Chupacabra

Posted on Wed May 1st, 2013 @ 4:30am by Ensign Maria Delgado
Edited on on Mon May 6th, 2013 @ 10:45am

564 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: What Dreams May Come?
Location: Science

Maria Delgado sat up straighter. She was dozing again. That was the third time today that she'd caught herself falling asleep. "Despiertate, chica!" she ordered herself, not that it would do any good. Not until she could sleep through the night.

Last night, it was Atahualpa who came after her to cut out her heat and sacrifice it to the Calypso. Why an ancient Aztec king would want to sacrifice her to a ship -- or a sea goddess -- she had no idea. It made no sense to her at all. Nor did the little dog that kept eating people.

She was not one to have nightmares. Not since she was a child. She shook her head. This was proving more difficult than she thought. She pushed back the analysis she was reviewing and walked over to the couch. A power nap was in order. Twenty minutes, and then she'd be able to think clearly.

Maria woke to find herself in a wood with tropical vegetation. It reminded her of home in Mexico, but there was a thick mist on the ground that dampened sound and caused a chill to run up her spine. She shook her head, wondering how she got here.

She stood and began to look around for a trail of some sort that would lead her back to civilization. She thought about staying where she was, but that wouldn't help her get found.

There was a faint trail leading down and she began to follow it. Down usually led out of the hills and to a flat place where she could at least get her bearings.

She trudged along for a while before she noticed that it wasn't just quiet, it was too quiet. At first she'd put it down to the fog, but there was no birdsong. No insects chitterling in the trees. No animals. She stopped and turned a full circle, looking and listening for anything unusual. Nothing. She shuddered and continued on her way.

Several minutes later Maria heard rustling in the underbrush. "Hola? Quien es?" She was met with more rustling.

Then she heard something snufling behind her. She turned quickly, feeling for a knife or something at her belt, but she had no weapons.

Out of the mist a small, bear-like creature stalked her. It had a ridge of spikes along its back, from head to tail. The head looked like an overgrown badger. It bared its teeth and growled.

"Chupacabra," she whispered. "Vayate!" Maybe yelling would scare it away.

But it didn't. The creature continued to come towards her. She looked around for a stick or other weapon. Chupacabras generally avoided humans. They killed goats and small animals, sucking their blood.

The Chupacabra jumped at her, raking her back with long, sharp claws. Maria screamed. Then it bit her in the neck and she fell.

And woke with another scream. She sat up and looked around. She was back in the lab. She sat for a few minutes, calming her shaking limbs and rapid-beating heart. That was worse than the dog or Atahualpa.

Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard her. Or if they did, they ignored it. Good. She didn't want to explain that she'd fallen asleep on the job.

She replicated a mug of thick, dark coffee and went back to her desk to work.

OFF

Ensign Maria Delgado
Science Officer

 

RSS Feed