Marko was the last one to escape the house, but he didn’t close the door behind him. The beast was still chasing closely behind as he rushed down the stairs of the front porch and splashed into a puddle on the street.

He sprinted for his life. Every ounce of adrenaline in his body coursed through his veins, and his eyes fixed on the road and his friends ahead of him.

“Come on, Marko! Run!” Joseph shouted as loud as he could as his friend tried desperately to escape his pursuer.

The beast was relentless, and it took another lunge at Marko. Nearly sensing this attack, Marko tumbled out of the way as the beast launched over his head.

Marko lost his balance and rolled into a puddle, splashing the dark red water into the air. Returning to his feet as quickly as he could, he started to run again, but his friends got further and further away from him.

As he continued to run desperately with staggering steps, he realized something. The monster disappeared and the sound of crashing rain began to settle into his ears.

“Hurry up, Marko! Please!” Joseph shouted again as his friend continued to trail behind. Marko ran as fast as his body would allow, but fatigue and loss of breath took over and he started to slow down.

But the night was still.

There was only the sound of rain and his footsteps splashing into the water.

His breathing was rapid, and fear, and urgency still controlled his body, and he continued to run desperately through the soaking rain.

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As he saw his friends enter their home, he began to feel safe. The comfort and protection he sought was just a few more steps away.

But he heard it.

That daunting and horrifying growl sat on his shoulders. It was so close that he felt the terrifying noise enter his ear canal and slither through his body like venom. He felt the hot breath of the beast brush across his neck and back. Chills shot down his spine like an electric current and spread out through his body, locking his nerves and muscles in place.

The cold wet rain covered his body like an aura, and he trembled. With the monster’s breath swirling around his neck and shoulders like a noose, Marko could not move. He stood still with his eyes shut tightly, praying to a merciful God.

“Please don’t let this happen,” he mumbled to himself desperately

From the front porch, Joseph turned back to the scene with his mouth gaping open. He saw the monster’s crimson red eyes nearly floating behind Marko as the rest of its body was hidden in a shroud of the rain.

Joseph’s heart pounded as he was unable to speak while his friend stood motionless and helpless in front of him.

Joseph thought as quickly as he could and rushed inside screaming for Josh. “Josh! Josh! Grab your shotgun! Hurry!”

He screamed as loud as he could, and the others joined in desperately trying to get his attention.

After a few short moments, Josh rushed downstairs in just his underwear and a shotgun. “What? What? What do you need!?” He shouted back with urgency.

“There’s a monster. It has Marko! Hurry!” Joseph screeched.

Josh rushed outside fearlessly with his shotgun in hand. The others followed him quickly and stared out into the pouring rain.

“Where? Where is he?” Josh asked and everyone paused in disbelief.

Marko and the monster were nowhere to be seen.