“SHE THAT CAME CALLING IN THE NIGHT”

She that came calling in the storm.

?“The Beginning of an unusual friendship”

?As the rain’s persistence battered the roof above my head,

I reached for an extra blanket for warmth as a draft raced over me from the corner by the door.

Yet, within the rage of winds and rain, thunder & Lightening filled the skies and lit my room, casting shadows across the wooden floor, I decided to look out the window at the rain and lightning, as I gazed out into the storm to watch the heavens open, as I looked away, in between each lightning flash,

An image became apparent in the corner of my eye, I was transfixed with a curiosity about who or what was coming,

The figure was struggling in the wind and rain, within each flash it drew closer and more defined,

I could see the shape of a head and body-like figure becoming clear.

I froze in anticipation of who or what was coming to my door, then came three little knocks on the strong Oak door, its latch rattled, and the handle moved accordingly, and in between the cracks of thunder a voice echoed through the door, almost as a whisper, amplified,

In a feminine tone so soft and gentle yet with a sense of fear and helplessness, "Hello, hello, is there anyone home?" I pause for a moment, but my curiosity and kindness took over.

I jumped from the bed onto a cold wooden floor slipping on my trainers and a woollen top and rushed to the door.

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Tap tap tap, as again she called out, I raised the latch to open the door, as the air became cold, I gazed upon this girl standing in rain-soaked clothes,

her drenched hair was hanging down one side of her face.

She spoke softly, “Please dear sir May I come in? I am lost and so very cold.” Without hesitation I said,

“Yes, of course, come on in please” I replied.

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She was wearing a long black leather coat hanging almost to the floor, with black ankle-high boots on.

I said, “Please let me take your coat and you can take off your boots. Come in and sit by the fire.”

I guided her in and sat her down, "Wait there a minute and I will put the kettle on and grab a blanket for you.” As returned to the living room, I saw the silhouette of her form as the shadow that strewn across my floor in the flashes of lightning, and as I got closer her presence became real with her shivering in the chair.

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“Hey, the kettles are on and I have a blanket for you and here's a towel to dry your hair."

She curled up in the chair as the whistle blew from the kitchen. I rushed out to make two mugs of tea,

As I stepped back into the room, she was still and silent. She took the mug with both hands and whispered, "Thank you, sir.”

I said, “Hey, just Mike please, I'm no one special.”

She looked up at me and said, "You opened the door to a stranger not knowing who or why,

yet, you let me in”.

I replied, “What kind of person would I be to leave someone in a storm at night? “I knelt at her feet and took off her boots and wet socks to reveal pale cold feet.

I placed a cushion under her feet to raise them off the cold hard wooden floor. She looked down at me with confusion in her eyes, she asked, what are you doing?

I looked up at her and said, “Hey it's not good having cold wet feet. The fire will warm you in time,

”She stared at me and asked, "Are you here alone?”

I replied, “Yes I'm on leave at the moment”.

She looked around and noticed my books and pad by my chair.

“Are you reading something or writing something?”

I proceeded to explain that I was on retreat to finish my book.

She smiled and said, “That's so interesting. I had a dream last night that I met someone who was writing something alone, and here you are.”

As we gazed into the fire, crackling as it burned, and watched the flames lick around the logs, I looked.

Out of the corner of my eye and caught her staring at me. For a moment, her eyes glistened in the firelight. I turned to her and they changed back.

“How is the tea?” I asked.

She smiled and replied, “It's nice, thank you.” Then she added “Why are you sitting beneath me? No man has ever sat that way with me.”

I said, " It's so you may feel welcome and safe.”

“Thank you,” she said.

I asked, “Are you warming up?”

“Yes.” She said while leaning forward. “There is more to you than He who sits beneath me."

She looked me in the eyes and whispered,

“You are an honourable and kind man, yet I see a tormented soul within.”

I said, "That's why I am writing. It is to exercise the demons in my mind.

And what about you? I said with a smile,?I feel there is more to you than the drowned rat in front of me.”

We laughed, and then she went silent, and asked,

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“How do you know who I am?”

I answered,” I see it in your eyes and the person in my chair.

“But, “she said, “what if I am not? What if I am holding a secret or something else?”

“It's ok.” I said, “We all have our secrets” She replied, But do you trust yourself to say it or be with me? I am whom you see in front of you. I let you in not knowing but feeling you needed help.”

She stood up. “Would you have some dry clothes I can change into? ”Yes,” I said, “I hope you don't mind my night clothes.”

“No,” she said, “that's fine, thank you.”

“If you go through the kitchen it leads to the bathroom and my clean clothes are in the airing cupboard.

You are welcome to whatever fits you.”

As she walked out, the door closed behind her and the fire continued to crackle, I could hear the water running, and her steps on the floor. She later returned and sat with me in the chair.

I asked, “Are you hungry or would you like another tea?”

She replied, “No thank you.”

“Do you have somewhere to go tonight?”

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?She explained, "I was walking alongside the river and somehow I came off of the path and it started to rain and thunder.

Then, before I knew it, I was lost. Your light at the door was all I could see in the distance.

May I ask if it would be okay to stay a while tonight and leave in the morning?”

“Yes, that's all right.”

“Bless you.” She whispered.

I said, “My room is just through there and I will stay on the couch.”

“No,” she said, " I cannot take your bed.”

“It's okay, I'm fine,” I said.

So, I showed her to my room and bid her Goodnight as she closed the door. I settled on the couch with a blanket over me and fell asleep while watching the fire dance around the logs.

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I woke to a scream. I ran to her door and called out, “Are you ok miss?”

I could hear her crying, then her sound changed, her voice deepened, and a slight growl was under her voice.

I asked again, “Are you ok in there?”

She said, “Leave me alone, please. It's not safe.”

I asked, “What's not safe?”

?She yelled in a distorted voice, “You are not! Please move away from the door!”

Then there was a thud on the floor.

“Are you sure? Please, maybe I can help.”

She said in a sad voice, “I am sorry about this. I should not have come here.”

“Why?” I asked. She screamed, “You’re a good person and good people get hurt when close to me. I am not right. Just leave me, please. It’s safer for you.”

I said “No. I don't believe that. I am here and not going anywhere. I would not have let you in if I did not feel safe. I don't care what your thing is, it's okay!”

I heard her breathing and then move back to the bed.

I asked,” Please may I come in so that I know you are, ok?”

“I don't know.” She replied in a whispering voice “I don't want to hurt you.” I said,

“You won’t, I promise.”

I was nervous yet curious at the same time. I slowly opened the door.

“Is it okay if I come in, please?”

“No,” she pleaded. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”

?

As the door opened wider, she jumped beneath the covers. I could see her shaking beneath the duvet,

“It is okay,” I said.

The air turned cold in the room. I started to shiver not knowing if it was from the cold or fear. I slowly moved towards the bed and knelt on the floor next to her.

“What can I do, what do you need?” I asked.

?She raised her head, and I noticed the glistening in her eyes again as her skin started to turn pale. She looked me in the eyes and spoke in an affirming tone, “It’s in our blood, It's in our life force.”

For some reason, I knew exactly what she was talking about.

I said, “I know. I see a hunger in your eyes tainted with loneliness.”

She sat up and moved to the edge of the bed, her hands grasping at the duvet as her nails ripped through the cloth.

“Oh no!” she yelled. “I’m so sorry!”

I reached out and put my hand over hers. It was cold to the touch.

She pulled back and growled under her breath and said, “Don't touch me.”

She lowered her head and stared at me. “I can smell your blood and hear it coursing through your veins.” Her voice deepened and her eyes glistened again.

There was no other light in the room just the flashes of lightning coming through the window cascading across the floor. I said, “I know.”

I moved closer and slowly, gently, placed my hand under hers. I could feel her nails long and sharp under my palms. She was shaking with restraint. I could see blood in her mouth. Her tears came, blood red, running down her cheeks.

She said, “Please run. I don’t want to hurt you or kill you.”

“No, I'm staying with you.”

With a slight growl under her breath, she asked, “Are you not scared of how I look or that I might rip you apart?”

“Yes, part of me is, but I`m good, the other of me is attracted to you. You are here for some reason. You came to be lost in the night and I'm not going anywhere.”

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Part One,

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With that, she lunged forward baring her teeth as if to warn me, but I did not move or cower down.

She grabbed my shoulders and pulled me closer. She did not bite but pushed me away.

I flew across the bed onto the floor.

I got back up and sat on the edge of the bed. I stayed still and lowered my head.

I laid across the bed in front of her and looked downwards.

I said, “You can't do it, can you? You know I am no threat to you.”

She snarled “No.”

?I reached for her hand. As I did, she lashed out across my chest just minor scratching of the skin.

“Why did you do that?” I asked.

“I couldn’t help it.”

“It’s strong.” I said, “So are you.”

She looked up at me with sadness in her eyes yet a compassionate look on her face and whispered,

“I don't want to hurt or kill you.”

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“But you are different. You did not run or scream. You stayed. Even though the beast within wanted to rip you apart.”

“Somehow I cannot move.” I said she replied,” Yes, but you’re now cursed like me.”

“I know. I will become whatever you are. And yet somehow that does not seem so bad. “She replied, “I did not want you dead but I wanted you with me as I am so you would always stay and be with me.”

I thought, Okay. Because for some strange reason I could remember feeling that way before she came,

“And then I was fixed on her”, even in a part human part animal form she was still attractive to me and I felt I was falling in love with both sides of her.

?

"Nature has that way of drawing two beings together who are meant to be" even in the differences they find each other and somehow are linked by a natural bonding process.

I reached forward and held her by her shoulders, pulling her closer. As I did so, she raised her head as if to bite me. Her clawed hands grabbed my waist. I could feel her nails against my skin.

But she did not scratch my skin. I looked at her full-on, I could see blood around her teeth as they started to change, and her face began to transform, instead of feeling shocked I was strangely transfixed on her.

I slowly moved closer to her.

She moved her head to my neck. I could feel her breath as if she was about to rip out my throat, but a whisper came, and she asked, “What are you? Why are you?

You know I could rip you apart.

I replied, “I was thinking the same thing!”

So, I turned to her and reached for her face. gently holding her I kissed her mouth. I could taste blood on her lips but strangely it was okay. I just wanted to kiss her so she would know I was accepting her for all she is. She gently pushed me back and said, “You are something else and I have dreamed of you, at this moment, but I thought I would kill you, but you have changed that”.

"You kissed the beast in me, and I somehow want you alive.” she said,

I smiled and said, “Thank God for that.”

She replied, “He has created who I am. Who you are?”

Something in the air changed. It went cold. Then came the smell, a musky scent. She stood up and looked around and said, “He's here.” I replied, “Who is?” I asked.

“You don't want to know,” she replied.

Before I could say anymore, she was gone disappearing in one leap through the window into the night.

I ran outside shouting, “Where are you? Don’t leave please!”

The crazy thing was she never even gave me her name.

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Part Two.

As the darkness of night diminished, the sun rose over the treetops bursting into daylight and the next the day came and then a week turned to a month.

I never stopped looking for her every night.

Another month passed right on the cycle of a full moon. I didn't think too much of it at the time, so I just carried on exploring the wilderness, sitting by the

lakes and writing.

One night I stayed out too late and it had gotten dark quickly. There was just a shimmering moon above lighting up the woods, so I just walked on through following the tracks made by the animals, the locals said there are wolves and bears around but it was coyotes and wild dogs you had to watch out for you have to keep your senses about you. keep them sharp because of the beast that hunts tracks in silence.

Listening as I walked on, nature seemed to fall silent.

A fine mist surrounded the glade I stepped into. my stomach felt uneasy.

My heart started to beat faster, each step was made with caution. My palms were sweating as I grasped for my knife. I knew something. was coming, and it was not natural.

I stopped, to feel the air. to see beyond. To wait.

As I stood looking around, I could see in my peripheral vision, figures slowly moving and emerging out of the trees and bushes and as I looked forward, something dark and big was standing in front of me about ten feet away with an arched back, head lowered staring into me, its black eyes piercing into mine.

I was transfixed. I knew I was surrounded. There was no way of fighting my way out armed with just my knife. I thought, well if this is my time then I go down fighting. Just let my death be quick I stood tall and raised my arms, ready for the first attack.

The beast lowered itself ready to pounce.

?There was a scream, almost like a roar, from behind me.

l glanced around seeking this deathly howl. I turned slowly still trying to keep my eye on the beast in front. This human-like being knelt on all fours upon a rock. Its eyes were glistening. Canine teeth were white in the moonlight.

?It was not a man but a woman. Her black hair fell over one side of her face.

Her hands were claw-like, scratching at the rock face.

She had a streak of white Corse hair running along the centre of her back.

Once again, she let out this scream-like roar, looking round at the other beasts.

They began to cowl down one by one but the biggest one in front of me stood, raised in defiance.

She noticed him and kept staring into him.

Then in one single motion, she leapt over me and landed right in front of the pack leader. The sound

of their warnings and exerting their dominance echoed through the woods. With every snarl, she stepped forward and he stepped backwards. He began to lower himself in a submissive manner she lunged at his throat, grabbing hard and holding him down. he yelled and she released him. She raised herself up, as he turned and ran back into the woods behind him.

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?Part Three.

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I stood shivering and almost peeing myself with fear, as I thought, I'm gonna die! This being in front of me is something else and it is not going to be painless or quick. But as she turned, she lowered her head and crouched to the ground. Her fearful look became passive and calm. She whimpered as she tilted her head and raised her eyes, looking into mine. To my surprise, I began to feel like I recognised her expression within her hairy fearsome appearance.

As we were locked in a gaze, I knelt in front of her. I undid my jacket collar exposing my neck to her I lowered myself within inches of her teeth. l could feel her breath on my skin and for a moment she opened her jaws to bite but stopped herself and pulled back.

I looked up as a teardrop of blood rolled down her snout.

I reached out and held her head and gently kissed her to the side of her jaw. With a whimper she shook her mane, turned, and with one single leap was gone into the forest.

I could not believe what had just happened. Was I supposed to die? I did not know. I was in a mixture of shock and relief to be alive.

Who was she? Why was she there? A part of me knew instinctively but it was reasoning that was forced into my mind to disregard the truth. For the reality was it was her who came to my door months before in need of help. It was a connection drawn together by similar realms within our dreams.

We were meant to meet. maybe for the reason she was there protecting me even though her. supernature was driving her to kill me but she did not. Maybe then the knowledge and understanding will become clear the more I learnt as time transpires.

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Mike J Baker (Author)

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Book and film Script 2022 by Mike J Baker (Author)

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Mike J Baker, (Author)

The What if Project. Full-time Writer, Marketing, Advertising.

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You know when you have this idea that plays over and over in your mind, and you just got get it started to make it real and happen, this is it if you `my peers` can take some time to read through and in your Professionalism let me know what you all think

I would like to take this opportunity to preview a book/ Movie Script to be open to any Critique from my peers in preparation for the creation of the full script that is in note form, I would love any Comments or Curiosities.

Thank you,

Mike J Baker

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Book and film Script 2022 by Mike J Baker (Author)