Jericho walked along the city street, following the streetlights the lit his way, his own footsteps echoed through the alleyways he passed. The usual rustle and bustle of the night life was silenced due to the growing fear of what lurks behind the corner. Even the most hardened night crawlers stayed in tonight and locked their door.

The local police had released new information on the bodies of a serial killer in the area, due to the brutality of their deaths the media has called the killer the California Cannibal. Jericho was guessing that the elbow room was a product of that statement. It was unnerving seeing the streets barren, even at this time of night, people were usually as lively as they were in the afternoon. Despite this empty streets didn’t bother him to much, it made what he was doing easier.

Despite what everyone had said about the suspect, he and Marcus had their suspicions about the true identity of the killer and hopefully by the end of the night, their suspicions would prove right.

Once reaching a wide alleyway he stopped and inspected it. “Dark, creepy, and looks as if it might have orphaned a young billionaire, yep, boxes all checked.” He then reached into his hoodie pocket and called a friend, knowing he wasn’t going to pick up, “Hey Marcus this is JJ, remember that thing you told not to do because you said it was dangerous and life threatening. Wellll, I was already in the area, and being the good citizen that I am, I figured a picture of the supposed ‘California Cannibal’ would really help the cops find the guy.” He paused for a moment and looked blankly into the seemingly endless alleyway, “And if I do happen to be wrong, which I doubt, and end up in this morning news headless instead of a headline, then, I’m sorry for… everything really. Goodbye mate.” Hanging up, Jericho silenced his phone and held it up with a lighter in the other hand. Camera ready, he entered the alleyway without a second thought.

~~~~~~~~~

Jericho knew he was walking in an alley, yet he couldn’t help feel he was trekking through an endless cavern. One could say they both were equally as dangerous at this point. Once reaching the midpoint Jericho stopped and sat down. All he had to do now was wait, which was probably the hardest part. There, in the shadow of the night, he waited. Every sound sent jolts of electricity down his spine. Even with the lights of the city, Jericho felt surrounded by darkness. He never felt like this in the city, he always felt like he was apart of something. But now, all he felt was loneliness and fear. He didn’t know how much time has passed, minutes, hours. He really didn’t care, ignoring the dark thoughts, he decided to list happier things instead. Being able to rub his success in his parent’s noses. How cute Marcus was in his newest pajamas. His favorite superhero getting a new comic book run.

“What are you doing here?”

Jericho jumped as he heard a voice at the end of the alleyway. He squinted and saw someone standing at his point of entry.

“Get out of there, don’t you know there’s a serial killer on the loose?” The man sounded horse and gruffy. He guessed he was an elderly officer doing his normal rounds.

Jericho sighed, “Yeah, just needed some air.” Cursing silently he got up. He didn’t want to risk testing the guys patience. He was already arrested for trespassing and he really didn’t want another felony under his belt.

“C’mon I’ll take you home.”

Jericho slowly made his way towards him as he answered, “No need, I live-“ He stopped suddenly as he was hit with a gut wrenching stench. Gasping for fresh air, he looked up at the stranger again and slowly back away.

“Get out here already!” The man demanded, starting to raise his voice.

Jericho slowly raised his cellphone and held the lighter still next to it. He dared not to make any sudden movements.

“What are you waiting for?!” The man snarled, he was clearly annoyed now. Even from a distance Jericho could see him fidget, hands twitching and clenching. He saw this behavior before in some addicts on the streets, usually happens right before they break and go back to their dealer for another hit.

Backing up slowly Jericho pressed the red button on his phone, and started to fumble with the lighter. Rushing to turn it on.

The man slowly made his way to Jericho, putting him in a panic. “Stop that.” He demanded, his voice becoming more feral with each step closer.

Struggling with the lighter, Jericho cursed himself for buying the cheapest one he could find. Jericho watched as the figure drew closer, and closer, the stench was the first thing that hit him. The smell of rotting meat filled his nostrils and burned his eyes. He was running out of time. Looking up to see the figure closing in, he froze. Expecting to still see him make his way to him, the figure was now towering over him. Now up close Jericho was able to make out the features of the… creature.

Despite its size, the creature was painfully thin, it’s piercing yellow eyes seemed to illuminate in the dark and bring light to its pale crusty flesh, the beast spoke once more, without moving its unhinged jaw, “I said stop that.”

~~~~~

Jericho never knew what hit him. All he remembered was being airborne, and the painful landing. “Ok. That hurt.” He groaned as he slowly started to pick himself up and watch as the monster charge him once more with blinding speeds. Before he could react or scream the monster latched onto him, sinking its claws into his torso and back. Jericho couldn’t find his voice as he felt the monster sink his teeth into his shoulder. The pain was agonizing, and it wasn’t like anything he haven’t felt before. His shoulder was burning where the monster bit him and thier claws slowly inching deeper into his flesh.

Gritting his teeth he continued to go for the lighter. Frantically trying to flick the lick of the lighter. Once he felt the burn on the flame near his fingers, he thrusted the light towards the monster, hitting it’s boney frame.

With the same speed as before the monster detached from him and hissed at Jericho. He fell to the ground with a loud thump, but as he looked up he saw a red swell formed below its ribs where he struck him with the lighter. Thankfully the cheap thing was still lit and seemed to keep the thing back.

Gasping for air he struggled to his knees, “I’ll admit, you’re pretty fast for a gluttonous pile of bones ya damn wendigo.” Raising the lighter towards the monster he spit out the blood in his mouth. “Y’know, you’re the first wendigo I met. So congrats.” He laughed, but soon turned into a painful cough, “Ugh, ya got me good, I’ll admit that.” He looked at the monster and noticed it inch closer. It looked as if the small light was losing it effectiveness.

Grunting he dug into his hoodie pocket and felt the cooling touch of a canister of hair spray. “You’re very rude, you know that? I mean I can get why you attacked me, unquenchable hunger for flesh and human hearts and all, but you don’t have to ignore me.”

The wendigo lunged again, but this time Jericho was ready for him. He pulled out the canister of hairspray and pressed down on the nozzle. As the chemical mixture hit the small flame, a column of fire erupted from its small begining, engulfing the lunging wendigo. He did his best to dodge the flaming projectile, but the creature’s speed was far greater than his own as it left a deep scratch on his side, despite his best efforts to dodge.

“Ahhhh, Jesus.” He gasped. Clutching his side he used a nearby wall to help him on his feet. Even then his legs barely supported him. Once up he looked at the motionless burning corpse and and he gaged at what he saw.

The monster’s flesh started to melt away, leaving the stench of burning rotting flesh in the air. After the skin the blackened skeleton began to crumble to a pile of ash.

Jericho cursed loudly, using his colorful dictionary of curse words. He had nothing. After all that, nothing! He didn’t bother looking for his phone. There wasn’t a point if he didn’t have a body.

Giving up, Jericho fell to his knees and leaned on the wall. Looking down he asked himself, was this hoodie always red? With the dark realization that the red liquid oozing out multiple wounds, was his own blood, Jericho passed out.