By the time the Beast reached Traveler Park at the outskirts of town, all its residents had departed. The Beast clenched its fists tightly and let loose an ear-piercing scream of pure fury. In a fit of rage, it tore down the utility poles and tossed them in all directions as though they were chopsticks.

This is the fault of that ridiculous champion, it thought, I will savor his flesh slowly, piece by piece. I will let him watch as I eat him.

The Beast stood and looked up at the night sky. Dawn was approaching. It stood and began to walk back toward the medical center. The Beast moved slower now, resolute and determined in its purpose.

Sheriff Tramell was frustrated. He and his deputies had spent several hours searching the woods closest to town in the hope of cutting off the animal responsible for the disturbing deaths plaguing Sherman's Bane. It proved to be a futile endeavor and shortly before dawn he called off the search and returned with his crew to the Sheriff's office.

The Sheriff was about to let his deputies return home when the phones began ringing in a frenzy of activity. The dispatcher, Miriam, did the best she could in responding to the calls aided by two of the now off-duty deputies.

"What the hell's going on, Miriam?" Jack asked urgently.

"Well, Sheriff, it seems the power is out around Traveler Park and there's been a bunch of damage. A couple of the State boys, troopers Wilson and Bartell, are there now and said it looks like a tornado hit. There's no one there either, not a single resident, the Park is deserted."

"Empty? Is the whole world going nuts?" The Sheriff asked no one in particular.

Miriam continued, "We are also getting reports of a large animal on the highway again, heading into town. The two troopers are going to check it out."

Tramell held up his arms to silence his troops, "Listen fellas, it looks like we're not done yet. Something weird is going on and that animal is still headed our way. Be ready to move when we get confirmation from the troopers."

Ethelinda arrived at the medical park and entered the dentists suite. Jacob had arrived a bit earlier and looked toward her in curiosity.

"Who are you?" Jacob asked.

Albert took the duffel bag that Ethelinda was carrying and put it on the desk, looking inside. He motioned quickly between Jacob and Ethy.

"Jacob this is Ethelinda , she's been helping me and is a good friend. Ethelinda, this is Jacob he's been helping me as well."

"Pleased to meet you," Ethy said, "and who are you exactly?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm an Angel."

Albert shook his head, "Do you just tell everyone you meet right away that you're an angel? Don't you think that's kind of... off-putting?"

"He's an angel?" Ethelinda said with more than a little doubt in her voice, "he doesn't look like an angel."

"I'm right here, young lady, no need to insult me."

"I'm sorry," Ethelinda actually giggled, "but you don't look like any angel I've ever seen. Nice suit though."

"Yes, nice flannel shirt," Jacob said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

"Wow, I didn't know angels had attitude."

Albert threw up his hands in frustration. "Really? Are you two just gonna stand there and spar? There are kind of more important things going on right now, like a demon, and the fact that I'm going to be his main course in a few hours."

"I'm sorry, Albert, if you say he's an angel,  he's an angel. I've got some of the things you wanted in the duffel bag there. The sword is still in the car, so is some other stuff."

"Great," Albert said happily, "I've got a plan and obviously I hope it works. I got the idea in part from the demon's reaction to what I said from the story your grandmother told. I got the impression that it was true. At least I hope it is."

"That's all good and fine," Jacob interrupted, "what do you need from me?"

"I'll get to that in a moment, Jacob," Albert said while digging through the duffel bag. He retrieved a prybar, "I have to go next-door and break into a doctors office first. You two stay here and behave and I'll be right back."

Albert left the room. Ethelinda was looking Jacob very carefully up and down.
"So you're an angel?"

"I am indeed. I know your confusion. I'm not a warrior angel, you know the ones with the wings that everybody loves so much. But I do a very important job."

Ethelinda couldn't help but smile at Jacob's insecurity, "I don't doubt it, Jacob. Angels and humans, the pretty ones always get all the credit."

"So true, so true," Jacob agreed.

"May I ask you a question?" Ethy asked.

"Certainly, Ethelinda, what is it?"

"How come all the representations I see of angels are male. Are there any female angels?"

"Well, as I explained to Albert, many of the angels are simply inhabiting human bodies with their spirits, which are gender neutral. It could be a male body or a female body. Some angels are actually born in this realm rather than being immigrants from mine. The ones born here are whatever gender they're born as. As far as the representations go, that's just the way the artist perceive them. Again, they like the pretty blonde angels, male or female. I find it very reductive and somewhat insulting."

"You and me both," Ethelinda chuckled, "I'm sorry I snapped at you, it's been a stressful couple of days."

"Yes it has, no problem. Do you have any idea what he's planning?" Jacob asked.

"Not in the slightest," Ethelinda let out a laugh, "but it does involve a lawnchair."

"A lawn chair?" Jacob shook his head, "I feel safer already."

The two state troopers caught up with the Beast about a mile from Traveler Park. They saw it first from a distance, tramping down the road like a hulking great ape, blocking out the rising sun. Because of their position they could not make out any details of its appearance, but quickly called back to the sheriff's office.

"This is trooper Wilson. We have a visual on the animal. It's at mile marker four on Millstaff Road. We're going to try to stop it."

Sheriff Trammell responded almost immediately, "Negative, that's a negative, do not engage. Wait for back up. We'll be there in 15 minutes, just follow at a safe distance."

The state trooper did not agree. "Don't worry Sheriff, we got this. We don't want it running into the woods again. It's just standing there right now, it's an easy target."

The two troopers exited their vehicle armed with shotguns and slowly approached the immobile creature. The closer they got, the more they realized that this was no bear.

The Beast was amused. It saw the two state troopers as they approached, and smiled. When they were finally able to see it in its full glory, the Beast took joy in the look of fear that spread across their faces.

Shotgun blasts rang out in the cool dawn air. Shot after shot was fired, as the Beast slowly approached the ever more terrified policemen. When the Beast finally became bored at this game, it lunged forward, swinging its talons in a deadly arc. It's claws cut through the two men like a hot knife through butter. It was over in seconds.

The Beast looked down at the two corpses, and became suddenly ravenous. Old appetites die hard. It could use the extra sustenance for its upcoming battle, not that it felt it needed it, it was simply because it did not want to waste such an easy meal.

Back in the police car, the voice over the radio yelled desperately, "Are you there? What's going on, answer! What's going on?"