DOMINICK JAMES THOMPSON - THE FATAL PACKAGE

Dominick James Thompson is 24 years old and currently serving in the US Army. He is going to school for creative writing in order to hopefully accomplish his dreams of being a well published author or screen writer.

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​The Fatal Package

I wondered who was ringing my doorbell.  I rarely got visitors, let alone at eleven at night. I groggily shuffled to the door. As I passed the mirror, I imagined whoever was on the other side might mistake me as the living dead with the way I was moving. However, once I reached the door and opened it I was confused. No one was there. I stared into the dead of night and then I saw it – the package.
               I reached down and cautiously picked it up as if it might explode at the slightest touch. I looked it over. There was no card or anything to identify the package, nor had I ever heard of any postal service delivering this late. That is when I nearly had to change my pants. My hand had barely touched the box when something inside the box let out a loud bark.
               I had to swallow my heart back into my chest before it leaped from my mouth like the coward I am. However, again, whatever was in the box let out another loud bark. I knew it had to be a dog in the box, but who would leave me a dog. The few people I did interact with knew I was terribly afraid of dogs, however I could not let a living creature stay in that box, so I brought the box inside and opened it praying this was some sort of sick joke.
               A million questions running through my mind. Who would put a dog on my doorstep? Why would they put it in a box? Most importantly, why this hour of the night? Me being the kind soul I am, albeit terrified of what was in the box had to release this animal. Though a stray thought popped in my head. I was always warned about opening unknown mail. Especially in the magical world were the worst things can be in the smallest and most innocent looking places.
               I pulled out my knife and sliced through the tape, keeping the package flaps closed. I removed the knife from the box when the flaps exploded open and the creature that was inside exploded from the package. I flew backwards in fear, knife flying from my hand. I knew I had already made a mistake. As if time slowed down I saw everything happen as if it was happening through the course of years. The creature that burst forth was no dog! It was a thing from hell. I had the appearance of a dog but that was all. The hellish beast was almost magnificent if it weren’t so terrifying.
                  My entire body seized up and I hit the ground. The last thing I saw was my knife falling toward me, as if it was falling in slow motion. I felt the searing pain of my stomach being punctured. My last vision was of the creature starting to consume my body.