Something felt off.

As I sat in front of the television, eating a tub of cookies and cream ice cream, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was like an ominous presence lurked in the room, causing me to grow anxious. My stomach turned in a tight knot and I clenched it, hissing in pain.

My baby felt it too. I placed the ice cream down and paused the show I was watching to glance around the room. Silence lingered and I couldn't help but feel apprehension as the sound of trees rustling in the wind became more pronounced. A storm might be approaching. I stood up and strode across the room to open the curtains and stare outside.

Dark clouds gathered outside, the rumbling of thunder resonating in the distance as well as a bolt of sharp lightning striking the earth ever so often. I allowed the curtain to sway back into place after releasing it and I went back to the sofa, curling up in the fleece blanket before resuming the show.

I began eating the icecream again, taking slow spoonfuls into my mouth. The breeze picked up, creating howling sounds outside. I wondered how Drakos was holding up with his heat. It must be hard having to be sexually aroused for an entire week. In a way, I felt relieved to have some alone time, but there was no denying that an itching part of me missed his presence.

Not that I would admit that to him.

I sighed in contentment as I mouthed a spoonful of the cold, flavorful lump of diabetes. Being pregnant really made me a glutton. I never got enough of food. I licked the spoon dry as I watched the television, totally engrossed in it.

"Run, damn it or he'll kill you!" I sat up on the sofa, tense with suspense as the actress ran for her life from a serial killer. They always fall. I don't get it, is there a hook in their foot when they're running in these movies?

A clap of thunder boomed and I pitched in fright at the trembling sound that shook the house. I yelped and hid under the large blanket, cursing as a bright flash of lightning lit the sky and struck a powerline, causing the power to go out. I cursed and pulled the blanket from over my head, staring into the pitch-black room as I placed the ice cream down on the floor.

"Kirk?" I called out, placing one foot on the ground and slipping off of the sofa.

I stretched my hands out in front of me to guide me from bumping into anything. I slowly made my way into the kitchen, feeling my way through the cabinet drawers for a candle. I finally found one, along with a candle holder, as well as a torch lighter to light it.

When I did, the room lit up in a warm glow, casting shadows about the room. I went back into the living room, carrying the candle just as Kirk came descending the stairs, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Kirk, are you a fucking rock? I called out to you but you didn't answer." I grumbled, walking past him to sit the candle on top of the coffee table.

He yawned, "Asche, unlike you, my body gets tired and I need to sleep. That loud ass thunder woke me up and I pitched out of my sleep, disoriented. You gotta give me a minute to catch myself."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." I shifted my gaze around the room and glanced out the window just as a bolt of lightning flashed, revealing a large creature in the sky coming towards the house with intense speed.

"Holy fuck!" I stepped back, my eyes wide in shock. My face lost its color as I held on the arm of the sofa.

"What? What is it?" Kirk came over to me, grasping my shoulders as I continued to stare ahead, my heart palpitating severely.

"W-Window. Creature outside..." I stuttered out, as the darkness fell after the beacon of lighting went away.

"I don't understand." Kirk's brows drew together in confusion. "It may be a wild animal. They stray these parts at night."

I shook my head vigorously causing his frown to deepen. "Not a wild animal. It flies. It's huge, It's--" An alarmed scream tore from my throat as lightning flashed again, the thin curtains giving us a bird's eye view of large red elliptical eyes, staring at us.

"Bloody hell," Kirk tensed beside me, grabbing me by the arm protectively. "Run," He whispered.

I couldn't believe it. There was a big fucking bird staring at us in the darkness, probably hungry and wants to eat us alive.

A high pitched screech came after and I covered my ears immediately, gritting my teeth at the ear-piercing sound. Kirk protected his ears as well then gathered me in his arms, pulling me away from the veranda door that the creature was gliding his nails along.

"We have to leave." He ordered, taking me upstairs as the screeching got louder as if the creature became desperate to get in.

"What the fuck is that?" I demanded, glancing back in fear.

"You can't tell?" He looked at me in disbelief at my question.

"Fuck no. But I'm pretty sure we can fit into its mouth." I said hysterically.

Falcon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Asche, I didn't know you were this dense."

We entered his bedroom and he locked the door, walking over to his closet to fetch who knows what as I stood in the middle of the room, staring fearfully through the window. Rain pitter-pattered down, starting off with small droplets then increasing to a downpour.

That thing was huge, so huge, a pigeon can't be so big or any other creature other than...

Oh, fuck.

A loud roar shook the house and caused the ground to shudder. I lost my balance and fell to the floor on my knees, a scream lodging in my throat when the creature's flickering eyes gazed hungrily through the window, rendering me immobile for a moment.

"Fuck!" Kirk cursed, grabbing his coat and tossing it to me. "Put that on and don't stare at it, he's trying to mesmerize you!"

"Is that Drakos!?" I asked, alarmed, crawling on my hands and knees as far away from the window as possible. "How did he find us?"

"No time. Just do as I say and we'll be fine, I hope.' He said, holding his phone to his ear in one hand and grabbing his rifle in the other.

My eyes flew open in terror. "What the fuck are you going to need that for!? Are you planning on killing him?"

He stared down at me as I settled at his feet, trembling like a frightened puppy.

"He won't stop at nothing to get to you Asche and just in case you didn't know, he wants to fuck you. Hard. And that's not good for you. I'm considered a threat to him and that's not good for me. Falcon told me what to do. It won't harm him but slow him down. Now get up, you look comical right now."

I bet I do.

"Hey, Falcon, it's me. We have trouble on our hands. Your brother is what it is. Hey, don't give me any attitude, this is your fucking problem. Asche is my priority, bastard. You'd better hurry your ass over before he burns me to a crisp. Whatever just make it speedy." He snapped then ended the call with a grimace.

"Are you ready?" He asked and I nodded right when a spout of flame soared through the glass, shattering it, sending shards of glass flying everywhere.

***