Amber immediately took a step backwards. Raven was fighting it, fighting the canine inside of him that wanted to kill her. Again. And even though she knew its intention, she didn't want to leave Raven alone to suffer.
"Are you scared?" he or it asked.
"Not as much as you'd want."
"That's a mistake."
"Stop it."
"You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
The tone was menacing, and even in broad daylight, a shiver ran down Amber's spine. Day or night, she was outmatched. This dumb dog was just toying with her. It had been awakened by their passion. It knew exactly who she was, and it wanted to take her from Raven again. His life had to be miserable, always, for the canine to be satisfied.
The dog was beginning to win. Raven's teeth and nails grew longer, as during his first change, but it didn't stop there this time. It had become more powerful. Raven tore off his clothes in a fit of madness, and as his body contorted, Amber recognized that this was the most vulnerable he'd be until he was fully transformed. She grabbed a rock with a shaking hand and hit him hard on the back of the head.
Raven slumped to the ground, naked, half-changed. She checked to make sure that he was still breathing, then she dragged him into the tent and zipped the flap, intending to leave the wood for now and do what she did best--research and problem solving. She had to get this dog out of him. But then she heard a twig break near her, and she whirled around immediately. The sight shocked her.
"Jasmine?" she breathed.
Her friend looked awful. The blond was dirty and shaking, but Amber could still see the blue highlighter in her hair. She hadn't been to the dorm. She looked terrified. What had she seen?
"Amber. Thank God."
Maybe she hadn't seen anything.
"What's wrong?"
"There's um...There's a...I don't know."
Her eyes were wide, disbelieving. Amber glanced behind her. Did this have to do with Raven?
"Where were you last night?"
"Here. I stayed with Paul. We went skinnydipping. And then..."
"Oh, no."
Amber looked to the water.
"I don't know what happened. I think he's...dead. What do I do? I can't go back. Thank God you're here."
Amber hugged her friend tightly. Apparently her leg had been the lake monster's appetizer. Paul had been the meal. Another shiver ran down Amber's spine.
"He must have drowned. Got caught on a rock or something," she suggested.
"No. No, there was something down there." Jasmine eyed the lake, terror etched in her pretty features.
"Well, there's nothing we can do right now except go back--"
Amber was trying desperately to move the girl away from the campsite, which she hadn't seemed to notice yet in her current state.
"No!" Jasmine cut her off. "I don't know...what to tell them."
"But you can't hide here forever."
"I know. I know that."
This was hopeless. How could she convince Jasmine to go with her?
"Then we won't go back. But we have to go somewhere."
Jasmine nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Amber grabbed her friend's hand and was ready to lead her to the waiting motorcycle when there was a low growl and, with a scream, her friend was gone. Amber whirled around, trying to find Raven. She knew instantly that he was at fault. Jasmine was knocked to the ground but stood and began running away from them, through the woods, towards the shore. Raven tore after her, on all fours, more dog than human now.
"Raven!" Amber screamed after him.
Her injured leg slowed her down, and by the time she reached them, Raven had Jasmine against the shore, forcing her to choose between two monsters. Amber could do nothing more than scream his name again before he lunged.
Check out this week's other flashers!
Julie Hayes (m/m)
Lindsay Klug (m/f)
http://www.ichbineinteufel.blogspot.com/
http://www.ichbineinteufel.blogspot.com/
Lily Sawyer (m/m)
Sui Lynn (m/m)
Ryssa Edwards (m/m)
This is getting so exciting! I can't wait to see what happens! Great installment, Heather!
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