, Cross."

"Oh", Liam said before turning to face Elliot again. "I see".

Elliot said nothing he just turned and kept eyeing Liam. Then his eyes narrowed as if he was trying to remember something about him.

"Mr. Grey this is....."

"Dr. Liam Price," Mr. Grey took the words right out of Kent's mouth with what looked like a devilish smile on his face. "Well I'll be damned."

Liam's eye brows furrowed.

"I didn't know you where in the US," Elliot chuckled. "I thought you were back in Kenya?"

Even though Liam was surprised that Elliot some how knew him, he still gave a smirk, and then opened his mouth to answer when Elliot suddenly turned away from him and faced Kent in a manner that told Liam that the man wasn't interested in what ever he was about to say.

"I have to head back to the hotel now, Kent," Elliot uttered as he got up from his seat. "Have a lot of logistic issues to take care of."

Kent cleared his throat. "Erm...Yes, Ofcourse."

Elliot got up and walked towards the door, but on his way, stopped infront of Liam and looked up at him. Liam was a little impressed that the young man was almost as tall as he was.

Liam was a bit confused when Elliot inched forward and smiled at him. "I hear I'm the one taking your job," Elliot grinned; his intense blue eyes fixed on Liam.

Liam furrowed his brows again.

"It must really suck to be you right now," Elliot said. The lanky tattoo skin head choked out a laugh behind his boss when he heard that.

At that point, Liam felt his heart tighten in anger. He didn't even know when he clenched his fists beside him.

"Later," Elliot said, as he patted Liam's chest and walked out the door and as his assistant, Cross followed, he turned and smirked at Larry.

"See you around, Pokemon," Cross snickered at Larry.

Larry immediately raised his middle finger in response to Cross as she watched him walk out the door.

"Jeez", Tate sighed as he faced forward after watching Elliot and his assistant walk out. "Now I know the assholes Larry was talking about."

Liam faced Kent who looked like he had been holding his breath for over an hour. "Son of a bitch," Kent uttered.

"He's your knew recruit, right," Patrick asked as he inched forward to Kent.

Kent raised a finger to stop Patrick. "He's McLauren's new recruit," Kent corrected. "Not mine."

"What's the difference?" Patrick raised his shoulders. "You're the one who's in charge of the operation, aren't you?"

"Yes," Kent said with a smile as he kicked his feet up and crossed them on his desk. "I am, but he isn't on my team."


"Really?" Tate uttered. "Then who are the people on your team?"

"I'm looking at 'em," Kent sighed.

Liam, Patrick and Tate exchanged confused glances at each other.

"I...I don't under....," Liam uttered before Kent cut him off.

"I'm saying I don't want to work with Ken doll, and stick-insect out there," Kent hissed.

Kent then slowly moved his fingers and pointed to Liam.

"......I want to work with you."

40.
Brent had told Claire the good news over the phone about Kent's interest in working with Liam and his team. She was so happy, she drove herself the station in a heartbeat. "Oh my God," Claire gasped in excitement. "That's...that's great news." Her excited eyes moving from Tate to Brent and then to Patrick.

Brent shrugged. "Apparently," he uttered. "Not everyone shared the Mayor's view on this matter."

"Especially not me," Tate scowled.

Claire then looked over at Chief Kent in the corner with Liam, Larry and Donovan. They were engrossed in what appeared to be a serious discussion.

Then Liam unwittingly looked in Claire's direction. Thier eyes met, and Claire was stunned at the fact that she didn't look away. Liam was staring straight at her, and she at him.

It was strange, the feeling she had as she was looking at the scientist. Suddenly, there was something animalistic about him. Something wild about the way he was staring at her. And then, just like that, he slowly blinked away from her and faced the talking police officer before him.

Claire looked away and straight to her shoes. When she looked up at the men before her, she could tell that Tate and Patrick looked oblivious, but not Brent who shot a confused look under furrowed brows between she and Liam.

Claire felt her face heat up.

"Brent. The ever observant Brent."

"Hey, Brent!", Kent called his deputy over.

"Sir," Claire watched as Brent quickly walked over to join the men at the other side of the hall. She turned back and faced Tate and Patrick who just stood there; observing. Claire could see, from the way Patrick looked over, that he wished he knew what they were talking about.

"So...erm...How's your mother in law doing?" Tate figured he had to break the silence some how.

"She's good", Claire replied with a grin. "She's doing good."

Patrick gave an Impressed nod.

"God," Tate sighed and shook his head as he pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. It was almost as if the reality of the entire situation had just hit him. "This is a nightmare."

Claire and Patrick shook thier heads in solemn response to Tate. When Patrick saw the young man still rubbing his eyes, he knew what he was trying to hide.

Patrick instinctively reached out and patted Tate back. "It's okay buddy," Patrick sighed.

Claire immediately realised that the young scientist had lost a colleague in all this. She realised for a split second the Jelani was gone, and then, she immediately went over, reached and started to rub Tate's back. Unlike Patrick, Claire didn't know what to say.

Tate pulled his hands away to reveal his bloodshot, tear-filled eyes as he sniffed. "I..I'm sorry," the young man said as he tried to feign a perfect composure as he raised his glasses to his eyes once more. "I just....I just miss him."


"We know, we know," Patrick whispered as he patted Tate's back. "Just be strong buddy."

Claire kept rubbing his back, fighting the temptation to pull him for a warm embrace. At that point, she shot a glance at Liam in the far corner and began to realise that Jelani's death may have taken a toll on him too.

Tate may have been more expressive, but Liam sure as hell wasn't. Instead, Liam was even less expressive. After Claire had seen him crying beside Jelani's mangled body, that was it. The man she kept seeing before that faithful day was gone.

The sensitive, emotional and warm man she saw at the Mayor's dinner party was gone.

Claire drew her eyes back to Tate who was smiling at her and Patrick now, though his eyes were still bloodshot.

She then looked up at Patrick. "What's the situation gonna be like," Claire asked him. "You know, on the day of the display. What's the plan?"

"Well..," Patrick sighed and raised his head. "The Mayor brought in a new team, plus, about ninety to a hundred more security personnel."

Claire's eyes became wide as saucers. "Jesus."

Tate turned to face Patrick with a chuckle. "But we both know that's not gonna do shit."

"Thank God Kent decided to work with Liam," Patrick said as he shot a look in thier direction, before looking back at Claire and Tate. "At least one person will know what he's doing."

Tate thought for a second. "Shit." he hissed. "It's gonna be bad. Real bad. The Mayor should've cancelled this thing."

"You can't stand between a man and his money." Patrick raised his shoulders and smiled.

"But...but at least Liam and the team are on it,"Claire uttered. "It may not even be that bad."

"No you don't get it," Tate spun to face her. "The display as at night? With a lot of noise?"

"...and a lot of people," Patrick added.

"Exactly," Tate said as he glanced at him and then back at Claire. "This is what this creatures live for. The kill."

Tate then sighed and raise his fist to his mouth as he, Claire and Patrick turned and looked in Liam and Kent's direction.

"I've seen what these things are capable of, and frankly, I haven't seen anything like that in my life," Tate uttered. "If we're not careful,your Mayor is gonna be responsible for the deaths of a lot of people."

Claire swallowed hard as she felt goosebumps all over her. It scared her a bit to think that the nightmare had not even started.


***


"Mum! mum!" Claire could hear Adam's excited voice call to her as soon as she heard the front door open from the kitchen where she was.

Adam ran into the kitchen and Claire spun to face him, immediately noticing the cause of his excitement.

"Mum," Adam said as he stopped right infront of his mother, pushed up his chest and pointed to his new lack t-shirt he was wearing. "Look what Luke bought me."

Claire recognised the t-shirt immediately and was quite pleased that she could see it clearly now. It was the shirt she had seen the couples wearing while she was driving from the hospital yesterday.

The inscription, "Cherrywood" was right on top the snarling head of a black vat, with blood stained teeth.

"Is this what we are known for now?" Claire thought to herself.

Claire smiled at Adam before telling him to go and wash up. "Dinner will be ready in an hour," she said.

"Okay," Adam said, before he walked up to the fridge, pulled it open and grabbed what looked like a can of ice cream.

"Adam Hayes," Claire called when she saw him.

"It's okay mum," Adam uttered. "I won't take too much." Then he ran off, almost colliding with Edith on his way.

"Opps", Edith chuckled. "Watch it, Prancer."

"Sorry grandma," the little boy yelled on his way to the stairs.

Edith walked in and poured herself a cup of tea, before she went over to the island table, sat there and watched Claire peeling some potatoes as she sipped.

Claire glanced at her mother in law and smiled. The old woman smiled back at her. Claire then furrowed her brows when she remembered something.

"Where's Samantha?" Claire asked. "I haven't seen her all day."

Edith lowered the mug from her mouth before she swallowed her tea. "Don't know," she shrugged and then a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "But I bet she's with Luke."

Claire turned to her with furrowed eyebrows. "...and you think I would disapprove?" Claire scoffed. "I like Luke. He's a good boy."

Edith chuckled as she raised her mug for another sip.

The two women heard the front door open and slam shut again, before Samantha walked into the kitchen with her earphones plugged in her ears. She glanced at her mother and then faced Edith and blew her a kiss.

"Hey sweetie," Edith cooed.

Claire was surprised at the fact that she became quite nervous when her daughter walked into the kitchen. She knew that whatever resentment Samantha had for her, wasn't gone. At least not completely.

That's why Claire's heart skipped a beat when she felt Samantha tap her on her shoulder. Claire spun to face her daughter with slightly raised brows, eager to hear what she could possibly want to tell her. "Yes?"

Samantha pulled out the left earphone from her left ear. "So, I told grandma already but she says I should tell you first," Samantha mumbled.

Claire's eyes darted suspiciously between her daughter and her mother-in-law. "Tell me what?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"Luke and I plan to hang out with his friends at Norton Park,"Samantha said.

Claire just shrugged and faced her potatoes. "That's fine," she muttered. "When?"

Samantha moved to the fridge and pulled it open. "On the third. You know, for the fireworks display and July fourth festival," Samantha uttered with her head in the fridge, looking for something.

Claire let out a quiet gasp as she dropped the knife and turned her wide eyes to the teenage girl. "What?" She asked.

Samantha faced her mum and was a little perplexed at her expression. She then dropped her shoulders in exhaustion at the fact that she was going to repeat herself again. "Luke's friends and I planned a picnic at Norton Park for the fireworks carnival," Samantha tried to separate every word for clarity.


"You're not going anywhere." Claire's reply hit Samantha like a truck

Samantha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wh..what?"

"I said you can't go," Claire repeated as she spun back and picked up her knife, along with a potato and began slicing. She could see a now agitated Samantha from the side of her eye, but she didn't care.

Samantha was very uneasy as she began to shoot annoyed glances at her mother and then to her grandmother. "You...you can't....are you serious right now?"

When Claire didn't reply, Samantha went on. "Look, I know it's about this...animal thing or whatever, but Mum,...the Mayor said on TV that it was perfectly sa..."


"The Mayor doesn't know shit," Claire's words surprised her.

Samantha glared at her mother in an expression that was a mixture of confusion and panic. "But Mum, they have security-"

"Listen to me young lady," Claire growled as she dropped the knife and faced her daughter with dark menacing eyes. "You haven't seen the things I've seen. I've seen what those things can do and i'm telling you that when all hell breaks lose in that Park, it's only God that would be able to save you."

Samantha clenched her jaw. Her fists were also clenched beside her as she narrowed her eyes at her mother.

Claire looked to the floor, calmed herself down and exhaled, before she looked up at her daughter. "Sam", Claire began. "The Mayor doesn't know anything about what is going on here. He is not an expert."

"Oh but of course," Samantha burst out. "We should listen him instead."

Claire furrowed her brows in confusion. "Wh..what are you.."


"You damn well know who I'm talking about Mum," Samantha spat. "He's your expert isn't he?"

Claire closed her eyes and took a deep breath when she realised what her daughter was hitting at.

"Liam".

"He's the only person you've ever listened to," Samantha roared. "No one else matters right?"

At this point, Claire knew it would be wise to ignore her. She licked her lips, turned and picked up the knife along with a potato. She knew replying Samantha would only make things worse. This wasn't the first time she was arguing with her eldest daughter. She had learned the rules.

"Sam..Samantha dear, come here," Edith beckoned to her grand daughter.


Samantha ignored her grandmother as she fixed her deadly gaze at her mother. "Why don't the both of you just go ahead and tie the fucking knot?" The teenage girl spat the words like venom. "Since dad never meant anything to you for you to replace him so eagerly."

The words tore through Claire like a thousand knives. She could feel true physical pain in a chest as she tightened her grip on the knife and held herself from turning and hitting her daughter again.

She spun slowly and looked into her daughters tear filled eyes and said the only words that she could find in her aching heart. "Samantha Hayes," Claire said in a voice that her daughter had never heard before. "You aren't leaving this house on the third of july for anything, Is that understood?"

Samantha glared at her mother so hard, Claire was bracing herself for anything. She couldn't deny the slight pang of heart break she felt when she saw the way her daughter eyed her. Claire could see hate in the girls eyes.

"You should have gone instead of dad," Samantha hissed through gritted teeth.

"Samantha! That's enough!" Edith warned from across the kitchen.

Claire smiled at the teen girl as she felt her eyes begin to sting.

She watched as Samantha slammed the fridge shut and then stormed out of the kitchen. Claire stared at the space were her daughter once stood as she heard her stumping footsteps on the stairs.

Edith walked over to Claire and patted her shoulder gently. "It's okay. It's okay," The old woman uttered softly before she then hurried out of the kitchen and went upstairs, probably going to Samantha's room.

Claire moved her attention back to her chore. She sniffed and wiped the tears beading from her right eye.

Standing there, she began to think that maybe her daughter was right, maybe she should have gone in place of her husband. At least things would have been easier for him, because Claire could not deny the fact that she was getting really tired of everything.

She was getting really tired.

41.
The hall at the Cherrywood Valley Police building had never been this busy before. Police officers gathered in various small groups, laughing and talking to each other; engaged in serious conversations There was an obvious separation between the Cherrywood Cops and the Security experts that were invited to the town on duty about a day ago.

Larry, Donovan and Brent stood there, watching the new recruits that had entered the town on the Mayor's orders to help Elliot Grey as they gathered at the corner. Almost a hundred of them. There were all in dirty green Khakis, rugged and tough looking. They looked like action movie heroes.

"I bet they think they're better than us," Donovan scoffed.

"Actually?" Larry uttered before turning to face Donovan with a wry smile. "They are."

Donovan gave Larry a deadpan stare, holding himself from from smacking him on the head while Brent chuckled at the two deputies.

The hall door opened and the men spun to see Elliot Grey and his team walk through it. Elliot turned his gaze to the three deputies at the corner as he walked by. Brent gave a nod and Elliot ignored him; he looked away like he wasn't even there.

"Hey Pokemon," Cross snickered, his eyes glaring at Larry as he tagged along behind his boss.

Larry narrowed his eyes at him as they passed by.

"Son'ava bitch."

"Where the hell is the Chief?" Donovan hissed as he glared at Elliott and his team settle on thier table, and then at the recruits. He was really beginning to hate this place now and could his feel defences kicking in.

Like an answered prayer, the hall door flung open again. Everyone turned and saw Kent hurrying in with Helen behind him, but no one, except Larry, Brent and Donovan, expected to see Liam, Tate and Patrick come in behind him.

Elliott's casual smile slowly fell off his face when he saw the two scientists and the zookeeper.

Then he got up from his seat and glared at Kent. "What's he doing here?" Elliot Grey pointed to Liam and faced Kent with a frown.

"Didn't you get the Memo?" Liam teased. smirking mysteriously.

"What Memo?" Elliot uttered in confusion.

"We're on your team now," Tate smiled maliciously as he walked over and stopped beside the tall, lanky skin head.

Elliot turned and glared at a smirking Kent.

"That's not a problem", The chief Kent uttered. "Is it?"

"Does the Mayor know?" Elliot asked in a threatening hiss as he raised his chin slightly.

"Mmmno," Kent drew as he shook his head. "I don't think it concerns him."

"Oh", Elliot chuckled. "What,...you're the Mayor now."

Kent exhaled in a manner that made everyone know that he was fed up with Elliott's nonsense all of a sudden. "Look," The chief started. "As far as security matters in this town are concerned,....," Kent then leaned in closer to Elliott's face and said, "I'm the boss. Whatever decision I have to make to make sure the people in this town are safe, I make them."

Elliot swallowed hard. He also swallowed the urge to talk back at him, but the fire in Kent's eyes made him think otherwise.


"..And right now, my decision is that every single one of you in this hall is going to work together on this." Kent stopped to catch his breath for a while. His eyes darting from Elliot, to the recruits and then Liam.

"I've seen what we are gonna be up against, and the fact that there two of them still out there, means we are gonna need all the fucking help we can fucking get," Kent hissed through gritted teeth.

Larry widened his eyes at his boss when he heard his utterances.

"Now can we all do what we came here for?" Kent said as he beckoned for Larry to get the large maps from the corner of the room. "I have a press conference at the town hall in twenty."

"Everyone," Helen announced. "Please take your seats."

Larry handed the map to his boss, who immediately slammed it on the wall infront of the hall and made everyone wonder how it had stuck there so easily. The seating arrangement was like that of a dinner table. Liam, Patrick and Tate sat one after the other, while Elliot and his team sat at the opposite side, giving dirty looks at Liam and his assistants.

Every single person in a uniform, that is, Donovan, Brent, Larry, and the recruits, were on thier feet. The only person with a uniform who was sitting was Helen.

"Okay," Kent said as he studied the large map before him and then looked back at his audience. "Norton Park," he said as he tapped the map on the wall. "A lot of acres of land surrounded by nothing but the woods on both ends and Lake Carlton on the other far side."

"So here's what we're going to do." Kent uttered as he walked over to the large table and placed his hands; resting on it. "We're gonna be divided into four packs. And as packs, you're gonna have Alphas," Kent said.

Larry's chuckle cut through the silence in the room like a knife. He spun to face everyone around him with a delighted smile on his face. "We're gonna be Alphas. Like werewolves and shit," the young deputy giggled in excitement.

"Shut up Larry", Donovan spat with furrowed brows and wide eyes fixed on Larry. It was as if he didn't believe people like Larry actually existed.

Larry's smile and excitement immediately disappeared after Donovan shut him up. He then turned and saw Kent's intense glare that made him sink further into his seat.

Larry cleared his throat. "So..sorry sir."

"As I was saying," Kent said as he sharply blinked away from Larry and faced everyone else in the room. "Four Alphas!"

Kent the faced Liam and pointed to him. "Alpha two!"

Liam instinctively turned in time to catch Elliot roll his eyes as Tate snickered.

Kent then faced Elliot and pointed. "Alpha three!"

The Chief then pointed in the direction of the recruits at the far end of the table. "Hey," Kent called out. "You. What's your name?"

"Jake Spencer, sir," a deep voice replied.
Everyone spun and saw a particularly tall, muscular and quite good looking young man emerge from the group of recruits. Like Cross, Elliott's assistant, he was also a skin head.

Larry's brows furrowed when caught Helen smiling sheepishly at Jake who was standing a few feet before her.

"How many men you got there?" Kent asked.

Jake scanned his colleagues for a while. "About ninety," he said.

"Good," Kent said, before her pointed to him. "You're alpha four."

"Roger that," Jake gave a quick salute.

Larry's eyes never left Helen just as Helen's eyes never left Jake. He could feel his stomach grumble in anger. He moved his gaze up and observed Jake who still stood there, singled out from his men. Okay, he was hot as Bleep, but there ain't no way he was going to waltz into this town and take away a girl Larry had be crushing on ever since he joined the force.

"Now I guess we all know who alpha one is so let's....," Kent said.

"Wait," Larry uttered as he began to scan the entire room. "Who's alpha one? The question made Donovan let out a sigh as he lowered his head and pinched his nose while shaking his head.

Kent gave Larry a deadpan glare. "I think it's only logical that the Chief of Police should also be an Alpha too. Don't you think so Larry?"

"Oh...," Larry uttered with his face turning beet red as he chuckled. "Yeah Ofcourse."

"What a dumbass," Cross chuckled as he shook his head.

Larry immediately held out his middle finger to him before he turned and gave him a fake smile.

"Each alpha takes twenty of Spencer's marines," Kent announced as he nodded in Jake's direction. "Along with Intelligence."

Brent and Donovan immediately raised thier hands at the same time. "Liam," They uttered in unison.

"Yeah," Larry uttered as he raised his hand. "Me too."

"Ooohkay?" Kent said.

"Elliot," Cross raised his hand and said in a way the told them he was mocking the way they picked Liam.

Tate rolled his eyes at them. "Obviously."

"Hey," Larry said as he stared at Patrick and poked Tate in front of him. "What about you guys."

Patrick had an incredulous look on his face when spun to face Larry. "Duh?" Tate uttered as he spun and scowled at Larry.

"Uhm...," a high pitched, but beautiful voice got everyone's attention. "I'll go with Jake," Helen announced with a smile.

Larry spun immediately he heard those words. He saw Helen with her eyes still on Jake and.....and he was smirking at her.

"Motherfucker!"

Kent was about to say something, when Larry raised his hand again. "Uhm..Chief Chief."
Kent dropped his shoulders in exhaustion. He looked at his feet and replied, "Yes, Larry?"

"Uhnm...I..Er...changed my mind," Larry stuttered. "I want to be on Jake's team."

Brent and Donovan suddenly chuckled.

Larry spun to face Helen, she was still looking in Jake's direction, but Jake had shifted his attention to Larry now. He was giving Larry a curious and uncertain look.

"That's right bitch, be afraid. Be very Afraid," Larry thought as he glared at Jake.

"Thank you for the Info, Larry," Kent gave a passive aggressive smile.

"Moving On," the Chief uttered as he checked his wrist watch and walked over to the map. "Norton Park is really big, and there ain't no way we can cover the entire perimeter, which is where the grouping comes in handy."

Kent spun and saw everyone nodding in agreement before he went on. "Alpha two, you take your team and press your way from the east side of the park, down to the south-east edges," Kent directed as he drew lines on the map with his fingers.

Liam nodded with a serious look on his face. "Okay?"

Kent then explained the arrangements to the rest of the groups that were placed on the West, North and Southern side of the park. He then laid some emphasis on alpha two and three, telling them that they needed to be more vigilant, as they were the ones closer to the woods.

"Communicators are gonna be made available, so..", Kent then trailed off.

Patrick spun and looked at Liam. He noticed he was looking at the Chief of Police before him, but he wasn't in the room at all. Liam was somewhere else. He was lost in thought.

"Hey", Patrick tapped his friend.

Liam quickly spun and faced Patrick. "Huh?"

"You Okay?", Patrick asked.

Liam flashed a nervous and obviously fake smile. "I'm fine." As soon as Liam faced forward, the smile disappeared again. It disappeared too quickly.

"Any questions?" Kent asked as he searched the faces of the people before him. Larry looked round for a while before he raised his hands up in the air.

Kent saw him, but ignored the hell out of him. "Okay then," Kent said as he clapped his hands together with a smile on his face. "This is it people. Let's take our town back."

".....Let's show those man-eating sons of bitches who's boss."

42.
"What's up?" Samantha uttered as she pressed the phone to her wet ear with one hand, and held her towel in place with the other.

"Nothing much" Luke sighed from the other side of the line. "Except for the fact that I may just murder my parents one of these days."

"What happened?" Samantha chuckled as she dropped to a sitting position on her bed.

"Dad just told me the Norton Park festival is a No-No," Luke uttered in a voice that was filled with pure irritation.

Samantha's smirk slowly disappeared when she heard what Luke said. She narrowed her eyes, clenched her jaws and slowly shook her head as she remembered how her mother had also objected to her attendance at the same festival.

She may have been angry when her mother told her she could not go for the festival, but she was mad now as she heard Luke tell her that his dad had told him the same thing.

Samantha threw her head back and gave an exasperated sigh. Surely, this was one of the reasons she came to this boring town. To have a good time at its annual July 4th festival and fireworks display. Her Mum had told her about it, Edith had told her about it, hell, even Luke's friends couldn't stop talking about it, and now, she wasn't going.

"Hello?" Luke uttered. "You there?"

"Yep," Samantha said. "I'm here".

"I'm really sorry. Sam," Luke said. "I'll tell Brie to come pick you up."

Samantha scoffed. "Yeah, right", she replied. "I'm not going either."

"Wha-what?" Luke uttered.

"I'm not going anywhere," samantha said. "At least that's how my mum said it."

"Wait," Luke said. "Your mum said you couldn't go too?"

"Yep," Samantha replied.

She then heard Luke sigh at the other side of the line before he said, "Adults are the worst."

Samantha chuckled.

"I bet it has something to do with the wild cat problem or something," Luke said. "You know, try'na protect us and all."

"Obviously," Samantha rolled her eyes.

"Uh-Huh", Luke muttered. "I heard my dad discussing it with my mum yesterday. Don't know what he told her though, but after thier conversation, even she refused to go to the festival."

"Are you serious?", Samantha gave a light gasp.

"Yep", Luke sighed. "It's just gonna be me, her and two of her friends from culinary school that will be coming over. It's going to be a complete nightmare."

Samantha chuckled again. She thought for a while before the words just came pouring from her mouth. "You could come over," she said.

Luke's side of the line was silent for a while. Even he didn't expect that.

"Re-really?" Luke stuttered.

"Ermm...," Samantha thought for a while. She thought of taking it all back, but she realised it was too late. Then she realised she was going to be stuck with her brother all night,...Urg, plus, Luke didn't look like he would enjoy his night with his mum and her friends either.

"Sure," Samantha replied. "I mean you're not going for the festival, and I'm not going either. Both our parents have made us miserable, so we may as well be miserable together."

Luke laughed.

Then there was silence. Neither Samantha nor Luke was saying anything. It was obvious that there was something different about this conversation.

"Tell you what," Luke started. "We could watch a movie."

"Okay?" Samantha replied.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows?" Luke suggested.

Samantha grimaced. "Nah, seen it."

"Hmmm," okay then, Friends with Benefits?"

Samantha's eyes widened. "Oh yeah. Mila and Justin. You know, I haven't seen that movie."

"Now that's a shocker," Luke chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Samantha grimaced.

"Can't believe a romance buff like you hasn't seen Friends with benefits," Luke teased. "It's weird."

"Oh please," Samantha rolled her eyes. "It's technically a romantic comedy, not pure romance."

"Yeah..whatever you say," Luke chuckled. "I'll bring soda, you get the popcorn running."

"Aye aye captain," Samantha immediately regretted her utterance.

"Aye aye captain? really? who says that? God." She thought to herself. She honestly couldn't understand what had gotten into her. First, she had suggested they hang out, now she was being....Arg!. She suddenly thought up a way to make it way less awkward.

"Okay", she feigned a sigh. "Gotta go."

"Yeah. Okay," Luke uttered.

Silence.

"Okay?", Samantha said. "Bye".

"Okay," Luke chuckled.

"Okay."

"Okay."

Silence.

Samantha could still hear him breathing on the other side of the line.

"Are you gonna drop the phone?" Samantha rolled her eyes.

"Do you want me to?" Luke chuckled.

"Later Luke," Samantha chuckled before she lowered the phone from her ears, all the while, smiling sheepishly.

At this point, Samantha was confused. She was confused about a lot of things, especially the way Luke was beginning to make her feel. The teenage girl collapsed on the bed with her eyes fixed on the ceiling above with a smile on her face.


"What the hell is wrong with me?"


***

"Okay then," Claire replied, after Brent had told her the entire plan for the festival night. "Looks like you guys have gotten it all under control."

"I guess," Brent uttered.

Claire tightened the grip on her phone thinking what else to ask the officer on the other side.

"So this Elliot guy," Claire started. "What's he like?"

"Nah, you know...", Brent muttered. "Just your regular asshole."

Claire Chuckled.

"Is-Erm- Susan gonna be there?" She asked.

"After the stories I told her?" Brent chuckled. "Nah, I doubt it."

"Good," he stated.

"You?" Brent asked.

Claire exhaled long and deeply.

"Claire?", Brent warned.

"Hmm," she answered.

"You know you can't do this," Brent stated, still in a warning tone.

"Do what?" She asked.

"Claire come on,"Brent groaned. "It's dangerous. Too dangerous."

Claire opened her mouth to say something. Something in her gut kept telling her that Brent was right, but she didn't want to give in. "Look," she began. "I don't know what you're talking about, okay?"

Brent sighed. "I've known you for more than ten years Dr. Hayes, and you are one of the most stubborn people I've met."

If only Brent could see the mischievous smirk on the woman's face on the other side of the line, when he said those words.

"Relax Brent," Claire replied. "I'll be fine."

Brent just sighed. "Why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know," Claire shook her head. "Maybe because you're paranoid. Look, Sam and Adam aren't going, and neither am I. We'll probably just be at home, watching a movie or something."

"What about Edith?" Brent asked.

She scoffed. "Edith wouldn't be caught dead in a place filled with fireworks, You know that."

"Good. So she'll be home with you?"

"Mmno", She'll be at the local church with some friends", Claire explained.

"I See."

When the line went silent, Claire could see Brent's worried face in her head. She felt a smile grow on her face and she didn't know why. She suddenly went back to high school. Brent and Bradley were best friends and when Bradley had started dating Claire, he had told her about his best friend who was shy around girls and asked if she could get him a date for the prom. That was when Claire introduced her best friend, Susan. It shocked Bradley and Claire how inseparable Susan and Brent had become years after high school and even through university. On the day of Bradley and Claire's wedding, Susan was her maid of honour and Brent was his friend's best man. It was even more shocking when Brent got on his knees and proposed to Susan right there at thier wedding reception.

When Bradley died, the only person that cried as much as Claire was Brent. Claire remembered Susan calling her to tell her that her husband had not eating for days and that he was going into depression.

On the day of Bradley's funeral, Claire remembered Brent looking into her tear filled eyes, telling her that he had two families now. Brent had told her that Bradley had cried while on his hospital bed because he was scared for his family. Who was going to take care of them? That was when Brent swore on his life that he would protect them. He swore to his dying friend that he would look after them.

Claire came out of her thoughts when she heard Brent's voice over the phone.

"Claire?" Brent called.

She sighed. "Look, Brent," he said. "I'll be fine". It's just gonna be me and the Kids, I'll be totally safe."

Brent sighed again.

"What are you, my father or something...Jeez ?" Claire rolled her eyes.

She smiled as she heard the police officer chuckle on the other side. Even though it could be exhausting sometimes, Claire could not deny how much her fondness and likeness for Brent grew. Ever since Bradley passed away, Brent had made sure Claire and the Kids were always Okay.

He was like a second husband, even though he was married with a kid himself.

"Okay", he said. "Gotta go, the press conference is about to start."

"Oh...o...okay", Claire said with a slight frown at the fact that she wasn't there.

Then the line went dead.

As Claire lowered the phone from her ear, she felt a pang of guilt. She had told him that she was staying home with the kids to watch TV or something.

Well, she had lied. Brent didn't know that Claire had gone to the hospital about three to four days ago to coordinate a medical team for the festival, and that she herself, was gonna be there.

She exhaled heavily with a smirk on her face as she thought. If Brent had never been mad at her before. He was going to.

But wait, if Brent would be mad, what about Liam?

Claire buried her face in her hands and shook her head.Either way, She had to be at that festival.

She just had to be there.

43.

The night of the festival had finally arrived.
Norton Park has always been the venue for Cherrywood's annual July 4th fireworks display ever since it was christened way back in the late 40s. It was an ordinary large expanse of greenery before work started on the park in the early fifties and then in the early sixties, Norton Park was the first and only leisure park in Cherrywood Valley.

Tonight was like every other night. Most times, there were fun-fairs at the park and it would be a beehive of activities. But this night was different. This Night was special in every sense.

All it took was for Kent to look around and realise that his little conservative town of Cherrywood was open to the world now. The entire park was filled with people coming in and going out. People going on rides, clowns and mascots playing and dancing around with kids under thier parents' supervision, young people in thier teens and twenties walking around in clothes and manners that Kent could certainly tell that they weren't locals.

The entire park was lit up by beautiful coloured lights that were wound around the trees and nearby bushes.

People on the rides rendering thrilled screams into the night, and Kent was still surprised to see that the Rollercoaster was still working. He smiled at the memory of the time he had gone up there with his father many years ago.

Kent even stole a glance at Tate who was unconsciously swaying to the music that was playing into the night; "Wildest dreams" by Taylor Swift, as he studied his suddenly, exciting environment.

The Chief then lifted his walkie-talkie to his mouth and said, "Okay everyone, Look alive. Be sharp." His vigilant eyes scanning the area.

Then his gaze shifted to Helen and Jake a few yards away.

*

"You know," Helen started as she faced Jake with a dreamy smile on her face. "Shania twain and Carrie Underwood once played here."

Jake faced her with a lopsided grin as he began to nod. "Really?"

*

Some yards away, Larry, Brent and Donovan stood in a group near a small Candy kiosk. Donovan bought a few bubble gums and stretched them out to his colleagues.

"Thanks," Brent uttered as he picked one and started unwrapping.

"Nah," Larry uttered with his eyes fixed on Helen and Jake in the distance. "I'll pass."

Donovan looked confused at first, before he then followed Larry's gaze and he chuckled. Larry then felt Brent's arm pat his back "Sucks to be you bro." Brent chuckled.

Larry spun and saw Brent smiling mischievously at him.

"Ha. Ha. Ha.." Larry scowled as he pulled Brent's hands off him.

Brent and Donovan then burst out in hysterical laughter. Larry tore his eyes away from his laughing colleagues and looked in Helen and Jake's direction once more. The sight of Helen throwing her head back in laughter at something Jake had obviously said. Larry felt his stomach drop when he saw Helen lay her hands on Jake's massive chests to steady herself while she was laughing hysterically.

"Oh Come on," Larry thought. "Really?"

"Wow," Donovan uttered as he tried to catch his breath while laughing. "I gotta say, Helen is a bad ass." The two men burst out in laughter again.
Larry spun and faced them with a frown on his face. He held himself from moving closer and punching them both. Hard. He couldn't explain what he was feeling, I mean, he knew that it was all a joke. All fun and games. But he couldn't hide the anger, or was it jealously?

Larry turned away from them and faced Helen and Jake again in time to see Jake smiling down at the female deputy. The interest in his eyes as he smiled at her made Larry's blood boil.
He immediately left the group and began walking away in Helen and Jake's direction.

"Aww come on Larry," Donovan cooed.

"Yeah, we were just kidding man", Brent called. "Where are you going?"

"Back to my team," Larry hissed through gritted teeth as he walked away, leaving Brent and Donovan who were still laughing behind him. His eyes never left Jake and Helen as he approached.

*

"Alpha two. Status report," Kent's voice called from Liam's walkie-talkie. Liam raised the the communicator from his side and then to his mouth.

"Nothing yet Chief," he said. "Over."

Liam then spun to face Patrick beside him. Liam could tell that his eyes were filled with uncertainty. Like everyone else, Patrick was nervous.

"Yeah", Liam sighed as he patted Patrick's shoulders as he looked away. "I'm nervous too buddy."

Patrick turned to Liam and suddenly began to chuckle as he dug his hands into the pocket of his Jacket. It was suddenly beginning to get cold as Patrick scanned the park for a while. It was beginning to get crowed now. People were everywhere.

He stretched over and looked at the parking-lot. There were more cars there now than before.

"Here," he heard Liam's voice, coupled with the feeling of cold metal rub against his skin. Patrick turned and saw Liam hold out a can of beer to him.

"Aw man." Patrick chuckled as he reached out and took a can from Liam. "Thanks."

The two men found an enormous tree trunk that had fallen and then they sat.
Liam popped his can open and raised it in the air. "to you Jelani. Sleep well brother." he sighed

Patrick raised his can in response to Liam's gesture. "Yeah."

Then both men took sips from thier metal cans and then dropped them. They looked at each other and started to chuckle at one another. Before Patrick began to look round again. Then he turned and faced Liam.

"You sure they'll show up?" Patrick grimaced.

Liam lifted a brow. "Why not?"

"Well", Patrick suddenly became interested in his beer can. "I don't know. I mean, it's kinda noisy out here, like...the type of thing that would scare them away."

Liam then leaned forward and pointed at Patrick. "Exactly. Enough noise to drown out a Prey....crying for help."

Patrick furrowed his brows at Liam. He saw some sense in what Liam was saying, but he doubted if the beasts could be that smart.
"You and I have seen, first hand, what these things are capable of," Liam said. "It's safe not to underestimate them." He then raised his can of beer to his mouth for a sip.

Patrick's phone suddenly rang to.life in the pocket of his jacket. When he pulled it out and looked into the screen, Liam immediately notice his face harden. He wasn't happy with whoever was calling him.
Patrick looked away into the crowd aroundl and immediately pushed the phone back into his pocket, raised his can to his lips and sipped on his beer.

Even Liam could see that the call had changed his mood.

44.
"Whoa," Donovan uttered as his eyes were fixed on the back side of a particular girl who was strutting by. She was wearing a tank top over tight jean bum shorts. "Check out the package on this fruit cake."

Brent looked over at the girl as she walked away, then he spun and faced Donovan with a scowl. "Oh come on Donnie," Brent replied. "Stephanie may be out here."

Donovan scoffed. "I doubt that....and even if she is, she can't say shit."

Brent quickly spun to face his colleague with an astonished look. "No," Brent uttered as he slowly turned his entire body to face Donovan who had a smug smile on his face. "No you didn't".

"Yes I did. I dumped her sorry ass."

"Oh Come on man," Brent moaned as he dropped his shoulders. "I liked Stephanie."

"Well I didn't," Donovan snickered as he tore his eyes away from Brent and began scanning the area. "At least not anymore."
Brent clenched his jaw as he stared at Donovan. Stephanie wasn't the first and it annoyed him all the more to think that she wasn't going to be the last. Donovan had a bad boy charm that many girls couldn't resist, especially the good-natured ones.

Brent opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped when something behind Donovan caught his eye.

"What the....?"

Brent narrowed his eyes some more; a gesture the caused Donovan to eye him in confusion. "What?"

"No way," Brent hissed as he moved passed Donovan to get a better look at the woman who was standing beside a paramedics van and having a conversation with three medical officials at the Popcorn stand close to the carousel.

*

"So how long have you been in the force?" Helen asked, still grinning at Jake.

"Umm- a couple of years. I'd say nine to ten," Jake said in his characteristically deep voice as he nodded slowly.

"Wow," Helen eyed him. "That's...nice. Your girlfriend must be proud."

Jake gave a toothy smile and Helen started to wonder how a person's teeth could be so white. Jake began shaking his head before he raised his eyes to Helen. "I...Umm...son't have a girlfriend."

Helen could practically hear the angels singing hallelujah in her head as her eyes widened at tall, smiling, handsome Jake.

"Really?" Helen faked a frown.

Jake shrugged.

"Well", Helen drew. "In that -."

"Hey guys." Larry's voice called from a distance, causing Helen and Jake to turn and see him approach them with two pink Cotton candy flosses.

Helen immediately furrowed her brows, while Jake's smile dissolved a little.

"What's up?" Larry grinned as he stopped infront of them.

"Cool," Jake shrugged.

Larry turned to face Helen and saw the way she was glaring at him. He got the message, he got what she was trying to tell him with her eyes, but he wasn't going anywhere.

"This is for you", Larry uttered as he handed Helen one of the cotton candies.

"Oh-Um- Thanks?" Helen stuttered as she shot nervous glances between Larry and Jake.

"You're welcome", Larry grinned, before he lifted his own cotton candy and started to munch away, not minding that Jake was the only one standing there without one.

After one bite of his treat, Larry looked up and met Helen's eyes burning into him, before she mouthed a soundless "What the Bleep are you doing?" but of course, Larry ignored her.

"So," lLarry started. "Ever been to a festival like this before, Jake?"

"Well...Eh...," Jake uttered. "Yeah."

"Oh Yeah, Where ?"

"Well, you know", Jake bent his mouth. "Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Holland, China...."

"You've been to China?" Helen gasped.

"Yeah, I like to travel alot," Jake replied.

Larry clenched his Jaw and his fists so hard, he heard the wooden stick of the Cotton candy crack a little.

Suddenly, two blonde lady's; probably the sam age as Helen, just came out of no where.

"Helen?" One of them called as she stared at Helen in disbelief.

Helen spun and her eyes widened immediately. "Oh my God!",The female deputy yelled. "Trish! Amy!....You made it this year!"

Then the three women went into a hugging frenzy. Larry heard the three ladies trail off as they exchanged pleasantries, screaming like teenage girls at a boy-band concert. They were so happy to see each other.

Helen finally faced Jake and Larry. "Oh, guys, this is Jake, his a new recruit here. A marine." Helen's voiced seemed.to be filled with pride.

Jake smiled and gave a curt nod. "Hey."

Larry almost threw up in his mouth when he saw the way the girls were eyeing Jake. He held himself from rolling his eyes.

"Hi," the Ladies giggled in unison, sizing up Jake in a flirtatious manner.

"So when did you guys get in?" Helen faced them again.

Larry couldn't believe what just happened. Helen had introduced Jake to her friends while.....

Larry then spun and saw Jake hold done a smile. He had noticed it too.

"Oh hell no." Larry thought to himself.

"Hi!" Larry shouted to get thier attention as his loud voice almost startled everyone. "So...sorry. I-I'm Larry, Helen's friend."


"Oh," one of the girls uttered as they threw confused glances at Larry who was smiling and Helen who was pinching the bridge of her nose. "Hello."

Larry nodded in response, still smiling.

But thier attention was torn away from him again when one of them faced Helen in delight and said, "Oh...guess what, Gavin is here."

Helen's eyes widened immediately. "What?"

Now, Larry and Jake didn't know who Gavin was, but who ever he was, the ladies seemed excited as hell that he was around.

"Where is he?" Helen asked.

"Over there" , One of the girls pointed. "by the bar."

"Come on Let's go", The other girl said, as she started to pull Helen away.

Helen suddenly forgot she was on duty before she spun and gave Jake and Larry an apologetic look. "Sorry guys, be right back," he said.

"No Problem,"Larry uttered as he waved her away with a smile.

"Bye Jake," Helen's friends spun and waved in a flirtatious manner.

Jake gave a curt nod and chuckled as he watched the woman walk away and disappear into the crowd.

After the girls left, Jake and Larry just stood there not saying anything to each other. Jake looked quite relaxed, while Larry wasn't, even as he devoured his cotton candy.

As they stood there, he thought of confronting Jake, man to man, to tell him to stay away from his girl. After all, how did Liam and Patrick say it again, ....oh yeah... This was his territory. Cherrywood Valley was his territory.

He eyed Jake for a while, before he realised, with all those muscles, Jake could kick his ass in a second.

"Relax man," Jake deep voice pulled Larry out of his thoughts. "I'm not gonna steal your girl."

The words startled Larry. He looked up and saw Jake smirking do at him. Larry didn't know what to say. He just stood there, wondering instead, how Jake knew.

"Was I that obvious?" Larry thought.

"And besides," Jake grimaced. "She's not my type."

Larry's eyes widened when Jake made that statement. "Not your....are kidding me?"


"I mean she's cute and all," Jake added. "But..Eh..Nah." He shook his head quickly.

Okay now Larry felt strange as hell. He didn't know if he was offended or just confused.

"Hey Jake!" Someone called from some yards away behind them.

Larry and Jake spun to see some of Jake's colleagues gathered together close to what looked like a barn, each of them with a beer in thier hands.

"There's beer on the house!" A particularly skinny man shouted. "Wanna take break?"

Jake just nodded in response before he turned back to Larry. "Want a beer?"

"Er...no thanks," Larry shook his head as he was still lost; thanks to what Jake had said a few minutes ago.

"Suit yourself," Jake said as he started to back away.

Larry didn't see the need to ask, but he was going to ask anyway.

"Hey," Larry called out after the marine.

Jake spun with raised brows.

"So who's your type exactly, huh?" Larry asked as he dropped his hands to hold his waist in curiousity.

Jake eyed Larry for a second and then shrugged.

"You?" he smirked as he winked at Larry and spun to continue on his way to meet his colleagues.

Larry just stood there with his eyes wide as saucers and his mouth slightly open. He had never been this confused in his life.

45.
"Are all those needles sterilised," Claire asked her colleagues as she pointed to a small box containing syringe needles.

"Yep." The fat nurse replied.

Claire sighed and nodded in response before one of her colleagues came down from the paramedics van with his eyes fixed on Claire. She knew, even while they were on the road, that he had questions, and now, he was about to ask.

"Say Dr. Hayes? The blonde haired scrub uttered before he scanned the entire park and then looked back at Claire, like he made sure no one was watching them or something. "What are we doing here exactly?"

Claire crossed her her arms over her chest and studied him for a while feigning the fact that she was trying to understand his question. "It's a festival, Mason," Claire said. "....with fireworks. There's bound to be accidents."

Mason raised a brow and held himself from chuckling. Then he turned and gestured to the van behind. "We've got enough medical supplies here for an impending war,there are six of us here instead of just two, and I've noticed the security-"

"Mitch," Claire held out her hand as she cut him off. "You're here to do your job. Just do it."

Mitch opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Then he looked away. Claire could tell he was someone who obviously didn't like being kept in the dark.

"Yes ma'am," Mason said, as he turned and walked away.

Claire dropped her shoulders and raised her hand to her temple. She could feel a headache coming on. She knew there would be more scenarios like these, more questions. Right from the moment she was ordering for the equipment to be taken out to the festival grounds, she saw the puzzled looks on the faces of her colleagues; some of them were even astonished.

"Ex-excuse me miss?" a voice muttered from behind Claire. She spun and saw three boys, most definitely in thier teens. The one in the middle had a bleeding nose and his green t-shirt was already stained with drops of blood.

Claire immediately reached over, pulled the boy close and bent his head backwards, pulled out a tissue from her pocket and pressed it to his nose as she pulled him closer to the van.

"Mason!" She called out before she turned to the boys with a stern look and asked them,"What happened?"

When the the two boys started exchanging nervous glances at each other, Claire was sure that whatever they were about to say was going to be a lie.

"We-we don't know," one of the boys stuttered. "We...Um...Just found him there."

As Mason came and took the bleeding boy away with a "I got him," Claire narrowed her eyes at them and then began to study them. Her eyes travelled to their slightly dirty shirts and mud soiled jeans that they didn't really do well to clean properly. Plus, the boy on the right still had traces of mud on his right palm. What would the life of teenage boys be without the occasional rough plays?

"Just found him there huh?, Yeah. Right."

Claire raised her eyes to their nervous little adolescent faces, tightened her lips and shook her head.

Then she jotted her thumb to the van behind her. "Go clean yourselves up right now."

The boys scurried away from her and then started mumbling vehemently at each other.

"Watching movies with the kids huh?" Brent's voice made Claire stiffen and she held herself hard from cursing as she slowly spun to meet the police officer's angry glare.

"Hey Brent," Claire faked a smile.

When Brent said nothing, but reply her gesture with a steely glare in which Claire could see his jaw clench, she dropped her shoulders in defeat and sighed.

"Okay", Claire began. "I'm So...."

"What the hell am I gonna do with you, Claire?" Brent hissed.

Claire widened her eyes. She was surprised how she felt like Brent's daughter at the moment.

"What am I? Twelve!?" Claire protested.

"Apparently." Brent shrugged.

She narrowed her eyes at Brent as she clenched her fists. She was seething as she began to move past the officer.

"You're not seeing this my way, are you?" Brent called after her.

Claire kept moving.

"Samantha and Adam," Brent called again and watched as Claire immediately stopped, then spun to face him.

"You're all they've got, Claire." Brent shook his head.

Claire stood there until Brent walked over to meet her. She could see the concern in the man's eyes and frankly, she was grateful, but the truth was, even she didn't know why she had gotten herself so involved in this. She didn't know why she didn't want to be left out. Ever since Brent called her for the autopsy that faithful morning, she was entranced by this case.

Brent got to the front of Claire and stopped. The two of them just stood there, looking at each other.

"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, looking to her feet to avoid Brent's blue eyes boring into her.

Brent thought for a second. He was the one who suggested Claire as the perfect corona for the autopsy on the students. He was the one that called her that morning. He had known Claire since the high school days and he knew that Claire was the one person who hated being kept in the dark. Now, he was, blaming her; reprimanding her over her safety.

He could also tell that Claire wasn't over the tragedy of her husband's death. He could tell that Claire still blamed herself, and worst of all, her daughter hated her; she blamed her.
Claire was so consumed by grief, she wasn't thinking of herself anymore, and as Brent stood there, he could feel his anger suddenly dissolved to pity.

"Want to ride the Ferris-wheel?" Brent smirked.

Claire looked up to meet his wild eyes. Her face contorted to an incredulous expression. "Really?" she thought Brent couldn't possibly be serious.

Here they were, a paramedics team and a team of biologist, zoologists and ex-marines, on the look out for man-eaters that are probably out there picking thier kill right now, and all he thought of was to go on the Ferris wheel?

"Yep," Brent replied.

She chuckled and then looked at the officer before her again and realised he wasn't kidding.

"I've got two tickets already," he said. "I was supposed to go with Donovan, but apparently, he is more interested in the enormous backsides of the ladies out here."

Claire grimaced as he chuckled.

"One ride," Claire warned as she raised a finger and began walking away. "One."

"Yes Ma'am", Brent gave a curt nod.


*

Patrick narrowed his eyes as he tried to get a good look at something in the distance. "Say," he uttered. "Isn't that Claire?"

Liam immediately shot his head up and looked in Patrick's direction. "What? Where?" He began darting his eyes in every direction.

Patrick quickly pointed to Claire and Brent making thier way to one of the cars lowered for them on the Ferris wheel.

"Jesus Christ," Liam cursed through gritted teeth as he clenched his fists when.he saw them. "This woman is impossible."

Patrick turned and faced Liam. He stared at Liam as he watched Brent and Claire mount the Ferris wheel car, and he could immediately tell Liam's expression had suddenly changed from anger to fear and uncertainty.

It was almost as if Liam was afraid for the woman. Patrick then remembered when he saw Liam and Claire share a moment at the police department hall a few days ago. So, he suddenly felt the need to ask his long time friend the question, but not directly.

"Is there a woman in your life, Liam?" Patrick asked in a casual tone as he tore his eyes away from Liam.

Liam suddenly spun with a scowl. "What?"

"Are you seeing anyone?".

Liam coughed out a chuckle and turned his gaze back to the Ferris wheel, fighting the urge to smile as he saw Claire smiling wildly while thier car elevated into the air.

"Does she know?"Patrick asked.

"Know. what?" Liam asked as without even looking at Patrick.

"That you like her," Patrick muttered.

Liam then turned and glared at his friend. He knew what the zoologist was insinuating ever since he asked if there was a woman in his life. He knew he as indirectly asking him if he liked Claire.

"Where the hell is this coming from?" Liam fired.

"Relax man" Patrick chuckled. "It's just a simple-."


"Well it's inappropriate at this point, okay?" Liam hissed. "We're here to do a job, so, let's do it."

"Okay then." Patrick was amused. He fought so hard to hold down a laugh that could earn him a heavy punch from his colleague.

The two men sat there in silence. Apart from the hysterically laughing and cheering crowd they over saw, the thrilled screams and shouts of people on the rides filled the air.
Both men chuckled when they heard someone yell "Ooooh my fucking gooood," as the Roller-coaster a few yards away, began to descend rapidly on its large beam held tracks.

The night was beginning to get cooler now and the hour for the fireworks display was getting closer. Liam looked at the far edge and he could see people putting up relaxable chairs. Some people were already setting up picnic spots and he could also see the technical team running helter-skelter; trying to put everything in order for the display.

They sat there and watched until Claire and Brent got off the Ferris Wheel. Patrick spun to face Liam and saw that his eyes were still on Claire and the Police officer. He thought Liam would have seen him from the corner of his eyes, and that's why he tore his gaze away from Claire immediately. Patrick also thought it would be exhausting to bring up that topic again.

"Alpha two," Liam's walkie-talkie crackled to life. "What's your status. Over."

Liam dropped their shoulders for the fact that this could have been the hundredth time he was been asked this question and it was beginning to get on his nerves.

He pulled out his walkie-talkie vehemently and raised it to his mouth, probably about to say something appalling.

"This is Alpha two, we-"


"Help!!" The high pitched scream of a woman struck the air. "Somebody! Help!"

Liam and Patrick froze. They spun with thier eyes darting to all corners, trying to ascertain the source of the cry, until they saw a group of people rushing to a corner, which was quite close to the woods.

"Somebody help!!"

Liam and Patrick gave each other urgent glances before they shot themselves up from the log and began to sprint towards the scene with alarming speed.

"Get out of the way!" Patrick screamed at the people in his way as he ran past. He knocked down a clown and caused his balloon to escape into the sky above.

"Move!", Liam screamed as he sped on, waving people away with one hand and holding up his walkie-talkie with the other.

"All units to the East section!" Liam shouted into his communicator as he ran through.

".....I repeat! All units to the East section!"

46.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Patrick shouted as he tried to catch his breath after they stopped at the scene, while Liam just stood there with his hands on his waist, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Don't just stand there," the woman who had yelled cried with her mascara drawn down her face. She gestured to four men who were in a brawl. Fighting really hard. "Do something."

Liam took a look at the woman for a moment and then shifted his gaze to the men who were violently punching each other. He had thought why the woman had called for help at first, but then, he saw the way the men where hitting and punching. One broke a bottle on the back of the other, and one was bleeding profusely from his head. If she had tried to stop them in anyway, they probably would have knocked her teeth in.

Liam dropped his rifle to the floor and charged at the men. Patrick followed.

"Alright!" He shouted. "Knock it off guys, come on!"

Patrick tore two men away from each other while Liam pulled up one man from beating the shit out of another man on the floor.

Everything calmed in time for Patrick and Liam to see everyone one gather at the scene. Kent, Elliot, Donovan, Helen, Larry and Tate appeared, panting heavily from thier just completed run. They all had thier guns trained. They were all prepared.

Claire and Brent later appeared equally breathless and so did Jake and his men. Eyes bulging out in anticipation.

"What in the world!?" Kent exclaimed.

"Sorry Chief," Liam was breathless. "Its...It's a negative."

"False alarm," Patrick added.

Everyone dropped their shoulders in disbelief and disappointment, except Claire, who just turned back and called for her colleagues when she saw the injured men.

One of the fighting men got up, spat out blood and glared at his enraged opponent standing beside Liam, through hooded lids. "You fight like a pussy. And you know why?, cause you're a pussy!", He growled in a drunken demeanour.

The other man slowly burst into a roar as he charged for him with a punch. "You Son'ava biiiitch!".

Liam then quickly moved and and tried to stop him, but Damn. The white hot pain struck Liam just above his left eye as the man's punch hit Liam instead. The impact was so overwhelming, Liam staggered for two seconds before dropping to the ground.

"Ooooooh!" Everyone seemed to scream when Liam got hit. Well, everyone except Elliot and Cross who were holding down a laugh so hard, they burst into a chuckle.

"Get these thugs outta here!" Kent ordered as Donovan, Brent and some of Jake's men hurried over and pulled the bloodied fighters away.

*

"Ouch!" Liam hissed in a grimace as Claire dabbed on his cut with a piece of wool soaked In disinfectant.

"If you don't want this to get infected, I suggest you hold still," Claire mumbled, her eyes fixed on his wound in concentration. "You're lucky you don't need stitches like your drunk-ass friends over there."
Liam spun a little, enough to see the other men being attended to by Claire's colleagues.

"Liam come on," Claire moved back, dropped her shoulders and groaned in frustration at his annoying proclivity for movement.

"Sorry," Liam whispered quickly. "I-I'm Sorry." Then Claire resumed her treatment.

"We should have seen it coming though," Patrick chuckled as he watched Claire work.

"How," Liam asked.

"I mean, what's a party without a little brawl huh?" Patrick snickered.

Claire smiled at Patrick's words as she shook her head, ignoring Liam's eyes on her. She knew his eyes were on her, but she just feigned indifference.

Elliot and his assistant then walked up to them. "Jeez," Elliot said in a feign of concern that irritated Patrick. "That's gotta hurt. Is he gonna live doc?"
Cross to chuckle in a way that everyone was beginning to get pissed.

Claire glanced at Liam's face and saw that he was furious, but had chosen to ignore them.

"But honestly," Cross added. "That punch was legit."

Claire then gave an exasperating sigh before she turned and faced them. "Do you mind?" Claire uttered. "I'm working here."

Elliot narrowed his eyes at her. "You're Claire Hayes aren't you? The one who did the autopsy?"

Claire rolled her eyes. She was getting impatient.

"I was impressed with your deductions," Elliot gave an Impressed nod.

"Thank you," Claire said with a passive aggressive smile. "Now get lost."


Larry and Patrick burst out in a chuckle that obviously annoyed Elliot and Cross.

"Come on let's go," Elliot sneered as his eyes darted from Liam, Claire, Larry and then Patrick. "We don't have time for Armatures."

As they moved away, Cross smirked at Larry. "Later Pokemon," he snickered.

Larry turned to face them as they left with a smile. "Bald freak," Larry muttered under his breath.


"There," Claire sighed. "All done." As Claire placed the plaster on his cut and moved away a little.

"Thanks," Liam groaned as he raised himself up.

Claire then stretched out a bottle of water to the him. "You're welcome."

He eyed Claire and the bottle of water before he reluctantly took it from her. As he took a gulp, he saw her hold a small container that he was familiar with. "Pills?"

"Yep," she replied.

"For what?", Liam scowled.

Claire dropped her shoulders and sighed. "You were punched real hard in the head Liam. You're most likely gonna have a headache tonight now open up."

Liam sighed and then opened his left palm to take two pills. He bent his head and took the pills in his mouth, swallowed and took a gulp of water. "Bleep," he hissed with an expression of disgust in his features.

Patrick chuckled.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please your take your seats as the world's greatest fireworks display is about to begin," A man's voice thundered as he announced over the speaker. His announcement was followed by cheers from the crowd, as everyone started to move down to the display area.

Claire began to park up; throwing the bloodstained wools into a trash can beside the van, before she started to pull off her gloves.

"Thank you," Liam uttered in a soft tone that not only surprised him, but surprised Claire too.

She looked down at him and realised how uneasy he was. He couldn't believe how hard he was finding it to look up at Claire.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Jesus, Liam, it's my job. I have to-"

"N-not for the cut," Liam smiled weakly before finally looking up at her as she paused. "For standing up to that asshole."

She stared at him for a while and then chuckled. "You are something, you know that?"

She was a little perplexed when she saw his response. He said nothing. He just smiled. She rearly saw him this timid. He looked defenceless. Vulnerable.

"..And thanks for staying," Claire said finally.

Liam shot up his eyes to meet hers as a smirk grew on his face.

They held each other eyes for a while in a gaze that made Claire's belly tighten. The tension was building and Claire could feel that at this point something could happen, that is, .... before Chief Kent rudely interrupted.

"Liam!" Kent called in his hoarse voice that caused Liam to jolt to an upright position immediately.

Tate, Brent and Donovan were behind Kent as he started to walk towards Liam and Claire.

"Sir," Liam quickly got to his feet.

"What's happening?" Chief threw his hands up and down again. He was obviously frustrated that nothing was happening. More so, he was worried that they were wrong; that they hadn't calculated correctly.

Liam opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out as he shrugged.

"Normally this sort of activity would have attracted them here by now," Tate looked worried. "It doesn't make sense. The fact that they're nocturnal, is enough."

"You think they're trying to out-smart us?" Kent gave Liam a suspicious look.

Liam chuckled. "They're just animals, sir," he said. "I seriously doubt that."

"Then why the hell aren't they here?" Kent protested. He was confused, and also worried. Looking at him, Claire could tell that he knew what this could mean. At this point, any miscalculation could be devastating.

"..And it kinda makes sense that there hasn't been an attack tonight," Patrick added.

"Yeah", Tate uttered, almost cutting Patrick off in the realisation that he was, at the moment, thinking the same thing as he was. "And they may not be an attack at all."
Everyone turned to face Tate in furrowed brows of confusion.

"Why is that?", Kent asked as he crossed his hands over his chest eager to hear what the young scientist had to say.

"Think of it," Tate stated as he glared at everyone before him. "This isn't thier feeding ground. It has never been. No one has ever been attacked here before."

At that point, nobody but Donovan noticed Liam's eyes bulge out wide like saucers. Even Donovan could see that something about what Tate said, had hit Liam hard.

"Oh. My. God." Liam's whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear.

They all faced Liam. He was frozen in place; eyes wide and mouth open. They took note of the fact that the man had just realised something.

"What is it?" Brent asked in confusion.

In his head, Liam immediately went back to the Mayor's dinner party. He, Patrick, and Tate, answering the questions of the guests.


The Pretty lady's Question.
"How did you know where to find it? "Because from what I was hearing on the news, that thing appeared to be quite smart."

Tate's answer.
"It was simple really. Most Large predators, especially large wild cats, will always come back to the last place they had thier last meal. If they don't get any more, they move to another food source."

Liam immediately felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand as he slowly turned his wide eyes to face a confused Claire standing beside him.

"Liam?" Claire uttered as she studied him. She raised her hand to his back because he looked like he was going to Pass out or something.

"What the hell is going on?!", Kent shouted in frustration as he darted his eyes from Liam to Tate and then Patrick.

Liam was so choked by the fright that his realisation caused as his wide eyed were still on Claire, he couldn't talk. He couldn't move. Hell, he was finding it hard to breath. His heart was pounding in his chest. He couldn't hear the crowd in the festival anymore. He couldn't hear the screams of the people in the rides anymore. He could not hear the music anymore. The only thing he heard now was the beating of his heart.

He slowly moved his watery eyes to Tate, who was studying him with narrowed eyes at first; trying to figure out what was wrong.

Tate's eyes equally widened as the realisation struck too; him like thunder.

"Je...Jesus," Tate gave out a trembling whisper of horror.

At that moment, Tate and Liam immediately darted away from the group in full speed.

"Come on!" Tate screamed at the top of his lungs as he beckoned for everyone else to follow them. "Hurry!"

As Liam sped off with Tate, he pulled out his walkie-talkie and kept screaming into it.

"All units to the Hayes' residence! I repeat! All units to the Hayes' residence!"

47.

"Hey, twerp," Samantha called as she leaned on the sitting room entrance with a bowl of Popcorn in her hand.

Adam spun from the TV and faced her with a frown. "What?"

"It's your turn to take out the trash, remember?" Samantha muttered.

"Take it out for me, Pleeaase." Adam pleaded, feigning puppy eyes as he faced his big sister.

"Nope, not this time," Samantha shook her head and scowled. "Do you think I like it when my hands smell like garbage."

"Oh come on Sam," Adam groaned.

"Now, Adam," Samantha hissed through gritted teeth as she pointed to the kitchen.

"It's okay big guy," Luke said as he rustled Adam's hair with a kind smile.

Adam dragged himself up from the couch beside Luke and walked passed Samantha and into the Kitchen. Samantha heard him mumble mocking imitations of her nagging under his breath, but she chose to ignore him as she made her way to the couch beside Luke.

"You're gonna have to replay," Samantha said as she pinched out a few Popcorns to her mouth. Luke dropped his shoulders with a sigh as he reached for the remote.

*

"Adam, take out the trash. Adam eat your vegetables. Adam change my daipers," The little boy mumbled to himself in mocking imitations of his mum and his sister as he pulled out the black nylon bag from the trash can.

He dragged it on the floor of the kitchen till he made his way to the door and pulled it open. The chilly night breeze hit his face as he came down the steps into the night brightened by moonlight. He walked out of the house and dumped the large plastic bag in the bigger trash can at the far back.

He turned to go back in, but then stopped when he heard a whimper.

"Ottie?"

Adam froze and listened before he walked to the front of the house, rubbing his arms to warm himself up against the freezing night air.
He moved over to Ottie's kennel to see if he was in there.

He wasn't.

Adam raised his confused eyes from the dog's house and began scanning the area.

"Ottie?" Adam called out as he scanned the lawn. He looked back Ottie's kennel and noticed something he had not noticed before.
Ottie's chain. His leash; it was broken. Adam picked up the remaining half of the chain that was still buckled to the Kennel. It was so cold, he dropped it and something else caught his attention. His hands. Adam stared at his hands in confusion.

Under the rays of the security lights, Adam could see that his hands were stained with a particular red liquid.

Another whimper caused the little boy to move his head up and then there was a growl. The two sounds appeared to be coming from behind the house.

"O-Ottie?" Adam gave a shaky whisper as he moved slowly towards the back of the house.

When the little boy got to the large back yard, he was searching. He was confused because there was no sound to trace. Then he heard it again.

The sound of something cracking. That sound he always heard when he gave Ottie a bone and he just kept cracking it.

Adam spun immediately to the bushes beside the picket fences.

"Ottie?"Adam whispered as he moved closer. He narrowed his eyes for better visibility as there were no security lights at this side of the house. The moonlight was all he had at this point.

Then the bush started to move and Adam, through the moonlight, could make out something in the shadow of the bushes.
Adam's curiosity was getting the best of him as he kept moving closer and closer.

"Ottie?" Adam whispered. "What are you doing there, boy?"

Adam wanted to move closer, but then he stopped when the bush moved for some time and then the bone cracking sound again was herd again.

"Ottie? Come on bo-?"

Suddenly, something flew out of the darkness and hit Adam on the head, knocking him to the floor immediately.

"Ouch!" The little boy exclaimed.

Adam raised himself to a sitting position. His head where the the object had hit him hurt and he reached up with his hands to rub it when he noticed that that part of his head was wet. He brought his hands down to his head and saw the same red liquid he had seen on Ottie's chain. They were on his hands.

"Huh?"

Adam struggled to his feet before he looked to the side and saw it.

The little boy gave a horrifying gasp as Ottie's severed head laid there, and was staring straight at him, with its tongue hanging out and it eyes rolled into its head.

"O-Ot..Ottie?" he croaked. Adam began to tremble. His body started to feel weak. He could have sworn he was in a dream.

"O...Ottie?"

Adam fell back to the floor in shock, his wide eyes never leaving the severed head of his pet before him. His gasps now turned to sobs.

Then there was a growl; slow, horrifying and menacing.

He slowly turned his welling eyes to the darkness of the bush before him and saw two demonic yellow eyes materialise from nowhere. They were focused on him.

The little boy knew at this point, he had to be careful. He slowly began to back away, sobbing profusely. His breathing quickened, while his entire body was trembling.
Then Suddenly, it was as if the darkness beyond the bushes had come alive and started to move. Adam watched as the large black creature emerged from the darkness; it's yellow eyes still fixed on him.

"Sa...Sa..Saman...," the whispered words were choked in Adam's throat. He realised he couldn't scream. His throat was numb; just like his legs. Just like his hands.

The chill of the night had suddenly vanished and Adam felt a bead of sweat roll down his back. He was paralysed as he stared; wide eyed, at the approaching yellow eyes and the bloodstained fangs of the snarling black beast that had just eaten his dog.

Hehehe.

Lol. This is where "Ferocious" really starts. Buckle up guys!