The Winter Creek Beast by CP Bialois Read Free Book Online

our past and draw strength from it.”
    Jay remained kneeling next to the old man as he turned to gaze unseeing back at the fire. Their conversation was over as quick as that and Jay still didn’t have the answers he needed. Perhaps his grandfather was right. No one could help him on his path. Accepting it as the truth and without any way to deny it, Jay knew where his path was leading. With a nod, he patted his grandfather’s arm and thanked him before turning and leaving the old man at peace in his home.
    Once outside, Jay looked towards the heavens and found himself asking for guidance and the strength to do what was needed. It was the first time he could remember asking the Great Spirit for help since he was young, but he felt confident he wasn’t as alone as his grandfather had implied. With a renewed determination, he climbed into his Jeep and pulled back onto the road. Where he needed to go didn’t feel as far away as he had feared.
     
    *****
     
    The beast lifted its head from its kill and stared into the sky. Following the events of the previous night, a strange calmness had come over him as he hid in the mountainous area to the west of the small town. His injuries had healed before he reached the safety of the old mines dotting the surface of the mountain, but he still held a vigil throughout the night. Experience had taught him that the hounds wouldn’t give up until they found him and the men would be with them.
    The hounds weren’t more than an annoyance, but the men brought weapons that caused pain. Over the years, the beast had learned to be wary of the men carrying the loud weapons. As hard as it tried, he couldn’t remember what they were called as it was erased from his memory along with everything else that was human. Everything except a few images and habits he refused to let go of. Had he still been a man, the beast may have wanted to befriend the men. There were others like him he encountered that were protective of the creatures. Such a thought never occurred to him as he only wanted to kill and destroy others when he saw them. It was his way.
    During his vigil, a large buck crossed in front of the cave he chose to hide in. The animal never stood a chance. The warm meat and blood felt good as the beast consumed it to quench its bloodlust. As before, the rage faded as did the pain it often brought with it. It was then he sensed the approach of another. It was the same creature that drew near to it the previous night and it brought a rumble from deep within its being.
    He used to know a name for what that creature was, but all it knew was man wasn’t the proper term. There was more to the familiar feeling than that. Like the others that came before, the beast would defend itself and destroy the dangerous creature. As if controlled by something else, the beast let out a deafening roar that shook the ground around it.
    Hiding was what the beast did when it didn’t want to be found. Now that there was a dangerous enemy coming for it, there was no point not to let its presence be known.
     

Chapter 8
     
    Not sure why he chose the access road to the old mines, Jay pulled his Jeep off to the side of the road when he reached the “road closed” barricades. The mines used to be a hangout for the local teenagers before a few of them fell inside and were seriously injured. Thankful no one was killed, the townspeople decided to close the roads in hope future generations would abide by the law. Jay knew no one paid any attention to them as there were indents in the gravel shoulder where he came to a stop from the blockades being moved. At any other time he may have done something, but as it stood he had a much bigger problem to deal with.
    He heard the roar as soon as he shut off the engine and opened the door to get out. He let out a scoffing breath and grabbed the shotgun from its place between the seats.
    He thought about calling Melvin and the others to come with him, but he didn’t want to risk