Jose loomed near the closet, his gaunt frame moving with unnatural stiffness as he sniffed at the air, his bony fingers grazing the door's edge. His jaw slackened, emitting a low, guttural growl that made Charlie's skin crawl. The faint creak of floorboards filled the silence, each sound amplifying the oppressive tension in the room.
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Charlie's eyes darted to the window on their left, where the corpse of the coyote lay sprawled on the dusty ground outside. His heart raced, his pulse pounding in his ears. Without thinking, he whispered, "Uncle, we need to make a run for it. To our horses."
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Jed, standing as still as a statue beside him, raised an eyebrow but didn't look away from Jose. "Run for it? Sure, kid. Got any bright ideas on how to not get our asses torn apart first?"
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Charlie nodded toward the window. "That's our way out."
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Jed allowed his gaze to shift briefly, taking in the cracked glass and the coyote below. His lips twisted into a grimace. "And you figure that's better than waiting for him to tear us limb from limb?"
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Charlie bit his lip. "It's all we've got."
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Jed sighed deeply. "Alright, fine. But how about we try movin' nice and slow? Maybe he don't see us slinkin' over there."
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Charlie's voice was tense. "Yeah, I think he'll still notice."
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"Well, kid, we're screwed either way," Jed muttered. "I got no aim left, and I don't reckon you've got much fight left in you either."
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Charlie swallowed hard. "Let's just do it."
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Without another word, they bolted toward the window.
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Jose's head snapped toward them, his bloodshot eyes widening. "Sangreeeeeeeeee!" he howled, launching himself across the room in a frenzy.
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Jed and Charlie didn't stop. Jed's injured leg buckled slightly as they reached the window, but he gritted his teeth and leaped through the cracked glass. The sound of shattering shards filled the air as they tumbled onto the ground below, landing with a wet thud on the mangled corpse of the coyote.
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Charlie groaned, struggling to push himself up. Blood smeared across his clothes as he realized where they'd landed. "My clothes are covered in blood!"
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Jed, wincing as he stood, shot him a glare. "Kid, I think we've got bigger problems than your damn laundry." He gestured with his chin toward the rooftops.
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Charlie's breath hitched as he looked up. Half a dozen creatures were perched on the edges of the roof, their gaunt faces and twisted bodies silhouetted against the darkening sky. They crouched low, their hollow eyes fixed on the two of them like predators ready to strike.
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Jose's growls grew louder as he appeared in the broken window above them, his face twisted in rage. He snarled, his lips curling back to reveal rows of jagged teeth.
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Charlie's voice trembled. "Uncle, they're everywhere."
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"No kidding," Jed muttered, reaching for his revolver. His hand hovered over the holster before he let out a resigned sigh. "Hell, this ain't worth a damn. I'm outta bullets, and even if I wasn't, my aim's shot to hell."
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Charlie glanced at his arm, counting the faint glow of marks. "I've got five shots left."
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Jed chuckled darkly, the sound bitter and self-deprecating. "Oh, great. Five shots and about a dozen of them lookin' to rip us apart. You're really gonna turn the tide here, kid."
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Jose growled again, his gaze darting to the monsters on the roof. The creatures hissed in response, their bony limbs skittering across the shingles as they began to move.
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Jed flexed his injured leg and gritted his teeth. "Alright, kid. Got any more bright ideas?"
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Charlie's eyes scanned their surroundings, his mind racing. The faint rustle of movement on the roof grew louder, the sound of claws scraping against wood filling the air.
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"I'm thinking," Charlie muttered.
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"Well, think faster," Jed growled.
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Jose's voice cut through the chaos, guttural and raw. "Sangreeee…"
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Jed rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, we heard you the first damn time."
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The creatures on the roof tensed, their bodies coiled like springs, ready to pounce. Jed tightened his grip on Charlie's shoulder.
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The monsters moved with unsettling precision, their gaunt, twisted bodies sniffing the air. Jed and Charlie pressed themselves against the wall, staying deathly still as the creatures' hollow eyes scanned the room. Their jagged teeth clacked together softly, a noise that seemed to echo like a ticking clock.
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Jed leaned down, his voice a barely audible whisper. "Don't move. Don't even breathe too loud."
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Charlie's wide eyes darted between the creatures and Jed, his hand trembling as he gripped his uncle's coat sleeve. "Jed… I think they can smell us."
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Jed's jaw tightened, and he muttered, "Yeah, kid. I got that impression when they started sniffin' like a pack of bloodhounds. Got any other obvious observations?"
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Before Charlie could respond, one of the monsters let out a low growl, its head jerking in their direction. Jed didn't wait. He grabbed Charlie by the back of his shirt and yanked him toward the window.
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"Move!" Jed hissed, his voice sharp and commanding.
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The creatures reacted instantly, their inhuman screeches piercing the air as they lunged. Jed and Charlie scrambled toward the window, their boots sliding on the worn wooden floor. Charlie felt the rush of air as a clawed hand swiped inches from his face.
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They made it to the window, and Jed shoved Charlie through first. But as Charlie tumbled out, Jose—quicker and more vicious than the others—reached them. With a guttural roar, he slashed at Charlie, his claws raking across the boy's leg. Charlie cried out, clutching his bleeding calf as Jed hauled him to his feet.
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"Keep movin', kid!" Jed barked, his eyes darting between Charlie and the monsters closing in.
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Jed slammed the window shut with a rickety wooden table from the corner of the room. With a grunt, he shoved it against the window frame, pressing his weight against it. The creatures slammed against the other side, their claws scraping against the wood. One of them let out an earsplitting howl, and a fist punched clean through the table, splinters flying everywhere.
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Jed stared at the hole, his face twisting into an exasperated grimace. "Well, so much for that plan." He threw his weight against the table again, buying them a few precious seconds. "Kid, you see a way outta this mess?"
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Charlie's eyes darted around the room, searching frantically. The monsters' howls grew louder, and the table shook violently under the pressure of their assault. Then, he saw it—a chimney on the far side of the room, its narrow opening leading up and out.
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"The chimney!" Charlie shouted, pointing. "We can climb up through the chimney!"
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Jed's gaze followed Charlie's outstretched hand, and he nodded grimly. "Alright. I'll hold 'em off. You get in there first."
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Charlie hesitated, but Jed shoved him toward the chimney. "Go! Now!"
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Charlie scrambled to the chimney, his hands slipping on the soot-streaked bricks as he hoisted himself up. Jed held the table for another agonizing moment, the wood cracking and splintering under the relentless assault of the monsters.
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"Hope you're in, kid, 'cause I'm done babysittin' this table!" Jed shouted, releasing his hold.
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The table flew backward as the creatures surged forward, but Jed was already running. His boots pounded against the floor as he dove toward the chimney. One of the monsters swiped at him, its claws catching the hem of his coat, but Jed slipped free, pulling himself into the narrow space just as the creatures reached them.
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Jed's breath came in ragged gasps as he pressed his back against the soot-covered wall, his legs wedged against the opposite side to brace himself. He looked up to see Charlie struggling to climb, his hands trembling as he gripped the uneven bricks.
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"Great. Just great," Jed muttered, wiping sweat and soot from his forehead. "Boy, keep climbin'. I ain't keen on dyin' down here with you."
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Charlie gritted his teeth, his voice strained. "It's kinda hard! The bricks are all slippery!"
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Jed glanced down at the monsters below. Their claws scraped against the bottom of the chimney, their guttural growls echoing upward. "Well, it's gonna get a helluva lot harder if you don't move faster. C'mon, kid, put some muscle into it!"
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Charlie's legs trembled, but he climbed higher, his hands finding purchase on a protruding brick. "I'm trying, alright?"
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Jed chuckled darkly, the sound tinged with exhaustion. "Try harder, or I'm usin' you as a distraction."
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The monsters roared below, their clawed hands reaching into the chimney. Jed pressed himself tighter against the wall, his sharp blue eyes scanning for any way to slow them down.
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"Kid," he called up, his voice carrying a surprising softness beneath the gruffness. "You keep goin'. Don't stop till you see daylight."
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Charlie glanced down, his face streaked with sweat and soot. "What about you?"
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Jed smirked, his expression grim but determined. "I'll be right behind you. Ain't leavin' you to deal with this mess alone. Now climb, damn it."
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As the boy pushed himself higher, Jed adjusted his position, bracing his arms and legs more firmly against the walls. He looked down at the snarling faces of the monsters below and let out a low, bitter laugh.
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"Y'know," he muttered, half to himself, "there's a lesson in all this. Don't ever trust an old house with a perfectly good window. It's probably a damn trap."
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Above him, Charlie's voice carried down, shaky but determined. "I see light, Uncle! I see it!"
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Jed allowed himself a faint smile. "Good. Now get your ass outta here before I regret every decision I've made today."
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The chimney opened to the cool night air, and Charlie hoisted himself out with a grunt, collapsing onto the rooftop. He lay there for a moment, staring up at the night sky, where countless stars twinkled like scattered diamonds. The air was crisp, almost serene, in stark contrast to the chaos they'd just escaped.
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Jed followed seconds later, hauling himself out with a growl of exertion. He landed heavily beside Charlie, his breathing labored. "Well, that was a fine mess," Jed muttered, dusting soot off his coat.
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Charlie pushed himself up on his elbows, his chest still heaving. "Uncle Jed... look at the stars," he said, his voice soft, almost childlike. "They're... beautiful."
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Jed gave him a sidelong glance, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "Sure, kid. Stars are real nice. Real nice,
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Charlie turned to face him fully, his expression shifting from wonder to something more troubled. "Uncle Jed... your skin..." His voice faltered, his hand pointing hesitantly. "It's... pale. And your eyes... they're glowing."
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Jed stiffened, his hand instinctively going to his face. "What the hell're you talkin' about?" he snapped, though there was an edge of unease in his tone.
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Charlie's voice rose, panic creeping in. "Uncle Jed, you're turning into them! Your eyes... they're purple! And you smell... you smell like... like..."
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"Rot," Jed finished grimly, his hand falling away. He looked down at his arms, the veins dark and prominent under unnaturally pale skin. His fingers trembled as he brought them closer to his face. The glow of his eyes reflected faintly in Charlie's terrified gaze.
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Jed let out a sharp, bitter laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Ah, shit. Figures." He clenched his fists, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "Guess those bastards didn't just scratch the kid."
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Charlie scrambled backward, his leg dragging uselessly from the earlier wound. "No... no, this can't be happening. You're—" His voice cracked, tears stinging his eyes. "You're you. You're not like them!"
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Jed's jaw tightened, his expression hardening despite the fear flickering in his glowing eyes. "Pull yourself together, boy. Ain't got time for tears." His voice was sharp but cracked under its weight. "I ain't gone yet."
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Charlie shook his head, his breaths coming fast and shallow. "But what if you do? What if—"
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"Enough!" Jed's voice boomed, silencing him. He took a shaky breath, steadying himself. "Listen to me, Charlie. You keep movin'. You keep fightin'. No matter what happens to me. You hear me?"
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Charlie's lip trembled, but he nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "I hear you."
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Jed gave him a grim smile, his sharp wit dimmed by the shadow of his transformation. "Good. 'Cause I ain't lettin' some rotten corpse version of me be the end of your story."
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