A monster appeared in front of him, whose chest was twice as powerful as Abe’s. The strong jaws moved up and down. The beast seemed to sense the powerlessness of the man before him.

The blow was delivered faster than Abe Craddock could see it. His gaze was fixed on the terrible teeth as the monster struck with its front paw. The razor-sharp claws left four parallel, deep cuts.

Blood first came out, then poured out onto him, staining the wooden floor where he stood. Abe clenched, trying to hold his insides. But they crawled out from under his hands like wet red snakes.

The beast let him scream until his legs gave way and he fell into a pool of his own blood and guts. Abe saw a wide open mouth approaching him. He felt the jaws close on his head. I heard the crack of my skull.....