Blood and Rain Read Online Free Page A

and out, and even got his bottom half out on the other side of the slide. He heard the growl in harmony with the next blast of thunder. The paw of the monster palmed his face, its nails puncturing the flesh under his jawline.
    Dragged out from under the slide by his face, Old Mike’s last fleeting thoughts were of Gil Laverty’s gentle hazel eyes and toothless grin. Should’ve known better, Gil.
    The werewolf burrowed its snout into his stomach.
    The storm screamed for him.
    The big rig he’d cursed earlier, and its driver—Tom, Don…or one of those names he couldn’t remember—drove him into town and dropped him off at his home. Nick rushed inside without a thank-you, grateful his mom hadn’t returned from her boyfriend’s. He snatched her half-empty bottle of whiskey from the kitchen counter and staggered to the bathroom.
    He took a swig from the bottle and held his injured arm over the pristine porcelain sink. The wound was black.
    Don’t let it be rabies, don’t let it be rabies… He hated needles, knew about the series of gut punctures the doctors would have to deliver.
    The alcohol splashed over the wound. He screamed at the intense burning in his ravaged forearm, stumbled backwards, and plopped down upon the toilet.
    He slid to the linoleum floor and crawled to the cabinets under the sink. His mom kept the first aid kit under there. His arm shook as he unrolled the gauze and wrapped the wound. He should have cleaned the bite properly, but hoped the booze would kill whatever the goddam animal left behind.
    Animal. He never even saw the damn thing. It could have been the same animal responsible for whatever happened out on Christie Road…or something worse. He took another swig from the bottle of Jack and tried to wash the thought away. He’d have to go to the hospital in the morning.
    Nick kicked off his shoes, worked his way out of his wet jeans and hauled the bottle of Old No. 7 to bed with him. He placed the whiskey to his trembling lips and accepted its fiery blessedness over his tongue.
    Three swallows later, he put the bottle on the nightstand and looked at his alarm clock: 12:22 a.m.
    He needed to call AAA to collect his car, but suddenly felt sick to his stomach. The room began to spin. His eyes fluttered. His head hit the pillow. He stared at his bandaged arm and allowed the whiskey to numb him to sleep.

Chapter Four
    â€œTurn that down,” Sonya said. Kim slapped Heath’s hand from her ass and turned the stereo down.
    â€œHello, Dad.”
    â€œHi, honey.”
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œI figured you kids would still be up. I need you to do me a favor.”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œI need you and your friends to stay put at Kim’s tonight.”
    â€œWhy? Has something happened? Are you okay?”
    â€œYeah, I’m fine. We found a body out here on Christie Road.”
    â€œOh my God.”
    â€œLooks like an animal attack.”
    â€œIn this weather? What was someone doing out there in this storm?”
    â€œWell, there’s a pretty big tree lying across the road. Unfortunately, it looks like this fella stopped, got out of his car and ran into something else.”
    â€œWas it somebody from town?”
    â€œNo. Listen, I want you, all of you, to stay put, okay? I know Alex and Kim’s boyfriend are there. You just let Shauna know that I don’t want any of you leaving. Not until we find out what we’re dealing with here.”
    â€œI’ll tell her. Please be careful.”
    â€œI always am, honey. I’ll call you in the morning.”
    â€œLove you, Dad.”
    â€œLove you too.”
    â€œWhat the hell was that about?” Alex said.
    â€œMy dad said there’s a tree that got knocked down on Christie Road. Some out-of-towner stopped, got out of his car and was apparently attacked by an animal.”
    â€œHoly shit,” Alex said.
    â€œI bet it was the Full Moon