JAMES PICKETT - QUIET SCREAM

​James Pickett is a sophomore student at Full Sail University and currently taking up a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing.  As a creative writing student, he is dedicated to the craft, and views stories as art.  He is constantly expanding his skill as a writer.  His favorite genre to write is fiction, but he is working hard to branch out into other genres.  James graduated in 2005 and from there his passion for writing continued to bloom. Now he writes short stories during his free time and displays his passion on forums for the world to see. James is a well-rounded individual who lives with passion, dedication and appreciation.

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Quiet Scream
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​Red eyes peered through the cloud of darkness.  Stained stubby canines glinted as the moonlight sprinkled light into the room.  A low growl broke the silence in the room and a whimper escaped the throat of the man in the corner.  Repeated attempts to scare the wolf-like creature proved futile as it closed in slowly.  In one last attempt, the elderly man with wrinkled hands picked up the closest thing to him, a shoe, and tossed it at the creature, barely scathing it.  His screams filled the night as the creature's teeth ripped into his neck.  Blood coated the reddish-brown fur, causing it to clump in places.
A gunshot rang above the screaming.  The bullet ripped through the chest of the wolf-like creature.  Lips peeled back, the creature turned its attention on the individual standing in the doorway holding a high-powered rifle pointed at its head.  A howl pierced the eardrum followed by another gunshot that brought silence back to the room.  The moonlight softly caressed the face of the individual, revealing feminine features.  Rushing over to the bloody scene, she knelt down and sighed, closing the eyes of the elder gentlemen.  How many deaths would have to come before something would be done about this threat? 
"Elizabeth, are you alright?"
Another appeared in the doorway.  A heavy beard covered the bottom portion of his face.  Hazel eyes peered into the dark room, landing on Elizabeth, who stood slowly refilling her rifle with ammo.
            "I'm fine Demetri.  Did you find any more?"
"The damned beasts are fast.  I cornered one in the Roscoe residence, but it slipped out through a window."
"I assure you we will hunt them all down and drive them out of this town.  First we have to alert the governor of our findings."
"I agree, let's move quickly.  There's no telling how many more of these damned things there are."
Heavy panicked footsteps caught the attention of Elizabeth and Demetri.  They turned towards the open window as people rushed by.  Looking at one another they moved quickly to exit the house just as one of the townspeople ran directly into Demetri knocking him down.  Apologies flooded from the man's mouth, but he continued running.  Elizabeth stood still her head turned in the direction the townspeople had run from.  Demetri slowly stood to his feet and looked at Elizabeth who hadn't said anything.
"Damn townspeople," Demetri said as he turned to Elizabeth.  "Are you alright?"
She was silent, but her hands gripped her rifle tightly.  Demetri followed her line of sight.  The lump in his throat was hard to swallow.  Lined up in the distance was a pack of the wolf-like creatures.  One, larger than the rest, stepped forward and raised its head.  A loud guttural howl filled the night. 
"I count at least 20, Liz," Demetri said fumbling for ammo.
"That's 20 too many.  Let's get out of here," Elizbeth said just as all but the large wolf-like creature charged forward.
Elizabeth and Demetri took cover shooting at the pack of elusive creatures.  Screams filled the night mixed with gunfire.  Death littered the town, bodies of both wolf-like creature and humans strewn about.  Elizabeth stood shakily, her foot on the throat of the larger creature.  She raised her rifle and released a bullet into its head before turning to Demetri.  He was bleeding from an open wound on his side.
            "I did good didn't I Liz?" Demetri said his voice low.
"Yeah, you did good Demetri, you did really good," Elizabeth said as she watches Demetri close his eyes, his chest falling one last time before his head fell limply against his shoulder. 
Elizabeth, the lone hunter, stood slowly and looked into the distance.