21 April 2012
It's been, at most, four days since John passed. She can't remember when it happened. All she knows is that the beast is to blame.
Catherine has been hunting the beast since the minute she got the phone call, "Catherine, it's John, something's happened at the lab, he didn't make it." Steve's voice quaking on the other end.
"What's happened?"
"It got out! There was nothing John could do. Can you help?", said Steve, now asking for help after dishing out the bad news.
"I'll be twenty minutes", Catherine replied, no hesitation or fear.
She was closing in on the beast; she could almost smell it's effervescence, the stink of its meals, filling her nostrils as if to to try and warn her to stay away. She moved into the building that it had entered earlier that day.
"Catherine, reports of an attack at the old factory have just been called into the local authorities", came the crackling of a females voice over her earpiece.
"Thanks Jean, we're getting closer to the mother fucker. It won't be long now!"
"I copy that, babe"
"Any news on John?", asked Catherine, "Is it true that he helped create this Thing?"
"Nothing Cath... You ok?", concern now flew from Jean's voice.
"I'm fine, speak later!"
Catherine, followed the beasts trail into the factory. She could now see the snipers across the road, on top of the library, readying to help her.
It's clever enough to stay away from the windows, she thought. There have been no gun shots fired for ages. Hoping it stays that way, Catherine moved further in, wishing hers is the only gun shot.
Recently Catherine had not had chance to think that John would not be coming home anymore. Now the fear turned from fear of the beast to the unknown future. Her and John moved to the government complex outside of town two years ago. His work had brought him here. With the rest of her team, Catherine had been assigned as the security patrol for Sector B.
John had been at work for the past two weeks, "we are close", he had told her a couple of days in.
"But John, we are meant to be on holiday!", said Catherine, slightly angry.
"Cath, come on. You know how important my work is?!"
"I know", Catherine said with a rather forgiving tone in her voice.
"I'll see you later then babe? Love you".
"Love you too".
When John came home that night he put his hand on her face, to cover her eyes, and whispered, sweetly into her ears, "I love you". That night they made love.
A howl filled the air. It was late and most of the traffic had now left the streets and all Catherine could hear was the occasional 'hoot' of an owl.
The beast was definitely in the building. Surrounded by snipers, it feared moving too far. It could smell its follower; the perfume sweet in the air and it's breath intoxicating.
"Catherine, how's it going? We have thermal sights on and you're close!", Jean again.
"Shush!", Catherine removed her earpiece afraid it might distract her at the wrong time.
A door slammed! "Fuck", whispered Catherine. She ran towards its direction. She could hear the heavy footsteps. Passing through an archway she saw it turning into a room.
As she neared the room, cautiously, Catherine raised her gun and stood with her back to the wall. The beast was inside, she could hear its breathing, it's heartbeat strong in the still air.
She took a step into the room, it was pitch black. Her chest pounding, eyes blurry from the sweat. The beast breathing, very distinct, was coming from in front of her. Afraid to move, Catherine stood still. It moved! A step to the left, maybe. Confused, Catherine couldn't tell where it was.
Moving again, the beast didn't attack.
Catherine trying to scream as it stood in front of her. She couldn't see it but could feel its presence in front. Now it's head nearing hers, she wants to cry but cannot.
Catherine's earpiece crackles again, faintly, from around her neck, "Catherine ... ... Thermal lock ... .... When ... ...?", Jean said, breaking up.
The beast moved in closer, sniffing her, nuzzle to neck.
All of a sudden the beast had its hand to her face.
Catherine screams, "noooooo".
A loud boom resonates from afar, it's coming, Catherine thought to herself briefly, just as the beast whispered, "I lo....".
It falls to the floor, noises from the hallway get louder as her team enter the room. They surround the beast, now dead on the ground.
Catherine falls to her knees, tears now streaming down her face. Whimpering she managesd to say, "It's John!".
The Beast Within • Opuss № I