FloatingFlames
Lovable Narcissist
Originally posted as my second one-shot, and my first serious one-shot as my first was really an introduction to writing battles, this piece is titled simply "Bloodthirsty" and is still probably my favorite one-shot. It has gore, but I hope that doesn't dissuade too many people from reading. I've added at least two pages of content and changed things around a bit, but no dramatic changes. I hope you enjoy, and I encourage those who read it a year ago (the only one I can really remember was Scrap >_>) to have fun reading through it a second time.
The light gently shimmered off the windows of the beautiful, pure white house and into my eyes, causing me to squint and quickly look away. Like always, it was a scorching summer day, the merciless sun blazing harshly in the cloudless sky for hours. There hadn’t been rain for weeks, months even, and the air was thick and choking. I would often spend hours lying out in the grass, now lifeless and sallow, panting heavily, staring up at the sky for some sign of moisture. The humidity was dense and unbearable, and often I would crawl under the miniscule overhang on the porch for a little shade in the backyard, which is where I lay today, but rarely did it help. But for a young boy, no more than seven years of age, the heat was of little worry.
He was carefree and constantly in his own world. The boy was rarely bothered by anything, and the humidity was no exception. Jet black hair lingering over his eyes, the child happily played in his sandbox, without a worry. His bright, lime green eyes reflected his optimistic personality perfectly, and without a doubt, he was one of those children who could be occupied for hours in something as simple as a pair of action figures.
“Zaggy!” The boy shouted joyously from his sandbox, beckoning me to him. That was my name – Zaggy – or at least that’s what he called me. Me, I didn’t mind either way; I had accepted the title acquiescently.
Rising from the shaded part of the porch, I trotted over to him on all fours, my thick fur causing me to pant more and more. I sat down on the small patch of dirt in front of the sandbox and looked up at him questioningly. A smile strewn across his face, he simply extended a hand and scratched behind my ear as I let out a playful yelp in satisfaction.
For Zachary, I was his only friend, just as he was mine. We lived in the middle of nowhere one might say; the closest town was quite a ways away from what I’d heard, and it was a small country town at that. That was where Zachary’s mother was at the time, picking up groceries, and Ryan, her boyfriend, was constantly out drinking, leaving only Zachary and I to play in the yard.
“Do you want to play, Zaggy?” Zachary asked.
Yelping happily again, I leaped over the small plastic railing and into the relatively large sandbox and hopped around, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. Covering his face, Zach coughed slightly and looked at me from beyond bright eyes.
“Maybe that’s not such a good idea, this sandbox doesn’t look big enough for both of us,” He chuckled heartily.
Leaping out, I vigorously shook the sand out of my fur and took a seat right next to the sandbox as Zach resumed playing. A cool breeze gently drifted by, and I smiled. Any breeze, no matter how slight, was very refreshing on a day like this. My throat was extremely dry though, I felt like I hadn’t drunk any water in days. I closed my eyes slowly, longing for a nice peaceful rest, hoping it would be cooler when I woke up.
However, my nap was interrupted not too long after I had closed my eyes when the backdoor to the house opened. My ears perking up, I looked up to see the figure of a tall middle-aged woman, her graying hair pulled out of her eyes. Despite the thick lines in her face, she was a very cheerful person, much like her son. In both hands were two grocery bags; she was obviously home from shopping.
“Zach, I’ve got food in the kitchen! I bought you some cookies like you asked; if you want a few before dinner they’ll be in the jar, honey. Ryan had to… get something…again… but he will be back later,” She called, trying to cover up her boyfriend’s drinking problem, which was typical.
Zach turned around with a large grin on his face and a glimmer in his bright green eyes. “Oh boy!” He shouted with glee, tossing his action figures aside. Instantly rising to his feet, he turned and tried to rush toward his mother, but he stumbled recklessly over the side of the sandbox, toppling onto the pavement.
“Oh my god, are you hurt, Zachary?” She set down the bags and rushed to Zach, as quickly as she could in her sandals. As she helped Zach to his feet, a bloody scrape up his leg became visible. The pavement, too, was stained in red, dripping sluggishly down the stone padio. I stared in a confused curiosity.
“We’re going to have to get you cleaned up, that doesn’t look good…” His mother spoke gently. I watched curiously as she caringly grasped his hand and guided the boy, who now had tears welling in his eyes, into the house.
My mouth was now burning, and my usual bowl was completely devoid of any water. I had no other choice earlier but to drink the searing liquid that had been heated by the burning sun. It had been better than nothing, but now there wasn’t drop to be seen; the bowl had been licked clean. The door to the house was closed now, and there was no way I could get inside. My eyes looked around for something, perhaps a bucket or pale of water that could quench my dying thirst just for a little while. My throat was on fire, dry as a searing desert.
My wandering eyes then fell upon the few drops of red blood that Zach had left upon the porch, glistening slightly in the unforgiving light of the sun. My mind instantly knew what I should do, but… I knew it wasn’t water, and I was sure it would taste terrible, but I felt like I would collapse at any moment. I sauntered over toward the droplets and lapped them up with one swipe of tongue, preparing my taste buds to be disgusted.
But instead, something bizarre happened, something I never would’ve thought. Unusual warmth swept over my body, enveloping it from head to toe in the most wonderful sensation I had ever felt. It wasn’t warmth like the heat of the sun; it was something on the inside. It was something indescribable; something words could not comprehend. Not only was the taste otherworldly, but the strange after effects were odd as well. I felt like I had entered pure warmth and satisfaction, like I could never feel any happier.
Fueled by the desire to experience this feeling again, I began to lick the stain itself once the droplets were gone, trying desperately to once more attain that bizarre ecstasy. It was too incredible and left me longing for more of it. Over and over I tried to get the blood out of the rock, but I just tasted cement. I halted and scurried over to my usual spot under the overhang, wondering about this mysterious taste and how I could have more of it.
My thoughts became soon became dreams as I drifted away, the parched grass making a warm bed for me. In my dreams I could taste it again, the delicious taste, although it was much more distant. My bowl was filled to the top, not with water, but with the pure liquid, and I drank unceasingly from it. My eyes gleamed with pleasure and contempt, but it soon passed and I was reluctantly pulled from my dream as the sun rose again to fill the day. Groaning quietly, I pulled myself up and shook away the leaves, then glanced around and began to trot around the garden.
Zachary’s mother was home, inside reading her book, leaving me and Zachary alone in the backyard again. She was often out on errands, but she always called home to check up on Zachary. Rarely did she leave for too long. Zach was usually always fine, but if she did happen to be gone too long, he would start to get nervous.
However, right now, Zach was in his sandbox as usual playing with his toys. I rose from my spot on the porch and paced along the yellowed grass. My mind, not to be distracted from what it was intent on, soon fell on the event yesterday, when I tasted Zachary’s blood. An urge overtook me; an overpowering desire for more. It was a strange uncontrollable feeling that lingered within, and I soon found myself drooling, saliva dripping from the corners of my snout. My eyes shifted towards the boy.
No, no, no! What are you doing? You can’t hurt him just for what your desires! You’re his friend, not his enemy! Be rational! My mind fought with my instincts, which were telling me otherwise. I felt my legs taking me toward the sandbox; I slowly inched my way over, like a lion approaching his prey. It’ll only be a scratch… It’ll be fine; I’m it’ll heal up in a week, I assured myself. Although my mind began to protest again, my body fought avidly, overpowering it.
Stealthily, I crept behind him, my eyes locked in a piercing gaze. I have to be able to knock him out of the sandbox and onto the pavement… If I simply scratched him, it might look like it was me who make the wound, and I would be punished. Focusing my attention on an area in the distance, I began barking fiercely. Zach arose from the sand and looked toward the area, two green orbs frantically searching for something.
“What is it, bo—Ugh!” Before he could finish, I flung myself with all my force and hit him dead in the side, sending him skidding along the concrete trail. Luckily he was small, or else I would’ve had a much more difficult time knocking him over.
I leapt over to where he lay and began searching intently for any sign of blood, my nose frantically sniffing the scene. Several trickles of blood slipped down from his arm, and I quickly licked them up upon notice. The feeling of pure warmth resonated throughout my body like it had before, spreading to every inch of my insides. However, before I could all lick the rest of the blood up, the boy burst into a shower of tears, wailing and crying out to his mother, who quickly emerged into the yard, her eyes wide in concern.
“What’s the matter Zach?” She questioned worryingly, rushing to see what the matter was. “Oh no, not again… come back inside, we’ll get you all better…” She pulled a napkin from her pocket and wiped away the remaining blood, making me growl inaudibly in disgust.
I stood with angered eyes, gazing as they left into the house. My treasured liquid was taken away from my grasp just like that, snatched up from under my nose. I retreated to the overhang where I had lain before, and heaved a heavy sigh. My eyes wandered to the trees, then to the sky, where the brutal sun stood pounding upon the dried earth. Beginning to whimper softly, I finally rested my snout on the heated pavement, staring ahead at nothing particular, just waiting for time to pass.
And thankfully, several days did pass, although long and extraneous. My longing for blood grew. I found myself devising plans in my head on how I could get him to bleed without anyone knowing, each as unsuccessful as the last. After a while, I would shake my head fervently, searching for something else to think about.
The urge would soon become too much to bear, and I knew it too. I needed more blood fast; I wanted to experience that brilliant warmth again.
I sat under the overhang still, drool hanging from my jowls, trying to keep myself under control. I felt as if I was growing less and less sane as my urge for the blood continued to grow. Often I had trouble thinking straight; a lot of times my thoughts would end up jumbled together.
Like always, Zach happily trotted outside from inside the house and headed toward his sandbox, a typical big grin plastered on his face. My nose began sniffing the air wildly, searching for a sign of blood. Gazing through the window and into the house to make sure the mother was nowhere in sight, I got up from the shade and followed in pursuit, slowly stalking quietly. I had decided, I would get blood one way or another, regardless of whether my methods were unconventional or not.
I lingered around the sandbox, slowly waiting. I don’t know what I was waiting for, the prey was sitting right there, defenseless. Perhaps my conscience was silently holding me back, telling me not harm a good friend. I don’t know why this was, though. It wasn’t like I was going to kill him or anything.
Wasting no more time, I pounced into the sandbox, and began burying my claws into his shins, slashing furiously. Trails of blood emerged, along with an ear-shattering cry. I hastily licked up as much blood possible. However, before I could fully enjoy the bliss I was being plunged into, he began flailing around, desperately trying to escape from the sandbox. His mother burst through the door, looking around in a panic.
“NO!” She screamed as she dashed toward the sandbox and tried to pull Zach away, while throwing wild kicks my direction. “Get off him, you wild monster!”
One kick landed right in my face, and I reeled back and over the edge of the sandbox, luckily into grass and dirt instead of the concrete pathway, which lay on the other side. I shook the dirt out of my tawny fur and looked up at her, her bawling son in her arms. Not long after, she had brought him inside and was out of sight, leaving me, bruised and slightly dazed, to gather my thoughts together. However, that was this last I saw of them that day. They never even looked out the window, let alone enter the yard, and night soon came, sleep along with it.
I awoke looking through small iron bars spaced together, woven tightly, encasing me in a tiny prison cell. There were walls on all other sides, and I found myself trapped in a miniscule area with barely any room at all to move. I could not see anywhere but ahead of me, through the bars. Confusion soon fell over me, and I my head shot in all directions violently, but my bewilderment soon vanished; I realized I was trapped in a kennel.
The kennel seemed to be in one of the smallest rooms in the house. Just beyond the closed door that lay no more than ten feet ahead, a room I figured was the kitchen, I could hear footsteps and a woman’s voice, muttering to herself.
“…It would be gone in an instant, but since I have important business, I’ll have to get rid of it later. I swear, I would’ve strangled that creature, but the vet will be the one who ends its wretched life I suppose,” The familiar woman’s voice snapped. “I’m going to be gone for two days, but when I get back, it will be gone, okay Zachary? Until then, Ryan will be here, and that… thing…”--I snickered at that comment—“will be locked up. It won’t be let out for anything, not even water, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. If you need anything, Ryan will be happy to get you it. Be good.”
The footsteps suddenly began to dwindle in sound and the opening and closing of the front door was heard, as the woman left. Silence overtook the house, only the pattering of soft, slow footsteps was occasionally heard.
It was a good hour or so until anything happened, when finally the sound of a voice I had not heard in a while spoke.
“Hey, kid, how was breakfast?” Rasped the voice of Ryan. “Well, I hate to leave you all alone here… but unfortunately I have to meet up with some important people later, and before that I have to pick up something. I know I’m supposed to watch you, but you can handle yourself for several hours, right sport? I won’t be gone too long, and you know where everything is.”
“I…guess,” Zachary whispered in a barely audible tone.
“Good. I’ll be back later; try not to break anything.”
The slamming of the front door was soon followed by the engine of a car, and Ryan was gone as well. I laid my head down and let out a low whimper as my eyes shut. It seemed my fate was sealed; when the woman returned, I would surely be put to rest. Shame swept over me, and I cried loudly and waited, resting.
My mind wandered on through the day as I rested, meandering carelessly through past days. However, I was soon lifted from my thoughts as a presence in front of my cage startled me. I opened my eyes to find a boy kneeling in front of my cage. It was already afternoon, maybe a little later, although the sun was still bright. Ryan had not yet returned, or else I would’ve been awoken by the car, or at least be able to smell his horrible stench.
“Zaggy… I’m sorry this happened… I know it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t mean to do it, right boy?” The child questioned, his eyes welling with tears. My eyes stared deep into them confusedly, but I quickly nodded my head in response.
“Yeah, I thought so. You’re my friend; you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose. We’re buddies, isn’t that right?”
Again, I nodded, my gaze not leaving his.
“Yeah! Besides, it doesn’t really hurt much anymore; it’s all bandaged up and feels fine. Mommy was so silly, thinking you we would get rid of you over an accident like that.”
I studied him more thoroughly for a moment. Surely he knew it wasn’t an accident. Was he just denying it so he could have his friend back? I evaluated him further, my heart steadily beating faster.
“Let’s get you out of this cage, it must feel really bad in there,” The boy sad comfortingly, as he unlocked the cage door, setting me free. My heart instantly jumped into my throat. Stretching my legs, which were sore after lying under me for so long, I took a step out of kennel and onto the cold tile floor. I noticed the door to the outside was nearby, and I scratched on the door, desperate to get outside.
“Yeah, the sun is still shining! We have a lot more time to play, don’t we?” Opening the door, I burst outside and into the slowly fading sunlight, Zach following after. He quickly rushed to his usual toys while I, after lying in the sun for a few moments, ventured to my spot on the porch.
My eyes wandered around the scenery for a while but then darted toward Zachary. I could smell the pleasant odor of dried blood from under the bandages, and my eyes glistened brightly. This smell… a familiar desire I had come to know far too well began to build up. Suddenly, all the shame and humiliation was gone now that I was free. In fact, I was actually glad that I had gotten the blood.
Drool began to hang from my mouth once more, and my eyes lingered on Zachary. I was using every force of my will to keep myself stationary. But I began to feel like I was slipping out of control. I closed my eyes and began to think; my thoughts became jumbled like before, but I tried hard to keep a focused mind. I didn’t know what I should do – my body began to tremble and shake strangely, and my legs became fidgety. My claws scratched the dirt as I began to move very slowly, staggering around through the grass, tinted red by the evening glow.
Then a voice began to speak in a low whisper in my mind, and could be heard through all the mixed thoughts.
Why don’t you just stop fighting yourself and rip the boy apart? It’s not like anyone will stop you… The voice assured me.
Yeah… Maybe you’re right…
I did not know who the voice was, but something within my told me that it had the right idea. My tongue slid out of mouth and cleansed my snout of saliva, while a conflict stirred in my head.
NO! He’s your friend, control yourself! This is all a trick; you have to snap out of it! Would you harm your own friend for your own selfish purposes? A second voice sounded in my head.
No, but…
I waited for the first voice, hoping he would convince me otherwise.
Friend, enemy, what does it matter…? In this world, the only thing that does truly matter is that you get what you need. Ask yourself that question… What do you need…?
I nodded mentally as the first voice exploded with a desperate fury.
HE’S YOUR FRIEND! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! Think of Zachary and how he freed you. Would you honestly hurt someone who would do that? Would you bite the hand that feeds you? The second one asked.
No… you’re right, I have to…
You have to get what you want. That is the only goal in life. Morals have no purpose; it is only desire that matters. If you get what you want, then you will experience the pure satisfaction that comes with it…
Pure satisfaction…
Sometimes the hand that feeds must be broken… If there is something you want… take it… The first continued.
Yes.
These voices erupted into my head until I finally snapped. The voice that defended Zach, the final piece of my conscience, suddenly faded away leaving nothing but pure desire and rage. I was no longer bound by any morals or laws, no emotions, nothing. I opened my eyes, now filled with pure insanity, and set them on the boy.
My claws dug at the earth, getting a good footing, preparing to launch myself at my prey. I set my gaze on him, but he did not notice my unusual presence. I waited in my mind for a final command. My saliva pooled on the ground, but I did not bother to wipe it clean.
Now tell me… what is it you want?
I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted the boy’s blood, every last drop of it.
Without a moment of hesitation, my teeth were bared and longing for blood; with a burst of speed, I dashed forward and lunged at my prey, pinning the boy to the ground. He had no time to struggle; a short scream was quickly ended as my claws tore through his throat and vocal cords, sending a shower of blood spurting into the air.
The boy was dead almost instantly.
With a fury of slashes, I tore across his chest and stomach until they were severed completely open as a mass of blood and entrails spilled out. Crimson liquid poured from his arms as I cut across them swiftly, rivers of red flowing from the torn flesh. My fangs began to dig into any remaining flesh, ripping it apart and tossing it aside, fresh liquid flowing into my mouth.
I hurriedly drank up all that I could, the juices tasting unbelievable on my tongue. Blood was everywhere, and I tried in a frenzy to get all that I could. I was soon immersed into a state of ecstasy, as indescribable warmth shot across my body. I continued to lap up the blood until finally a strange, uneasy feeling suddenly fell over me.
A strange silence occurred as I abruptly stopped and began to take a step back. My eyes, once filled with madness, were now wide in terror. I had never been so afraid, ever. No longer did I have the urge to drink anymore blood, in fact, I felt as if the blood I had just drank would come back up at any moment.
There, in a mutilated, unrecognizable pile of flesh, blood, bones and entrails, laid the only friend I ever had, slowly rotting under the sinking sun. A pool of shimmering crimson surrounded him, glinting demonically.
Finally coming back to reality, I had realized what I had done. I had murdered the only friend I ever knew. And I could faintly hear a strange echo of laughter in the back of my head, but I tossed it out with a furious shake.
No.
That was the only word I could think of, the only word that crawled into my mind. This just couldn’t be real, it was too…insane. No. I refused to acknowledge this.
I couldn’t believe that I had actually done it, but there was no point in denying it. My paws were soaked in his blood as proof. My fur was matted with it the red evidence. My teeth were stained in it. I had killed him.
Thousands of thoughts exploded into my mind, thousands of mixed, confused images coming forth all at once.
Run.
A new word shone through my maddened mind; it was the on that could be heard over the chaos in my head, and I obeyed it. I didn’t know what to do; I was confused and terrified. Trying as desperately as I could to get rid of this horror, I left the mangled corpse of my old friend trying to flee not only the scene but my own mind and conscience as well. I hopped the short fence and emerged into the forest beyond with a sudden surge of unimaginable speed, the trees becoming a blur of brown and green.
I dodged fallen limbs and decaying logs, leaping over them but maintaining my speed. I ducked under short tree limbs and kept going. The leaves, baked to a crisp from the sun now setting in the distance, crunched loudly beneath my soaked paws, which continued to speed ahead. I didn’t know why, but I knew I had to get away from there. I dashed forth with a newfound burst with every breath, pushing myself forward. Maybe, if I ran fast enough, I could escape everything. Something in my head was telling me to get as far away as I could, and I knew I was doing the right thing by listening to it.
A root seemed to jut upward slightly from the ground ahead of me and my leg caught it, causing me to fly forward to skid along a bed of rocks, sending a jolt of pain spiraling through my body. Cringing in agony, I stood upright and tried to shake it off and regain my composure.
A thin line of my own blood trickled down my snout and into my mouth. The pleasant taste of it was calming, and unrivaled by anything else. A warm, soothing feeling simmered gently inside, and then slowly faded away.
That taste…
As the sun disappeared fully, my eyes gleamed with a spark of insanity. My mouth curled up into a wicked smile as I entered the blanket of night.
Bloodthirsty
Spilling over the boundary that separates reality and insanity…
Spilling over the boundary that separates reality and insanity…
The light gently shimmered off the windows of the beautiful, pure white house and into my eyes, causing me to squint and quickly look away. Like always, it was a scorching summer day, the merciless sun blazing harshly in the cloudless sky for hours. There hadn’t been rain for weeks, months even, and the air was thick and choking. I would often spend hours lying out in the grass, now lifeless and sallow, panting heavily, staring up at the sky for some sign of moisture. The humidity was dense and unbearable, and often I would crawl under the miniscule overhang on the porch for a little shade in the backyard, which is where I lay today, but rarely did it help. But for a young boy, no more than seven years of age, the heat was of little worry.
He was carefree and constantly in his own world. The boy was rarely bothered by anything, and the humidity was no exception. Jet black hair lingering over his eyes, the child happily played in his sandbox, without a worry. His bright, lime green eyes reflected his optimistic personality perfectly, and without a doubt, he was one of those children who could be occupied for hours in something as simple as a pair of action figures.
“Zaggy!” The boy shouted joyously from his sandbox, beckoning me to him. That was my name – Zaggy – or at least that’s what he called me. Me, I didn’t mind either way; I had accepted the title acquiescently.
Rising from the shaded part of the porch, I trotted over to him on all fours, my thick fur causing me to pant more and more. I sat down on the small patch of dirt in front of the sandbox and looked up at him questioningly. A smile strewn across his face, he simply extended a hand and scratched behind my ear as I let out a playful yelp in satisfaction.
For Zachary, I was his only friend, just as he was mine. We lived in the middle of nowhere one might say; the closest town was quite a ways away from what I’d heard, and it was a small country town at that. That was where Zachary’s mother was at the time, picking up groceries, and Ryan, her boyfriend, was constantly out drinking, leaving only Zachary and I to play in the yard.
“Do you want to play, Zaggy?” Zachary asked.
Yelping happily again, I leaped over the small plastic railing and into the relatively large sandbox and hopped around, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. Covering his face, Zach coughed slightly and looked at me from beyond bright eyes.
“Maybe that’s not such a good idea, this sandbox doesn’t look big enough for both of us,” He chuckled heartily.
Leaping out, I vigorously shook the sand out of my fur and took a seat right next to the sandbox as Zach resumed playing. A cool breeze gently drifted by, and I smiled. Any breeze, no matter how slight, was very refreshing on a day like this. My throat was extremely dry though, I felt like I hadn’t drunk any water in days. I closed my eyes slowly, longing for a nice peaceful rest, hoping it would be cooler when I woke up.
However, my nap was interrupted not too long after I had closed my eyes when the backdoor to the house opened. My ears perking up, I looked up to see the figure of a tall middle-aged woman, her graying hair pulled out of her eyes. Despite the thick lines in her face, she was a very cheerful person, much like her son. In both hands were two grocery bags; she was obviously home from shopping.
“Zach, I’ve got food in the kitchen! I bought you some cookies like you asked; if you want a few before dinner they’ll be in the jar, honey. Ryan had to… get something…again… but he will be back later,” She called, trying to cover up her boyfriend’s drinking problem, which was typical.
Zach turned around with a large grin on his face and a glimmer in his bright green eyes. “Oh boy!” He shouted with glee, tossing his action figures aside. Instantly rising to his feet, he turned and tried to rush toward his mother, but he stumbled recklessly over the side of the sandbox, toppling onto the pavement.
“Oh my god, are you hurt, Zachary?” She set down the bags and rushed to Zach, as quickly as she could in her sandals. As she helped Zach to his feet, a bloody scrape up his leg became visible. The pavement, too, was stained in red, dripping sluggishly down the stone padio. I stared in a confused curiosity.
“We’re going to have to get you cleaned up, that doesn’t look good…” His mother spoke gently. I watched curiously as she caringly grasped his hand and guided the boy, who now had tears welling in his eyes, into the house.
My mouth was now burning, and my usual bowl was completely devoid of any water. I had no other choice earlier but to drink the searing liquid that had been heated by the burning sun. It had been better than nothing, but now there wasn’t drop to be seen; the bowl had been licked clean. The door to the house was closed now, and there was no way I could get inside. My eyes looked around for something, perhaps a bucket or pale of water that could quench my dying thirst just for a little while. My throat was on fire, dry as a searing desert.
My wandering eyes then fell upon the few drops of red blood that Zach had left upon the porch, glistening slightly in the unforgiving light of the sun. My mind instantly knew what I should do, but… I knew it wasn’t water, and I was sure it would taste terrible, but I felt like I would collapse at any moment. I sauntered over toward the droplets and lapped them up with one swipe of tongue, preparing my taste buds to be disgusted.
But instead, something bizarre happened, something I never would’ve thought. Unusual warmth swept over my body, enveloping it from head to toe in the most wonderful sensation I had ever felt. It wasn’t warmth like the heat of the sun; it was something on the inside. It was something indescribable; something words could not comprehend. Not only was the taste otherworldly, but the strange after effects were odd as well. I felt like I had entered pure warmth and satisfaction, like I could never feel any happier.
Fueled by the desire to experience this feeling again, I began to lick the stain itself once the droplets were gone, trying desperately to once more attain that bizarre ecstasy. It was too incredible and left me longing for more of it. Over and over I tried to get the blood out of the rock, but I just tasted cement. I halted and scurried over to my usual spot under the overhang, wondering about this mysterious taste and how I could have more of it.
My thoughts became soon became dreams as I drifted away, the parched grass making a warm bed for me. In my dreams I could taste it again, the delicious taste, although it was much more distant. My bowl was filled to the top, not with water, but with the pure liquid, and I drank unceasingly from it. My eyes gleamed with pleasure and contempt, but it soon passed and I was reluctantly pulled from my dream as the sun rose again to fill the day. Groaning quietly, I pulled myself up and shook away the leaves, then glanced around and began to trot around the garden.
Zachary’s mother was home, inside reading her book, leaving me and Zachary alone in the backyard again. She was often out on errands, but she always called home to check up on Zachary. Rarely did she leave for too long. Zach was usually always fine, but if she did happen to be gone too long, he would start to get nervous.
However, right now, Zach was in his sandbox as usual playing with his toys. I rose from my spot on the porch and paced along the yellowed grass. My mind, not to be distracted from what it was intent on, soon fell on the event yesterday, when I tasted Zachary’s blood. An urge overtook me; an overpowering desire for more. It was a strange uncontrollable feeling that lingered within, and I soon found myself drooling, saliva dripping from the corners of my snout. My eyes shifted towards the boy.
No, no, no! What are you doing? You can’t hurt him just for what your desires! You’re his friend, not his enemy! Be rational! My mind fought with my instincts, which were telling me otherwise. I felt my legs taking me toward the sandbox; I slowly inched my way over, like a lion approaching his prey. It’ll only be a scratch… It’ll be fine; I’m it’ll heal up in a week, I assured myself. Although my mind began to protest again, my body fought avidly, overpowering it.
Stealthily, I crept behind him, my eyes locked in a piercing gaze. I have to be able to knock him out of the sandbox and onto the pavement… If I simply scratched him, it might look like it was me who make the wound, and I would be punished. Focusing my attention on an area in the distance, I began barking fiercely. Zach arose from the sand and looked toward the area, two green orbs frantically searching for something.
“What is it, bo—Ugh!” Before he could finish, I flung myself with all my force and hit him dead in the side, sending him skidding along the concrete trail. Luckily he was small, or else I would’ve had a much more difficult time knocking him over.
I leapt over to where he lay and began searching intently for any sign of blood, my nose frantically sniffing the scene. Several trickles of blood slipped down from his arm, and I quickly licked them up upon notice. The feeling of pure warmth resonated throughout my body like it had before, spreading to every inch of my insides. However, before I could all lick the rest of the blood up, the boy burst into a shower of tears, wailing and crying out to his mother, who quickly emerged into the yard, her eyes wide in concern.
“What’s the matter Zach?” She questioned worryingly, rushing to see what the matter was. “Oh no, not again… come back inside, we’ll get you all better…” She pulled a napkin from her pocket and wiped away the remaining blood, making me growl inaudibly in disgust.
I stood with angered eyes, gazing as they left into the house. My treasured liquid was taken away from my grasp just like that, snatched up from under my nose. I retreated to the overhang where I had lain before, and heaved a heavy sigh. My eyes wandered to the trees, then to the sky, where the brutal sun stood pounding upon the dried earth. Beginning to whimper softly, I finally rested my snout on the heated pavement, staring ahead at nothing particular, just waiting for time to pass.
And thankfully, several days did pass, although long and extraneous. My longing for blood grew. I found myself devising plans in my head on how I could get him to bleed without anyone knowing, each as unsuccessful as the last. After a while, I would shake my head fervently, searching for something else to think about.
The urge would soon become too much to bear, and I knew it too. I needed more blood fast; I wanted to experience that brilliant warmth again.
I sat under the overhang still, drool hanging from my jowls, trying to keep myself under control. I felt as if I was growing less and less sane as my urge for the blood continued to grow. Often I had trouble thinking straight; a lot of times my thoughts would end up jumbled together.
Like always, Zach happily trotted outside from inside the house and headed toward his sandbox, a typical big grin plastered on his face. My nose began sniffing the air wildly, searching for a sign of blood. Gazing through the window and into the house to make sure the mother was nowhere in sight, I got up from the shade and followed in pursuit, slowly stalking quietly. I had decided, I would get blood one way or another, regardless of whether my methods were unconventional or not.
I lingered around the sandbox, slowly waiting. I don’t know what I was waiting for, the prey was sitting right there, defenseless. Perhaps my conscience was silently holding me back, telling me not harm a good friend. I don’t know why this was, though. It wasn’t like I was going to kill him or anything.
Wasting no more time, I pounced into the sandbox, and began burying my claws into his shins, slashing furiously. Trails of blood emerged, along with an ear-shattering cry. I hastily licked up as much blood possible. However, before I could fully enjoy the bliss I was being plunged into, he began flailing around, desperately trying to escape from the sandbox. His mother burst through the door, looking around in a panic.
“NO!” She screamed as she dashed toward the sandbox and tried to pull Zach away, while throwing wild kicks my direction. “Get off him, you wild monster!”
One kick landed right in my face, and I reeled back and over the edge of the sandbox, luckily into grass and dirt instead of the concrete pathway, which lay on the other side. I shook the dirt out of my tawny fur and looked up at her, her bawling son in her arms. Not long after, she had brought him inside and was out of sight, leaving me, bruised and slightly dazed, to gather my thoughts together. However, that was this last I saw of them that day. They never even looked out the window, let alone enter the yard, and night soon came, sleep along with it.
I awoke looking through small iron bars spaced together, woven tightly, encasing me in a tiny prison cell. There were walls on all other sides, and I found myself trapped in a miniscule area with barely any room at all to move. I could not see anywhere but ahead of me, through the bars. Confusion soon fell over me, and I my head shot in all directions violently, but my bewilderment soon vanished; I realized I was trapped in a kennel.
The kennel seemed to be in one of the smallest rooms in the house. Just beyond the closed door that lay no more than ten feet ahead, a room I figured was the kitchen, I could hear footsteps and a woman’s voice, muttering to herself.
“…It would be gone in an instant, but since I have important business, I’ll have to get rid of it later. I swear, I would’ve strangled that creature, but the vet will be the one who ends its wretched life I suppose,” The familiar woman’s voice snapped. “I’m going to be gone for two days, but when I get back, it will be gone, okay Zachary? Until then, Ryan will be here, and that… thing…”--I snickered at that comment—“will be locked up. It won’t be let out for anything, not even water, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. If you need anything, Ryan will be happy to get you it. Be good.”
The footsteps suddenly began to dwindle in sound and the opening and closing of the front door was heard, as the woman left. Silence overtook the house, only the pattering of soft, slow footsteps was occasionally heard.
It was a good hour or so until anything happened, when finally the sound of a voice I had not heard in a while spoke.
“Hey, kid, how was breakfast?” Rasped the voice of Ryan. “Well, I hate to leave you all alone here… but unfortunately I have to meet up with some important people later, and before that I have to pick up something. I know I’m supposed to watch you, but you can handle yourself for several hours, right sport? I won’t be gone too long, and you know where everything is.”
“I…guess,” Zachary whispered in a barely audible tone.
“Good. I’ll be back later; try not to break anything.”
The slamming of the front door was soon followed by the engine of a car, and Ryan was gone as well. I laid my head down and let out a low whimper as my eyes shut. It seemed my fate was sealed; when the woman returned, I would surely be put to rest. Shame swept over me, and I cried loudly and waited, resting.
My mind wandered on through the day as I rested, meandering carelessly through past days. However, I was soon lifted from my thoughts as a presence in front of my cage startled me. I opened my eyes to find a boy kneeling in front of my cage. It was already afternoon, maybe a little later, although the sun was still bright. Ryan had not yet returned, or else I would’ve been awoken by the car, or at least be able to smell his horrible stench.
“Zaggy… I’m sorry this happened… I know it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t mean to do it, right boy?” The child questioned, his eyes welling with tears. My eyes stared deep into them confusedly, but I quickly nodded my head in response.
“Yeah, I thought so. You’re my friend; you wouldn’t hurt me on purpose. We’re buddies, isn’t that right?”
Again, I nodded, my gaze not leaving his.
“Yeah! Besides, it doesn’t really hurt much anymore; it’s all bandaged up and feels fine. Mommy was so silly, thinking you we would get rid of you over an accident like that.”
I studied him more thoroughly for a moment. Surely he knew it wasn’t an accident. Was he just denying it so he could have his friend back? I evaluated him further, my heart steadily beating faster.
“Let’s get you out of this cage, it must feel really bad in there,” The boy sad comfortingly, as he unlocked the cage door, setting me free. My heart instantly jumped into my throat. Stretching my legs, which were sore after lying under me for so long, I took a step out of kennel and onto the cold tile floor. I noticed the door to the outside was nearby, and I scratched on the door, desperate to get outside.
“Yeah, the sun is still shining! We have a lot more time to play, don’t we?” Opening the door, I burst outside and into the slowly fading sunlight, Zach following after. He quickly rushed to his usual toys while I, after lying in the sun for a few moments, ventured to my spot on the porch.
My eyes wandered around the scenery for a while but then darted toward Zachary. I could smell the pleasant odor of dried blood from under the bandages, and my eyes glistened brightly. This smell… a familiar desire I had come to know far too well began to build up. Suddenly, all the shame and humiliation was gone now that I was free. In fact, I was actually glad that I had gotten the blood.
Drool began to hang from my mouth once more, and my eyes lingered on Zachary. I was using every force of my will to keep myself stationary. But I began to feel like I was slipping out of control. I closed my eyes and began to think; my thoughts became jumbled like before, but I tried hard to keep a focused mind. I didn’t know what I should do – my body began to tremble and shake strangely, and my legs became fidgety. My claws scratched the dirt as I began to move very slowly, staggering around through the grass, tinted red by the evening glow.
Then a voice began to speak in a low whisper in my mind, and could be heard through all the mixed thoughts.
Why don’t you just stop fighting yourself and rip the boy apart? It’s not like anyone will stop you… The voice assured me.
Yeah… Maybe you’re right…
I did not know who the voice was, but something within my told me that it had the right idea. My tongue slid out of mouth and cleansed my snout of saliva, while a conflict stirred in my head.
NO! He’s your friend, control yourself! This is all a trick; you have to snap out of it! Would you harm your own friend for your own selfish purposes? A second voice sounded in my head.
No, but…
I waited for the first voice, hoping he would convince me otherwise.
Friend, enemy, what does it matter…? In this world, the only thing that does truly matter is that you get what you need. Ask yourself that question… What do you need…?
I nodded mentally as the first voice exploded with a desperate fury.
HE’S YOUR FRIEND! YOU CAN’T DO THIS! Think of Zachary and how he freed you. Would you honestly hurt someone who would do that? Would you bite the hand that feeds you? The second one asked.
No… you’re right, I have to…
You have to get what you want. That is the only goal in life. Morals have no purpose; it is only desire that matters. If you get what you want, then you will experience the pure satisfaction that comes with it…
Pure satisfaction…
Sometimes the hand that feeds must be broken… If there is something you want… take it… The first continued.
Yes.
These voices erupted into my head until I finally snapped. The voice that defended Zach, the final piece of my conscience, suddenly faded away leaving nothing but pure desire and rage. I was no longer bound by any morals or laws, no emotions, nothing. I opened my eyes, now filled with pure insanity, and set them on the boy.
My claws dug at the earth, getting a good footing, preparing to launch myself at my prey. I set my gaze on him, but he did not notice my unusual presence. I waited in my mind for a final command. My saliva pooled on the ground, but I did not bother to wipe it clean.
Now tell me… what is it you want?
I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted the boy’s blood, every last drop of it.
Without a moment of hesitation, my teeth were bared and longing for blood; with a burst of speed, I dashed forward and lunged at my prey, pinning the boy to the ground. He had no time to struggle; a short scream was quickly ended as my claws tore through his throat and vocal cords, sending a shower of blood spurting into the air.
The boy was dead almost instantly.
With a fury of slashes, I tore across his chest and stomach until they were severed completely open as a mass of blood and entrails spilled out. Crimson liquid poured from his arms as I cut across them swiftly, rivers of red flowing from the torn flesh. My fangs began to dig into any remaining flesh, ripping it apart and tossing it aside, fresh liquid flowing into my mouth.
I hurriedly drank up all that I could, the juices tasting unbelievable on my tongue. Blood was everywhere, and I tried in a frenzy to get all that I could. I was soon immersed into a state of ecstasy, as indescribable warmth shot across my body. I continued to lap up the blood until finally a strange, uneasy feeling suddenly fell over me.
A strange silence occurred as I abruptly stopped and began to take a step back. My eyes, once filled with madness, were now wide in terror. I had never been so afraid, ever. No longer did I have the urge to drink anymore blood, in fact, I felt as if the blood I had just drank would come back up at any moment.
There, in a mutilated, unrecognizable pile of flesh, blood, bones and entrails, laid the only friend I ever had, slowly rotting under the sinking sun. A pool of shimmering crimson surrounded him, glinting demonically.
Finally coming back to reality, I had realized what I had done. I had murdered the only friend I ever knew. And I could faintly hear a strange echo of laughter in the back of my head, but I tossed it out with a furious shake.
No.
That was the only word I could think of, the only word that crawled into my mind. This just couldn’t be real, it was too…insane. No. I refused to acknowledge this.
I couldn’t believe that I had actually done it, but there was no point in denying it. My paws were soaked in his blood as proof. My fur was matted with it the red evidence. My teeth were stained in it. I had killed him.
Thousands of thoughts exploded into my mind, thousands of mixed, confused images coming forth all at once.
Run.
A new word shone through my maddened mind; it was the on that could be heard over the chaos in my head, and I obeyed it. I didn’t know what to do; I was confused and terrified. Trying as desperately as I could to get rid of this horror, I left the mangled corpse of my old friend trying to flee not only the scene but my own mind and conscience as well. I hopped the short fence and emerged into the forest beyond with a sudden surge of unimaginable speed, the trees becoming a blur of brown and green.
I dodged fallen limbs and decaying logs, leaping over them but maintaining my speed. I ducked under short tree limbs and kept going. The leaves, baked to a crisp from the sun now setting in the distance, crunched loudly beneath my soaked paws, which continued to speed ahead. I didn’t know why, but I knew I had to get away from there. I dashed forth with a newfound burst with every breath, pushing myself forward. Maybe, if I ran fast enough, I could escape everything. Something in my head was telling me to get as far away as I could, and I knew I was doing the right thing by listening to it.
A root seemed to jut upward slightly from the ground ahead of me and my leg caught it, causing me to fly forward to skid along a bed of rocks, sending a jolt of pain spiraling through my body. Cringing in agony, I stood upright and tried to shake it off and regain my composure.
A thin line of my own blood trickled down my snout and into my mouth. The pleasant taste of it was calming, and unrivaled by anything else. A warm, soothing feeling simmered gently inside, and then slowly faded away.
That taste…
As the sun disappeared fully, my eyes gleamed with a spark of insanity. My mouth curled up into a wicked smile as I entered the blanket of night.
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