A Quiet Lullabye

by Hal Kempka

Jeremy had gone on his evening walk in the park when he saw a woman sitting on a bench. Although the twilight shadows were melting into the evening, there was still enough daylight to see her sallow, sunken cheeks, and gaunt arms cradling a baby blanket against her chest.

She bowed her head, and softly sang a lullaby as he walked past her. He smiled, but she didn�t look up. Jeremy surmised from her tattered and soiled clothing she was a homeless mother from the mission several blocks away.

After reaching the end of the path at the far end of the park, he turned around to walk back. He heard dogs barking in the distance, and picked up a stick in case he encountered a mean one. Abandoned dogs frequently claimed the park as their territory until animal control stepped in and got rid of them.

When he rounded a curve in the path, he saw the woman still sitting on the bench up ahead. Jeremy heard a low, guttural growl come from behind him, like a hungry animal slinking low and stalking its prey. He stopped, and glanced behind him, but saw nothing.

He took a few more steps, and heard the growling again. This time, it sounded louder, and closer. He peered into the bushes, and the hair on the back of his neck bristled. A pair of iridescent eyes stared back at him.

�Get out of here!� he yelled, hoping the deep, aggressive tone of voice would scare it off.

He swung the stick at the bush, but whatever it was had disappeared. Jeremy wanted to disappear as well. Then, he looked toward the mother on the bench.

If he ran and later found out she and the baby had been harmed, or even worse, killed by whatever might be stalking him, he�d never be able to forgive himself. He decided he�d better warn her, and started up the path.

He heard low growling behind him, like a dog baring its fangs before attacking. Jeremy swung around just as the animal leapt at him. Before he could react, the creature snapped its jaws shut on the base of his neck at the shoulder. It dug its claws into Jeremy�s clothes, shredding them and gouging strips of flesh as it clamored up his chest.

The creature had skin rather than fur, and it felt leathery and clammy. Its sharply pointed claws left gashes in his shoulders and chest, and they burned with pain.

Jeremy pummeled the creature with his fists. It bit off three fingers when he grabbed for its neck, and then snapped its jaws around his throat.

Before Jeremy could scream for help, it severed his vocal chords and jugular vein.

Blood spurted from his throat in torrents as he collapsed, and a pool quickly formed around his head. The creature then tore open Jeremy�s abdomen. Steam rose from the open wound as it feasted.

The woman sitting on the bench had closely watched the events unfold. She rose from the bench, and hurried toward Jeremy and the creature. She looked on approvingly, and then kneeled to eat her fill.

When she�d finished, she said softly, �Come, my baby. We�ve fed enough for one night. it�s time to go.�

Blood and bits of tissue smeared the baby�s face as it climbed her dress, and fell asleep, satiated. She kissed its forehead as it nestled beneath the blanket. Mother and child disappeared into the night, returning to their cemetery plot until tomorrow, when they would come out and feed again.

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