He feels, at the very core of his being, that this is something other than retribution for helping the others. Staring at the doorway, he sees a looming shadow grow larger. He holds his breath, attempting to stay completely silent, hoping that whoever is in the other room will leave without finding him.

The shadow coming through the doorway moves closer. It sways side to side from the swinging light in the main room. With screams echoing through the night, Ramon hears a low growl coming from the other side of the thin wall. His heart thuds against his chest walls, threatening to explode from the terror.

Please…please…please.

Hot tears stream down his cheeks, blurring his vision. The shadow pauses just before entering.

Please…oh please…

Lightning fast, the shadow lunges and a figure thrusts through the door. Ramon gasps as a face, glowing in the pale light, turns directly toward him. With a shriek that robs Ramon of his soul, the unearthly figure darts toward him. Ramon is only vaguely aware of another that enters his cramped bedroom. Without thought, Ramon lunges off his bed, his own scream mixing with that of the others. Swinging his cane knife, his arm jars from the heavy contact. A pain-filled scream permeates the room.

Ramon looks at his knife imbedded in the upper arm of the shadowed figure. He tries to pull it free but the blade is firmly entrenched in the bone. With a sick feeling settling into the pit of his stomach, Ramon lets go of the handle as the second creature slams heavily into him. Falling backward on his bed, with the looming figure inches from him, Ramon thrashes to escape.

His eyes wide from fright…no, sheer terror, Ramon looks to the snarling face inches away from his own. With tremendous strength, the creature pushes past Ramon’s shoving hands. Ramon feels teeth sink into his neck and he adds his own scream of pain. The pain turns everything in his mind red. His fear becomes too much. He is beyond himself and only vaguely feels his flesh being torn from his body…only vaguely aware of his blood splashing against the thatch walls. The red pain in his mind turns gray…then dark.

Seattle, Washington

Captain Sheldon Hendricks stands just outside of the cockpit door near the front entryway, nodding at each passenger as they board. If his other duties don’t interfere, he enjoys greeting the passengers. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Mary, the lead flight attendant, is stunning. It’s not that he has any ideas about taking it further than talking, with the occasional flirt thrown in. He just isn’t like that for a number of reasons. He has observed too many ugly situations arise when flirtation becomes more and like to keep his private life separate from his professional one. Anything that has the potential to bring drama into his life, he avoids at all costs, regardless of how attractive anyone is. He’d been bitten by that one a couple of times before the lesson finally sunk in. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t look though, or do a little friendly flirting from time to time.