DEUCALION AND THE WEREWOLVES OF OLD CREEK

BY JOHN PARRISH

CHAPTER 1: PILOT

On a rainy night on mile 22, the loud thunderstorm muffled the sounds of screams of the young female teenager which echoed throughout the woods as she was been chased by an animal that she couldn’t see. With every step, she took she could hear its rancid breath down her neck. 

Terror and fear took control as she scurried down the woods and kick a climbing root and fell. she quickly tried to get up and turn around to check if it was still chasing her. she couldn’t see anything; instead of her being comforted that she was safe, she was more afraid now.

She then heard a wolf howl which echoed everywhere, she couldn’t figure where exactly it came from as the sound came from everywhere and it was all quiet now the cricket stopped chirping, the winds stopped bellowing, the owls and the forest became quiet now then it leaped as the lightning struck and, in a flash, she was dead.       

THE NEXT MORNING

“Good morning citizens of Old Creek, it is your favorite radio station and newscaster Dear old Timmy Robbie giving you the same old boring news that goes on in this God-forsaken town, just like every other plain day. I know there was a massive hurricane last night but so what…hold on, I am just getting something from our men out there…. a body? A fucking body?! Ladies and Gentlemen stay tuned, this day just got better and better….

“Switch on the damn TV, let us see what is going on?” A man said to his son who was busy picking up the broken bottles with a swollen face. The guy did as he was told as the blank screen flickered on.

Numerous reports of damages caused by the thunderstorm the previous night and although nothing definite has been said, the maybe had made a statement that the city council intends to deal with the mess as soon as possible. Then onto the most breaking news, this is also a black day for a certain family in Old Creek as there is a report of a dead girl found on a hiking trail.

She was seen by rangers going about their morning duties saying that they saw her torn sweater all over the trail and decided to see where it went till they saw traces of blood and struggle everywhere.

 And according to the rangers, as soon as they saw this. They quickly reached for their rifle and armed themselves each with their Remington700, and after cutting the long trip short with their truck, once the track ended, they went closer on foot till they found the corpse leaning on a back of a massive tree trunk then they called it in.

The rangers took her to the station where they tried to identify the girl but her face was mauled badly by what looked like claw marks to them. They found a piece of jewelers on her left arm which was inscribed Dorothy & James forever so with that they quickly searched the name on the town database and filled out the remaining information such as height and the rest and came out with four possible matches   while they waited for a missing person police report which came sooner than expected……” The television screen went black as the man threw his bottle at the screen muttering incomprehensible insults before falling asleep on the sofa.

Meanwhile in the coroner’s office, after numerous examinations, it was reported that she was killed by a wolf or puma and that their claw marks and bite marks were similar to incisions found on the body. Then her parents came into the room to claim her body.

“Wolf or puma?” The sheriff said with surprise scribbled all over his face as he looked through the file that the coroner had given him.

“Yes, that is our report. Why do you look astonished? This wasn’t done by no human.” Dr. Steven replied as he shot his hand in his pockets as the sheriff scratched his hair and said,

“Don’t get me wrong, but we ain’t got no wolves or puma in this town since my granddad was a kid. And now they are miraculously here. Come on man, give me something that the town will believe.” He said handing the file back to Dr. Steven who shrugged and said,

“Listen, man, I have been in this profession before your daddy and mummy even thought of making out, so don’t tell me how to do my job, that is your fucking business. I have given you my report, make good use of it as you seem fit. Now excuse me and have a nice day, officer.” He said as he turned and left leaving the sheriff who glared at him and muttered.

Bringing out his walkie talkie he made a dispatch to the colonel under him,

“This is DPO 9-7-9-0 over, is anyone available?” He said as static came from the other end and said,

“Colonel 4-5-2-1 over and out, I can hear you.” The colonel said as the sheriff said,

“Where is your whereabouts colonel?”

“Still in the woods, we are searching for more clues that could determine what happened here. What’s yours?”

“Old creek hospital. I just got back from the coroner's office; he says it is a wolf’s attack…generally…animal attack.”

“Animal attack…in Old Creek?”

“Shocked as you, colonel. Do you mind telling the press that there will be a curfew?”

“I got your back, but you know the kids and young folks ain’t going to stick to it.”

“Leave that to me. Over and out.” He said as he dropped the walkie-talkie in his pocket and walked out of the hallway.

In the evening news, it was reported that a wild animal was roaming the woods close to the residential area where people lived so there was a curfew which stated by 10 pm there shouldn’t be any movement.

IN A HOUSE NEARBY

“Bro, come listen to this bullshit, the cops are imposing a curfew on the town, today of all days,” Ethan said as he laughed increasing the volume of the TV.

“That is just shitty dude. We simply can’t call off the biggest party of the year that has been planned for months. The girl that died, just died out of too much fun, no shit. Besides no one would take us seriously after this. We got to get our parents out of the way and devise a plan.” His twin brother Mason said as he switched off the TV.

They devised a plan which they would use to beat the curfew imposed which they would share with those invited by the party to Irving Clark's house in the woods where people wouldn’t hear the sound of the music. That evening by 7 pm they told their parents that they were going to return books that they borrowed from the county library before the next day which was the deadline.

After being permitted to go, they quickly went to Irving’s house and prepped for the party. Little by little half of the county which happened to be teens were in the Irving house. The kids turned on the music and put on the multi-colored bulbs and the neon lights, more booze was present even weed that was gotten by Mason.

Fluorescent liquid dye was poured on their body while the party was booming. The boy was happy to outdo their performance last year.

In the middle of the party, Ethan decided to go to the back with his girlfriend Clara to have some fun, drunkenly moved towards the back-pushing people over, and he tripped over a beer keg which made him curse under his voice

 “Mother f*****r.”

Clara quickly helped him up and they went over the stairs, she then pushed him to the barn door which caved in easily.

Ethan quickly kissed her on her lips and lifted her to his waist and lifted her skirt while caressing her lap he found out she had no undies underneath; she removed her shirt showing him her breast which made him grin.

He then grabbed her closer and put his penis into her she moaned loudly and sank her fingernails into his shoulder and scratched him. after being carried away for some moments Clara saw a shadow moving across the barn door through a dusty mirror, she then pulled away from Ethan much to his dismay and told him what she saw.

He muttered some words which she couldn’t hear because of the high volume of the speaker’s which music was booming from. Ethan quickly adjusted his trousers a little then he saw the shadow move again, and again.

Now Clara was anxious she didn’t know who or what was there then she heard a growl coming from the side she quickly turned her gaze to see what was growling but the multi-colored bulb had her at a disadvantage because it made her go closer.

She quickly picked up an iron rod shouting however is there that she is armed and she would take a swing. Ethan has been exposed to the moonlight was open and defenseless noticed a pair of golden-colored eyes looking down his soul, he was spellbound and speechless as he tried to scream Clara's name.

It quickly leaped on him sinking its claws into his stomach and ripping his gut out while going for his neck with its teeth. Clara turned pale white from what she saw; she couldn’t move nor scream.

Ethan's intestine dangling on the ground and a large hairy bloodily human-like figure stood over him drinking out from his neck.

Clara tried running but she couldn’t bring herself to run as the beast moved towards her staring at her with its gold-colored eye, from where she was, she could perceive its rancid breath which fouled the air.

Blood dripping from its jaws and claws, it went low ready to pounce and go for the kill then she heard the police siren as she turned and looked the creature had disappeared into the night.

Suddenly, Ethan got up and walked towards Clara whilst his intestine was dropping on the floor dripping out, and grasped her hands and died leaning on her before she passed out.

After the police raided the house and stopped the party, they did a head count and then noticed that Ethan and Clara were missing, the police immediately started looking for them hoping for the best.

Outside the house they saw a foot trail then the lead police officer Klay brought out his bright searchlight which plunges into the darkness like light into the abyss and followed the trail where he noticed some scuffed soil and drops of blood on his dismay, he quickly pulled his firearm the trusted Beretta a 93 and radioed in for back up.

While sweeping the compound, he got to the barn side he quickly noticed the air seemed different, violent in some ways he breathed in then sprang up as he shouted police!  Freeze! together with his partner only for them to be shocked by what they saw next.

The police officers Ethan with his gut ripped out and saw him next to a passed-out Clara. while being dumbfounded about what to do Klay noticed the crowd from the party was approaching the murder scene, he quickly set up a perimeter to try and preserve the crime scene to prevent any evidence been tampered with.

They called the forensic unit to run the test quickly because the rain was about to fall. The forensic team quickly photographed the whole scene and picked up any material that they think to be a clue even chewed gum was thrown into the evidence portfolio.

When the ambulance got in Clara was stretched into the back, while Ethan’s corpse was bagged and zip shut. Mason quickly asked an officer what happened, who was it? the officer called him aside and consoled him then he burst out crying saying it was his fault that he convinced him to arrange the party.

 The kids, the party lot, were then loaded into the school’s bus and then dropped off at each of their respective houses. If their parent or guardians weren’t there, they would stay in county lock up till the next morning after all they committed a crime.

Mason was already in the emergency room when his parents came in yelling, screaming demanding that they show her, her son.

“For the last time, someone better shows me where my son is, or I am going to sue everyone.” She yelled as the receptionist tried to calm her down, saying

“Come down ma, you are disturbing the peace of the environment, please lower your voice, someone will come to meet you very soon and explain, what is going on.” But she was not prepared for the outcome she received.

Mason’s mum pulled her by the hair and said, “Do I look like someone who gives a fudge about what you are saying? Do I give a shit ass if I am causing some unfortunate bitch bp to rise? All I want is my son and for your sake, he better be alive when I see him or the next person going to have surgery is you.” She said as her son walked out into the hallways crying as his mum left the receptionist.

“Mason, why are you crying? Where is Ethan? Is he going to be alright? What did the doctor say?” His mum asked as she took his face in her hands as Mason kept on crying.

“Stop crying and talk to me, where is Ethan?” She said as Mason cleaned his tears and said,

“Mum, he is dead. He didn’t make it; he was in the woods with his girlfriend Clara when something tore through him the woods and….” His mum gasped for air trying to deal with the new information,

“You seriously not be shitting me right now. What do you mean by that?” She yelled when the door burst open again and her attention was diverted by the heels.

“Oh, you have got to be shitting me. How dare she make an appearance here after what her daughter did to my son” she said as she jumped on Clara’s mother and started yelling at her, but Clara’s mum who simply had had a rough day at work, simply yanked her hand backward and slammed her across the table then picked her up and bitch slapped her twice to the dismay of everybody watching then picked her handbag and simply proceeded to see her daughter who was about waking up in the emergency room. Then Mr. Green apologized for his wife's behavior then followed her.

In the police station, Klay the lead police officer sat deep in thought looking at the crime scenes photos, looking at the coroner's report stating that the murder was done with ‘claws and teeth belonging to that of a wild cat or dog a big one.

He then looked at his market board filled with pictures and colored ribbons pointing to different things which he couldn’t make sense of because something was missing. Klay looking troubled grabbed the pictures and went to the Rangers station where he saw a long-time buddy of his Bobby was a darn good hunter.

After conversing with bobby for almost an hour about the scene bobby told him they could always go to the scene after all he is a registered corpsman too. Klay was delighted and told Bobby to get into the squad car and they went for a ride to Irving Clark's house. It wasn’t much of a journey because it was just a ten-minute ride from the Rangers station to the house.

Bobby told Klay to give him the full story, of what went down. Klay was keeping something out which bobby noticed and told him to spill out Klay said okay that he didn’t see any paw trails from the entrance from the woods to the barns which he noticed was strange except the puma flew in the unlikely sky, and the trail that was around the barn was a size45 boot print which was photographed then it vanished no trail off the person walking off, then the paw print of an animal showed up or maybe the owner of the boot turned into the animal? Bobby and Klay looked at each other simultaneously then Klay shrugged it off saying maybe I have lost it.

 Then bobby caught up a scent weird scent which only he perceived due to his increased sense and walked 45 yards into the bush and walked to the back of a tree where he saw fur which he took off from the back of some thorn grasses near it.

 He knew what it meant already. Who was this predator on the loose? who is this werewolf? Or a wild animal? then he picked up a scent then there was a runner but very deep into the woods. Klay and Bobby drove out with bobby deep in thought wondering what hell would break loose again.