Way Out In Nowhere

Way Out In Nowhere
© 2005 Ree Tjeerdsma

This was a writing exercise at Dark Escape. We were to write a story to fit the supplied title.

You may not want to be eating or drinking while reading this.



"Where are we again?" Gwen asked. The dimming day spooked her.

"Nowhere, Nebraska," Seth said.

"Really?" she said doubtfully.

"Close enough."

She got to her feet and began sizing up the horizon. "So long as that damn wolf is here too, I don't care."

Seth lightly grabbed her shoulder. She froze. "Would it be so bad," he said with perfect suavity, "if it was just you, me, and a romantic country sunset?"

Her eye twitched as she said, "I already told you I don't swing that way. I'm here for the wolf, hotshot, not for you."

"Lucky wolf," he winked.

Gwen shoved his hand off. "Will he be in one of the barns, do you think? I don't know this area or these people like you."

Seth considered briefly. "Hard to say. I didn't recognise the fellow, but he may be related to the Nelsons down the way -- most everyone is -- or someone else who'd put him up overnight."

"Wonderful. Just damn great," Gwen muttered. Families complicated her job.

"How did you come to realise it was a person?"

It took Gwen several moments to register Seth's question. She shrugged uneasily. "I saw a wolf change before. Wasn't anybody I knew, but that's what got me pulled into hunting them."

He nodded amiably. "Yeah, doesn't do to leave 'em where they can take out whole families, I suppose. Say, what's wrong?"

Gwen's fingers twisted around each other. "It's too late tonight," she insisted. "The sun's almost down and he'll be on the hunt again. We have to get to your house and wait for morning. I won't be out at night with a wolf at full strength."

"It's just up that little hill," Seth pointed out to her. "We'll make it, miss. You'll be well enough."

"I guess so," Gwen said, but clearly she didn't believe herself. She bolted to the house, Seth straggling behind her, and didn't stop till she was inside. She upended the kitchen table by the door before he got to her.

"Want a hand with that? That's assuming you let me into my own house, of course," Seth grinned.

"Uh-huh," she nodded absently. "Do you smell that?"

"Smell what?" he asked, wrinkling his nose as he shimmied past the furniture.

"Bad meat, I think. Check your freezer. We'll have to throw it out a window if I'm right; otherwise the wolf will scent it right off and come here." Gwen got the table placed to her liking and went to pull the china hutch to a window.

"The deep freezer's in the garage. I'll check it," Seth promised. He disappeared while Gwen worked through sunset.

"That's everything on the first floor," Gwen finally decided. "Unless there's something in the garage."

Seth had gone into the garage. That wasn't good.

"Seth!" Gwen called as she opened the door, but Seth wasn't there. A snarling furry beast towered over rotting, all too identifiable chunks of raw meat.

She swore at herself, realising her mistake too late. "Seth," she cried pitifully, but he was already sinking his sharp teeth into her flesh.