Hunted by the Beast

empty, save for a few early risers walking dogs or jogging in the crisp morning air. Emma sat in her kitchen

ghts. The growl. The howl. The man. His dark eyes, like they held secrets she wasn't ready

sa

had he warned her? And why ha

dwelling on it. She had to get back to life, to normalcy. She had her bookstore to run. But the strange feel

her grandmother had left her. The familiar sight of the kitchen, the smells of fresh coffee, the warm glow

pulling her out of her

. Meet me at the dine

about last night. But Lily was persistent. They'd been best friends for years, and she could always tell wh

she typed a

be there i

the walk. It was the only way she could clear her mind. The cool morning air hit her fac

The houses lined the streets in neat rows, each one identical to the next, with small yards and manicured lawns. It wa

ht had chang

in the dim light. He hadn't looked like a normal person. He'd looked like something... else. She shook her head. Maybe it was just her m

filled with the usual morning crowd. It was the heart of the town, where everyone gathered for coffee, gos

hair pulled into a messy ponytail. She was scrolling through her

up to give Emma a quick hug. "I was s

as if she was carrying a weight she couldn't shake. She sli

ng weird all day. Are you okay?" Lily

bout the creeping fear that had taken root in her chest. It sounded crazy, ev

t. I can't explain it, but... I think I heard some

"What do you mean? Like

t not like anything I've ever heard before. It sounded-" She faltered, str

ou've been working late lately, and it's easy to get worked up. Maybe it was ju

ding at the edge of the woods. And he-he looked at me like he knew s

n the woods? Em, this sounds like something out of a movie. Are you sure you didn't

something off about him. His eyes-they glowed. And his voice... It wasn't no

oes it all mean? I'm not saying you're not telling the truth, but it just doesn't add up. Are y

o believe her, but it was clear she didn't. Lily was the practical one, the ske

both ordered coffee, the conversation temporarily paused. Em

when we were kids?" Emma asked suddenly. "About thin

the old-timers used to whisper about? You

But last night felt real. It felt li

going. "Em, I think you need to let it go. It's just your mind running wil

an's warning was real, if the howl was a sign of something danger

ves swirl in the breeze. The town looked peaceful-too peaceful. And yet, she couldn't h

it. But she had a feeling it was co