**The Cave**
The dog wrapped its paws gently around Ray's legs, tail swaying.
He smiled down. "You've been good, buddy. Got a new job… and a little brother to take care of."
He grabbed his jacket, sighing softly. "But duty calls. Missing case. Night shift."
The cold air hit him as he stepped outside. Frost lined the edges of his car window, and his breath turned to mist. The city lights faded behind him as he drove toward the forest road.
The cave stood silent — black, wide, and waiting.
"All the others got assigned to different missions," he muttered, loading his gun. "Guess this one's all mine."
He stepped in.
The beam of his flashlight cut through the dark. No signs of struggle. No secret passage. No water dripping. Nothing.
Or so he thought.
A faint hiss echoed through the air.
He turned sharply — fired three rounds into the dark.
*Bam! Bam! Bam!*
The ground shook. Something heavy dropped from above, crashing into the dust.
A python — massive, twenty feet long — uncoiled, its scales gleaming like wet metal.
Ray stumbled back, fear clawing at his chest.
He pulled a grenade from his belt. "No choice."
He threw it.
A flash — a thunderous *boom!* — flames swallowed the cave. The serpent writhed, hissing through the fire. Stones cracked, smoke filled the air. Ray barely escaped, diving out into the freezing night.
He coughed, grabbed his radio.
"This is Officer Ray. Found a giant python inside the cave. No signs of missing person. Heading back."
"Copy that, Ray," came the reply. "Return to base."
He drove home under a pale moon.
When he arrived, everything was quiet. His younger brother was asleep, the dog curled beside the bed. Ray smiled, ate his dinner in silence, and went to sleep.
For the first time that night, everything felt normal.
Or so it seemed.
Morning came softly.
Ray helped his little brother bathe, got him ready, and dropped him off at school.
"Bye, bro!" the boy said, grinning and waving.
"Bye, kid," Ray smiled back.
That afternoon, Ray picked him up. They stopped by the park, the sun glowing orange over the trees. The younger brother laughed, tossing a ball for the dog. But between moments of laughter, his eyes wandered back to Ray — noticing how tired he looked, how quiet he'd become.
*He's strong,* the boy thought. *Too strong. But… I hope he's okay.*
The dog sniffed the grass, tail twitching — then suddenly froze. It barked sharply, fur standing on end.
Ray turned.
From beyond the park's trees, figures began to appear. Dozens… hundreds… until the shadows became a crowd.
Faces hidden, weapons glinting — knives, iron rods, jagged tools.
Ray's heart pounded.
"Run!" he shouted.
He lifted his brother into his arms as the dog barked furiously beside him. The sound of footsteps thundered — a thousand people rushing forward.
He sprinted to the car, breath ragged, the dog close behind.
He slammed the door shut, engine roaring to life. Tires screeched as he sped away, the mob fading into the distance behind them — but their shouts still echoed in his mind.
And as the headlights cut through the dark, Ray couldn't shake one haunting thought…