he door shook with another blow. The thin window above the knob burst and cubes of glass skittered across the floor. A furred muzzle shoved itself through the slit and the gray lips peeled back, baring a ragged line of teeth.
"Quick!" Michelle grabbed Bruce by the arm. "In the darkroom. Go!"
As the darkroom door slammed shut behind them, the beast plowed through the front door with a triumphant scream.
"Christ," wheezed Bruce. His breathing was rough after the long run through the forest. "I don't even believe in this crap. A werewolf?"
Michelle shook her head.
"Look," she said. "I don't believe in it either, but I'm not about to argue. He gets in here and we're dead!"
Bruce laughed desperately and ran his fingers through his hair. "This is not happening..."
"Help me with this," said Michelle. She was trying to pick up a wide, plastic tray without spilling the pungent solution it contained.
"Why? What the..."
The darkroom door bulged beneath the weight of the massive beast and then burst inward. The creature landed easily on all four feet. Its eyes glowed a deadly red and hot foam dripped from its fangs. It gathered its legs beneath itself and sprang.
As Bruce scrambled backwards, he heard Michelle scream and saw her fling the tray and its contents at the beast. The brownish yellow liquid met the fiend in mid leap and its snarl of rage jumped in pitch to a shrill howl. It fell to the floor before them, writhing in liquids and smoke, its screams tearing at their eardrums.
Seconds later, only a rancid slick of fluids remained, bubbling and heaving.
Bruce stood with his back against a shelf full of chemicals. "What... what did you do?" he asked.
Michelle leaned against him and sighed. "The developer," she said. "I never seem to find the time to strain the silver nitrate out of it."
end
