Father Riley

"Run, ladies," Riley growled as he stepped out from the darkness and watched Dodie Rae and Bay Lynn return to the interstate. "I'll see you soon. But first," he said, shifting his crimson eyes toward the diner. "I have to make some new friends, create a family if you will." Riley hunched down like an Olympic sprinter, anticipating the starting gun.

His ears pricked up as chimes signaled the opening of the diner's door. "Ready," he snarled and curled the corner of his canine lips. A couple exited the building. "Get set," he said, all but salivating as he watched the couple walk toward their car, unaware of the impending danger. "Go!" he shouted and lunged. He reached them before they were even aware of his presence or could make a sound as he pinned the girl to the asphalt with his imposing foot. She watched in horror as he savagely plunged his massive canines into her terrified companion's shoulder and released his life-altering venom into the doomed man's bloodstream.

"No!" the girl shouted as the wolf tossed her blood-drenched partner aside. The beast lifted her to his eye level and offered up a terrifying smile. Although she tried to scream, like in everyone's worst nightmare, only the slightest whimper emerged. Immediately, the beast injected his venom into the girl's right shoulder, as well, then cut his eyes toward the diner for possible witnesses.

At this hour, the patrons were too busy eating and catching up with friends to notice the terror unfolding outside. The beast stood upright and reveled in the way the couple was seizing so violently on the ground. His venom was indeed potent and doing an exceptional job. Satisfied, he turned toward the diner, raced to the back of the building, and secured the back door by pushing the overfilled dumpster firmly against it. Admiring his work once again, he said. "That'll keep the kitchen staff in place." Then headed back toward the front door. He scanned the dining area for a quick head count. Four people were sitting in separate booths: two others were on stools at the counter, there was one waitress, one short-order cook visible through the expo window, and in the back, probably a dishwasher and busboy.

A scream interrupted his computations and brought his attention toward a woman who was exiting the restroom that faced the front door. Her horrified expression said it all and made his need for immediacy a non-negotiable. The beast rammed through the front door and, without hesitation, sank his fangs deep into the woman's shoulder. The diner instantly became a waking volcano that spewed screams like lava and bodies like debris across the dining room. He watched with amusement as everyone scaled the closest booths and countertops, as they frantically tried to flee the terror of the beast whose jaws were still attached, like a bear trap, to the exsanguinating woman.

Now, the unbridled crowd funneled through the swinging doors into the kitchen and streamed toward the door marked with a strong strobing "EXIT" sign above it. The cook instinctively grabbed a butcher knife and pushed against the onslaught back through the swinging doors that led to the dining area. As he lunged, with his knife raised at the beast, it turned on him swiftly and, with a violent hand swipe, catapulted the man to the floor. Dropping the women from his jaws at last, the beast turned its searing, red-eyed attention to the cook. Grabbing the helpless man's leg, the beast dragged him back through the swinging doors and into the kitchen, where he watched as the screaming, frenzied mob desperately pushed and pounded on the back door with no success.

The beast sank his razor-like teeth into the cook, injected his venom, and then turned his attention toward the hysterical crew and patrons now crushing one another as they tried to escape.

"Relax, my children," the beast said to them with a low and sympathetic, almost father-like voice. "It'll only hurt for a moment, and then you will become stronger than you could ever imagine." He parted his lips, exposing his intentions.

Most of his soon-to-be victims turned their energies, with renewed vigor and frenzy, toward slamming their bodies and fists repeatedly against the back door. The beast launched himself upon each of them and began injecting his toxin into them with rabid fervor. His last victim, the young muscular busboy, pathetically began pissing his pants as the beast reached out for him. "Trust me, my son, it'll be alright." He embraced the young man, slowly engulfed the boy's shoulder with his jaws, injected the venom into him, and then tenderly laid him on the floor.

The beast stood and afforded himself the luxury of admiring his work. So many bodies were struggling and giving in to their fates as they began transitioning on the greasy linoleum kitchen floor.

The wolf, Riley, returned to the dining room, embraced his three newest family members, and directed them to watch over their brothers and sisters in the kitchen as they evolved.

  "Once their transformation is complete," he said, "follow my scent quietly, but do not engage unless instructed. Understood?"

"Yes, Father," they said and watched Riley's sinister, satisfied grin return as he exited the diner.