Desolate The Complete Trilogy

24



It stood about four feet tall but only because it appeared to be hunched over. If it stood on its hind legs, it would have been twice that. There were six appendages - two long hind legs with hoofed feet, two thin front legs with three long toes each, and two arms which appeared to have the sole purpose of killing.

On the end of the right arm was a long black barb or stinger. That’s what stabbed Carl clean through his back. On the left arm was the large claw. The claw, dripping with Carl’s blood, continually clicked open and closed.

As terrifying as the lobster claw from hell was, it was the thing’s head that really turned Howard’s blood into ice water. It had a long beak-like face with large nostrils rapidly opening and closing as the thing breathed. Below the beak was a set of mandibles with razor sharp teeth. The mandibles opened and closed and a horrible low clucking sound escaped from the mouth as a pointy tongue darted in and out. Two large black eyes, sunken deep into the grey skull, completed the package. They stared at Howard. Unmoving and unblinking.

Howard took a step back and tripped on the fire extinguisher he just dropped. The beast released a loud squeal and took a few cautious steps towards him. Howard scrambled back to his feet and ran down the hallway after Liz. The exterior door was open at the end of the hall and he escaped into the frigid darkness.

He instantly regretted not taking a few seconds to put his shoes on earlier, as he ran through the crusty snow and ice in stocking feet. Fifty yards from the main compound sat large shed next to the helicopter pad. Howard could make out Liz through the darkness as she struggled with the shed door. She finally got it open and disappeared inside. He tripped and fell, rose to his feet again, and glanced behind him. The creature had just emerged from the compound and was following him.

Howard reached the locked door and pounded on it with a frozen fist. He pleaded for Liz to open the door but was greeted by silence from the other side. The creature was closing in. It wasn’t exactly running, it was steadily lurching forward as if in pain or having difficulty moving through the snow.

He ran around to the other side of the shed and found an unlocked door. He entered and was face to face with Liz, holding a crowbar at the ready. Howard ducked a second before Liz swung it at his head, just missing him by inches. She swung again and the crowbar hit his left shoulder. The pain in his arm was excruciating, but the adrenalin did its job and he was able to evade another blow.

He raised his right hand and tried to back away. “Stop, please! I’m not going to hurt you!”

The look in Liz’s eyes was pure hatred as she raised the crowbar again, ready to strike. “What in the hell is that thing? Who are you?”

“I’m not a guard, I’m an inmate. And I have no idea what that thing is. I think it must have followed us from the prison camp. Please, put that down. I swear, I’m not going to hurt you, but that thing is right behind me outside.”

“Why did you come here?” She was crying now, but still ready to strike with crowbar. “Why didn’t you just leave us alone?”

“I’m sorry. I had no idea what Carl was capable of. I know you don’t trust me, but please believe me when I say I was going to do everything in my power to stop him from hurting you. But right now, what’s important is that thing out there. That monster, alien, whatever it is, is going to kill us unless we work together.”

Silence.

Howard clutched his shoulder and risked a step forward. “Please, Liz.”

She motioned with her head towards the other side of the room. “I saw a couple of long pipes over there, I think. What we could really use is that gun your friend had.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call him a friend.” Her icy stare bore into him and she said nothing. “Never mind.” Howard picked up one of the pipes. It was about four feet long and made of iron. Definitely bludgeon worthy.

A loud slam on the door made them both jump. It was immediately followed by another. Howard raised the pipe, grimaced at the pain in his shoulder, and moved closer to Liz.

The door crashed open and the thing burst into the shed. It ran straight at Liz. She swung the crow bar, point down, and it dug deep into its back. The creature squealed in pain and lashed out with its claw. Liz was knocked to the floor and Howard swung his pipe. His aim was off and the pipe only grazed the side of the creature’s head. The pipe hit the floor hard and Howard lost his grip.

He felt an odd tugging in his abdomen and looked down, shocked to see the creature’s stinger had thrusted into his gut. Liz jumped at the monster, grabbed the bloody crowbar, and twisted it deeper into its back. The thing squealed again and pulled its stinger out of Howard.

Howard screamed in pain and clutched his abdomen. He attempted to take a few steps away from the monster, but his knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor.

Liz held the crowbar once again and was having a standoff with the creature. It was clearly hurt and kept a cautious distance from Liz. It squealed in anger and lashed out with its claw. It moved into position between her and Howard on the floor.

“Howard!”

He lay motionless with his back to her.

“Howard, get up!”

She swung the crowbar a couple times and the creature flinched backwards. “Get back!”

Howard slowly got to his knees, clutching his stomach with one hand. Liz was backed into the corner, swinging the crowbar, but the creature was growing impatient and advanced closer.

Howard was losing strength fast and darkness crept into the corners of his vision. He reached a large metal jerry can on the floor by the wall and fumbled with the cap. He managed to get it open despite his slippery and bloody hands and was greeted by the strong odor he was hoping for. Kerosene. He reached into his pocket and was relieved to feel the cigarette lighter Carl threw away was still there.

“Hey a*shole,” he yelled at the thing. It looked away from Liz and squealed at Howard.

“Come on you piece of shit! Come get me!” He poured some of the kerosene on the floor in front of him. “Run Liz! Get the hell out of here!”

The monster charged at Howard. He lifted the can and started to pour just as the monster reached him. Kerosene splashed onto its face and it shook its head violently back and forth. Its claws scraped at its face as the kerosene burned its eyes and nose. Howard dropped the can and the rest of the contents gushed out on to the floor.

Howard took the lighter from his pocket. He felt as if he had no remaining strength to get his thumb to ignite it. He tried once. Twice. He fell to his knees and tried a third time. The small flame miraculously appeared and Howard held the lighter to the kerosene covered floor in front of him.