
...***...
Smith suddenly felt disturbed by the sound of screaming out of nowhere, but so clear. He who was asleep spontaneously opened his eyes and got up from his seat to ascertain whether the voices he heard were dreams or not.
He fell silent, trying to gather his consciousness that was still half behind in his dream world.
The light from a nearby window, grabbed attention. Smith got up from his bed and stared out the window.
He rounded his eyes, surprised by what he was seeing. Flames were burning everywhere, the cries of the villagers echoed; mutual disdain. The beast inhabitants panicked, running from one direction to the other. Trying to save themselves.
Smith was silent, his brain still trying to process every event he saw. He rubbed his eyes, making sure that none of this was a dream; he hurried to the bed where Joanne lay.
"Joanne, wake!" He tries to calm down. The young girl was piqued with her hoarse voice.
Joanne opened her eyes and looked at Smith for a moment.
"What's wrong? Why did you wake me?" Ask with a typical sound of people just waking up.
"Something's wrong, the village is on fire and everyone is running outside." Smith grabbed his gun.
"What do you mean?"
"We have to go and find out what happened. Hurry along!" Smith walked towards Jackson's bed, while Joanne was busy tying her hair while grabbing her gun.
"Where's Jackson?" Smith turned to Joanne.
"Where do I know?" Joanne put her shoulders down.
Smith stepped out, behind him Joanne ran after him. They had not had time to go out through the door; something first barged in forcefully into their room to make the door collapse.
Slowly the smoke shrank to make the creature that had just entered was clearly visible.
"Tiger." Joanne hid behind Smith, her eyes wide open; it opened perfectly when she found the big cat with sharp fangs standing on the doorstep.
"Stay behind me." Smith held his gun in both hands.
"There should be another, more pleasant smell inside here, as it turns out, man.." The tiger moved closer, Joanne and Smith walked back slowly.
Smith raised his hand, pointing the gun in his hand right at the tiger standing before them.
"You're gonna be a special meal for me tonight." The tiger opened his mouth. His nails were sharpening ready to pounce on them.
"S-smith... What should we do?" Joanne trembled in fear, clutching Smith's shirt hard on the shoulder.
"Listen to my cue" whispered Smith.
"H-huh?" Joanne looked at him with a confused look.
The tiger roared, ran towards them and jumped towards him. Smith moved quickly, shooting at him repeatedly.
"Jump!" Shouted Smith.
"Eh?" Joanne's stunned. Smith pulled her hand, threw Joanne's light body and made the girl roll up to the exit.
Smith jumped, spinning on the floor until he arrived near Joanne. The girl got up, holding her head that collided violently with the floor. "Argh.... hurts, can you throw me a little more gently?" Grumpy Joanne's upset.
...***...