Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

(Characters that don't really matter)

"Daddy what about the monsters in the closet?" Julie hugged her dad. A 7 year old off to bed.

Hunter laid in wolf form under her bed, her dad and her not even knowing. He'd slipped in at sunset.

"There's nothing there. Look honey." Her dad opened the closet door. Then he sat on her bed, stroking her hair. "Don't be afraid of the dark. Love you." He kissed her forehead, then walked out of the room and shut the door, going to his own bed.

Hunter slid out from under the bed, chuckling. "Don't be afraid of the dark..." His sinister voice spoke. He paced before jumping onto her bed over her. "Wrong. Be very afraid." Then he lunged for her neck, killing her and tearing her apart, eating her and leaving a bloody mess and skeleton, then jumping out the window and off the roof, into a tree before climbing down it and bounding into the woods, towards his cave.

Rhaely looked up when the news flashed across the TV, several hours after it actually happened. "Harley! In here. Now. The news."

"What?" Harley came out for the bathroom, running her hand through her wet hair.

"Killing. Again." Rhaely huffed. "Wasn't your ex a shifter?"

"Ex being key." Harley sat down.

"I think it's the wolf again. You have any clue where he lives?" Rhaely said after watching the news report. A seven year old killed minutes after her dad put her to bed. He was waiting for her.

"The woods? Where else do wolves live." Harley shrugged, getting her gun and handing Rhaely hers. "We going or what?"

"Yeah. I guess." Rhaely got up, taking her gun and starting to walk through the woods, trying to find this shifter.

Hunter laid in his cave, in wolf form. Human form was not safe for a while after a killing. He stayed in the shadows of it, knowing (go figure) hunters would come for him soon. Then he heard some talking and footsteps growing closer. He got up, walking outside and facing them. He lowered his head, a low growl erupting from his throat.

Rhaely froze, making Harley stop too. "You think it's this one?" She whispered.

"I'm not sticking around to find out." Harley fired a shot, but missed. "You either leave or we will kill you. Shift so we can talk."

Time to act like a wolf. Hunter whined at the bullet, then stepped forward, digging his claws into the ground and snarling. He added in a few angry barks as well. Fuckers gon' get out of my territory.

"I said get out." Harley still had her gun raised.

"She won't miss a second time.. just. Leave." Rhaely knew there was a person somewhere in there and didn't want him dead. Yet it came with the job description.

Hunter lunged, snapping his jaws on her neck. He pulled her down, sheathing his claws into her side and tearing her skin open, then puncturing her airpipe. He tossed her into his cave. Food for later. Then he shifted to human, cracking his knuckles and glaring at Rhaely. "No."

Rhaely backed away, not wanting to get eaten as well. "You killed her!" She yelled, raising her gun. "Leave before I shoot you."

"You don't want to kill me. Let's be honest sweetheart." Hunter bent over, picking up Harley's pistol and pulling back the hammer. "I can shoot too."

"You are a human. Somewhere. Under that." Rhaely pulled her gun down. "If I put mine down will you put hers down?"

"You first." Hunter snapped, motioning for her gun to get on the ground. Under that. Funny.

Rhaely slowly bent down, putting her gun on the ground while watching him the entire time. "You."

Hunter put his gun down. "Cool. Bye. You can leave." He waved her away, pushing some of his hair out of his eyes. Then she was still there a minute later. "Hello... leave?"

"I told you to leave first." Rhaely didn't budge. "First you kill a seven year old then my roomate and best friend. You need to leave."

"I live here bitch." Hunter growled, but shrugged none the less. "Fine though." He turned, walking off.

Rhaely knew it was pointless to go see if Harley was still breathing. She shook her head, picking up both of the guns and heading for home.

She got there a half hour later, sitting down at her computer. There were emails due now.

Hunter pulled himself inside the opened window, landing on his feet softly. An infant's room. He pulled the kid out of it's crib. It started to cry. "Shh. Be quiet. It's all okay." he rocked it in his arms. It didn't shut up. "Be quiet!" He yelled, shifting and nearly swallowing it whole. Then he ran into the room next to that one. Two parents. He ripped open the throats of each, then jumped out the window and ran through the woods.

Rhaely sat, typing an email to Harley's friends and the family she had left. They all knew she was.. different. There were only a few she told exactly what she did. Which lead to two emails.

To people that knew, it was short. It's Rhaely here. Harley died in a shifter attack earlier today. No body for funeral, sorry.

To people that didn't, it was longer. It's Rhaely. I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but Harley was hurt on the job and died on the way to the hospital. She requested no funeral service, and the company is going through law suits so her body will be used as evidence. I'm so sorry for your loss, and if you need to call me just call Harley's cell. I've got it with me.

It was an hour later, and she was going to bed. Alone. Empty house. Fucking hell it was quiet.

"I know what your thinking. Quiet right?" Hunter leaned against the wall in Rhaely's room. "It doesn't have to be. I'm open to talking."

"Why the hell are you here?" Rhaely backed away from him, easily within reach of a door. "I just got done emailing Harley's family and friends letting them know she died."

Hunter clapped. "Nice. I don't really care." He shrugged, climbing onto her bed and pulling the covers up. "I'm sleeping here. Thanks."

"Excuse me?" Rhaely tried shoving him out of her bed. "Who the hell do you think you are? Get the fuck out of my house!"

"My name is Hunter. I am a shifter. I kill people. I think that's who I am." He stayed put. "You're welcome to share this bed with me though." He smirked, scooting over and patting next to him.

Rhaely sat down where he patted. She trusted him somewhat. He didn't kill her and he so easily could of killed her the same he did Harley. "Hunter." She looked down at him. "Why don't you just kill me? I know I'm nothing to you other then a snack."

"You askin' to be killed? That can be arranged." Hunter pulled the covers up, laying down on the pillows behind him.