“Lucas, hey wait!”

“It's ok we want to help!” He heard them yelling. He looked back as they were running down the steep hill towards him.

No no this was his fault. He could hear the thing in front of him in the trees. He looked up and he could see a faint outline of it. The thing was there. They're watching in the shadows just smiling and laughing at Lucas. It seemed to look at him and then past him to his friends. It stopped smiling. And took a step forward. Would Lucas die this time? Would here listen to more loved ones die? And then Lucas forced himself to move. His entire body hurt and he felt exhausted. He turned and screamed for the others to get out of here.

“What?” Penny shouted but she kept running. 

Lucas began to run towards them as well screaming for them to run. They don't see it. But it saw them. And Lucas knew it wanted to hurt them. He heard it running behind him. The others could not see it in the dark light; they didn't know it was there. Lucas slammed into Penny, throwing them both to the ground. The thing barlied over them. He had been right, it had been right behind them. He saw Penny see it. Her eyes went wide and pupils dilated. She opened her mouth in a scream. Lucas dragged her up. Roxanne screamed and He saw Mike's jaw drop pure horror written onto his face. Lukas grabbed Penny's hand tight watching the monster so closely. It turned and made a grinding sound painfully loud as it rubbed its teeth together. Its mouth dripped, salivating with hunger. Lucas began to run, still holding Penny. He screamed at her to get to the car. Her eyes were wide and she twisted trying to still look at the monster. It looked like it was about to charge again. 

“GET TO THE CAR!” Lucas screamed in Pennys face. Finally she understood and nodded. Lucas let go of her hand and turned to look for Roxanne when he saw her. She stood holding hands with Mike. 

“ROXAN!” Lucas screamed. 

The monster seemed to have its eyes locked on to him. He stopped trying to get Roxans or MIkes attention. He suddenly had a thought that seemed so clear. If the monster for whatever reason was after him would he lead it away. He began to run towards the woods. He had been right, it ran at him. But right before he entered the woods he jumped to the side. The creature had been right behind him. It crashed into the trees. It had been so close as it passed one of its great spikes just scratched the back of Lucas arm. He whirled and started to run back to the building. He saw two lights coming towards him and Penny's car spun to a stop. The door was thrown open.

“Hit in!” Mark yelled. 

“No I can't, I'll chase you if I do!” Lucas gasped, turning to run another direction.

“It wasn't a question.” Mark said, grabbing Luas arm. 

He tried to tear himself away but both Roxanne and Lucas pulled him in the car slamming the door and then flooring it. The wheels spun for a terrifying second before the car sped forward. Lucas wireled trying to look at where the thing had been. He saw a kind og white figure watching them leave but it did not follow. It was slower than a car. They had escaped.

The half skid onto the main roid. 

“Why did you take it!” Lucas shouted angrily.

What are you talking about!” Mark said in shock.

“You just put the rest of you guys in danjour! Don't you get it! It'll be back!?” Lucas yelled, glancing to the door half wondering if he could just jump out now. Roxanne seemed to have noticed and quickly pulled the seat belt in place over Lucas. He looked at her angrily. 

“You guys are only delaying it all. It'll come for me and kill me. Just stop getting in the way.” Lucas half shouted. 

“Lucas, stop trying to die!” Penny yelled from the driver's seat.

“I'm not trying to die! I'm going to! And I'm not going to get you all killed when it happens! Now let me out of the car!” LUcas shouted.

“NO! We're going home and you can calm down!” Penny shouted. 

“PEnny if you stay with me you're all going to- '' Lucas started but Penny interrupted.

“Lucas just stopped arguing. OK where… we're going home now.” She said more calmly but still firmly.

“Besides… I'm not letting you jump out of the car.” Mark said, looking Lucas in the eye firmly. He saw Roxanne nod as well. Lucas stared blankly looking from Mark, to Roxanne and then to Penny. And then he could help but laugh. He saw fear clearly written on all their faces. But he could stop laughing.

“Oh I see. You want to die then? Oh and Mark? Have you thought of it? The bear was it?” 

“Lucas, stop.” Penny said, sounding pained.

“Oh come on. Just let me die. I'm dead inside already. Come on, you guys could go on with your lives if you'd just let me.” He continued to laugh.

“Lucas just stopped.” Penny saud again, sounding like she was trying not to cry.

“Oh come on Penny ask your brother. Were all crazy to him. Just let me die!” He said cutting himself off. 

But then before he could say another word he felt a sharp blow to the face and then was plunged into darkness. 

He lay in darkness. Alone but comforting darkness. No one there to disturb him. No monsters hiding here. BUt something wanted him to leave the darkness. He fought something. He wanted to stay in the darkness. In the darkness forever. He was safe in the darkness. Nothing would hurt him in the darkness. Nothing would get to him here. But s;pwly he felt himself pulled from it into the real world.

MONDAY

Lucas sat up, sitting bolt upright in bed and wincing. His entire body hurt all over.

“Waaa?” He muttered, touching his forehead gently.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Penny asked.

She was sitting at the foot of the bed cross legged.

He stared at her for a moment feeling blurry. He felt a bandaid across his nose. Why was that there? Oh right Jean. But why'd his arm hurt? Had Jean kicked his arm? No, oh right he had fallen. Why had he fallen? He had been running from his friends. And then… Then the monster. Then he wanted to die. Penny had not let him. Lucas stares at nothing just straight ahead. The memories of the previous night seemed to scream into being. Tears flooded and spilled from his eyes. Penny rushed forward hugging him tightly but gently. Was he safe now? He looked around and he was in his room at Penny's house. He looked at the clock and it read three. Three PM. How long had he slept. He heard the monster laughing in his head and his body went stiff. And then he felt it all let go. Fear crippled him, fear and exhaustion it was all too much for Lucas to handle. He began to stop hugging Penny tightly as if holding her could keep him safe, But that was the problem nothing could keep LUcas safe no matter how many people came the thing thing would come and push through them all nothing could kill it and it would keep killing and hunting till it got what it wanted and that was lUcas. Lucas felt his body beginning to drift. HIs eyes became heavy and he began to go limp in Pennys arms. ANd then he was asleep again. But not asleep back to the warm safe darkness but tormented as the thing hunted him. Eating and biting everyone lUcas cared for. It killed and ate everyone. Jean, Penny, Mark, Roxan, all their families, even the man from the gas station. Policeman, school teachers were all confused. It was all in an effort to keep Lucas safe. To protect him but no matter how many died. The beast was not satisfied until it could tear off Lucas' flesh. It hunted for him longing for him. 

Lucas woke again. This time feeling much drowsy, opening his eyes and not moving. He didn't even open his eyes but pulled the blanket tighter around himself. He wanted to block out what was to come. He didn't want to face the day. He felt pressure at the end of the bed. Someone was sitting there. He cracked an eye open. It was Penny. She sat cross legged reading a book. Closing his eyes he relaxed. He could lay here for a bit, just resting. Laying the blissful face of just awake. Not enough to really think properly, but that was nice to know. Thinking properly was too much, too much pain. Too many memories and monsters in them. He closed his eyes listening to Pennys even breathing as she read. Evidence in a while he could hear Penny flip the page. But soon, he realized he needed to get up, get up and face it. He could lay here forever no matter how much he wanted to. Sadly he needed to get up and move. Lucas sat up a little propping himself up on his elbow. Penny looked over immediately and put the book down. 

“Hey, how are you feeling?” She said softly scooting closer.

“I-Im ok.” He said quietly rubbing the back of his head and yawning.

“What time is it?”

“Around five thirty. You've been asleep for a while.” Penny said, taking his hand.

Lucas only nodded slowly. 

“Have you talked to Mark…” Lucas said after a brief silence.

Penny pierced her lips.

“Yah a little bit. H-He's having a hard time really bealving it but i mean really he's taking it pretty well.” 

“Well.. that's good i guess.” Lucas said kind of dryly.

 They sat in silence for a little while again.

“Lucas?”

“Yah?”

“Your.. your not going to try and leave. are you?” Penny asked, sounding pained.

Lucas didn't answer, only looked at the floor.

“Lucas?”

“It came for me. you have to see it.” Lucas said not looking up.

“Even if it did. You're safer here. This is a good neighborhood lots of people to-”

“Penny. Even if I'm safer , you're not. Mikes no. Think of your mom.” Lucas said finally looking up. Her eyes seemed water as if she were on the verge of tears.

“But there's lots of people too.”

“To what? Penny. It's quiet, it doesn't always hunt with sound. It can get in and out and massacre everyone. and no one would know. Penny.” Lucas faltered.

“I dont care. Lucas. You're not going to leave right?” She said again.

Lucas looked down again. How was he supposed to answer? Really it was just a simple yes or no. Not much needed but still. It was so much. It required so much, how he could say that to Penny. But then how could he stay here and get Penny killed? 

“You're awake!” Mark said coming into the room. 

Luca was thankful for the break in their conversation. He needed time to think. He wasn't sure yet and he needed to think.

Roxanne had followed Mark into the room. The four of them sat on the bed quote for a while. 

“Your probably going to need that looked at.” Penny said, breaking the silence and nodding towards Lucas' arm.

“It. it's fine, it's probably just bruised.” Lucas said nudging it gingerly and wincing.

“Can you move it?” Mark asked.

Lucas lifted his arm trying to keep his face pain while gritting his teeth. Really it hurt like heck. 

“See its fine.” Lucas said, forcing a weak grin.

“Bruh. That ain't fooling nobody.” Mark said, folding his arms.

“It doesn't matter. But Mark. What do you think? Know that you've seen it?” Lucas asked, there was still a tinge of anger in his voice. He had tried to understand Mark for not believing him. I mean it did make sense. And still. It seemed like such a stretch. He had been so ready to think Lucas had just gone crazy. But really, Lucas wished he had gone crazy and it was all in his head, but it was not, it was all too real. And it was slowly taking everything from him. Peace by peace, and soon it would take Mark and ROxan, and it would even take Penny. And it would kill him. His thoughts must have shown in some ways as Mark began to talk quickly before the quiet stretched even longer.

“Um, man, I did want to say. I want to say sorry. To everyone but especially you. I mean i'm sorry I didn't believe you. I-I'm sorry.” Mark said, looking down.

Lucas sighed and nodded.

“I-Its ok man. I mean. It's a lot. It's really a lot.” He said quietly.

“So erm.. what know?” Roxanne asked, folding her hands.

No one was quick to answer as the silence grew.

“It is coming after me.” Lucas said not willing to meet anyone's gaze.

“We-we dont know that for sure.” Penny and Roxanne seemed to say at once.

“It is. I dont know why. But it is. Maybe it's mad cuz I pushed it off a cliff.” Lucas said. 

“But it is after me. And me being here is only putting the rest of you guys in danjour.” Lucas added darkly. 

“So you're still on that.” Mark said.

“On what?” Lucas said, looking up slightly.

“You're still stuck on wanting to run away.” Mark said crossing his arms.

“I'm not running away. I want to lead it away. If i dont it will kill the rest of you guys.” Lucas said looking Mark in the eye. What was he doing? Was he trying to pick a fight? HWat was up with this guy?

“OH come on Lucas, are we sure it's really after you? I mean if we dont break any of our rules maybe it will just go away.” Mark said, rubbing his chin.

“It's after me. I-I can feel it.” Lucas said, looking down again.

This really got the others' attention. 

“What do you mean to feel it?” Penny asked.

“I-I dont really know. It's just I can feel it. I can feel it haunting me. It's there and it wont go until…” Lucas stopped.

“Lucas… Wh-why didn't you say something?” Penny said, taking his hand.

Lucas did not speak. He felt tired. 

“Lucas. I know… I know this is hard.. but you can't leave.” Penny said, squeezing his hand a little.

“Yah. She's right. I dont care. were friends all of us.” Roxanne said.

“If it comes to it we’ll tie you down we're not letting you run off.” Mark said firmly. 

Lucas felt a half smile crease his lips, he kept his eyes done.

“Do you all have a death wish?” Lucas asked.

“Mabie.” Mark saud. Lucas could hear the smile in his voice. 

“So what's the plan then? Wait till it comes to eat us all?” Lucas said darkly, although he still smiled. He felt Penny squeeze his hand again.

“Can we kill it?” Roxanne asked quietly as if she were afraid of the repercussions her words could bring. 

“I-I dont know.” Lucas said he had thought about it. but had kind of given up on the thought. I mean they couldn't. He pushed it off a cliff and it didn't die. What would it take? But maybe it caught itself. 

“If we were to kill it. Could we find it?” Mark asked.

“I don't think that'd be hard. Just go into the woods. Itl find me.” Lucas nodded as he thought.

“What could we kill it with?” Penny asked, speaking up.

“Could we get a gun?” Mark asked.

“Probably. Maybe a machete too. Something like that seems good against a monster.” Lucas said.

“Could we do it?” Roxanne asked quietly.