Fire at Dusk: Part 23

“Y'all look mighty tore up,” said Deputy Smith.

Shirley Sue grabbed a hold of a long straight object wrapped in a handkerchief which was wedged between her belt and shorts. She handed the parcel to the deputy. Deputy Smith tilted her head to the side as she unraveled the cloth. The mother-of-pearl claw shimmered in the flashlight beam. Green crusty streaks dotted its surface. The deputy's eyes narrowed and her brow became a collection of deep lines as she looked over the object. “Where did this come from?”

“You probably won't believe us, but there's something out there. A huge glowing monster, and this is one of its claws,” said Buck.

The deputy let out a low whistle as she held the claw to her forearm. It ran from her elbow to the tip of her pointer finger.

“It almost got us, but Shirley Sue stabbed it with its own claw and set it runnin' away with its tail between its legs,” he continued.

“We were heading back to the cabin to warn everyone about it,” added Shirley Sue.

Deputy Smith looked from Buck to Shirley Sue. “I hate to tell you this...” she trailed off. She hesitated for several seconds which seemed to stretch out for years. “The monster visited the cabin and drug Dick off. At least that's what Jim told us. I was out here looking for Dick's body.”

“Oh,” said Buck. Shirley Sue gasped as she cupped her hand over her mouth. Their eyes widened as shock from the news set in.

“We're too late then,” said Buck in a flat tone.

A thick uncomfortable silence fell over the group. “Any sign of Mike?” asked Deputy Smith.

The color drained from Shirley Sue's face. She looked to Buck, her eyebrows raised. He nodded.

Shirley Sue swallowed. “Yeah, we found him at the old mill, before we were chased off by the monster.”

“Is he alright? Did he get away from the monster?”

“I think you better see this for yourself.”