Nikki pulled over in frustration and rechecked her phone. There was still no service. David had warned her this would be the case, but the Google Map she downloaded confused her. Was Chandan Road the unmarked road she had passed earlier? She made a U-turn and returned to it. The sign was hidden behind chest-high bushes.
The road climbed up the hillside, surrounded by gnarled trees, and ended at a stately two-story house. Lights illuminated the ground floor, and Ryan’s car was parked in the driveway. When Nikki, his ex-girlfriend, saw the car, she gripped the steering wheel of her rental until her knuckles turned white and took deep breaths. She had imagined this confrontation countless times since she discovered all of Ryan’s belongings were gone, along with a note left on the kitchen counter. Last week, their mutual friend David gave her the address where Ryan had been staying. She closed her eyes briefly as the anger and hurt that had simmered for the past four months roiled to a boil.
The gravel crunched beneath her feet as she walked up the driveway. The sun was a smear of orange at the horizon’s edge, and the stars, like scores of fireflies, glittered whenever the clouds parted. Heavy and misshapen, the gibbous moon had begun to rise. A storm was expected by morning, and the trees swayed in the wind it had sent as its harbinger. The wind through the trees almost sounded like howling.
The house was imposing, with a heavy oak door and bars on the windows. Despite her anger, she laughed when she saw the doorknocker. It was shaped like a lion’s head – something she’d only seen in movies. Before she knocked, she reached out a hand and ran it over the deep scourings in the door. They looked like claw marks.
The knocker was heavier than it looked, and its sound reverberated through the house. The howling seemed louder, and she turned and stared into the encroaching woods. It was more than just the wind. Someone’s dog must have gotten out. Ryan opened the door, and his eyes opened wide in surprise. But there was something else in them, something inexplicable. Fear.
“Nikki, what are you doing here?” he asked. Behind him was a room filled with ostentatious furniture, tapestries, and paintings, all expensive-looking—décor steeped in elegance and wealth. She knew his great-uncle had money but didn’t know he had been this rich.
“I thought we could talk about your leaving.”
‘My note said everything that needed to be said.” He looked past her, staring into the woods.
‘Yeah, your note. After four years together, you move out while I’m at work and leave a note. Let’s start with that.”
“You need to leave, Nikki.” He was still looking past her.
“After you look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t love me.” Nikki grabbed his face with both hands, forcing him to look at her. She stared into his eyes and let go when she saw their sorrow. “Just talk to me, Ryan. Tell me what’s going on. Please. You started acting strange right after your cousin died. “
“I don’t love you, Nikki, I never did. You need to come to terms with that.” His eyes contradicted his words, but he grabbed her wrist when she reached to touch his face. “I’m begging you, Nikki, please go.”
With a suppressed sob, Nikki stormed off the porch and hurried back to her car, fumbling with her keys. She dropped them, and as she bent down to pick them up, the howling she had heard earlier returned, louder than before. Nikki turned and stared into the woods. From the darkness of the trees, a shape emerged. It was dog-like but larger than any dog she had ever seen. Its head was massive, and when it spotted her, it froze and bared its teeth. She could see they were long and sharp even in the dim moonlight. What frightened her the most was its eyes—they blazed like burning coals.
“Get in the house, Nikki. Now.” Ryan called out.
The creature started running towards her. Nikki stared at it in bewilderment, unable to comprehend what she saw. Ryan was beside her, tugging at her arm and urging her to move. Feeling almost like a sleepwalker, Nikki allowed him to guide her up the porch and into the house. Just before Ryan slammed the door shut, Nikki watched as the creature leaped onto her car, raised its head to the stark, merciless night sky, and howled.
“Ryan…” was the only word Nikki could utter before she began to shake uncontrollably. He held her close until the trembling stopped. ‘What is that?” She whispered when she could talk again.
“My family’s dirty little secret—our curse.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Damn it, Nikki, you shouldn’t have come.”
He let her go, sank into the nearest chair, and buried his face in his hands. Nikki stepped back until she was pressed against the wall opposite him, flinching as the thing started to slam against the door repeatedly. It began to howl again, the sound harsh and guttural.
“It’s something one of my ancestors summoned years and years and years ago.” Ryan looked up at her with red-rimmed eyes. “It’s haunted my family ever since.”
Nikki stared at him, attempting to understand his words. Everything felt unreal, as if she were trapped in a waking dream.
“It cleaves to the oldest male in the bloodline and then moves on to the next in line when he dies.” Ryan continued. “That’s why I acted so strangely when my cousin died. My great-uncle was in hospice, and my cousin and I were the only males left. My cousin was a year older than me. It was supposed to be his.”
“You could have told me instead of just leaving.”
“Told you what, Nikki? That there was a hellhound on my trail? You would have thought I was crazy. I left to keep you safe. It usually sits on the front step all night, whining and scratching at the door to be let in. It’s acting like this because you’re here. All of this comes with a price.” His vague wave took in the room and its contents. “It’s a jealous little monster and doesn’t like to share. It will kill anyone I love.”
The room fell silent as the bludgeoning on the door abruptly stopped. Ryan stood up and carefully moved toward one of the barred windows. Outside, the creature sat on its haunches, panting and gazing into the house. Its eyes were twin embers in the gloaming.
“Everything I wrote in that note was a lie, Nikki.” His back was turned towards her, and he spoke to her reflection in the window. “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you at David’s wedding. The first time we made love, I cried after you left. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.” He turned and looked into her eyes. “It leaves every morning just before dawn. You can go after that. I love you, Nikki, but you can never see me again.”
As she reached out to touch his face, there was the sound of shattering glass. Two immense paws were thrust through the front window, and a long muzzle reached in, beginning to worry at the window bars.
“We have to call for help, Ryan.”
“There’s no fucking landline or cell service.”
Ryan grabbed her hand and led her upstairs, the sounds of snarling and tearing following closely behind them. They found refuge in a bedroom at the end of the long hallway. After pushing a dresser against the door and turning off the lights, Ryan retrieved a revolver from the nightstand and sat beside her on the edge of the bed.
Silence followed a final, shattering sound from downstairs. Ryan raised a finger to his lips as they heard heavy footsteps ascending the stairs. A snuffling sound was outside the door, and Nikki took his hand tightly. They both jumped as a heavy body crashed against the door. When it slammed into the door again, the frame gave way with a sharp crack. The massive head of the creature began to push its way inside. Ryan stood up and positioned himself between Nikki and the beast.
“I won’t watch you be torn apart, Nikki. I’m the last. It ends with me.” She screamed as he put the barrel of the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
As it pushed the rest of the way into the room, Nikki ran to the far wall and pressed against it. The creature howled over Ryan’s lifeless body. Then, sniffing the air, it slowly approached her, mewling softly. Ropes of saliva trailed from its massive jaws. Exhaling sharply, its breath like an open grave, it extended a long, grey tongue and licked her stomach. She felt the baby kick.
This story previously appeared in Suburban Witchcraft Magazine, 2025.
Edited by Marie Ginga
Writing in the third person always makes the author feel like he's writing his obituary, but here goes: a lover of alt-rock, Akira Kurosawa movies, and craft beer, the author lives in Northern California with his wife and two kids. His beautiful wife definitely could do better, but, luckily for him, she hasn't caught on to that fact yet. Rage Against the Machine, the Black Keys, and the Warlocks are in heavy rotation on Spotify for writing inspiration.