章 2: Chapter 2
He was nearing the end of the second episode when he heard some weird sounds outside. He lowered the volume of the show that had him so engrossed. His heart beat a little faster and harder when something banged on one side of his house. He heard screeching or growling as well. He shook his head a little, but that was the wrong move. He had consumed way too much beer in a short period of time, and he felt a little dizzy. He might be a tad tipsy at the moment, but he was definitely not drunk. His trepidation escalated when he detected similar noises a few moments later. He was terrified because he had no idea what might be out there.
He decided he needed to take a peek through the windows. He had to know if he should call the cops or animal control. His palms felt clammy as he tiptoed toward the nearest window before pulling the curtain slightly apart and peering out. He couldn’t see a thing. He bit his lower lip and wondered what he should do next. He was frightened, but also worried that somebody might have gotten injured. His house was the second to the last along the road, and the last house had been vacant for the past couple of days because his neighbors had gone abroad for a short trip. In the next instant, a couple of questions came to his mind.
What if someone is being attacked on my side of the fence that separates our houses? Or what if someone is attempting to rob the house next door? I can’t just ignore those possibilities.
With that in mind, he glanced around the room, seeking a potential weapon he could bring along with him while he checked things out. It would be good for his peace of mind if he at least knew what was going on. In the end, he grabbed one of his golf clubs. It wasn’t the best weapon, but that would be better than nothing. After that, he put on a pair of slippers, unlocked the front door, and exited before shutting the door behind him.
He did his best to be stealthy as he took small, light steps toward the source of the sounds. Or from where he thought they might have originated. He was rather lightheaded with relief seconds later when he didn’t see anything on his side of the fence. However, he was taken aback when something bumped hard against the other side of the fence.
He ran out his front gate before rushing toward his neighbors’ house. He might not be super close to the residents, but they were friendly enough. He had to at least make sure no robbers were trying to get into the house or something.
When he finally stood outside his neighbors’ gate, he almost yelped in shock. A man, probably eight or nine inches taller than Harley, was choking a woman. The victim had her back against the fence, but her feet dangled about twenty inches off the ground while she struggled and thrashed about. Judging by their side profiles, Harley didn’t recognize them, but that didn’t matter. He couldn’t stand idly by.
“Hey, asshole! Let her go.”
The unknown man turned toward Harley, who gasped upon seeing the guy’s face. His neighbors’ house might be completely dark, but enough light came from the porch of his own house that he could clearly study the man’s features. He had gray eyes that looked almost silver, and his hair was as black as his clothes and shoes. Moreover, the assailant had a huge build—very muscular—and Harley gripped his golf club even tighter. He might have bitten off more than he could chew, but he wasn’t going to let the man kill an innocent woman. Not under his watch.
“Fuck off, human. This is none of your business.”
Harley gaped. “Excuse me? You’re trying to murder—”
“She’s not human. She’s an evil spirit. Now, get lost.”
Harley couldn’t explain why he did what he did next. Perhaps it was his terrible date, or perhaps being a little drunk. But it astounded him when he threw his golf club in the man’s direction with all the strength he could muster, and it hit the guy on the side of his head. So astonished, the assailant relinquished his hold on the woman.
Harley would have crowed victoriously if the woman hadn’t gazed toward him a second later. He felt chills all the way down his spine when hefinally noticed she had empty eye sockets. Her skin was unnaturally pale, and visible blue veins marred her face, neck, and arms, and even parts of her legs not covered by her dress. Then she sneered at him before vanishing on the spot.
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