The Beast of 1977 (Book 1)

Nightfall was a hard and acrimonious plight in the quiet valley as the beast crunched its way across the snow and towards a crippled forest. Its enormous paws and hind legs stretched forward at a pace that would be quite unusual for a creature of its enormity.

It trekked along as though it was aware that food was near, even though its stomach was nearly full by that point in the evening. Its hot breath steamed out in front of it as the demon entered the dark forest roaring and growling an ever-present warning to anything that may be in its sprinting way. The withered trees were more of a nuisance that only stood in its path. One by one, the demon's hairy arms bumped and crashed against the oaks that dared stand in front of it.

The thing's shiny eyes pierced the sheer blackness of night; its sight was flawless. The temperature was well below the teens that evening, and yet, the demon's thick coat of fur provided the ever so perfect insulation that it required for lurking. As soon as the creature cleared the forest thick, its eyes caught sight of a brightly lit house just a few yards up ahead.

Like a charging steed into medieval battle, the demon trampled further towards the large home, snarling and snorting across a snowy, open field that young boys would often play football in.

***

"You've been on my ass ever since me and the girls got home this evening! And it's only eight o'fucking clock!" An angry, balding, middle-aged white man raged as he slammed the refrigerator door shut and advanced towards his shuddering wife.

His wife, who was adorned in a pink bathrobe, hairnet and slippers, stood in the middle of the kitchen floor, staring a distraught eye at her fuming husband while holding her cold arms together.

"I told you to bring the girls home at four o' clock, Gary! You know full well that they have to eat before seven!"

"Well excuse me all to hell for wanting to spend a little quality time with my own children!" Gary screamed while waving his arms in the air. "You're the one that keeps on bitching about how I don't spend enough time with them, and when I finally do, you jump all over my ass! What the hell do you want from me, Sarah?"

Sarah stepped away from Gary and began to pace the floor as though she were trying to think up something important to say at that instant; like she had something to get off of her chest, but didn't exactly know how to let it go.

Gary only backed away and rolled his eyes in blistering frustration. The backdoor was only a few feet to his left, and there was nothing more he wanted than to storm away.

"Gary," Sarah pathetically whimpered, "I think...I just think that you and I should get a divorce."

With a drained appearance on his face, the man stared deep into his crying wife's eyes. It was as if his very breath had inexplicably been snatched away. His skin grew a shade whiter.

With tears flowing, Sarah said, "You can't be surprised, Gary. It's been a long time coming. I can't talk to you anymore. If you're not in Cleveland then you're in New York! If it's not New York, then it's Chicago! You're hardly even home anymore! And you want to stand there and take credit for taking the girls out for ice cream?" She hollered while stomping her right foot on the linoleum.

Gary said. "I'm not like your brother who just sits around all day long and does absolutely nothing! Or you're instigating mother who just lets herself in our house every morning like she owns the damn

"Oh, God, Gary," Sarah shouted at the top of her lungs,

on his face he asked, "A divorce, huh? Did Gloria

rolled her eyes in defeat and exhaled as though the fight had taken everything completely

"Well...if that's the way you want it, then I guess I'll see your sorry ass in court." Gary

left hand covering her mouth, Sarah carried herself back into the dimly

suddenly caused Gary's rage to gradually dissipate. Like angry storm clouds, he could see the destruction of their union from miles away, but he honestly never imagined that he would hear the word 'divorce' said straight to his

in need of sustenance. Gary didn't want Sarah to think that he too was falling apart. In an aimless blunder, Gary recklessly sifted past an

Gary shut the refrigerator door and leisurely stepped over

raccoon or possum, even though neither creature

sink; he then opened the basement door only to see nothing but darkness below. The noises had suddenly ceased.

looked to be two bright beams of wavering light appear in the blackness of

shine their night eyes in the dark, but the thing that was apparently skulking about on his basement stairs had a strikingly

down. Even the light from the kitchen wasn't able to shine bright enough to where Gary could catch a more precise glimpse of

beast tore into his face, ripping away at his eyes and mouth with its sadistically sharp fangs. All that could be heard was the bumping and thrashing

still seated on the couch in the living room, rolled her eyes in disgust

from off the couch, carried her tired self into

When she received no response, Sarah looked at the open basement door and figured that Gary was downstairs; it was customary for him to retreat downwards whenever a fight broke out

try and keep it down?" She irritably

the racket of what resembled something being torn apart, and snorting

on the floor. As she leaned forward to pick

Glorious light filled the top half of the basement, enough light for the woman to see an enormous, hairy animal ravenously

Without blinking, Sarah dropped the broom, turned and ran away, only

The beast pounced onto her back and proceeded to tear into her soft flesh. Pieces of red hair were