Blood and Rain Read Online Free

father had shown him.
    Hunched before the freshly dressed wheel hub, he considered what he thought he’d seen on the side of the road—it looked like a chunk of flesh resting in the mud—and thought of the sensational full-moon tie-ins he could use for an article. He could have a good payday on his hands.
    Would’ve been even bigger if I’d been able to snap that picture.
    Nick didn’t have a chance to move before he heard the growl. His spine tingled milliseconds before the animal at his back slammed him face-first against the wheel well. Stars exploded in his vision; then his front tooth jammed into his top lip.
    There was another loud, guttural growl. He reached out for the jack encased in the mud and felt an immense pain tear through his forearm.
    HONK
    Bright lights tore through the darkness. The thing that attacked him grunted and disappeared into the tree line.
    The encroaching truck stopped.
    â€œBuddy, hey, buddy, you okay?” a male voice said.
    Nick’s head swam for the shore. Thoughts of tetanus, rabies and amputation passed by like cars down I-95. A hand was on him, helping him to his feet.
    â€œHospital…” he managed.
    â€œNot this way,” the man said. “Road to Hollis Oaks is closed off. It’ll take a bit longer to get around through Jackson.”
    â€œCan you give me a lift…to my house…in town?” Nick steadied himself with his good hand on the hood of his car. The world and the crap weather came back into view.
    â€œLooks like it gotcha.”
    Nick gazed drunkenly toward the blood dripping down his hand.
    â€œNot sure what in the hell that was. Big son of a bitch. You’re lucky I came back around when I did or it might have finished you off like that other fella up the road.”
    â€œWhat…what did it look like?”
    â€œNot sure. Big and hairy. Eyes shinin’ like two fat yella moons. I scared it off.”
    Mike Ouellette needed to get up. The whole world seemed to be coming down around him. He’d crawled beneath the children’s slide in an attempt to remain as dry as he could. The downpour was too much. It was coming through from every which direction. He curled on his side, pulled the collar of his dirty denim jacket tight against his neck and clutched the fifth of Popov vodka for dear life.
    Too far from his own house, he knew he should climb out from under the slide in the playground and try Gil Laverty’s. Gil owned the tavern on Brighton Circle. He sometimes let Mike stay on his couch. Usually when nature got nasty and he was too drunk to stumble home, like tonight.
    The booze was making his head spin. He wasn’t sure he could climb to his feet. Instead, he closed his eyes and sent a little prayer to the Lord. “Please, Jesus. Don’t lemme drown out here tonight. Not unless ya have ta.” A warm grin spread across his face. Lightning lit up the world beyond his closed eyelids. A thunderous boom answered. The storm was right over town.
    A shuffling sound from the trees off to his right caused him to open his eyes. “Huh?”
    He propped up on his elbow and tucked the bottle of vodka against one of the legs supporting the slide. He scanned the swirling trees for signs of movement. A shadow emerged.
    â€œOh no, oh no, oh no…” Old Mike’s heart hit Mach 1.
    He’d forgotten what day it was. He knew this day every month. How could he have forgotten today? All these years, not one slipup, whether sloshed or otherwise. He always knew to find someplace safe to sleep during the full moon. Tonight, he fucked up.
    He didn’t have a chance to scream. The beast flew at his extended arm. He felt its incredible strength and fury as it clawed into the flesh just above his elbow and pulled. He watched the rest of his arm detach from his body. He managed a high-pitched moan as the monster’s ugly yellow eyes lowered into sight.
    Old Mike tried to push himself down