The driver’s grip on the wheel tightened as his wife gasped. He followed her gaze, his heart lurching as he spotted the faint outline of something lying on the side of the road. At first, he thought it was a deer or perhaps a fallen tree branch. But as the shape shifted, his breath caught.
It wasn’t an animal. It was a man -or at least, it appeared to be.
The figure lay unnaturally still, its face obscured by the shadows. The driver felt a cold shiver run down his spine, the hairs on his neck rising instinctively.
“Do you see him?” his wife whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.
He nodded, his throat tight. “Stay in the car,” he said, his tone firm as he reached for the door handle.
“What are you doing?” Her hand shot out, grabbing his arm. “Just drive.”
“I can’t just leave him there,” he replied, his voice tense. “What if he needs help?”
As he opened the door, the figure moved.
***
Buru’Enmeli struck with terrifying precision. His chitinous membrane rippled as he shed the last vestiges of his human disguise. With a burst of unnatural speed, he was upon the driver before the man could react.
The man shouted, staggering backward as Buru’Enmeli’s claws slashed through the air, tearing the fabric of his jacket. The driver’s reflexes, honed by years of physical work, kicked in. He swung his arm up defensively, catching the creature’s claw with a glancing blow.
“Get back!” he roared, his voice a mix of fear and determination.
His wife screamed, fumbling with her phone as she tried to unlock it. The headlights illuminated the full horror of Buru’Enmeli’s form -his serrated limbs, his mandibles clacking hungrily, his glowing eyes burning with malevolence.
The driver lunged forward, shoving Buru’Enmeli with all his strength. The creature staggered but quickly recovered, his claws raking the side of the car. The screech of metal filled the air as the woman scrambled to the driver’s seat, slamming the door shut.
“Get in!” she screamed.
The driver dove toward the passenger door, yanking it open just as Buru’Enmeli lashed out again. The claw struck the side of the car with a deafening crack, leaving deep gouges in the metal. The man slammed the door shut, his chest heaving as his wife floored the gas pedal.
The car screeched forward, its tires spinning briefly on the wet road before finding traction. Buru’Enmeli roared, his mandibles opening wide as he lunged after the vehicle. But the speed of the car temporarily carried it beyond his reach, leaving him standing in the middle of the road, his claws dripping with rainwater.
Buru’Enmeli hissed, his frustration boiling over. He crouched low, his claws flexing as he glared after the retreating car. “Run while you can,” he growled, his voice dripping with venom. “The night is long.”
The hunt had begun.
***
The car roared down the winding mountain road, its headlights cutting through the rain-soaked darkness. The driver’s wife gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled hands, her breaths coming in short, panicked gasps as she fought to keep control. The rain pelted the windshield harder now, the wipers barely managing to keep up.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Are you okay?” she shouted, glancing at her husband. Blood dripped from a deep gash on his arm where Buru’Enmeli’s claws had grazed him. He pressed a trembling hand against the wound, trying to stem the bleeding.
“I’m fine,” he grunted through clenched teeth, though his pale face betrayed the pain he was suppressing. “Just drive.”
Behind them, the shadows seemed to shift and writhe, as though the forest itself had come alive. Buru’Enmeli was there, hidden but relentless.
***
Buru’Enmeli leapt onto the asphalt, his segmented limbs propelling him forward with terrifying speed. The pounding rain slicked the road beneath him, but his chitinous exoskeleton clung to the surface like a spider on glass. He moved with an unnatural, jerky grace, closing the distance between himself and the car.
Inside the vehicle, the driver glanced into the side mirror and froze. “It’s following us.”
“What?!” His wife’s voice cracked with panic. She risked a glance into the rearview mirror, her stomach lurching as she caught sight of the monstrous figure gaining on them. “How is it-? That’s impossible!”
“Don’t slow down!” the driver barked. “Keep going!”
The engine growled as the car surged forward, the tires skidding briefly before finding purchase. The narrow road twisted and turned, its sharp curves barely visible in the rain. Her heart hammered in her chest as she fought to keep the car on course.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Buru’Enmeli darted ahead, a blur of claws and glowing eyes. He leapt into the air, his body twisting unnaturally as he landed directly in front of the car. His arms spread wide, his mandibles opening in a feral screech that echoed through the canyon.
“Look out!” her husband shouted.
She slammed on the brakes, but the wet road betrayed her. The car skidded, hydroplaning as it careened toward the creature. The impact was deafening -a sickening crunch of metal and glass as the front of the car collided with Buru’Enmeli’s body. The windshield exploded into a shower of shards, the force of the collision sending the creature hurtling backward.
The car spun out of control, veering wildly off the road. The wife screamed as the vehicle plowed through a barrier and plunged into the ditch below. The world blurred around them, a chaotic tumble of rain, mud, and crushing force.
The car finally came to a jarring stop, its frame twisted and smoking. Steam hissed from the crumpled hood, mingling with the rain as it poured down.
For a moment, there was only silence, broken only by the rhythmic patter of water against metal. Inside the vehicle, the driver and his wife stirred weakly, their bodies battered and bleeding.
“Are you... okay?” he croaked, his voice barely audible.
“I think so,” she whispered, her hand trembling as she reached for him. “You?”
“Alive,” he muttered. “That’s all that matters.”
***
Buru’Enmeli staggered to his feet, his body twitching violently. The collision had cracked his exoskeleton, black ichor oozing from a jagged wound on his chest. His mandibles clicked furiously, his glowing eyes narrowing as he turned toward the wreckage. The scent of blood was stronger now, tantalizingly close.
He took a step forward, his claws scraping against the asphalt. The urge to finish what he had started was overwhelming. They were helpless now, ripe for the taking.
But then, a sound cut through the rain -a sharp, blaring wail that sent a shiver through him. He froze, his head tilting as his antennae twitched in agitation.
Flashing red and blue lights appeared in the distance, their glow reflecting off the wet road. A police cruiser was approaching fast, its sirens echoing through the canyon.
***
Buru’Enmeli hissed in frustration, his claws clenching at his sides. He had been so close. The hunger within him screamed for satisfaction, but the risk was too great. The Faceless One’s wrath would be swift and merciless if he were discovered.
The cruiser skidded to a stop near the wreck, its headlights illuminating the carnage. Two officers jumped out, their radios crackling as they called for backup.
“We’ve got a vehicle down in the La Tuna Canyon Ravine -two occupants, injured. Requesting paramedics and a tow.”
Buru’Enmeli retreated into the shadows, his glowing eyes fading as he melted into the forest. His movements were slower now, his injuries hindering his usual grace. He paused once, glancing back at the wreckage with a mixture of fury and regret. Then, with a final growl, he disappeared into the night.
***
Inside the car, the wife’s vision blurred as she looked up through the shattered windshield. She could just make out the approaching figures of the officers, their flashlights cutting through the rain.
“Help... please,” she whispered before the world faded to black.
***
Buru’Enmeli melted into the forest, his glowing eyes fading like embers snuffed out by rain. But the hunger remained, gnawing at him.
His thoughts racing as he plotted his next move. The city lights beckoned him, promising fresh opportunities -and new prey.
The night was far from over. He would hunt again.