Hammer Karina possessed a name that sparked amusement, yet her demeanor lacked any hint of comedic sensibility. Instead, her humor leaned towards the sardonic, steeped in irony and a poetic understanding of life's intricacies. She found delight in unexpected coincidences and serendipitous moments, but her pragmatism ruled out belief in miracles or destiny.
Occupying a houseboat, Hammer Karina shared her life with a rescued elderly pug and fulfilled her role as a social worker in an office. As of now, her existence had yet to intersect with the enigmatic entity known as the invisible dog.
To entwine one's fate with the unfolding events surrounding the activities of the invisible dog was to court disaster. Numerous lives had met gruesome ends, leaving survivors scarred by both physical and emotional trauma. The repercussions, like tendrils of malevolent mist, expanded ominously, shapeless yet carrying dire consequences. It seemed that mere contact with the creature or its traces was enough to ensnare individuals in an ever-expanding web of tragedy. Some might label this a series of unfortunate events, others, 'bad luck'.
Hammer Karina was no stranger to misfortune. Her life bore witness to her alignment with rules and conventions, often forsaking a deeper calling to aid her fellow humans. Her heart had grown calloused through numerous instances, causing her to ignore the cries of a child on the side of the road – a child who had fallen from her bicycle while fleeing an invisible dog.
This young girl, overwhelmed by the terror of an unseen monstrosity, had crashed her bike, leaving her with a scraped and bleeding knee. Though injured, she would survive, and for now, she sat alone beside her wrecked bicycle, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The invisible dog drew closer, poised for a sinister outcome, when a speeding car intervened, forcing the creature to retreat across the street to evade the relentless vehicle. In its fury, the beast abandoned its pursuit of the child and instead charged after the escaping car.
As Hammer Karina ascended the gangway to her houseboat, the invisible dog finally caught up with her. The sound of panting reverberated behind her, prompting her to whirl around, producing a firearm from her purse. She swiftly loaded a magazine clip into her .38 Special and aimed it at the approaching danger.
She glimpsed the creature's gleaming eyes, its bared teeth, and imposing size – characteristics that made it hard to overlook on the gangway. Her weapon, tailored for close-quarters combat, was of little use at such a distance. The bullets fragmented against the railings, save for one that grazed the invisible dog, revealing its presence in a fleeting burst of blood.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Undaunted, Hammer Karina hurled the now-empty gun at the creature, striking it on the snout. However, the weapon's depleted ammunition rendered it almost weightless, dealing minimal damage. The very ammunition that outweighed the gun itself was crafted for maximum stopping power and minimal recoil, tailored for personal defense. Had she fired those same shots just moments later, as the invisible dog drew near, the results would have been fatal. But fate unfolded differently.
In a swift and brutal attack, the vicious dog ran up the gangplank and then tore into her, ending her life. It then proceeded to devour her pug.
Later, drawn by the sound of gunshots, a security guard arrived at the scene, accompanied by his own dog. Both were ill-equipped to face the ambush set by the invisible dog.
The man's dog launched an attack, attempting to grasp the invisible dog's throat, but the creature's might overwhelmed the smaller dog. The invisible dog released its grip, sending the brave companion over the railing, plummeting to the jagged rocks below. The poor animal lay grievously injured, fighting for its life.
The cruelty of the invisible dog escalated further as it turned its ferocity towards the security guard. Following the onslaught, the guard lay alive yet severely shocked, his entrails torn and stretched across a distance, a grotesque tableau of suffering.
In the midst of this turmoil, the creature sensed the conflicted consciousness within, struggling to regain control and revert to human behavior. It was akin to a monster fearing its own humanity, a humanity that regarded it as an enemy.
Engulfed in internal turmoil, the creature raced past the man destined to discover the gruesome scene. The man sported a t-shirt emblazoned with the words, 'henchmen lives matter'.
Leaving behind an aura of dread and wet-dog odor, its padded steps and claw clicks resonating like rustling leaves, the creature dripped blood as it darted away. The scent of horror lingered, accompanied by its fearsome presence. As the invisible dog continued on its path, it unintentionally left behind drops of blood, a gruesome trail.
The man's day culminated in a profoundly haunting moment as he encountered the disemboweled body of the security guard. Gasping in horror, the man with the inappropriate t-shirt stumbled upon the scene.
As the first responder arrived, the security guard's life clung by a thread. He spoke, his words laden with madness, addressing the man who had crossed paths with the invisible dog.
"Dog took dog, eats dog. Eats us. Eats us to death." he uttered, his eyes reflecting unspeakable horror before succumbing to his injuries.
Thus, the cycle of brutality perpetuated by the invisible dog continued, leaving behind a wake of terror and despair.