The sun was sinking quickly behind the thick wall of pines. Only then could the hunter come out, when darkness fell to cover and hide the stalking predator. And in just a few more minutes, darkness would cover the land.

“I really think we should have taken that turn back there.” Gloria Franklin chided her husband, squinting her eyes as she looked out into the darkness. Curled up in her lap snoozed a contented Yorkshire terrier.

“Nah.” Her husband replied. “I know right where we are. Now stop nagging me, woman, and let me concentrate!”

“How can you know where we are when we’ve never been here before?” Gloria retorted in a huff. “You wouldn’t admit you were lost if we were hip deep in snow and saw a sign saying Welcome to the North Pole!”

“I ain’t admitting I’m lost because I AIN’T lost!” Joe snapped irritably. “When have I ever gotten us lost?”

“Well, there was that time when we went to you’re mother’s new home. Then there was our daughter’s wedding. And let’s not forget-”

“That question was rhetorical!” Joe interrupted. “You weren’t supposed to answer! Besides, I didn’t get us lost those times, I was just-”

“Look out!” Gloria cried, pointing at a limping shape in the middle of the road while grabbing the small dog in her lap with her other arm. Her husband stomped on the brake as the figure froze in the oncoming headlights, staring at the car dumbly. The car finally halted just inches from the figure. For several long seconds, no one moved. Finally the figure standing in the headlights scurried over to the driver’s side window.

As Joe rolled down his window, the figure, who turned out to be a young man, stuck his head inside. “Hey. Hey. Hey there.” He spoke in clipped, excited tones. “Can I, can I get a ride?” There were smudges of dirt across the young man’s face and his pale blue eyes looked wild. His clothes were tattered and dirty as if he had been in the wilderness for several weeks.

“Why sure, son. Hop on in!” Joe replied amiably, tossing his thumb over his shoulder to indicate the back seat. “You look like something the mutt dragged in!”

Gloria chewed her bottom lip hesitantly as she looked at her husband of 47 years. In her lap, the dog stared suspiciously at the stranger, letting out a short but shrill warning bark. “Dear, do you really think that’s wise? I mean…” She let the sentence fade as the young man climbed into the back and shut the door behind him. The dog barked again as the door closed but then went silent.

“Sure, it’ll be fine!” Joe exclaimed before setting the car back in motion again. He glanced at the rearview mirror at the disheveled youth before returning his gaze to the road. “So what happened to you? Get lost out there?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s it. Lost.” The young man replied, looking out the back window. “Lost. Lost. Don’t wanna be found.”

“Your family must be terribly worried about you, dear.” Gloria spoke softly as she looked back at the odd passenger and petting the suspicious dog. “Would you like us to drop you off at a gas station or something with a payphone so you can call someone?”

“Yeah. Sure.” The strange young man replied, still looking out the windows as if seeking something.

Gloria shot her husband a look, but he ignored her, focusing on the small slice of road that was visible in the headlights, determined not to hit anything or anyone else that might be lurking in the darkness.

“I’m Gloria Franklin, by the way.” Gloria spoke to the young man, wanting to fill the silence that had settled over the car. “And this is my husband Joe. And this cute little guy is Tootsie. We’re trying to find our way to our oldest daughter’s house in Washington. Our Grandson, Mark, is graduating in two days. I can’t believe he’s gotten so big! Unfortunately, grandpa here got us lost again and won’t admit it.”

“Damn it, woman! I already said we ain’t lost! I know exactly where we are!”

“But don’t worry, dear. We’ll reach the main road again eventually. What should I call you, by the way?”

The young man finally turned to look at the older woman. His pale blue eyes were piercing and hostile as he stared at her silently for several moments before answering, causing Gloria to shift uncomfortably. “Call me Raze.” He finally answered.

Silence once again fell over the car as Gloria decided that she’d made enough small talk and looked back out the windshield, reaching down to turn on the radio. Tootsie, the yorkie, continued to stare suspiciously at the stranger.

“-and police have set up checkpoints on all roads coming in or out of the town, but still have not had any luck in finding the escaped serial murderer, Raymond “the Razor” Alton. If you see anyone matching his description, do NOT approach, I repeat, do NOT approach, he is to be considered armed and dangerous. Contact the police immediately. His physical description again is-”

“Bah! News. I hate the news, couldn’t you find us some music?” Joe demanded, reaching down to tap the seek button without taking his eyes from the road. After several attempts, he finally found a station playing classic rock. “Ah, that’s better.”

Gloria shot him a look, but once again he failed to notice. “Dear, that was an important news bulletin. We should have kept listening to it, after all, what if we met up with this Raymond character?” She resisted the urge to glance into the back seat.

“Bah! You worry too much.” Joe replied, slowing the car as he approached a blind corner. “Those guys tend to have escape plans that they make years in advance. By the time the cops know their missing, they’re half-way to Mexico.”

“You’ve been watching too many old movies.” Gloria complained, but decided further argument would be pointless. She looked out the passenger side window, but there was only darkness and her own worried reflection to greet her. “I just hope we don’t meet that fellow on such a dark night. Especially being lost like we-”

“We are not lost!” Joe interrupted angrily, almost shouting. “We’ll be back on the main road in no time!”

“And by then we’ll be late for the graduation ceremony!” Gloria retorted just as angrily. “Really, now, when are you going to just buy a GPS? Or even a decent map?”

“Don’t need em!” Joe snapped, lowering his head to look out the windshield. “I know exactly where I am! Now shut it, woman, and let me concentrate!”

Gloria gave a derisive snort, but let the subject drop. Thinking himself a far superior navigator than he truly was, Joe always got lost any time he went further than his home town. Although he never admitted it. According to him, he always knew exactly where he was. It was an old argument.

Turning away, she looked out of the passenger window again, using the reflected surface to try and peek at the passenger without notice, but as soon as she saw his face reflected against the glass, he turned his head, his piercing blue eyes staring at her, and she couldn’t help but gasp ad turn away. How had he known she was looking at him? After several long moments, she glanced over her shoulder into the back seat, meeting his gaze almost immediately. And then he smiled. His smile was thin and unpleasant, but it carried his message clearly. He now knew that she was aware of his identity.

“So, um…Raze, dear, how, uh, how did you end up lost out here anyway?” She asked, wishing her voice did not sound so weak and nervous.

The young man’s smile grow wider, showing just the hint of teeth. “I just walked too far away, I guess.” He replied. “And now they can’t find me. Won’t never find me unless I tell them where I am.”

The small dog’s soft growl drew Raze’s eyes away from the woman, and he seemed to notice the terrier for the first time. He returned the dog’s stare with a dangerous glare of his own, increasing Gloria’s own nervousness. “There there, now Tootsie.” She crooned, cradling the small dog and petting it reassuringly. Her voice was weak and shaky with a growing fear. “That’s not very nice to growl at that poor young man.” But the dog refused to be silenced and continued to growl, occasionally giving a high, yap to emphasize it’s point.

“Never did like dogs.” Raze mumbled softly, still glaring furiously at Tootsie. “Especially small, rat-sized ones.”

“Never been fond of that little mutt myself.” Joe piped up, his face almost against the steering wheel as he struggled to see the road that was swiftly fading into a dirt road. “Told her we don’t need a dog, but she said she wanted something to protect her when I’m not around, and make her feel safe at night. So what does she get? A tiny little mutt smaller than my hand. HA!”

Gloria scowled at her husband, a snappy retort ready on her tongue, when suddenly a loud bang filled the air and the car lurched to the side, nearly smashing into a tree as Joe fought the wheel for control. After skidding bumpily for several feet, the car finally came to a halt.

“What was that?!” Gloria demanded, Tootsie barking loudly while trying to wriggle free of her tight grip. In her peripheral vision she saw that Raze was looking even more angry than before, his hand buried in his pocket.

“Damn tire blew out.” Joe replied grumpily. He put the car in park and turned off the engine. “You two wait here. I’ll go take care of it.”

“I’ll come too.” Gloria said anxiously, reaching for the door while still struggling to keep the furiously barking yorkie under control. “I’ll hold the flashlight or-”

“Nah, just stay here. I’ll get it done quicker without you jumping at every damn shadow out there.” As he climbed out of the car, his door closed with a sense of finality, leaving Gloria alone with the young man, with only her small, angry dog between them.

Raze’s earlier smile had transformed into an ugly snarl, baring his own small, pointed teeth. His eyes were narrowed to furious slits as he looked right at the tiny dog. “Could you silence that damn rat-dog?” He spoke softly, his voice barely more than a growl, his misshapen teeth giving him a strange, almost monstrous appearance.

Gloria looked frantically out of the window, catching a faint glimpse of her husband as he opened the trunk, then he was once more swallowed by the surrounding darkness. Frantically, Gloria began petting the anxious dog, making ineffective hushing noises. Ignoring her, Tootsie continued to yap and snarl while struggling to get loose from Gloria’s grip.

Cloaked in darkness, golden eyes watched the stranded car. The activity within drew the attention of the watcher. Pointed ears perked forward, listening, hearing, and understanding every word.

Tootsie’s barking became more and more shrill the more Gloria tried to silence the animal, which continued ignoring soothing words and commands for silence. “SHUT UP THAT STUPID DOG!” Raze yelled, jerking his hand from his pocket and holding it forward. “OR I’LL GOD DAMN WELL DO IT MYSELF!”

Gloria cried out in surprise, finally grabbing the small dog’s muzzle and holding it tightly while jerking the dog further away from the young man’s reach. “That’s completely unnecessary!” Gloria cried out, her voice just as shrill as that of the dog. “And I will not have you threatening me or my dog, young man! Joe! JOE!”

“SHUT UP, YOU OLD WINDBAG! JUST…SHUT….UP!!!” Raze’s lips pulled back in a snarl of hateful rage. He lunged forward and Gloria could see a flash of metal before the blade of the knife was pressed against her neck. The smooth metal felt strangely warm, as if it had a life of it’s own.

Gloria gasped and felt her throat tighten in terror, her voice reduced to a mere squeak. Her grasp over the terrier also loosened in her fear, allowing the small dog to break free of her grip and launch itself at the stranger. Tiny but sharp teeth closed on Raze’s hand with a snap, causing him to scream in pain and drop the knife. He shook his arm, sending the dog flying against the windshield. Tootsie let out a loud yelp before collapsing to the dashboard and sliding into the vacant driver’s seat.

“TOOTSIE!” Gloria squeaked, grabbing the small dog and cuddling it closely against her chest. “Just you wait until Joe gets back, you hooligan! Then you’ll be sorry for this!”

Raze growled angrily, clutching his bitten hand while bright crimson blood boiled out from beneath his fingers. “God damn I hate dogs!” He snarled venomously, reaching down and patting the floor for his dropped knife. “I’ll deal with that old fart when he gets done with the damn tire. First, though, I think I’ll just kill you and that stupid mutt! Maybe that will keep you quiet!” Feeling something hard and round in the darkness, he grasped it and lifted it up high enough for him to see it.

The object turned out to be a flashlight. It looked to be in almost new condition. “Damn old fool forgot this here, didn’t he.” Raze commented, a sneer crossing his face, then fading as a new thought suddenly bloomed in his mind like a late flower. Renewing his effort, he reached down again and found his knife before sitting back up in the seat. The woman was cowering in her seat, pushing against the restraining straps of her seatbelt to get herself as far from the young man as possible, the dizzy-looking terrier once more clutched tightly in her arms.

Raze glanced out the windows, but there was nothing but darkness on all sides. No flickers of light. No sounds of a tire being replaced. Only the hard panting and whimpers of the old woman and tiny dog. Something was wrong. Had the old fool gone running off through the woods looking for help? Raze knew there would be no dog teams searching for him, not yet, only when the roadblocks failed. But how far away were they from those?

“Don’t need no damn witnesses.” He growled angrily, gripping the blade of the pocket knife tightly so that the slick blood coating his palm would not make it slip. “Gonna kill you and then go find that crazy old man.”

He turned again to the old woman, his lips pulling back from his odd teeth as he began again to lunge at Gloria, who began to scream.

A sudden tapping at the window stopped him. For a second he remained frozen, the old woman’s pleading ringing loudly in his ears. But then the tapping came again, the soft, insistent knocking of nails on glass. Slowly, nervously, Raze turned to look at the window, half expecting to see a cop with gun drawn and pointed at him. Instead, all he saw was a shadow that somehow seemed to be a darker shadow than the rest of the night. When the knocking came a third time, Raze leaned back into the back seat, perplexed, and fumbled around for the flashlight, unwilling to move his eyes away from the shadow. When he found it, he lifted it slowly, pointing at the window with an unsteady hand before finally clicking it on.

A pair of large, golden eyes stared back at him, black pupils shrinking as the light struck them. A large muzzle with hooked, pearly teeth seemed to smile at him in the flashlight’s weak beam. And then Raze saw the long, terrible claws shimmering in the light as they tapped at the window again.

Raze screamed in horror and flung the flashlight at the window, which bounced harmlessly off the glass before clattering down to the floor, illuminating his feet. A loud, low snarl filtered in through the glass as the beast outside snarled, it’s long, talon-like claws scraping at the glass. Raze held out the small knife as if it could protect him from the monster outside, pressing his body hard against the opposite door, while reaching behind him with his other hand, searching for the handle. If he could just make a run for it, the old lady would be much easier prey, and just might be a suitable distraction for the beast.

But Gloria was faster. Snapping off her seatbelt, she shoved open her own door and bolted out of the car, disappearing into the surrounding darkness and taking the dog with her. As she ran, the beast seemed to disappear as well.

Raze hoped that whatever the creature was, that it was now chasing the old woman and would be too preoccupied to bother with him as he slipped away. He had always considered himself the predator, the hunter, and he did not enjoy the role reversal in the slightest.

Suddenly his fingers grasped the door handle and jerked. The door, with his weight pressed fully against it, flung open, sending Raze tumbling clumsily out into the night.

It took several seconds for him to regain his equilibrium before he was able to rise to his feet, but once he was up he took off at a full run, unmindful of the trees and various bushes and plants in his way. At first he thought the noise he heard was his own, crashing noisily through the undergrowth, but then he realized he was being pursued! And the pursuer was huge, lumbering through the same trail Raze was taking. Knowing he shouldn’t but unable to stop himself, Raze looked back over his shoulder as he ran, catching a glimpse of a large shadow before he tripped over an upraised root and fell sprawling to the ground.

Gloria shivered as she ran from the car, the skin of her neck tingling in memory of the blade that had been pressed so recently against it. Tootsie stayed silent as she clutched the small dog tightly to her chest, stopping to hide behind a nearby tree. Just as she made her way to her hiding spot, she heard another of the car’s doors opening and the sound of Raze spilling out and onto the ground, then scrambling away into the surrounding woods.

Gloria let herself slump to the ground, still leaning her back against the tree as she listened helplessly to the sounds of pursuit, the beast giving a dreadful roar as it skirted around the car to give chase. The creature crashed loudly and carelessly through the undergrowth, then came the thump of a body hitting the ground.

Gloria cringed as she heard the young man scream, but the scream was abruptly cut off, replaced by a ripping noise that was followed by a wet plop. A heavy, almost tangible silence seemed to fall, causing Gloria’s ears to strain for the smallest of sounds, but what she heard next made her clap her hands over her ears, trying to block out the soft noise, pretending she was not actually hearing what she thought, because she thought it sounded like chewing.

It felt like hours before Gloria felt a presence before her and let her hands slowly drift back down to her lap, where the terrier rested uneasily. She looked up, but could only see a large, mountainous shadow that seemed to be darker than those surrounding it. Slowly, the shadow approached, allowing her a better look at the beast itself.

Thick grey fur covered a crouching body that seemed to be an over-muscular caricature of a human form, with lengthened arms ending in long, cruel-looking claws. Shorter, but still sharp claws adorned the beast’s feet, which her closer to those of a wolf or large dog than a man, but with longer toes. As it lowered it’s head, staring at her with large, golden eyes that almost seemed to glow in the limited light, she could see it’s large, wolf-like muzzle, filled with large, vicious teeth. Pink-tinted froth lined the creature’s curled lips while thick droplets of blood seemed to congeal on the tuft of fur at it’s chin. It’s large nose glistened wetly, large nostrils widening as it inhaled.

Tootsie, finally seeming to gather it’s wits, gave another of it’s high, yammering barks, making the beast shift it’s attention to the small mutt, it’s lips curling back as a rumbling growl emitted from it’s throat. As the tiny terrier continued to bark at the monster, Gloria saw the beast open it’s large mouth and tense, preparing to spring forward.

“Joseph Alfred Franklin!” Gloria screeched angrily, reaching out and smacking the top of the large beast’s head with the flat of her palm. “You will stop tormenting my dog this very INSTANT!”

The beast’s jaws snapped shut and it let out and angry roar, lifting it’s head to stare accusingly at it’s attacker, one long foreleg raising as a claw was extended to point at the small dog.

“I don’t care how much you dislike Tootsie! You will mind yourself!” Gloria raised her hand in warning, prepared to smack the beast again should he prove to be stubborn.

The creature growled again, then lowered it’s foreleg, pushing itself up to it’s full height and towering over the old woman, but she watched the beast without fear, and soon it began to shrink in size, it’s claws retracting into it’s thick fingers, arms shortening while legs straightened. The thick grey fur seemed to fall away and leaving a ring of course hair. The long, angular muzzle seemed to soften and pull back into the figure’s head, reforming an all too human face. Within half a minute, a nude Joe blinked down grumpily at his wife. “Put your damn arm down, woman! What’d yah go an hit me for?!”

“You were going to eat Tootsie!” Gloria protested, accepting his offered hand as he helped her back to her feet.

“I was not!” Joe protested, turning away and walking back toward the car. “I just wanted to scare him a little. Annoying little mutt.”

“Like you scared that young man?” Gloria replied accusingly. “Did you really have to EAT him? Really now, I thought you said you weren’t going to do that anymore.”

“That was different!” Joe snapped, retrieving his clothes from the trunk of the car. “He was threatening to kill you. Couldn’t take the risk of him coming back some day to finish the job, you know. Now go wait in the car for me with the mutt while I get this tire changed.”

“I hope this isn’t going to make us late to Mark’s graduation.” Gloria sighed. “We still have a long way to go and we’re still lost.”

“How many times I got to tell you, we ain’t lost!” Joe snapped irritably. “We’re almost at the end of this here road and then we’ll be right back on the highway. Would have saved us a whole hour had it not been for that damn kid. He set us back a bit. But we’re going to get there on time! I know-”

“Exactly where we are. I’ve heard that one before. Just change the tire, Columbus. Maybe the hotel hasn’t given away our reservations yet.” It was an old argument. Gloria knew they would be late, as usual. But someone would videotape the ceremony for her to watch later, and there was still the after-party that they would be able to attend.

To this day, the police have never managed to recapture Raymond “the Razor“ Alton. He is suspected to be hiding somewhere in Mexico, confirmed by occasional reports of false sightings.

© Melody Hewson