Night of the Hell Hound

Gasping, desperate breaths.

Is it gaining? Has it given up?

Too much overwhelming fear to glance back and check.

A sudden feeling of weightlessness

As wind rushes by straining ears

And the dark soil of the earth

Comes forth to greet wide, terrified eyes.

Air rushing out of tired lungs

Upon a hard and rocky impact.

Consumed in hopelessness,

The eyes now turn to meet their fate.

A cynical, wolfish grin

As it trots up calmly,

now sure that its belly will be filled tonight.

Glowing, evil eyes draw closer

And a pink, moist tongue darts out

And engulfs the neck.

Cold, yet still warm saliva coats the trembling skin.

It's white, saber-like teeth grip the neck gently,

Teasing.

Then, swift as lighting,

The jaws have ripped through the soft,

Delicate flesh.

Again, that grin.

The grin fills the fading sight.

Then dark, liquid blood,

Slowly pooling around its feet.

Finally,

Blessed darkness.

It listens as the last beat of the heart resonates

In the quiet night.

Pleased that it may now dine peacefully,

It steps forward,

But then

Freezes,

stock still.

More prey is coming.

There are too many.

It must abandon its prize.

The corpse is found

And vicious shouts of anger and anguish alike

Are raised to the empty sky.

Soon its food is stolen as the group of prey leaves

With the thought that they are safe;

Its blood lust satisfied.

But glowing eyes peer

Hungrily

From the forest at the retreating figures.

Fear.

For the night of the Hell Hound has begun.