“There is only pain in the path you walk.” These were the words Kodi Jefferson heard before he took this mission. No, this oath. Three students from his school were dead, all with the same wounds: perfectly circular holes in the throat and no blood left in the victims. Even at sixteen, Kodi knew this was suspicious. He knew the beast that did this. He couldn’t look away anymore. There was something in him that couldn’t let it happen: his blood.
    Kodi held the bloodied revolver in his hand, slowly marching up the stairs. Jonathan and Esmeralda were too far behind. He was alone in this. He looked down at the blood on the wooden steps. A single line of crimson painted the brown. Fresh. Dragged up recently, Kodi surmised.  No struggle. His chest tightened at that.
    “Damn it, can’t just mind your business.” Kodi cursed Oliver for getting into this. A week ago, he wouldn’t have thought he’d be risking his life for that good-for-nothing brat. He willed his legs to continue moving, walking up that final step.
    Creeeeeeek.
    Shit.
    Listening for the slightest sound, Kodi gripped the revolver tighter. There was a soft sound of walking getting louder and louder. Closer and closer. Kodi realized. Now was when he had to decide if he would need to run. More importantly, where?
    Rushing toward the sound, Kodi made his decision. He saw its eyes first, a pure glow of red piercing through the darkness of the hallway. With a flick of his finger, he pulled the trigger. A loud bang rang Kodi’s eyes. There was no time to calculate the best shot or plan. 
    The beast let out a mix of a hiss and a howl, the only indication that the bullet hit him. Its eyes closed, reacting to the pain. Past the creature was Kodi’s target. A room with an open door, most likely where the blood trailed. However, how could Kodi make it through?
    No time. The beast launched forward, stepping into the only light in the abandoned house: a dim lamp near the stairs. The lamp illuminated the trail of blood. And even at the top of the stairs, the light revealed the monster.
    It was a mix between a dog and a lizard. It had no fur but the ears of a canine. It was a dark brown starved mutt with scales of a greyish color covering its chest and some of its neck. Protection, most likely. It had spines lining it and a big reptile-like tail. Starved was no exaggeration. It had its ribs visible and little meat on its bones.
    Kodi had two seconds to react; one he spent observing the beast and the last to swerve to the right. The monster landed in a hop, bouncing and landing again a few feet away. Kodi looked at his legs, kangaroo-shaped. Surprisingly powerful, given the beast’s famished appearance. However, Kodi knew he shouldn’t expect the expected in this field. Five more cartridges, Kodi counted. 
    It has a scotopic vision like a canine. No wonder it's nocturnal. How am I going to get light at four AM? Kodi clenched his teeth. He turned and ran, this time towards the open door. The monstrosity growled in protest, giving chase. The fact was Kodi was closer. Kodi dashed into the room and slammed the door closed. He turned over to see if Oliver was awake.
    The room was unfurnished, with white walls and a wooden floor. Blood dirtied the room, all over the walls and parts of the floor. It was older than the trail that had led to the unconscious Oliver Toyo Corbyn. There were no other remains. The monster must have eaten everything. Horrific.
    Thankfully, Kodi came in time. There was not a single wound, aside from the bleeding when he hit his head earlier, on Oliver’s body. Kodi sighed in relief. He shook him awake. There was scratching at the door. 
    Oliver groaned slightly, “Jefferson?” 
    “Toyo.”
    “Don’t say it—”
    “I told you so.” Kodi frowned. Now that Oliver was awake, Kodi immediately wished to knock him back out. Oliver was stupid enough to get into this and Kodi had to bring him out.
    “Where are your lackeys?” Oliver held his chin up, but Kodi knew why he really asked. He wanted to know if they were alone in fighting the Chupacabra.
    “Esmeralda would’ve figured I was gone twenty minutes ago…” And they were ten minutes away, if they found a ride. Kodi hated this. There were too many factors he couldn’t calculate, he had no clue if they would make it in time. He cursed under his breath. “Your pride will be the death of us, Toyo.”
    “And your incompetence, the death of countless! You knew and let this thing live?” Oliver slowly stood up. Kodi let him struggle. 
    “It was in Mexico last I saw it! And the situation was complicated.” Kodi balled his fists. 
    “Always blameless, huh, Jefferson?”
    “You’re always arrogant.” Kodi raised his gun, Oliver stopping in his tracks. He turned over and pointed to the door. Silence. And then a crash as the Chupacabra broke through the door.