The beast was as tall as a man, standing on its hind legs. Were it not for the heavy fur covering every inch of it, I'd mistake the smell of sewage and alcohol for a man down on his luck.

  Staring at it, I realized Old Man Ade was right all along. He ranted about such monsters every day, a true believer in the unexplainable. His raspy voice echoed in my mind as I took in the beast:

  "You'd not believe what I've seen over the years, young man. None of these night shifts have ever seen me tire; the ghosts've kept me awake and alert."

  I... I think it sees me.

  Everything was silent. I couldn't move. It opened its maw, revealing bloody, half-rotten human teeth and a slimy, writhing tongue. The beast screamed in a voice that was startlingly human: "HELP ME!" My skin crawled. I tasted metal. My vision darkened. I could only think of one thing... I turned and bolted into the dark forest.

  Between the towering trees I finally saw light—I was saved! I sprinted to my van and slapped my hand against the cold, wet metal, sucking in my first real breath since running. I scoured my pockets for the keys.

  Empty.

  I left them inside. My heart dropped to my stomach. I pulled maddeningly on the handle, but nothing gave way. It was locked tight. Behind me the woods were dead silent. Did it not chase me? I looked towards the dark forest, and the trees stared back at me.

  I rubbed the fog off the glass, peering inside.

  There! The keys were in the ignition!

  I should be able to get in from the back of the van—I always left it open for deliveries. I walked over from the front driver's side door to the back and opened the barn doors. I took my first step inside, when something struck the side of the van with so much force that I was thrown onto the metal wall.

  Crack.

  My left arm snapped out of place. My head was spinning and my chest flared up from the hit. I groaned as I tried to take a breath, and looking up at the gaping hole on the side of the van, my vision was blurry.

  A massive dark figure loomed in front of me, barely inside. It was smiling. The wind ceased to blow and my vision was drawn to its deformed mouth. It stretched beyond its jaw and up to the eyes, a void of black in which my own reflection stared back at me.

  I scrambled to my feet, picking up the first thing I found—a fire extinguisher—and bludgeoned the beast. One of its hooves retreated outside the van, and taking the opportunity I leaped to the front driver's seat, started the engine, pushed into gear and hit the throttle. The van flew forwards, gluing my back to the seat.

  The rear of the van was as empty as before, and the cold punctured my heavy jacket. What the hell was that thing? And—agh! My arm! The pain was vicious—a saw cutting into my side.

  The drive continued quietly, save for the chopper-like whooshing made by the giant hole in the back. My thoughts were completely scattered, it was freezing but the pain stung harsher than the cold.

  I hadn't noticed, but it was snowing, and the flakes were colored blue by the moonlight. Pain did not leave me on the road to the hospital and the drive seemed endless. My mind denied the nightmarish beast space, and gave way to the clamor of the whirring van. A wave of peace washed over me, and there was no more pain. I smiled.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Everything went dark.

  Wait—where am I? I was driving to the hospital and—the beast. Its smile— I remember.

  My eyes tore open and I found myself situated in the back of the van, set next to the metal wall. The barn doors were still open; I was shivering and my arm was worse for wear than I remember. The hole wasn't there anymore. How much time had passed? My watch was stuck at 12. What was this? What happened?

  I heard footsteps outside the van, and my heart began to thunder in my chest. Outside it was wet, the dirt had turned to mud and the rain was unceasing. I thought I had seen snow just now?

  "David!" a manly voice sounded out.

  The footsteps gave way to a light splash and I made out the figure of a short, stocky man with no hair. That could only be Old Man Ade!

  "Ade! What happened? You were right! All along it was true!" I shouted.

  Ade seemed to not hear me. He placed his hand on my shoulder, and I shot up, screaming in agony.

  "Ugh, I knew better than to let you run this route."

  He pushed his shoulder forwards and whipped around a large hiking pack, withdrawing a small metal kit plastered with all sorts of green and red stickers that depicted crosses and medicines. Moving to undo the string holding the box closed, he stole a brief look at me.

  The kit contained many small contraptions, a few of which I recognized: a sand hourglass, an older, silver thermometer, a sort of level that had degrees inscribed on it, which I could discern due to Ade's shaking hands, a compass, bell, candle and many other, mostly analog instruments of measurement or survival.

  Shortly after the box was open, one of the instruments in a lower part of the box produced a screech to the rhythm of a slow metronome. Ade shuffled through the box and removed the screeching tool. Once retracted, Ade stuck it on my skin, and I had such a fright when it erupted in a continuous shout, as the one you'd hear from a whistle, or a flat-lined patient.

  "What is this, Ade? Why's it shouting?" I questioned, my heartbeat starting.

  Ade’s mouth broke into a smirk. "No worries, young sport. Just a little test to see how you fared up..."

  My eyes darted over to my skin, which was evidently covered by ash, painting me gray. The dust did not leave my clothes unsoiled…

  Wait.

  "Ade—What is all this? Get it off me!" I took my shirt off and started attacking the ash, pushing the gadget off— what's happened here!?

  Ade took a deep breath, his eyebrows gently hovering over his eyes. He seemed unfazed.

  "There's no use smoothing over it now, David. I'm sorry for your arm, but..."

  Ade trailed off, picking up the fallen instrument. A beautiful silk tissue appeared in his hand, interwoven with gold accents. He started wiping the few mud drops off the glass tool.

  A massive wave of dizziness pushed me to the ground, and the last thing I saw was Ade’s dirty tissue cleaning itself, turning back into a perfect, untainted platinum white.

  What?

  I saw darkness only for a moment, before massive, bright letters ingrained themselves into my mind.

  { DISTURBANCE DETECTED. }

  { ASSIMILATION WITH ‘LUPINE REALITY DUST' IMMINENT. }

  { DO YOU ACCEPT? }

  [YES] [NO]

  I frantically pressed [NO] with my mind.

  { REFUSAL ACKNOWLEDGED. CEASING BIOLOGICAL STASIS. }

  The numbness vanished. I felt a mountain strike me, a terrible weight pressing on my chest, a horrible compression cracking my bones. I could feel snapping in me, my lungs seized—I couldn’t breathe.

  { HOST VITALITY AT 4%. }

  { DO YOU ACCEPT?}

  [YES] [NO]

  YES! GOD PLEASE, YES!

  { DIMENSIONAL TRAIT ACQUIRED: Lunar Marrow }