WORST OF LOVE CONTESTANT
The park lay on the edge of town. The mountains loomed to the east, tumbling down in forested foothills. One-hundred-twenty acres of lawns, ball fields, basketball courts.
Walking paths curling through the grass and under the trees. One winding road for cars twisted through, built to allow mothers to park close by, bring the smaller children to the jungle gym, slide, and swings. A lovely place during the daylight hours. But as evening fell and darkness shrouded the grounds, a different type of play began.
Towards the park’s edge, where the hills rose steeply, a rocky slope slithered down just to the point where it met a grassy knoll. Since falling rocks would sometimes tumble onto the fair lawn, the city fathers (and one mother since the mayor was a woman) put together funds and built a stone and concrete wall some three feet high at the base of the rocky slope to prevent rocks from suddenly spilling into an area that might well be host to a family picnic.
As darkness grew, the monster sat by the stone and concrete wall, just where it abruptly ended. He was large, bulky, broad-shouldered. His color was a dusty gray, matching the wall. Mottled in the gloaming, he watched the activities below along the road. Women, some young, some not so, strolled along in a slow, prancing manner. An occasional car would stutter by, stop, words would exchange. A soft breeze wafted a familiar scent the monster’s way, musty, the smell of sex. He lifted his broad nose in response.
Even with the savored, near-forgotten scent drifting his way, the monster noted the she-wolf who had made a stealthy approach from above and behind.
#
There had been a series of gruesome deaths, and one disappearance not so many years ago. The park had been closed, policemen scoured the area as far as the higher hills above. The culprits remained unfound. But the blood-drenched slayings had ceased as suddenly as they had begun. And so the park returned to its normal state, playgrounds by day, playthings at night.
#
The she-wolf drew near, but the monster was suddenly gone, disappeared. The gray wall–was it a bit longer than she remembered? She walked along the wall’s top edge and stopped three feet shy of its end.
“Havel,” she called. “Havel, I saw you. Why hide now?”
The monster unfolded himself, gave a wistful pout and stood. “And why are you here? To bother? To harass?”
“Havel. You are the finest shape-shifter in all the land.” She raised her snout and sniffed, watched a woman enter a car below. “They play their game, hmm?”
The monster eyed the she-wolf. “Short-lived thrills,” he sighed.
“And you, Havel. Why are you near this place?”
“I remember.” He closed his eyes tightly. “There was a time, times, half a time…”
“You babble when you reminisce. I thought you were–”
“What good thing could you remember, Shala?” The monster looked away, down at the sultry scenery below.
“And what do you do during daylight?” she wondered aloud.
“I stand over toward that clump of trees–as one of them.”
“The whole day? Day after day? You have become remorseful, perhaps even melancholy, haven’t you, Havel?”
“And what would one as you know of remorse, melancholy? One who only takes, feeds on the death and destruction of others, their fears, their very souls.” He drooped his massive shoulders, turned once again to the scene below, sniffed at the mostly forgotten aroma of love.
“Oh, Havel. Have I left you in such a poor estate? You were enthralled the night we first met. An insignificant wanderer without purpose. And I gave you purpose.”
“And you believe I have purpose now? I was slaughtered just as assuredly as those who were right here!” If only…”
“You earned your reward. With relish, as I recall.”
Shala. You are so cold.”
“As you said: It is what drives me, what I feed on, the fears, nightmares of those like the ones below, sad fools. They live for the moment and in a blink they’re gone. Replaced by others just as short-sighted and short-lived as they.”
“Philosophical now, Shala? I’d’ve never thought you capable.”
“It’s because I’ve been around so very long, Havel. But I gave you life when I might have taken it. I gave you life.”
“Gave!” The shout, like a lion’s roar, turned the heads of a few walkers and drivers below, who turned their heads towards the dark mountains, shivered, and walked or drove towards the park exits, fear melting their once-lustful hearts. “You didn’t give, you took! Took the most precious gift I had, the gift, the luxury, of anonymity.”
“You’re passion surprises me, Havel. You used to be so happy.”
“I was a fool. Deceived by the demon that you are. I am doomed to live an outcast when I might have been living in silent solitude in peace, in comfort.. I must now live like a troll, a freak of nature, despised of men and animals all!”
“I have come looking for you, Havel. You’re a pain in the ass, but I do love you, my dear, dear, Havel.”
“I cannot return–”
“But you can! Return with me. You were happy. We were happy! It could be so once more.”
“We’ll stay far away from those such as these?” he said gesturing below.
“There are other things than just these fools. We might venture far and wide, find more of our own kind, hmm?”
He stared at her brown eyes with his own gray ones. She turned and strode up the slope, tail swishing, scent raising. He licked his lips, changed, dropped down on all fours, gave a small barking yelp and followed after, thinking: “You’re a fool for love, Havel. Just a damn fool.”
©2009 DJ Barber
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:57 am
Excellent story! Your descriptions were incredibly evocative, and the dialogue moved the story along wonderfully. I found myself wishing the story was longer, which is about as good a compliment as I can think of.
Well done!
October 25th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Thanks so much, Graeme.
A flash format makes you keep it tight.
I appreciate the comment.
–dj
March 11th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Love your writing style Keep em coming I look forward to more!