Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (free ebook reader for pc txt) 📕

it pointed to the large, nearly full moon as the midnight hours drove it to the center of the sky amidst the pale, stringy clouds that wrapped in a jagged wreath around it. Terry endured through the heavy, mournful air from his car to the locked side entrance of the church. He fumbled with his keys before finally inserting the correct one. Its serrated teeth grinded into the keyhole until he turned it with a click, opening a path to his sanctuary.

Terry hit the switch on the wall as he walked into the congregation hall, brightly lighting the empty building as his steps echoed across the historic hardwood walls. Blood red, velvet lining draped the pulpit, towered only by the giant, white cross that hung atop large, geometrically patterned stained-glass windows. Various hues of purple, orange, red and yellow shown through from the bright false lighting in the back room. It was a kaleidoscope of colors refracting through a window into a world that wasn't to illuminate a world that was. The aroma of dead flowers clashed with that of magnolia blossoms and roses, a battle between life and death that hung in the air as a reminder of what had been.

Terry sat down in the front row, a long, darkly stained chestnut pew that had heard more silent prayers than his entire life had seen days. He pulled out his phone, lighting the screen as he opened the group chat.

"Church. Meeting. Now!" His final message, seen only by Tony's phone. From his back pocket, he pulled a torn, blood-stained wallet wrapped within a plastic sandwich bag. Terry laid it to rest beside his phone on the shiny hardwood pew where he looked at Vance's license jutting out from the ripped black leather. Only sadness filled his heart now.

As he slowly bowed his head to meet his clasped hands, a shadowy form silhouetted across the other side of the stained glass. A person, plainly visible, yet concealed by the fragmented colors that outlined its shadow. It leaned over, writhing side to side as it grew larger. It began to rise up with violent shakes. Long points rose from the head and leaned back, pointing downward behind. The outline grew thicker and less defined around the back and shoulders just before a long snout slowly pushed upward from where it faced the ceiling.

Snarling growls echoed through the building, jolting Terry's head to attention. As the large, beastly form rose behind the glass, Terry's feet filled with ice that sucked the life from his stomach. His trembling hands attempted to grasp at his phone, clattering in his fumbling grip across the wooden seat. It fell into the floor with a sharp tumble that snapped the monster's shadow to attention.

Terry bolted into a dash through the center isle of the nave. He reached the middle of the large room before a shattering blast burst from a distance behind. He jumped behind the center pews. A solid ton of fear locked him in place where he ducked out of sight. The room intensified the sniffing and snarling that blasted his ears and skin from every direction.

Pattering paws scraped their way around the front of the room, going silent before a series of rapid sniffs huffed through the air. Terry struggled to remain one with the silent objects that became his cover, breathing as slowly as possible amidst the pounding heart that exploded continuously into his head. As the sniffing subsided, a rumbling growl became gradually louder. It approached closer along the isle, signaling a pending danger from which there was no escape.

He gripped the hard rim behind the pew that he hid behind, squeezing against the floor as he slid underneath. The odor of dust filled his nostrils with a sting that he dared not expel as he waited. The creature's feet tapped the floor sharply with every step until he could tell exactly where it stood. Terry remained pressed between the bottom of the hardwood seat and the cold floor underneath his back as he gazed through a tiny gap where a few feet of the isle's white tile flooring were visible.

A large, dark brown paw plopped onto the isle as he remained silently still, then another swept in front. Another step brought the monster out of view as it passed his secret shelter where he was squeezed between life and death. The snarling growls started again with renewed ferocity. A roaring howl hit his ears with a loud, brain shaking force that vibrated through the wooden seats.

From the other side of the isle, a hard crack ripped sharply into splintering snaps. Large pieces of heavy wood clanked loudly around the room. A heavy crash popped another pew loose before it collided into the seats on the other side of Terry's hiding place. The werewolf barked primordial sounds of punishment as it continued ripping the benches loose and flinging them crashing across the church.

A burning sting returned within Terry's sinuses. It exploded into an uncontrollable sneeze. The room went still with a dead quiet that stopped time. Suddenly, the heavy wooden barrier that pressed at his chest yanked viciously to the side.

Terry's terror washed away into acceptance as a warm peace came over his core, flowing deep into his arms and legs. Splintering planks of wood snapped apart, revealing the horrifying beast that loomed above. It tossed his only shelter aside effortlessly. Dark fur covered the menacing stare that lifted its lips to display long, white, spiteful teeth that drizzled hot saliva onto his chest as the hairy creature stood high, extending out razor sharp claws.

While he continued staring into the bright yellow eyes filled with a hatred fueled by pupils of pain, he saw beyond the beast that had stalked their social circles, beyond all the tragic events that pain had ravaged its way through, ripping flesh from souls along the way. He saw the troubled spirit he had wanted to console.

"I understand now," Terry said loudly over the growling that began to subside as he laid back, curled in the floor. "I understand." His words