The creature lowered itself onto its haunches and snarled its back to the woman. It wasn’t hard to understand what it was conveying.

Keep away from my prey.

The woman behind it whimpered. Maxwell gulped. Was it going to attack him? Was there a chance that he could live? Maybe if he ran away… Maxwell shook his head, as if he would do that.Maxwell jerked his neck to Colin.

“What do we-”

Before he could finish his sentence Colin rushed forward. Maxwell felt a pang in his chest at the sight. There had been no hesitation in Colin’s actions.

Colin bent down sideways midstep and scooped up a rock. He lugged it at the creature.

“Quick get her to safety!” he shouted at Maxwell.

Damn, how can you be so brave? Wondered Maxwell. He gulped before clenching his fists. I need to have courage!

“Ok!” shouted Maxwell using the last of his courage to dart toward her. While Colin goaded the creature Maxwell was able to get to her side.

She was clutching her bitten arm. Maxwell tried his best not to look at the white bone that protruded from the gruesome wound.

Maxwell scanned her body his eyes landed on her purse.

“Use your purse as a tourniquet,” he said frantically. “We’ll tie it around.”

The woman nodded silently.

I need to act rationally, I can’t panic. He reassured himself. First I need to prioritise the injured.

He grabbed the purse with shaky hands and looped it around the stump of her arm.

“What’s your name?” he asked her. “ Cindy,” she said. The fear was evident in her voice.

He was hoping that talking would help calm him down as well but it wasn’t working there was too little time. He tried repeatedly tying the strap of the purse around her arm but it would come loose and flap helplessly as soon as he let go.

“Shit!” he muttered.

He heard a groan.

Colin!

“We need to go!” he shouted at her, he glanced quickly at Colin before freezing. His blood ran cold.

Colin’s head was securely lodged between the jaws of the creature. Colin desperately thrashed around. Blood ran out of his nose, his eyes were bloodshot.

Colin locked eyes with Maxwell. Colin was able to let out a feeble cry.

“Help…me…”

The creature’s eyes burned into Maxwell. They stared into his soul.

Every hair on Maxwell’s body stood on end. Time seemed to stop. He felt his heart palpitate in his chest and his breather grew even faster. He felt a stream of warmth run down his leg. There was only one thought in Maxwell’s mind.

I’m going to die.

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“Get away from me!” Maxwell shouted, pushing the woman to the ground. He turned tail and ran. His feet pounded the ground. The alleyways were half-obscured by darkness and the rain pelting down made it even harder to see. The creature was practically breathing down his neck. Maxwell glanced behind him for a second to see it galloping after him on all fours.

He crossed the corner only to run straight into a pile of trash cans banging his shins hard into them. The trashbags within exploded assaulting his senses with an assortment of rotten foods.

“I don’t have time for this!” he shouted. Stomping through the trash. He grabbed the lid of one of the trash cans and swung it behind him. It nailed the beast straight in the nose. It gave a yelp that sounded surprisingly human and stumbled back. Maxwell flicked off a rotten banana-peel that had stuck itself to his shoulder without stopping. He’d bought himself some time.

He continued running only to see a giant metal gate approaching him at the end of the street. There were no other roads or openings in the walls he could take. He increased his speed, dashing straight for the gate. He jumped reaching for the top with outstretched hands. His body whammed against the metal bars knocking the air out from his lungs. His fingers tried to grip the cold steel but the rain made it impossible to do so. He instantly slid down landing in a puddle at the base of the gate.

His heart beat furiously in his chest. His breaths were shallow and fast. He tried taking a deep breath but it wasn’t working. His body had completely gone into fight or flight mode.

I need to calm down, I’m not getting enough air!

The beast would arrive there at any moment. He looked desperately around him for a way to escape.

There! He caught sight of a rusted ladder attached to the wall. He had ran past it on his way to the gate and must not have seen it. He ran to it before quickly scrambling up. It creaked under his weight and the rusted edges of the rungs dug into his skin. Maxwell reached for rung after rung, his heart thumping in his ears. Blood dripped from his palms but he didn’t even feel it.

The ladder shook violently in his grip. His foot slipped leaving him hanging with just his arms. if Maxwell hadn’t been holding on with both hands he would have surely fallen to his death. The vicious roar below him alerted him to the cause of the shaking. The roof was only a couple of arm lengths away.

I need to get help, I need to call the police or something! He reached into his pocket, groping for his phone. He dialled in the three numbers. The screws that bolted the ladder to the wall screamed in protest.

He got one hand on the stone ledge and gripped it firmly. His phone was firmly squeezed between his ear and shoulder. He willed with all his might for someone to pick up, but it would probably take a few seconds. He reached for the ledge with his other hand. He lifted his leg for the next rung. The screws gave one final scream of protest which was followed by the squeal of bending metal. The ladder tore completely from the wall. Maxwell’s other hand only just grazed the ledge ever so gingerly before he was sent into freefall. The ledge grew further away. Maxwell hurtled down toward the ground. There was no coming back from this, he would die then and there. They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die, I guess that’s true. thought Maxwell in his final moment of curiosity.

This is unfair, I was so close.

The phone fell next to him still dialling. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

I tried so hard to survive.

Tears welled in his eyes, flowing upwards from his face.

The pendant floated up coming into view with his eyes.

I’m sorry mom, I’m sorry dad. I’m sorry Colin.

The impact against the ground didn’t feel painful, it might have been gentle even. He heard the creature stir in the background. It snarled. He felt its hot breath on his neck.

It latched to his neck, its fangs sunk deep into him. The creature’s putrid breath blew against his face. There was no pain, instead a tingling emptiness emanated from the wound. The creature growled as it lapped up his blood. His life was literally trickling away as blood ran down his neck. No matter how hard he willed his body to move he wouldn’t budge, his body had become impossibly heavy.

He caught a glimpse of the sky. A bright star shone down. It’s light so yellow it was golden. How had he never noticed that star before? Its luster dazzled his eyes. It’s light fragmented in his vision as it blurred. It hung in the sky so far, far away. Did it ever get lonely in the night sky?

Maxwell’s eyes glazed over. That’s not good He thought. His mind was beginning to wander off. As he drifted off he couldn't help but wonder if the woman the monster had cornered would survive. I hope she got away. He thought. Tears trickled from his eyes.

Why do things have to end here? I don’t want to die, there’s so much more that I want to do!

A deep voice resonated through him.

Do you want to live?

Yes! Shouted Maxwell with all his heart