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The Howl in the Night

Chapter One

The howl pierced threw the night air making the unfortunate hunter's heart to stop. He rapidly looks around for the source of the howl as silence fell. The sound of rustling bushes makes him to spin around and trip over a fallen tree, his finger pulled on the trigger of his hunting rifle shooting and unleashed its booming echo. He rushed back to his feet and looked around for the beast that killed his friend minutes earlier.

It all started as a harmless hunting trip into the mountains, with his friend earlier that day. The trip started out ok, killing a few quell and ducks, planning on taking them home to their wives for dinner. Until a wrong turn led them hours into the middle of nowhere. That's when things turned worse as a large animal bolted out in front of the truck causing the hunter's friend to swerve out of the way and crash.

The hunter's friend yelled out about how his truck was totaled and grabbed his gun declaring he'd have the animal's head over his mantel. The hunter followed his friend telling him not to worry about it. The hunter watched as his friend ran into the shadows, he reached for his gun planning on following just to protect his friend when he heard shots fired off and a blood curtailing scream and the howl of some inhuman beast that followed. The hunter terrified bolted in the opposite direction to get away.

The hunter heard the howl again, closer, but what made it worse for the hunter was that a group of other howls answered back. These howls came from various directions surrounding the hunter, making his blood freeze in his veins and spin around in place. His knuckles white from holding his gun so tightly, that's when a rustling sound behind him makes him turns around and sees a massive shadow of a creature bolting toward him. The hunter raises his gun and fires while screaming, both echoing in the dark forest before it was silenced. The forest settling into eerie silence and darkness that not even the light of the full moon was able to reveal the secrets it holds.

***

The sound of a blaring alarm caused Jacob's arm to shoot out from under the covers and smash down onto the snooze button. Jacob Lewis groans as he sits up as one hand rubs the sleep from his eyes. A knock on the door gains his attention as he sees his brother Hank poke his head in.

"Rise and shine Jakey boy, I got called into the work early so you're going to have to take the bus to school, sorry bud." His strong features showing how sorry about abandoning his younger brother with the bus and no home cooked breakfast.

Jacob gave his older brother a once over and noticed he was wearing his suite for the office. He had short brown hair with no bangs like he liked so it was out of his brown eyes. His dark completion reminded Jacob of their father's Mediterranean background. Then under the suite barely hidden was the hours of work out he did in the garage gym they had. At 32 and six foot two, he was the dream of many woman at his work place and would come home with a briefcase full of love letters.

Jacob returned his brother's look with an annoyed one and sighed, "It's ok Hank, I'll see you tonight for our movie night?" he asked.

Hank smiled and held up his thumb, "Defiantly, Amy and David joining?"

Jacob nodded, "Yeah, they're bringing Dark Knight Trilogy."

Hank nodded, "Oh, ok, cool." He looked down at his watch, his eyes popped out and he looked up to wave his younger brother bye, "He, got to go, see you tonight."

Waving back Jacob replied, "Ok, see ya." He then watched as Hank disappeared threw the door before crawling out of his full size bed and over to the bathroom across the hall. After performing his morning duties he crossed back into his room to get dressed. He pulled on a pair of boxers, blue jeans, a purple t-shirt, and a black sweater jacket.

He looked at himself in the mirror that hung over his dresser and examined his own features. He gained more of his mother's features then his father's. From the shaggy dark brown hair to his round face and white skin. His sapphire blue eyes that earned him cheek pinches from his aunts and cute remarks from girls at school. Unlike his brother, he topped out at five foot ten at the age of 17.

Jacob sat down at the kitchen table with a bowl of chocolate cheerios and a view of the 6 o'clock news.

"And it has been reported that the bodies of Lance Burtons and Charles Normans, have been identified by authorities last night from a pair of bodies discovered in the wild life sanctuary on northern ridge." Jacob looked up as images of both men appeared next to the news anchor. "Both men went missing three months ago when they went for a hunting trip in the mountains. Doctors were able to use their dental records to identify the bodies and have determined that the two hunters were killed by a pack of wolves. Our prayers go out to their friends and families."

Jacob quickly turned off the tv and sat at the table for a couple of minutes before looking over at a picture of the wall of his parents, Hank, and him. His train of thought was interrupted by the seven chimes of the clock.

Jacob rushed over and grabbed his winter jacket, slipped his shoes on, and his book bag before he headed out the door to the bus stop in time to see it pull up. After a grueling 15 minute ride with kids from the elementary school and the junior high mixed in with the high schoolers, the bus pulled up to the high school and deposited Jacob and the other students off.

Jacob made his way to his locker to grab his books when he heard...

"Jacob!" Jacob looked over in time to see one of his best friends Amy comes running up to him before he was tackled into the locker by her. Her shoulder length red hair bouncing with each step she made. Her blue eyes sparkled with joy at the sight of her best friend that she mercilessly tackled to the ground.

Jacob patted her back and wheezed out, "Hey Amy, um, c-can you get off my spleen?" he asked to which Amy chuckled and stood up to her five foot ten.

"It's about time slow poke, where were you? Why didn't Hank drop you off?" Amy bombarded Jacob with questions as he stood up.

"Hank had to head into work early, so I had to ride the bus." he rolled his eyes. The bell rang altered the two to the start of first period so Jacob picked up his bag before heading down the hall with Amy beside him

"How much do you still need for the car you want?" Amy asked.

Jacob shrugged his shoulders, "I need to check, like another fifteen hundred. So after a few dozen pay checks, I'll have enough to get a descent car."

They turned into their Accounting class before Amy stopped at the door and pulled Jacob back.

"Shoot, I forgot we had a test today, what's the formula for accounting again?" she begged Jacob.

Sighing Jacob asked, "How many times do I have to remind you, we went over this last night on skype." Amy just gave him a sheepish smile which he just rolled his eyes at before continuing, "It's assets plus liabilities equal owner's equity, and can you remember this for thirty minutes?"

"She forgot again? I thought we did this last night?" came from besides them. Both turned to see a 6 foot tall lanky boy with short reddish brown curls and green eyes.

Jacob nodded, "Hey David, and yeah, she did." He crossed his arms and then giving Amy a knowing look.

Amy shrugged and looked down at her feet, "I'm nervous; if I don't pass this test then I can't join you guys on the trip to the mountain resort."

Jacob placed his hands on her shoulders and placed his forehead against hers. "Hey, hey, look at me," when she looked up to stare into his eyes he continued, "you are an intelligent woman, you can do it, I know you can." He smiled when he saw her smile at his words of encouragement.

"Thanks Jacob, you're the best." she hugged him for a few seconds before looking up at as someone hit her shoulder to see David there standing there. "You too David come here," she ordered before pulling him into the group hug, "I love you guys."

"Love you too, Amy." both boys replied before they separated and headed into class to take their Finals.

The day passed with Final after Final, problem after problem being solved or written down, until the final bell rang sounding the end of the school year for seniors. Jacob, Amy, and David all rode in David's car to Jacob's house where they were greeted by Hank's congratulations for completing their final year.

***

"Hey, where's the popcorn?" yelled Amy from the Lewis' couch in the living room.

"Hold your horses Amy, give it another minute." Hank yelled back as he poured the third bag of popcorn into a second bowl before carrying it into the living room.

He looked over his little brother sitting on the floor leaning against the couch while David and Amy sat on the either sides of the couch. He handed one bowl over to Amy who began to grab a handful of popcorn before passing it over to David who shared some with Jacob. Hank proceeded over to the PS3 player and pushed in the Batman Begins before settling down in his recliner.

While they watched, David and Jacob went at with trivia and what they liked and disliked about the Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy.

"I don't care what you say, Christopher Nolan's Batman is amazing, and it depicts an accurate depiction of Gotham City" declared Jacob.

David shook his head, "No, Tim Burtan's Batman is better and it's more accurate to the Batman legend, and the Gotham City in the Dark Knight was only accurate in the first movie, not the other two, especially the last one."

Amy, having enough of the two's bickering yelled at them, "Will you two shut up and just enjoy the movie? For the love of God."

Hank just laughed as he watched the three friends before turning back to the movie. He watched as Batman was slammed someone's head into a bar before turning to the next goon.

As the hours flew by the discussions turned from the movie to what the trio were going to do on the senior field trip.

"Well duh, we're going to sky, well, you two are, but I'm going snowboarding." declared David.

Amy rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I know but besides that, what else? I've heard there is this assume club in the west wing of the resort."

"Uh, no thanks, I think I'll stick with skiing and catching up on my reading, I've wanted to read The Hobbit since we saw it last week." said Jacob. Then he added, "Plus, the clubs only for people who are twenty-one or older."

David beamed, "So? My cousin Ricky can get us convincing ID."

Amy smiled and looked toward her best friend, "Yeah Jacob, don't be a downer lets go have some fun. You can read The Hobbit later when you head to bed that night."

Jacob's face contracted in annoyance and let out a little grown, "Guys, I don't know."

"Come on Jacob," Amy begged while placing her hands on his shoulders and shaking him a little, "pleeease."

Jacob finally caved and shook his head, "Ok, but if they catch us, you owe me big time."

"Yeah! We're going clubbing!" Amy yelled out while throwing her arms into the air with Jacob and David smile and laughing.

"Oh no you wont." came Hank's response as he came back from the bathroom. "You guys aren't old enough for that. And if I find out that you did, I'll make sure your next few weeks till you go to college a living heck." ordered Jacob's older brother.

The trio looked between each other knowing Hank's threats were not to be taken lightly. "Ok" they replied.

Hank nodded as he moved over to put in the last movie The Dark Knight Rise.

Meanwhile David and Amy looked back at each other and held up their crossed fingers and smiled devilishly.