Chapter 12: The Farmers

"Wha-What are you?!" screamed the farmer's wife.

Rachael opened her mouth. Only a weak cry crawled out.

"Devil..." whispered the woman. Her body shook as the color drained from her face. She backed up toward the door. "Devil!" she screamed. "Deeeevil!"

Rachael reached out. A gust of wind from the window blew the sheet off of her body. Across her bare skin was only spots of dried blood. But no scars. She stepped off the bed. "Please... don't..." she finally managed to utter.

"DEVIL!!" The farmer's wife made the sign of the cross and ran out of the room. There was some yelling. Then the farmer appeared. He stood at the threshold and stared in silence.

In front of him was the young lady whom, just days earlier, was a twisted pile of blood, bones, and skin. She looked like she had been in death's grip. Now, she was a beautiful, radiant woman who was very alive and, he suddenly realized, very very naked. He averted his eyes.

Rachael quickly surveyed the room. An open window to her left. White sheets lying on the bed. A barren desk to her right. No extra clothes or shoes anywhere. She immediately grabbed the sheets and wrapped it around herself.

The farmer backed away from the door, just in time for his wife to enter with a shotgun. "GET AWAY FROM US, DEVIL!" she called out.

Rachael studied the couple for a moment, brushed away the thought of doing them harm, then leapt over the bed and out the window. Wood and glass broke and tore through her flesh. She rolled onto the dirt floor and braced herself for a shotgun blast. But none came.

Rachael scrambled to her feet. The farmer and his wife were staring through the broken window. The shotgun was still leveled at her, but the wife's finger was dangling off the trigger. Then Rachael noticed all the blood on the window sill. And bits of flesh.

A flash of brown crashed into her. She toppled to the ground. Fierce teeth bit into her forearm. The farmer's dog yanked her sideways, throwing drops of blood onto the sheets. The sheets grew crimson.

She fixed an intense gaze on the dog. The air rippled. Then the dog flew into the air and smacked into the house with a yelp.

"DEVIL!!" screamed the farmer's wife. She fired her shotgun. Beads of metal ripped through Rachael's stomach. The impact propelled her backwards. She felt every little piece break her skin and cut through her organs. The pain was excruciating.

She closed her eyes and grinded her teeth. A large tremor shook the ground. There was wood creaking and cracking. Glass shattering. Metal twisting. Then two screams. And an explosion.

Wrapped in the crimson sheets like a burrito with raw meat, Rachael fell unconscious again. She laid on the ground for hours, her mind exhausted, her body repairing, and her soul struggling to stay alive.

In her inert state, she didn't notice the little girl emerge from the wrecked house. She didn't see the little girl crawl over to where she lay. She didn't see the little girl sit there, watching Rachael's skin rebuild itself. And she didn't see the little girl wipe away a tear, then smile.