As they approached the alley of the ghost town called Dead Dog, they heard a blood curdling laugh, followed by a scream of hatred. Then they saw it - a creature three feet tall with claws a foot long.

Billy and Garret froze in their tracks. The creature ran toward Garrett. Billy screamed for his friend, but Garrett was so stunned he couldn't move - letting the creature run his claws into his chest. Then the creature picked Garrett up and carried him off. Billy ran from that alley, looking for a place to hide.

Captain Henry of the state police grabbed the phone and heard the news of the two boys that had gone missing. The captain, with two hundred state police, drove to a halt in front of the alley. He ordered fifty of his men to set dynamite at the foot of the beast's lair. Twenty men returned bleeding; ten fell dead right there.

Three hours later the beast came running toward them. They started shooting at it.  Killing three of the state police, it finally fell. Finding both boys dead, three days later the funeral was held for the two boys.

Meanwhile, the beast woke up and left.

© 2009 William C. Original for CCF. William C. grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology.

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