Apocalypstick by Gregory Carrico, Greg Carrico Page A

up-close view. She noticed that two of its legs were longer
and thinner, and the conical section of its body between the shorter limbs was
covered in twisty raised ridges, very reminiscent of a human brain.
    It moved towards her tentatively, taking small, searching steps
with all four limbs, but it pulled back when a yellow claw grazed her chin.
Aside from the momentary burning feeling, it didn’t hurt, though she knew it
had given her a pretty good cut. She could feel what must have been blood
flowing from the spot.
    Her eyes drifted shut, but she fought to stay awake, and forced
them back open. Instead of the little monster, she saw her old pet rabbit,
Carver, sitting in its place.
    I must be in shock. I’m hallucinating .
    Her eyes closed again, and when she opened them, Carver was gone
and the monster was back. The slightly raised ridge on its underside split
open, and the shark-like maw chewed the air in anticipation. It smelled like
burning plastic and rancid meat.
    It jumped at her, and landed on her head, digging its thick
claws through her scalp. More warm, sticky fluid flowed down over her face as
it lowered its jaws to her head, just above her left ear. The last thing she noticed
was the horrible crunching sound of its teeth digging into her skull. Unable to
fight back, or even move, she hoped that Alex, at least, would escape from the
surreal, chaotic nightmare that had descended upon their waking world.