SHOWDOWN

It was 11 o'clock P.M. The alley was in a faint glow as the dim light from the tavern shown upon it. I stopped before I entered, and reached into my right coat pocket for my .38 special. This was about the tenth time that night I did this. My foot went forward. I was dragging along at a slow, dull pace as though I wanted this moment to last. I didn't, though. A small breeze swept through the alley as I kept dragging on. Suddenly, a noise behind me made me jump. I stopped immediately and slowly circled around. My hand was automatically around my .38. I brought it out as I faced what made the noise. The light was now behind the thing I was facing, and I couldn't see its face. It could be human, I thought, but I doubt it.

We stood staring for some time from then on, or at least I thought it was staring. Never once did my hand lower the gun. It made a move. It moved to take off the hat it was wearing. I obviously knew what it was. A werewolf. My best friend was mutilated the night before.

The thing started walking towards me. My heart started thumping. Should I shoot? Was it a werewolf? It must be!

I shot a bullet straight into the thing’s chest. It must have hit the heart, for the thing collapsed. I was breathing rather heavily as I walked towards the corpse.

WHAT?! No! Please, no! It was not a werewolf! It was a man! Why didn't he talk? If he talked, I wouldn't have shot!

Blood was stained on the shirt where the heart was. Why did this happen? Why?

I threw my gun away as far as I could throw. I was in a terrible panic. I bent down to drag the corpse away, when I got up to find the gun. I must throw the evidence away!

When I started to go, I felt something dig into my shoulder. My heart stopped as I turned around to come face to face with a real werewolf. I did not have my gun. I was helpless.

THE END

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