Part 326: Prey for the Fleshmonger

Eddie collapsed from the excessive running he was doing. Sebastian to the side as his older friend felt hard on the ground. The boy turned over, trying to catch his breath. The little child gasped for his own air then crawled over to Eddie; grabbing his shirt and pulling him. “I . .I can’t . .” he coughed.

Sebastian whined, trying to pull his older friend.

“I can’t . . .run anymore, Sebastian, “ Eddie felt on the verge of vomiting, “You . .gotta . . .you GOTTA RUN!!”

Sebastian tried to breathe but he was took busy pulling Eddie. The ten-year old realized his friend was not going to leave him behind so he struggled to get up to his feet. He stood up, panting for breath. He held onto the boy as they started to run. Both of them yelled as the Fleshmonger landed right in front of them, from above.

Sebastian buried his head in his friends chest as he held onto Eddie. The older boy looked at the monster, trembling. It’s best description was that it looked remarkably like a werewolf but it was heavily scared across it’s body; almost like it’s skin was put together. It’s head was indeed a wolf but it only had hair on the top and side of it’s head. It’s skin was a sickly gray and it smelled like it was dying. The creature slowly lowered it’s head toward the two boys; growling heavily as it’s salvia dripped from it’s row upon row of sharp teeth.

Sebastian whimpered as he held onto Eddie. The ten-year old stared at the creature; tears flowing down his face. “It won’t hurt us,” he assured his younger friend, “If it does . ..The Island . . .Watchman will kill it.”

The Fleshmonger then roared right into Eddie’s face, knocking salvia into his cheeks. The boy closed his eyes as he held Sebastian closer. “I’m not scared, “He wept, “I’m not scared, Tony.”

“EDDDDIIIEEE!!!” Ecko screamed from the left.

The black man ran up behind the Fleshmonger and slammed his Penance Stick into it’s back. The creature then turned swiftly around, slamming it’s fleshy tail into the two boys. Eddie tumbled down a small hill while Sebastian was jolted toward a tree. Sayid and Hal emerged from the woods and immediately opened fire on the creature. Sebastian squeaked as his father ran toward him, scooping him up in his arms. Eddie then blinked as Jack grabbed him and got him up away from the fight. The Fleshmonger saw them running and began to run after them. Locke screamed for them to look out as the beast made another jab at them. Eddie grabbed a branch, swinging to his left. Jack felt the monster swipe as his backpack, cutting one of the straps. The blow made him fall forward down the small hill. “JACK!!” Eddie screamed.

The doctor grunted as he tumbled forward and landed in the small water collection puddle at the bottom of the hill. Jack grunted as he felt something hard hit him in the head at the end of his fall. The Fleshmonger leaped onto the other side and looked at him. Jack slowly looked up at him as he growled upon his approach. The beast snapped at him, making the wounded man fling up his hands in protest. Fleshmonger hissed at him and then leaped up above him to go attack at the others.

Jack turned around to watch it head back up the hill. He didn’t know why it wouldn’t attack him but he had to help the others. He quickly scrambled up the hill where Eddie was waiting for him. The moment he got up the hill, he saw Ecko screaming as he went into a fight with the monster. Locke fired his shotgun as the beast, making a chuck of it’s skin explode near the shoulder. The Fleshmonger then hissed and flashed a yellow glow from it’s eyes.

Then disappeared.

“WHOA!!!” Hal screamed, “Where it did-“

The cop jolted as he felt an unseen force slam into him, knocking back. Sayid was shocked that the thing had the ability to bend light. Before he could react, he too was slammed hard into his chest. Locke held his shotgun aloft, hoping for some sign, from the ground or the smell of the sickly creature. Ecko backed up toward the bald man, holding his stick in front of him as the sweat dripped from his nose. “Show yourself, Devil,” the black man whispered.

Locke then fired his weapon as the beast slammed into him and by momentum, slammed into Ecko. The black man stumbled and lost his Penance stick. He quickly got up and tried to grab for. The moment he did, something heavy slammed against it. He looked up to the phasing haze of whatever allowed the Fleshmonger to turn invisible. It then rushed toward to bite Ecko’s throat.

And within a flash of blue light, it slammed it’s jaw on a clothed arm. “Raven!” Eddie gasped.

The masked man grabbed his friend by his shirt and tossed him aside from the fight. Fleshmonger then slowly came back into view as it snarled toward it’s former opponent. Raven gritted his teeth as he slowly pushed his arm upward. Before he was a security system, the monster might have bit his arm into. Raven stared into the beast’s eyes, flashing blue from his own. “Remember me, monster?” the masked man asked it.

Fleshmonger’s cheeks flapped quickly, creating the familiar whispering sound.

“Yes, “ Raven hissed, “Let’s finish this.”