Posted by Morpork at November 10th, 2007

My friend hosed it down and it let out a cry not unlike a shriek.

As the smoke cleared, it was still there. Wounded as it may be, it continued to flail its appendages around and lashed out with its hideous tongues.

My friend looked at me beseechingly, sweat pouring down his worried face but my eyes were on the pathetic form, staring down its piercing, fiery gaze. Its hot anger imprinted on my mind.

I squeezed the trigger.

It was only an instant, but the roar was deafening as it fired. The figure fell apart, all the fury it exhibited earlier gradually extinguished. Even though it was only loose briefly, it had already left a permanent scar on me. I didn’t let the trigger go even as it writhed in its death throes. My friend patted me on the shoulder and I let go of the trigger. The roaring sound died out. Even one as untameable as it was snuffed out in the face of preparedness and human ingenuity.

I surveyed the carnage and was satisfied that it was completely gone.

I laid down the fire extinguisher.