Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (dark books to read TXT) 📗

were even louder now, flowing with a conviction that poured from the center of his chest. "I forgive you for what you are about to do."

The noise stopped from the werewolf as it took a step back, tufted shoulders still rising and falling with its hot breath, a warm wind that blew death all around it. After a moment of uncertainty, it resumed its fierce growl, straining its face tightly to reveal the fangs of fury and the monstrous ferocity seemed to regain control. It lunged in an instant. Terry's face was slammed with a bone crushing force that squeezed teeth popping into his skull. One violent tug ended the struggle in a snap that cracked a shock down his spine.

Chapter 23

#Sarah#

The morning news sounded from the living room as Sarah cracked an egg, dropping the yolk to sizzle in the hot frying pan that rested on her stove.

"County officials are still urging residents to remain indoors and to restrict travel. The mayor declined to comment on the cause, except to say that a local hunting group is assisting local police and that the matter will be taken care of shortly."

Sarah turned off the stove eye, paced quickly into the living room to pick up the remote and stood transfixed to the screen. Firefighters and an ambulance joined a swarm of police cars flashing lights in the Willow Baptist parking lot. "In other news, another victim was mauled by-" With a click, she turned the screen black before tossing the remote onto the table and pacing back into the kitchen.

"Forget it," she said, dumping the still runny egg into the garbage. She threw the hot pan into the sink with a sizzle as she dialed David, placing the phone firmly to her ear.

"Hello," David's voice sounded through the phone, barely audible above the sound of air and music in the background.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"Why?" He sounded even more distant.

"We need to meet again."

"I'm on my way to meet Jan at the city park."

"Okay. I'm on my way," she said, pulling the phone from her ear.

"Wait. I wasn't-" David's words were cut short with a single tap of her screen.

Sarah didn't waste any time grabbing her keys and heading out the door, still dressed in the dark blue shorts and white t-shirt that she wore to bed.

###

The passing scenery blurred into a wash of green, blue and gray as neighborhoods, stores and trees flew past. Her singular focus collapsed into a point, the point where she would find David and Janice.

To her left, a row of neatly trimmed trees lined the front of the park where she slowed to catch a hundred split second glimpses between them of the parking lot. David's dark red car sat parked near the pristinely painted, white, wooden benches. With a sharp jerk of the wheel, she turned in. She quickly sped into the space beside his.

Sarah got out just in time to see David rising from the car, giving his door a light shut that could barely be heard above the slam of hers. As she forcefully strode around the back of his car, David lifted his eyes from the phone he held in his hand. "I haven't been able to reach Terry," his oblivious voice rang in her ears.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Yeah. That's because your little girlfriend ate him last night." She swung her hands in the air as she glanced side to side for any sign of Janice.

"What?" David asked, hanging his jaw open.

"It's been all over the fucking news," she said. "Earth to David."

She watched David slap his phone down against his thigh as he shoved his other hand into his forehead, pushing back his bangs before pacing in a wide circle in the parking lot. "Or... by you or Vance," he said with a huff.

"Get real, David. Wake the fuck up." As she spoke, the sound of an approaching car drew her attention to Janice's minivan. It slowly rolled to a stop two parking spaces away from where they stood.

Janice emerged, walking around the back corner of the van. She held her phone in front of her as she looked in Sarah's direction, strolling closer to them by the second. "Sarah, did you hear ab-"

"Hold it right there," Sarah said, pressing her palm into the air at Janice.

David's voice burst from the right. "No. You hold it, Sarah."

She raised her eyebrows and turned to David. "Oh really? It's like that now?" Her anger pushed hot through her pounding heart, looking for a place to explode.

"Listen," Janice said. "Terry was killed last night. They're saying it was Vance."

Sarah rolled her eyes as she listened to David join in. "But why Vance?"

"The news said he dropped his wallet at the scene."

"His wallet?" David asked. "I knew it." He turned toward Sarah. "See?"

Sarah abruptly turned back to her car, walking to the driver side door. "Wait," David said, marching after from behind. "We need to find somewhere safe to g-"

"Stay away from me!" Sarah shot back with a turn, pointing her finger at him. David stood in place as she got in the car and gave the door a slam. She cranked the engine and swung the car in reverse, before speeding past them on her way out.

The burning well of pain had flooded her past longer than she could remember. But the last month brought it to the boiling point, splashing out into what was once a well-structured and civilized exterior, now awash with the wild fury that spilled from her heart. She watched the bright sun glare above white fluffs of cloud as she drove toward Bluff Mountain, now taking up half of her view ahead. The daylight burned brightly across evergreen slopes that piled below the rocky cliffs, but she knew that fire would quickly burn out. Darkness would soon reclaim the day and it always brought death along with it.

#Janice#

David's eyes stared into another realm as Janice sat beside him at the large, brick fountain in the center