Blood Lust: A Supernatural Horror by JE Gurley

was the deep rumble of thunder from outside . Taking a deep breath , I crept down the corridor to the open door into the chapel .
    “I’ll take the right side,” I whispered to Lew. He nodded and immediately moved to my left. He had his .38 out and ready. I unsnapped the holster on my .45, hoping I didn’t have to draw it quickly. The pain in my shoulder had retreated to a dull throb, but my shoulder was still stiff.
    I sensed we were not alone as soon as I entered the chapel’s nave. Mingled with the loud patter of rain on the stone floor and between peels of thunder , a scraping sound came from behind the altar. I pointed toward it and Lew nodded. Quietly, we moved down opposite sides of the ch apel , using the columns as cover. Remembering our killer’s propensity for heights, I scanned the roof as well as the rest of the room but saw nothing. Between flashes of lightning, t he room was pitch black. Halfway down the nave with no repeat of the sound I was beginning to think the noise had been in my imagination .
    “Help me,” a weak feminine voice called out from behind the altar.
    “ My God,” Lew whispered . “She’s alive. ”
    He hesitated , glanced over at me, and then headed directly for the altar in a mad rush . I motion ed for him to wait, but he waved me off. I broke cover a n d followed to back him up . As I hugged the wall, I saw movement be hind the altar, a girl lying on the ground. I knew it was Sasha Sattersby. I wondered why our killer would change his M.O. , especially to bring her back to the church and keep her alive all day . It made no sense. Suddenly, t he hairs on the back of my neck began to tingle. I smelled a trap . Lew had stopped when he saw Sattersby . I looked at the ceiling and noticed a shadow y movement . I pulled out my weapon and aimed.
    “Lew!” I yelled out in warning .
    He looked back at me , then follow ed the direction of my .45 upwards . A bolt of lightning s treaked across the sky, flooding the room with light . Blinded, Lew raised his .38 and swept it back and forth in front of him, unable to see anything . In the flash, half blinded, I caught my first glimpse of our perp and almost pissed my pants. It was a monster. I stood frozen a s the shadowy figure glided , not f e ll, through a hole in the roof . It swooped down and across the nave directly at me . Lew fired twice and the creature swerved midair , gliding up and around a column. Lew’s shots broke my torpor. I pulled my .45 and raced toward Lew.
    “Where did it go?” I yelled to him.
    He continued scanning the sanctuary as he spoke but his shaky voice betrayed his panic . “I don’t know. What the hell was that thing , Tack ? It…it flew. ”
    I didn’t know how to answer him. It had all been a blur, happening so quickly I couldn’t focus , but I knew our perp was no man. It was bigger than Lew’s estimate , at least eight feet tall, all gray and had wings like a bat. Its face…I shook my head . All I remember were its eyes, large, red and staring directly into mine as if it recognized me. I knew it was no mere animal.
    I knew I had made a grave error , my second mistake . My plan to capture our killer was rapidly crumbling. It could easily escape through any one of half a dozen holes in the roof , may have already . Then I remembered Sasha Sattersby and the reason she was still alive became obvious.
    “I’m a fool,” I said to Lew. “She’s bait.”
    Lew turned to look at me and his eyes snapped wide open. “Hardtack!” he yelled; then charged at me like a linebacker , slamming into me with his shoulder , knocking me aside. I fell to the floor , coming down hard on my injured shoulder. I heard a shrill call and Lew’s cry of pain. I rolled over on my side and stared in mute horror as the creature lifted Lew off the ground , one talon gripping his arm . Lew was heavier than any of the creature’s previous victims were. Too heavy to carry, Lew’s long legs dragged along t he floor halfway