Just a little something that I submitted to a flash fiction call that was recently rejected.  Thought ya’ll might enjoy the darker side of Celia….

Growl
By Celia Kyle

The growl woke her. Deep, guttural, hungry and low, it crept through the room and reverberated through her bones.

It’d gotten him.

Somehow through the night, the disease seeped through the cracks in the walls and took hold of her beloved.

The now familiar sound of the slow scraping of feet against the concrete floor filled the once silent room. She pressed her back against the wall, thankful for the solid support as she clutched the blood-stained handle of her hatchet. She took solace in its solid, balanced weight and razor sharp edge. It hadn’t failed her yet.

The scraping grew closer.

Her heart beat double-time, threatening to burst from her chest as she waited. Rushing forward too soon could prove to be disastrous. She’d seen it happen to one too many of her friends. She’d watched them suffer as the creatures tore them apart and then, when they re-animated, she’d cleaved their heads from their bodies.

The creature staggered through the moonlight toward her. Only feet separated them now. She begged her heart to slow as soulless eyes bore into her. Not long now.

She adjusted her grip and took aim as the creature came into range. It bared its teeth and opened its jaws wide as if preparing to bite. With one quick blow, she decapitated the creature, its rancid blood coating the bare floor. It was done.

Dang, she’d loved that dog.

A hiss filled the night and she cringed. Looked like she had a date with her cat now, too.