He Trains For The Hunt Tonight

Persistence creates monsters. Laziness creates victims.

While you sleep, he repents. The dead tree branch creaks under the weight of muscle that shouldn't exist. The red moon watches his workout routine—it is the only spotlight he needs. He isn't exercising for health. He is practicing how to pull himself up from the grave faster than you can run. The bats count his reps. They know exactly how many more he needs before he comes for you.