Sheep's Clothing Gary Lewis (best books to read in your 20s txt) 📖

that remained between them. "We can still disappear and start over." The pause between her words weighed heavy with an emotion David couldn't ascertain before her soft voice continued. "Put all of this behind us and have a life together."

"I'm sorry, Jan." He pulled his hand from her grasp and walked off the side of the road where a wide, dusty pullover shoulder opened into a small drive. It led to a secluded picnic area shrouded with thick oaks and maple trees that wrapped around the dirt clearing. Two picnic tables composed of age-old wood sat in disrepair, alone in the darkness before him.

Her voice grew louder from behind. "What do you mean, sorry?" The forest was silent as death in the heavy air that surrounded them. "You promised methat you would never hurt me like that again!" The sound of her sobs broke through her words.

"We have to come clean about everything. It's the only way, Jan. I hope you'll understand some day." He turned to see her silhouette standing several yards away. The bright full moon gleamed just beyond her form. David's arms and legs suddenly went cold and his knees felt clammy. A chill rushed down the back of his neck to sweep across his shoulders. What's happening to me? The fear seemed to creep in every dark, unseen corner from beside and behind.

The roar of a car engine rapidly approached from the street. David rushed toward Janice as she turned her head toward the road. "Hurry, Jan." His arm stretched toward her shoulder. "They're coming fast, whoever it is." As he grasped to usher her further down the path away from the road, the street brightened with headlights that drew near.

A braking skid burst onto the dirt drive, sliding to a stop about thirty feet away. Blinding headlights lit the cloud of dust that concealed a light-colored car. "Who the hell?" David asked, shielding his eyes from the glaring beams that shined in his face. Janice slowly paced backward beside him. The driver side door opened to a vague, thin figure that stood just beyond the bright white haze.

Three loud pops flashed from behind the blinding glare. Janice slumped immediately to the ground with a whimper. "No!" David screamed. He turned to bolt toward her. Another blast kicked the dust just in front of his shoe, halting him in place.

"Get away from her!" Sarah's voice shouted from the car.

He turned to face the lights, swinging his arms out. "You lost your fucking mind!" The dust cloud started to settle as Janice crawled herself up into a hobble toward the bushes near the picnic tables. David spread his arms as he shouted. "You're just going to have to shoot me, Sarah!"

"Holy shit, David." Sarah's voice blared over her still running car. "Snap the fuck out of it, already." She reached inside and switched to the dim, yellow fog lights and slammed the door before beginning to walk in his direction, gun still drawn. "Her mom isn't on vacation."

His eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness as she walked closer. "What do you mean? I need to know what the fuck is going on! Now!"

Sarah glanced behind, toward the road for a second. "Hurry up, already," she mumbled to herself. "What the hell's taking so long?"

David's heart banged frantically behind his chest as he shouted. "Dammit, Sarah! Tell me."

"She's in pieces, all over the kitchen." She stepped past him, aiming the revolver as she looked at the ground. Sarah's expression grew visible with concern as she pressed her eyes in the darkness where she aimed the pistol. "Where the fuck did she go?"

David erratically shook his head. "How do I know you're telling the truth?!" he screamed. Sarah ignored his question as she slowly crept further away from the light of her car, following the red, trickling trail that led into the darkly wooded void ahead. "Sarah!" David shouted.

An earth rumbling roar sounded from the picnic area. A dark form grew taller behind the benches as they both halted in place. "Is that good enough for ya?" Sarah asked as she raised her aim with both hands into the distant darkness where two yellow dots blinked to reflect the light.

David’s jaw dropped. He struggled to find the words through the shock as he stood stunned. "This whole time..."

He paused to think. "How did you find us?"

The dark mass growled louder from the shadows and a sharp crack came from the picnic table before it busted into pieces through the darkness. Sarah blasted two more shots and all went quiet. "Did I hit it?"

David listened for a sound as they stood, peering beyond the darkly shaded picnic area. A horrible roar exploded into David’s ears, numbing his spine as he saw Sarah jump. "Yeah,” he said. “I think you sure did.” His eyes opened wide as they both stepped further backward in the direction of her car. The snarling huffs grew louder as he noticed the form becoming larger and more visible in the darkness. "I think it's coming."

She lifted the gun again, firing another blast and then a click. "Are you fucking serious?" she said.

"Really?!" David shouted as they began to turn into a jog toward the car. "You didn't even check how many damn bullets you had?"

Sarah tossed the gun onto the ground and ran ahead toward the driver side as David sped into a sprint. "It was your stupid taste in girls that got us into this shit to begin with," she shouted as she slammed the door. David jumped into the passenger side. He grunted as he shoved over a satchel that clanked with sharp metal tools.

The car shifted as Sarah threw it into reverse and hit the lights. The werewolf, clearly visible ahead, charged toward the car. Sarah let out an ear ringing scream as she slammed the gas pedal.

"Punch it in reverse!" David yelled. "Just punch it all the way!" The tires spun in the dirt, spewing rocks and dust in front of them. He grasped the