Coyote Nights

Matt Shaw trudged into his future: job, marriage, homeownership, expensive acquisitions. In spite of his growing indifference, it seemed too late to turn back. Then Hannah crashed his Halloween party, and before long, nothing else mattered.

"Go on," Matt said, leaning back, trying to act relaxed, as if he'd heard a couple hundred "how I became a vampire" stories.

"It seems like there's fog in the row of trees at the back of the cemetery. Like a fog has come up suddenly. It's hardly ever foggy in Albuquerque, so I was surprised. Wondering if things could get any creepier." Hannah's knee was bouncing steadily. "Then I thought, did I see movement? I looked up from the grave toward that row of trees, and I think there's someone there, like I could see a face for a second, but then maybe it was just a swirl in the fog. I can't quite make it out. I better go. I said it out loud, and my voice startled me. It seemed loud. It made my heart jump.

"But I keep standing there, and I know there's someone in those trees, but I just can't quite see it, and I'm afraid to move. Maybe if I stand still it won't notice me. It will get darker and the fog will get thicker, and who or whatever is there won't be able to see me and then I can get out of there. I can run, maybe, if I don't trip over something. A grave or something, somebody's flowers. These thoughts are racing through my mind, but my body feels heavy and slow." Hannah took a drink of her beer. Matt felt as if she had forgotten his presence. Her face was serene, almost smiling.

"I sort of stopped thinking then, just stood there. My hair felt damp, my face was cold. When I forced myself to focus on where I was, I saw the face again, from the corner of my eye. Much closer now, maybe fifty feet away. I mean, I didn't really see it, like I see you now, but there was this impression. Something really horrible zeroing in on me, the mouth was too big and the eyes were glittering, with dark circles all the way around them. Something sneaking. The skin looked yellowy white against the gray white of the fog. It had cloaked itself with this fog, so it could get close and then pounce on me, like some huge spider.

"I lost the image whenever I tried to focus on it, but I knew it was there. I knew I was in trouble. Then maybe twenty feet, then maybe fifteen, then I could see the hands and arms reaching and it was on me. It got its hands on me, and I don't think I ever even moved. Didn't turn to run, just stood there like a deer in headlights. It was ugly and it stunk, but it said sweet and comforting things. Even the pain, when it bit me, took place in the middle of all these kind, encouraging words and thoughts it put into my head. I think I was convinced this monster had my best interests at heart."