The Moonlight Betrayal - 4

Part 2 - https://steemit.com/story/@acheyward/the-moonlight-betrayal-3

Happy Anniversary

At the realization that he, not Frank, was the patsy in this scheme, Joe lets out a “Fuckin’ A…”

The tie wraps around Frank’s hands, and feet snap loudly, burst as Frank bulges with muscle. Frank’s clothes shred as his body grows and contorts in ways a man was not meant to. Frank’s hands, once free, swing around. With hairy, stretched, clawed hands, he slits Joe’s ankles cutting through muscle with ease.

Joe falls to the floor before his brain can register pain from his severed nerve endings. He lands on his knees with a thud directly in front of a hellish beast. His heart races.

He stares into the face of a human-animal hybrid that reminds him of a werewolf with its long snout and sharp canine teeth. He feels the warm breath of the vicious animal as its curious nose sniffs its prey. Joe looks to Sheri, using peripheral vision, too frozen to move his head. She has taken on the same transformation.

He screams.

The animal, once Frank, launches itself at Joe like a rocket of teeth and claws, and viciously tears into the man’s throat. Joe’s scream turns to gurgling as blood fills his windpipe.

The second beast lunges at him to partake in a feast of flesh. They’re like a pack of wild hyenas ravaging a gazelle. Blood sprays all over the room—on the TV, the bed, the walls, and the carpet. The animals pull and tear at his flesh. Bone snaps under the crushing jaws of the beasts, echoing through the room. Even as his violent spasms subside and his body goes limp, they continue to feast.

From outside the house, a doleful cry can be heard as the two beasts within howl as the full moon illuminates the night.

---

“Good morning, honey.” Sheri puts the K-cup in the Keurig, coffee maker.

“Good morning to you,” he replies.

She closes the device and pushes the button to start. “You want a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, babe, I’m done cleaning up. I just need to get rid of the trash.” He raises the two black garbage bags, one in each hand.

“Okay, I’ll make you a cup.”

“You know…I’m glad we only do this in the house once a year. We’re gonna need to replace the carpet again.”

“Really!” she fakes a shocked expression.

“I know it breaks your heart for me to say that.”

“Can we go with hardwood floors this time?” she asks, with big eyes and a child’s excitement.

“Not much better, babe. You know what our claws will do to wood. But maybe wood-looking tiles could work.”
“Okay. Well, let’s check out our options today. Did you hear about what happened to the theater in the mall?”
“No, I did not. Too busy cleaning up after last night, remember?”

“They said a lot of people were killed while they were watching a movie.”

“Which movie?”

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“I guess not.”

“Anyway, the reporter said there might have been a bomb. A bomb at the same movie theater we watch movies? Can you believe that crazy shit? So now I have to worry about going to the movies or the mall and be afraid that I might get blown up?”

“Hah…So what? Do you want to move now to get away from all the crazy people? You do remember why we moved here…” He grins.

“I’m serious, Frank!”

He sees the intensity in her eyes. He leans in for a kiss. “Thanks for the anniversary gift last night.”

They had performed that ritual for seven years since things got somewhat stale in their marriage. Every year for their anniversary they took turns bringing a surprise guest to their home to celebrate that special day. Bringing their guest—sometimes more than one—on that special day, equaled bringing a turkey to Thanksgiving dinner. It always proved to be mutually beneficial—except for the guest.

Guests had to come willingly, though under false pretenses. The stories they used to draw a person in had to be cleverly crafted, but the result was always the same. One of them would bring someone through their doors. The following morning the other would carry them out, usually in a bag—the remains of severed limbs and torn flesh.

“Changing the subject, huh?” She puts a hand on his chest. “Smart man…I thought you’d like the gift.” She takes a sip of coffee. “Asshole al la mode!”

“I liked it very much, dear.”

“I think my acting performance is becoming flawless, don’t you think? And you showed an enormous amount of restraint while he and I were fucking.”

“Now that’s an understatement.”

“You weren’t seriously jealous, were you honey? I won’t do it again if it bothered you that much.”

“That was the first time you’ve added sex to the surprise. I’ll admit I was jealous and aroused at the same time. Your pheromones in the air mixed with my animal fury of seeing him fucking you had mushroom clouds going off all over my body. Hence, the extra level of carnage.” He looks down at the bags he’s still holding.

“Well, you better get that trash out before those bags leak all over the kitchen floor.”

“You’re right. I don’t need another mess to clean up.” He takes one more kiss before walking out the door.

THE END!