Free Bigfoot War by Eric S Brown

Fred said, rubbing his neck as Justin let go of him.
    “ What I don’t understand is how your dogs didn’t get hurt? You’d think they would have went wild on the thing.”
    “ Hank, please,” Justin said. “Drop it, okay?”
    “ It’s my fault,” Fred said, voice beginning to slur from the booze. “I shouldn’t have left you guys.”
    “ Guess I best get Fred home, Hank. I think he’s had enough.”
    Hank nodded his goodbye and set about locking up the bar as Justin led Fred into the street.
    “ What ya doin’, man? I’m fine,” Fred said.
    “ Come on, buddy. Let me drive you home. I think we’ve seen too many people get hurt today already.” Justin shoved him into the passenger seat of his SUV. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”
     
     
    Brent
     
    Brent paced nervously in Becca’s office. He’d sought sanctuary after he’d finally managed to get the crowd to disperse and head back home. He knew he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he realized what was happening in Babble Creek was bad, real bad. He very much wanted to radio Macon County’s department and call in reinforcements, but that was Becca’s decision to make not his and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds. She’d said they had to deal with this on their own, and if Brent was anything, he was loyal.
    Cindy poked her head into the office. “Brent, Rita’s on the phone. She sounds upset and asked to speak to you.”
    “ Transfer it here.” Brent plopped into Becca’s chair and picked up the phone when the line lit up. He knew at once the call wasn’t good news.
    “ Brent, there’s something in the woods behind my house,” was all Rita had to say before he took charge of the situation.
    “ I want you stay right where you are. Don’t light any candles. Keep the house dark and be as quiet as you can. I’m coming.” He sprinted from the office. When he passed Cindy on the way, he said, “Tell Becca I’ve gone to Rita’s when she gets here.” Outside, he slid into his car and turned on the sirens. He peeled out and the car screeched as it shot onto the main road. He glanced at the shotgun laying on the passenger’s seat beside him, and knew it was next to worthless if his hunch about what he’d be facing played out. It didn’t matter. Rita was all that mattered and he would rather die before he let anything happen to her.
    The radio crackled as Becca’s voice filled the vehicle. “Brent, this is Sheriff May. Cindy told me what you’re doing. I am sorry, but I’m ordering you to turn around right now. We need you here.”
    Brent left the radio where it was, ignoring her. It tore him up inside, but some things mattered more than even his job and his duty. He reached over and turned the radio completely off, pushing the gas down harder as the patrol car blazed its way through Babble Creek.
    He left the siren on as he pulled into the drive beside Rita’s house. He doubted it would scare off anything that lurked in the trees, but he could hope that it might anyway. Rita’s door flew open and she came running onto the front porch to meet him.
    Brent stepped from the car with the shotgun held tightly in his hands. “Get in the car,” he shouted. An inhuman growl cut the night as a giant hairy beast came charging from the trees right toward him. Brent fired on it. Blood flew from the creature’s left leg where the shot nailed its fur and flesh, but the wound did nothing to slow it down. The big man pumped another round into the shotgun’s chamber as the monster drew closer. Rita screamed. He saw her on the porch darting back and forth as if she didn’t know whether to make a break for the car or go back inside and lock the door. He didn’t have time to tell her what to do. The hulking beast was within yards of him. He jerked up the shotgun as a desperate plan formed in his head. He waited until the thing was nearly on top of him, so close he could smell the stink of its rancid breath, then he leaped