The Black Dog.

I walked down the street, checking my GPS. It read that my sister’s house was left...I turned down an alley shrouded in shadow.

A chill tingled up my spine and I zipped my jacket up.

Suddenly, I felt sick, a horrible churning dread in my stomach. I brushed it off and slowly started down the alley, my footsteps loud and intrusive. I heard barking somewhere in the distance, the sound carrying on the wind like it did in Dunedin. My eyes began to adjust as I made my way down into the blackness. I stopped, licking my lips nervously. A large, almost see through shape was positioned in the middle of the alley. I took a step closer. Faintly I heard a low guttural growl and stopped, fear and alarm coursing through my veins like a drug. I felt cold all over.

I was being silly. I hadn’t seen my sister in years. I pulled out my phone and turned the flashlight on, shining the bright light at the shape. I thought I saw the flash of the reflective irises of an animal, but then they were gone and so was the shape. Another chill crept up my spine, and the horrible churning dread returned. I shook my head. My eyes were playing tricks. I strode forward, my phone ahead of me, lighting up the alley. I might of heard a faint click of claws on concrete, growing closer and closer. Suddenly, my phone was yanked from my hand with a click. I felt a papery brush of whiskers and a wetness, and I bit back a scream, my nerves going haywire, fear clouding my mind. What was that?

I hurried on, not wanting to search for my phone in the darkness. Maybe it was my imagination, or were the clicking claws following by my side, hot breath on my hand? I was almost running now, trying to stop the tears of terror from pouring down my face. I was trembling like a leaf, fear stricken. I hurried on towards the light. Slowly, I realized it was an old fashioned lamp, a flickering orange glow painting the alley. Just below the lamp was a huge butcher’s hook, caked with black dried blood. I shivered, looking into the small building that it was attached to. A grimy window let way to a bloodied bench, dead and skinned animals hanging from hooks lined all around the room. A small man wearing a black stained apron chopped meat with a massive knife. His back was hunched with years of work and for some reason, I could only faintly see him. Maybe the light was faulty. Another man came into the shop, huge and muscled. His one eye narrowed when he saw me and I froze. The other man looked up and his expression scrunched into fury. He started towards the window and suddenly, the whole building, including the light and hook, faded back into shadow, crumbling to dust and ashes. I stared, feeling faint, as darkness once again flooded the corridor. Pure terror crashed down in my mind, wave after wave. I raced towards the end of the alley, my limbs shaking with fear, my mind unresponsive. I reached the end of the alley, relief flooding my emotions, overpowering and sweet. I clambered up the ladder to her house.

I walked out, closing the door, shivering. Even in the safety of my sister’s house, the cold feeling of being watched stayed with me. The icy feeling of being unwelcome here sank through my blood. I began to climb down the ladder. Suddenly, I felt cold jaws close around my ankle, yanking me down fiercely. Terror crashed in waves over me and I turned my head. A huge black dog the size of a horse reared up and was pulling me off the ladder. I opened my mouth to scream but the sound stuck in my throat. I felt my hands slip off the ladder and in a whirlwind of panic I plummeted to the concrete with a sickening crack. I felt my head smash onto the concrete, and something in my neck snap. My vision flickered black and pain like I had never experienced overwhelmed me and I wanted to die. Hazily, I saw the dog standing over me. It bent its head down and a warm tongue licked my cheek. A sigh escaped my lips and death claimed me.