The Revenge Of The Claws - PART 7

"You've got no reason to be alarmed", Robert continued. "I was 11 years old when I first I held a pistol in my hand. There was an aggressive jackal in the forest, my father told me to shoot it. Ever since then, people have been calling - asking me to kill dangerous animals."

"Ever been injured?" O'Morris asked.

"Some slight wounds here and there. I've got a scar in the cheek, it was a panther."

"My son, what do you know about this....virus?" Father Lane whispered.

"Not much", Robert unpretentiously admitted. "It makes animals and humans crazy. 10 years ago, I was paid to protect a family in Venezuela. They knew it was a wild cat near the house. When you've seen such a cat near by... The jaw is full of blood and froth..."

They heard the sound. Scratching and unpleasant, something like scraping one's nail at the chalk board. They saw something, nobody knew what it was but Robert firmly maintained that it resembled a bloody claw.

"Help! It's outside!!" O'Morris screamed.

Father Lane remained calm. Robert held the pistol straight in front of him.

"Come here", he mumbled.

A soft creak were heard. At first, they only saw a bloody paw. But in a little while, the black cat appeared. The eyes shone in a terrifying way. The mouth was wide open and a mixed sludge of blood and froth spurted out. The cat fiercely hissed.

Robert fumbled for the pistol, but it was beyond reach.

"Shoot!" he screamed to O'Morris, who stood behind the couch. "Take the pistol!"

"Hell Mary...." Father Lane chanted.

O'Morris trembled. He saw Robert's face slowly disappear into the mouth of the cat. Father Lane crossed himself and grabbed the gun. O'Morris laid on the floor, uttering whimpering sounds. The shot of Father Lane hit the cat in the stomach. It was bawling with pain but still rushed about. Father Lane shot again. This time, the shot hit in the forehead. The cat collapsed, a lifeless bloody mass.

Father Lane stared at the headless body of Robert.

"We must bring him out", he said to O'Morris. "Burn the remnants."

They watched the flames consume the black cat.

THE END