Monster dog marched dutifully past the animal refuge and into the thick woods behind it, his nose still pressed hard to the ground.

"I bet he's been hiding out in these woods all along." Lance said.  He stepped over a mossy log, his eyes darting around, looking for movement in the dark patches in front of them.

"If he is, Splinter'll find 'em," Billy said. He gestured to monster dog proudly with a freckled hand.

"Splinter? Never heard that name for a dog before. How'd you come up with it?" Lance gave the dog a sideways glance.

"You ever watch the Ninja Turtles?" Billy asked, brushing away a swarm of gnats that were swarming near his face.

Lance shook his head. "We don't watch a lot of TV in these parts. Not just 'cause we don't get cable out here. We never have the time."

"That's too bad," said Billy. " 'Cause the Ninja Turtles are awesome. Splinter is their leader. That's where I got the idea."

Lance lifted an eyebrow. "Was Splinter a dog?"

"No, he was a rat, a really cool mutant ninja rat, the size of a man."

"Oh," Lance muttered.

We kept the humans in our sights as we navigating over piles of mossy logs, our feet crunching over small twigs and dried leaves. My ears were pinned forward, straining to hear the slightest sound of movement in the thicket.

"But, I should've named him Shredder," Billy said, breaking the silence. He patted the big dog on the head. "Once he finds what he's lookin' for, he'll shred 'em to pieces if you don't pull 'em off fast enough. I've seen it happen first hand."

I eyed the dog; its muscles tense, each step calculated as the scent drew him nearer to his prey—and found myself believing the boys every word. Splinter was not a dog you'd want on your trail.

"He had another name before he joined the force," Billy continued. " I think it was somethin' like Spot or Rover. Some generic dog name that wouldn't put the fear in people like Splinter or Shredder."

"Yeah?" Lance said, seeming preoccupied as he navigated through the thick brush.

"I mean, Spot might be an okay name for one of those dalmatians that ride on the back of a fire truck, but not a ferocious man hunter like Splinter." Billy drawled. "I guess I could've named him Cujo, now that was a scary dog. You ever seen Cujo?"

"Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. There's lots of places to hide around here," the officer cut in, making Billy jump in the air, his hand reaching for his gun.

"Put that thing away," the officer spat, fumbling for a cigarette. 

They stopped. Billy pulled on the determined dog, and commanded him to sit. The officer lit his cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke.  Winnie, Sparky and I stayed back far enough to remain out of sight, which wasn't hard to do. We'd traveled quite deep into the woods. The trees were so thick overhead, they blocked the sun and cast dark shadows everywhere.

My eyes started playing tricks on me, materializing looming figures in the shadows. I imagined a zombie-like José, one with black recessed eyes, brandishing an evil, fanged toothed grin, jumping out from behind one of the bushes—a bloody bat readied in his deformed hand. The vision was like something out of a B rated horror movie. It was so laughable, it helped set me at ease as the shadows seemed to grow in size around us.

"Do you think he's set up camp out here?" Billy shifted to the left as Splinter took up the scent in that direction. His thick red hair radiated in a patch of sunlight.

"Now that I think about it. It seems strange," Lance said, following him. "José's a city boy. He doesn't know a thing about camping out in the woods." 

"More likely he ran out here to hide when he saw we were searching for him," the officer said with a grunt.

A rustle erupted from the brush somewhere on the side of them. The officer grabbed his gun from his harness and cocked it.

"Who's there?" He swung the gun in the direction of the noise. Silence. "José if that's you, come out boy. The joke's over. Right now you're only lookin' at an assault charge. Don't do anything stupid."

More silence. Splinter sat attentively, unaffected by the commotion. A stick cracked somewhere close by.

"I'm warning you boy. Come out, now." The officer held the gun with two hands to steady it.

Another crack. Then, the faint rustling of dry leaves.

The officer swore under his breath, sweat collecting on his brow. Splinter emitted a low, guttery growl. Billy drew his gun from its holder and took a step towards the direction the officer was pointing his weapon. "Come out," he said in a shaky voice. "We've got you surrounded."

Winnie and I sniffed the air. Jose's scent was still lodged firmly in my mind. I could smell it faintly, but it seemed to travel towards the direction we were heading, not in the direction the noise had come from.

He's nearby. Sparky projected.

Winnie shivered next to me.

I don't smell him nearby. I was confused. Maybe my tracking ability wasn't as good as I'd thought. In fact, it was at that exact moment that the wind picked up and my nose was flooded with a different smell. Putrid. Rotten. Overwhelming.

Winnie eyed me and I could tell from her thoughts that she had caught the smell too. Sparky sat alertly on her back, his head turned in the direction of the sound.

What is that scent?

Death. Projected Winnie.

Dea...? Before I could finish the thought, the brush moved next to where the officer and Billy stood, guns drawn.

"Stop or I'll shoot!" The officer yelled, his voice a pitch higher—white knuckles clasping the gun.

Oh no, oh no. I'm so frightened. A strange voice projected to us from the bushes. My head—I need to run away, but something holds my head!

Winnie and I exchanged glances. 

That's no man. It's an animal, trapped in the bushes, I projected.

Hold still. Winnie projected back. Hold very still. If you move again, you'll scare the humans and be shot.

Shot!? Came the animal's panicked thought. No! No! I must run away!

Foolish woman. Sparky scolded. How do you expect to keep it still by telling it that it will be shot? 

To my horror, the panicked animal shook the bush with all its might.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The guns exploded, leaving my ears ringing and my heart thumping recklessly against my rib cage.

"Did you kill him?" Lance's voice was panicked. " Are you even sure it was him!?"

It was dead quiet for several seconds. Everyone stood frozen, unsure what to do next—even Splinter.

With a shaky hand, the officer parted the bushes in front of him, his gun cocked and ready. When he glimpsed at what was behind them, his shoulders slumped and he stepped back, hanging his head.

"What? What is it?" Billy said, harnessing his gun and shoving the bushes apart.

His face turned a bright shade of red, and he tilted his head back, closing his eyes. "It's a frickin' deer. It's antlers are stuck in the bushes."

"What kind of police are you anyway?" Lance spat, running his hands through his hair. " Is it dead?"

Billy's face turned even redder. "No—we missed it."

The officer rummaged around in his pockets and pulled out an army knife. Flipping it open, he worked at the branches, cursing to himself as the sharp, dry twigs dug into his arm. The deer kicked and thrust itself around, shaking the bush so hard, leaves scattered everywhere. Finally, it pulled itself free.

My head! My head is free! I will run away now! It bounded off into the woods, its white tail flashing until it was gone.

"I can't believe this!" Lance said, his face red with fury. "Damn trigger happy cops! That could have been anyone! What if it was Winter or my father, coming to find us? You can't just shoot blindly into the bushes! I mean, what ever happened to come out with your hands up? Or—or something!"

The officer turned, a stern look on his face "Now look here boy—"

A shot rang out. It was so close I heard it whistle past me. Confusion and chaos ensued for several seconds. Everyone moving, but no one knowing the direction to go.

My head snapped around at a horrifying cry of agony. Billy knelt down next to Splinter, who laid bleeding on the forest floor.

Knockin' your socks off? Give that little star at the bottom a click. Hope you enjoy it! When you get a chance check out charliecxx book Life as a Ghost, creepy little story, nice and original. Any who, read on!