anton and hunt

Who: HUnt and open!
Where: Lower Harbour park
When: Just after dark

Hunt had been out to the store to pick up some groceries and was driving home when he heard it. He didn't like to be out this late - he tried to get everything done before dark and be home, safe in his own house. He wouldn't exactly say he was scared of the dark, but a sense of compulsion stopped him going out at night any more than was strictly necessary. This was a small town, but still - he blamed it on his childhood, that had to be it. But if hadn't gone that way - there'd been some trouble with a woman who was arguing with the cashier and a long cue and it had been darkening as he finally got out of there. Getting Mutt into the car hadn't been easy, then he had to get the groceries placed and it was full dark by the time they set off.

The scream ripped through the night, audible even over the stereo as they drove past Lower Harbour Park. Hunt's first instinct was to put his foot on the accelerator and get the fuck out of there. Someone else could investigate screams - there were police who's job that was. But it was a nice night and he'd had the window down so Mutt could hang her head out and enjoy the breeze and suddenly she was out of the car and racing off into the dark, after the scream.

"Mutt!" Hunt slammed his foot on the break, bringing the car to an abrupt standstill in the road as he called for his dog. Fuck - he couldn't go off without her. He pulled to the side of the road and turned the engine off, grabbing her leash from the back seat before he left the car and headed, slowly, into the park.

He didn't like the dark. Especially not a dark that contained screams. And look - just like a horror movie, right on cue, the scream sounded again, followed by what sounded like a sob. Hunt stopped, wary. "Mutt?" he called again, hoping the dog would run out of the night and they could get the hell out of here.

Nothing.

Then there was a bark in the distance. Then a yowl and Mutt did come running - or rather limping - out of the darkness. Hunt started to back off, ready to turn and run, his adrenaline already pumping as the dog drew level and he did just that. And that was when the laughter started. That cold, hard, hollow laughter that seemed to tell him that he was definitely going to die now. And not necessarily quickly.

Hunt ran, knowing something was chasing him. He tried to judge how far it was to his car - would he make it? He didn't know. But something was chasing him. And it was laughing - enjoying the hunt.