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The first hit slams into the glass hard enough to rip a scream from my throat.

A net of fissures explodes across the remaining windshield, and I throw my arms over my head instinctively when another blow lands.

Smash.

The entire windshield bows inward, rain instantly spraying through the fractures. A third impact shatters shards onto my lap. The creature snarls above me in a way that makes my bladder weak, piss running hot down my pant leg. Not an animal sound, but not human either. Something in between.

Old, angry. Hungry.

The roof groans and creaks beneath its weight. Another fist punches through the windshield, creating an opening for claws to dig through, grasping for purchase. I scramble backward over the seats, kicking wildly when it reaches for me. "Get away!"

The hand disappears, only to be replaced by a shoulder. Then an arm as it tries to force its way inside.

My vision starts to tunnel.

This is it. This is how I disappear, just like Dennis. There'll be nothing left of me but twisted metal, and they'll blame it on the mill. Say I went crazy, tell my older brother that he has to bury another family member and it's all my fucking fault again.

What if he comes up here to find me? The curse will take him too, and my entire fucking bloodline will be wiped out by some monster in the woods.

The creature rears back for another strike, this one to obliterate the windshield completely. I close my damp eyes and brace for it, mentally preparing myself for the pain of being dragged into the trees and eaten alive, devoured by magna belua, torn apart⁠—

Headlights suddenly flood the interior of the Camaro, flashing behind my eyes.

Blinding radiance washes across the shattered windshield, causing whatever's out there to freeze. A horn blares aggressively, and I jerk my head over my shoulder to catch sight of an SUV barreling toward me.

The Camaro rocks violently, pulling my attention forward. I catch only a glimpse of the creature’s large shadow as it lands in the road, dark fur slick with rain. Eyes reflect gold in the headlights before it vanishes into thin air, like the forest reached out and swallowed it whole.

The SUV screeches to a stop, driver's side door flying open. A man jumps out before the vehicle is even fully parked. "Benji!"

“M-Manny.” I don't realize I'm shaking until I try to answer him back. My teeth chatter, glass crunching beneath me as I slowly climb out of the backseat. Water pours through the destroyed windshield, soaking my upholstery. The Camaro is totaled beyond repair.

And all I can manage is: "...I hit it."

Manny freezes, wide eyes taking in the blood and handprints smeared along my car. His face completely drains of color. "You did what?"

A manic, hysterical laugh bubbles out of me as I tug at my dripping curls. Bile rises in my throat, but I swallow it down, adrenaline igniting every single nerve-ending.

“I hit it. With my fucking car.”

Chapter

Nine

Benji

“So, let me get this straight…”

Manny paces the guard shack, looking about as unconvinced as he did two hours ago when he dragged me off the side of the road. I still haven’t stopped shaking. “There's some kind of killer monster in the woods, and everyone here just goes along with it. Dude, do I need to call a doctor?”

Sinking further into Hank’s oversized guard jacket—which I stole—I toss Manny a glare. “I know how it sounds. If it wasn’t for that thing almost killing me back there, I wouldn't believe it either.”

“I can't believe you almost slept with the sheriff’s wife.”

“Seriously?” A snort leaves my throat. “After what you just saw out there, that's the part you're having a hard time with?”

“I don't know what I saw.” Manny slumps against the desk and drags a hand down his face. “Looked like some kind of bear at first, but when I drove closer, it was almost like… a gorilla or something. Couldn't quite make it out in the dark.”

“It wasn't no fucking gorilla.”