TEN

The Caleb that had just came in ran at the other one, grabbing him by the throat with both hands. The other Caleb tried to wrest himself free, grabbing the other’s wrists.

“What’s happening? Who of you is my real dad?”

The attacked Caleb kicked the other one between the legs, making him pant for air. He followed that up with a haymaker punch that floored his opponent.

“Obviously I am. Did you see that maniac attack me?”

Glory took a few steps back. “I… I’m not sure.”

“Take it easy sweetie. That asshole there must be the skinwalker. But he’s down for the count now. Let’s get him tied up.”

Glory kept stepping back, eyes on Caleb. “I don’t have any rope.”

“You’re cowboys aren’t you? You must have some rope here,” the Caleb said.

“You’re? Not we?” Glory noted.

“Well shit, you fucking bitch!” the Caleb said and lunged at Glory. As he did his arms seemed to elongate, his face changing, stretching into what looked like a snout. Hair started to grow all over his body as his clothing started to rip.

Glory had managed to reach the reason she was taking those steps back. The knife block! She drew the largest kitchen knife from it and slashed at the thing attacking her. The knife cut through the creature’s forearm, drawing blood. However, the wound closed a quickly as it had appeared.

The knife in front of her, trying to find as much protection as she could from it she stood with her back against the kitchen counter. “What do you want from me?”

“That’s easy,” the skinwalker told her. His voice sounded more like a snarl. “I want you. I have been alone for so long. I have watched you with so much desire. Now you finally have the right age. I want you to marry me. I can look like anyone you want me to, isn’t that perfect?”

As he said those words the hair receded, the snout grew back in a human mouth. Before Glory’s amazed eyes he changed into the boy.

“No… No…” she whimpered.

“Too young? Okay.” The skin of his face started to stretch, darken, harden. Then she was looking at Michael Blackcrow. “Better?”

Then Glory started to cry. “Oh my god, don’t you understand? I will never marry you.”

The skinwalker’s face started to change again. “Is this better? This is how I’ve been observing you most of the time during your youth.” He’d changed into Robert Moreno.

“No! No! Have you been him all that time?”

“Well. Ever since I killed him and impersonated him, yes. We’re meant to be together, Glory. I’m sure of it.”

“No! I’d rather die than be with you,” Glory said. The thought of that thing touching her made her sick. The thought that all those years that thing had been hiding underneath Robert Moreno’s skin was almost too much to bear.

The skinwalker came closer. “That could also be arranged.”

Glory made a stabbing motion at the skinwalker but he reacted with incredible, animalistic speed. He grabbed her by the wrist, twisted it. Glory winced. The knife fell on the floor.

“No… Please no…” Glory pleaded.

One hand of the skinwalker starter to grow into a hair claw. One claw ran across her cheek, down neck to her breasts. Then, with just one claw he ripped open her nightgown, exposing her naked body.

“Yesssss…. So good. So young. So beautiful…” The skinwalker almost drooled. His eyes were only on her nakedness. That’s when Glory saw her chance.

“No!” Glory screamed and rammed another kitchen knife, which she’d managed to grab while the creature was lusting over her, righ into his throat.

Blood spurted from his throat, showering her body with blood. She twisted the knife, screaming, “Die! Die you fucking monster!”

The skinwalker hit her with backhanded slap so powerful she was knocked against the kitchen counter. Her head hit a cupboard above the counter and Glory felt all her strength leave her body as the world started to become hazy. She tried to stay upright against the counter but her legs were like rubber.

The skinwalker caught her before she fell. Robert’s face grew large fangs, an inhuman tongue flicking out as the skinwalker said, “Oh yes… You are mine, Glory…”