Chapter 4

The explosive noises deafened her, and her hands rapidly defended her ears. It was as if fireworks had been launched before her, bright flashes burning through her eye lids and booming eruptions quaking her body.

It came to an abrupt stop and something huge and heavy struck the ground. Slowly Rosa opened her eyes, peering through the developing slits. Suddenly they snapped open wide and trembled at what they witnessed. She had no idea how but, it was dead. Whatever that creature was, it was no more. Now just a bloodied mess of useless muscle, claws and stained fur.

Her body collapsed against the tree. 'Good riddance' was Rosa's first thought. The words caught her off guard, she didn't think she was capable of such comments, not since escaping her early youth. But her thoughts didn't bother her, it felt right, something like that shouldn't exist. There was no chance in the world that mother nature had produced such an abomination.

'Kill or be killed' a voice whispered in the corner of her soul. Rosa remained frozen on the cold, wet grass trying to get hold of her breathing and prevent her thumping heart from breaking free of her chest.

Someone approached. Rosa craned her head towards the pleasant and amiable whistling accompanied squelching footsteps that appeared in the trees. A man in a long black coat emerged from the woodland's darkness. He was tall, possessed a strong build and dishevelled black hair. A deep, aged scar ran from his neck to below his shirt. In his hand was a smoking handgun and strapped to his back was something sharp, which shimmered in the night like an illuminated beacon. His blue eyes locked onto her, they possessed an ominous chill that made Rosa wish she could shrink into her own body. However, in contrast to his gaze, a small, relieved smile broke across his face.

"Good, I was just in time" the man said, pleased with himself. "Thought I might've been too late for a second then". His voice was friendly and possessed a hint of the city, although it had clearly been mellowed by time away.

The man holstered his gun behind his back and wandered over to Rosa, paying the monster corpse no mind. He offered out his hand and she hesitantly accepted it. With powerful strength he easily lifted her to her feet. 

Rosa's mind felt numb. She definitely wasn't reacting to this the way she should. Is this what people meant by being in shock?

"Do know where you are?" He asked, surprisingly softly.

Rosa nodded.

"Do you know how to get home?".

She nodded again.

"Alright hurry home. It's safe now" he told her casually as if she'd just been caught playing in park too late and he hadn't butchered a beast of nightmares. 

"Thank you" she managed to say still baffled by the situation. Her body then cautiously backed away towards the street and its light, that could be seen through the trees.

"Kid" the man called out like he'd abruptly just remembered something important. She spun in an instant, scared to run or disobey him. "I'd recommend you find a way to forget what happened tonight. Everyone will just assume you're crazy. A teenager like you doesn't need that ruining her. Give it time and soon even you won't believe these events truly happened".

She weakly nodded and then, once the man turned his attention to the creature's corpse, rushed off back home.

Rosa stood before her house, chilled in the cold night air, her nose practically touching the front door yet making no effort to move inside. Trying and failing to compose herself, she continued to wait like she had been the last ten minutes. She couldn't go in like this, her parent's would instantly catch on that something had happened and then the questions would come. That couldn't happen. What would she tell them? A massive monster straight from her nightmare had attacked and then a mysterious stranger had blown its brain out with a gun. They'd think she gone insane. Lying was out of the question, they'd see straight through her like always … Her friend lived nearby maybe she could go there for a little bit. That could also be the excuse why she's late, Rosa considered.

The door suddenly opened. Her home's warm light spilled out onto the street and the burly figure of her father came into view, towering over her.

He looked down at her sternly. "You're late" he said. 

'Here it comes' Rosa winced.

"Are coming inside or do you plan to freeze? You've already been stood out there ten minutes" her father asked.

Rosa nodded and entered the comfort of the house. Once the door shut behind her, she placed down her bag and faced her father.

"Sorry dad" Rosa said.

He glanced at her up and down analysing her condition. A look of bewilderment flashed across his face. He quickly composed himself.

"We'll speak tomorrow. There's dinner in the fridge and make sure you get some sleep you look exhausted Rosa" her father said before grabbing his coat.

"Where are you going?" Rosa asked, confused. He'd not scolded her and was clearly in some sort of rush. That only happened when it came to -.

"They need me at work" he explained. "I'll see you in the morning". 

'Something has happened again' she guessed. "Ok dad, love you" she told him. It didn't even surprise her anymore how easy those words came out now. 7 years ago and that would've been impossible.

"Love you too kiddo" her father said before leaving and locking the door.

After watching her father get in his car and drive away, Rosa let out a sigh of relief she'd somehow escaped. Now she could just hide in her room when her mom got back and tomorrow she'd feel better. Hopefully.

After eating and washing up, Rosa decided to call it an early night. She'd had a hectic day.

She lay staring up at the dark ceiling waiting for the embrace of sleep however, despite her exhaustion and desire for rest, her dad's strange behaviour earlier never left her mind. But then again it wasn't the first time he'd been stressed and stretched thin by work so she pushed it down and forced herself to sleep. She was surprised by how little almost losing her life was affecting her. Maybe that mystery saviour was right, it was all in her head, even him.