Stephen Lawrence is a normal man and has lead a normal life. In Stephen's life, nothing particularly out of the ordinary has happened, that is until a vulture, paid him a visit. This is where the story begins.
Stephen is sitting at his kitchen table, eating a bowl of cereal and drinking a glass of tea. It is a hot summer day, today and from Stephen's knowledge, from what he had heard from the weatherman from the Channel 2 news, earlier this morning is that the temperature, outside, might reach one hundred degrees, later on, in the day. "Boy is it hot", says Stephen, a man who appears to be in his late sixties, from his wrinkled face, showing his old age. "This is the hottest, it's been all week. Boy, was it silly of me to think that I didn't need an air conditioner." Stephen then picked up the napkin, lying next to his bowl of cereal and wiped his sweat drenched forehead, with it. "I better stay inside, today. It is too hot, out there", says Stephen, looking out his kitchen window. Outside, a sun as bright as a peach, hanged high in the morning sky and below the sun's rays were blue jays, cats and squirrels, all basking under the sunshine, moving around, contributing in their own way to nature. Outside, a small tree, stood side by side with the kitchen window, where Stephen can see all the little birds, sitting on its branches and all the little squirrels climbing up its trunk. A blue jay landed on the tree's branch and Stephen looked at it and smiled. The blue jay then flew off, far from the tree and into the distance because of fear of the cat, climbing up the tree trunk. Stephen loves animals. He loves animals so much that he would often spend his mornings, just staring off, out of the kitchen window at all the animals, running about, under the warm, morning sun. Stephen also has an animal of his own. Stephen owns a Golden Retriever, named Sparky. Sparky is an old dog. Stephen has been living with Sparky for fourteen years, now and he bought Sparky when he was a puppy at a local pet store. Stephen is also a very, lonely man. Stephen's wife, Loretta died fifteen years ago by unknown causes and he has since filled the void of her death with Sparky, although he feels that it's still not the same as Loretta and it never will be. Stephen's grand children will be over his house, tomorrow and he feels very excited about that. He doesn't get to see his grand children, too often and relishes every visit he gets with them. Stephen often reflects at times, when he was a young man, raising his son, Albert and he feels a warm comfort in spending the day with his children, feeling as if he was once again the young father, he once was. Stephen then glances at the framed picture of his two grand children, at the far side of the kitchen, sitting on a marble covered desk. Stephen has one male grand child and one female grand child. The male grand child is named Christopher and he has a dark, olive complection and bright, blond hair and eyes as rich and as blue as the ocean. The female grand child is named Loretta, which Albert named after his mother, in honor of her, after her death. Loretta has a fare complection with skin as white as a dove, with dark, silky, brown hair and beautiful, amber like, brown eyes. Loretta is twelve years old and Christopher is ten years old. Stephen then glances away from the picture of his grand children and out his kitchen window, into the distance, and got lost staring into the simple beauty of nature and in the bright, baby blue sky, above. As Stephen stared off into his kitchen window, he thought to himself. Stephen's thoughts surrounded mainly by his two grand children, he will be seeing, tomorrow, in which he felt great anticipation for because he hasn't seen them in one month. Stephen then smiled, thinking of his two, beautiful grand children and of the squirrels, cats and blue jays, all moving around outside, under the bright morning sun as he dipped his tea bag into a hot, clouded glass of tea and took a sip of the tea, which left a warm sensation in his mouth and a glow in his eyes.
The next morning, Stephen sat in his old, wooden rocking chair in his living room and rocked back and forth in anticipation of his grand children, who will be visiting him, shortly. "Oh boy", says Stephen to himself. "I can't wait to hear about all the activities, they did and how they're doing in school and all the fun things, kids, these days like to do." Sparky then entered the room and approached Stephen. Sparky's fur is as bright and yellow as the sun and his eyes were of dark brown, which gleamed in the light of the room, looking back at Stephen. "Hey Sparky", says Stephen as he patted him on the head. "We're going to have visitors, today. Aren't you happy?" The door bell then rang and Sparky began to bark. "Hold on...I'm coming", says Stephen as he gets up from his rocking chair. Stephen then walks to the front entrance of the house and opens the door. Outside of the door are Albert with his two children, Loretta and Christopher standing behind him, on the front steps of the house. Sparky then runs up to them and starts smelling their mid-sections. "Get in the house, Sparky", says Stephen as he pushes Sparky back into the house. "Grandpa!", yells Christoper and Loretta as they run up to him and give him a warm hug and then run into the house and play with his dog, Sparky. "Some nice kids you got there, Al", says Stephen. "Yep", says Albert, watching his kids play with Sparky, behind Stephen. "So, Al...you want to do anything, sometime...you know like go fishing and hang out or anything...you can choose", says Stephen. "Nah dad. I'd really like to, but I'm pretty busy. Maybe some other time", says Albert. "Okay then", says Stephen with hope in his eyes. "Well dad, I'd like to stand here and have a conversation with you, but I really have to be somewhere and...", says Albert. "It's no problem. Go ahead. Do what you have to do", says Stephen, interrupting him. "Thanks dad", says Albert. "Well, I better get going. See you soon. Take care", says Albert. "Alright, see you soon", says Stephen as he was just about to give him a hug, but Albert hesitated and stuck out his hand for a hand shake. "Okay, take care, son", says Stephen, shaking Albert's hand. "Okay, see you later, dad", says Albert as he reaches his hand back and walks down the house's front steps and enters his car, parked in front of the house. Albert then rolls down the window of his car and says, "Bye." "Bye", says Stephen as he watches his son, Albert drive off, with a smile on his face and love in his eyes.
Outside of Stephen's house, the sun, glowed, brightly in the aqua blue noon sky, tanning Stephen's white, painted roof, below. Inside of Stephen's house, Stephen sat on a rocking chair in his living room, surrounding his two grandchildren, sitting on the floor, next to him. "So, grandpa, how was grandma like when she was still alive?", asks Christoper. "Christopher-", says Loretta, nudging her brother. "It's okay, Loretta. It's been a long time. A very long time. I will tell you guys", says Stephen. "Really?", asks Christoper. "Yes, Christopher", says Stephen. "Well my wife; your grandma was a very nice and beautiful women. She made me feel happy on even my saddest days and from the day that I married her, up until the day she died, I don't think I ever stopped smiling because I never stopped loving her, not for one second." "So, how come you never remarried?", asks Christopher. "Christopher-", says Loretta, nudging her brother, again. "Well because I knew that I would never find a women like her. Not if I searched the whole world, would I find a women like her, so I'll never remarry. Our love has went past, 'til death due us part", says Stephen. "How did she die?", asks Christopher. "Well, she died from lung cancer, which I, to this day, find rather odd because as long as I've known your grandma, I never saw her smoke one cigarette or and kind of tobacco and she never said she did in the past. So, I suppose that it was just her time and she had lived her years and the grim reaper came and took her away from me", says Stephen, feeling a little bit chocked up. "Where did he take her, grandpa?", asks Christopher. "He took her to Heaven, Chris...he took her to heaven and now she is up there, watching over you and your sister to make sure that you, two are safe and healthy", says Stephen. "When do you think your time will be when the grim reaper takes you to Heaven, grandpa?", asks Christopher. "Christopher-", says Loretta. "Sorry grandpa. Christoper, you don't need to worry. Grandpa will be around for many, many years, isn't that right, grandpa?" "Yes...yes that's right", says Stephen, hesitantly. "See, Chris, you don't need to worry", says Loretta. "And stop asking so many questions", says Loretta under her breath to her brother, so Stephen can't hear her. "So you kids want to play outside because I have to take my pills", says Stephen. "Sure grandpa", says Loretta. "Okay I'll show you, the backdoor", says Stephen as he gets up from out of his rocking chair and leads Loretta and Christopher into the kitchen. "What the hell?", says Stephen as he steps into the kitchen. Outside of the kitchen window, sitting on a tree branch is a vulture, staring, menacingly at Stephen. "What grandpa?", asks Loretta as her and her brother enter the kitchen. "Yeah, what happened?", asks Christopher. The vulture then turned his stare to Christopher and Loretta and then back at Stephen. The vulture then lifted up its claw, sticking up its three sharp, bony fingers, as it stared menacingly at Stephen and then disappeared as Stephen blinked his eyes. "Uhh, nothing...nothing", says Stephen. "Are you sure, grandpa?", asks Loretta. "Yes...yes I'm sure", says Stephen. "Okay, well, me and Chris are going to play outside", says Loretta with a concerned voice. "Okay, okay, run along now", says Stephen as he slumped down in a chair at the kitchen table. Loretta and Christopher then exit the house through the backdoor on the far side of the kitchen, opposite of Stephen. Stephen then rests his left elbow on the kitchen table and his left hand on his forehand. "Jesus...I'm starting to see things", says Stephen in a voice filled with distress.
The next morning, Stephen awoke to the sound of blue jays, chirping in the backyard. Stephen then made his way out of bed and walked out of his room into the hallway. Stephen then walked down his hallway until he reached the stairs, which he would walk down, which lead into his dining room. Stephen then walked towards the entrance into his kitchen, but then stopped because loud barks are now heard coming from inside the kitchen, which sounds like it could be coming from a dog. "Oh God, what could be going on, now?", says Stephen in aggravated voice. Stephen then walks into his kitchen and sees his dog, Sparky, barking viciously at his kitchen window. Outside of the kitchen window is a vulture, sitting high, on a tree branch, staring at Stephen with an ugly snarl in his face which would scare the bravest men out of their wits. The vulture then looked down at Sparky, barking angrily at him and then back at Stephen. The vulture then lifted up its claw, sticking up its two sharp, bony fingers as it stared gravely at Stephen and then disappeared as Stephen blinked his eyes. "What the hell is going on?", says Stephen in pure shock. "Sparky, are you alright?", asks Stephen as he turn his attention to his dog, Sparky, standing pronely, looking out the kitchen window, while maintaining a very stiff posture. "Sparky?" Sparky then collapsed on the kitchen floor, with white, soapy, foam dripping from his open mouth and with wide, open eyes which were revealed to be pure white, showing no signs of pupils or coloring. Next to Sparky's dead body, lying on the floor, was a note. Stephen picked up the note. The note was entirely written in blood and says:
Vulture
The day grows thin and the night grows cold
The vulture will come when I become too old
For my life, it has come to seek
Through its powers, it will often reep
The vulture will take my life when my three days are done
And I pray to God, it doesn't reach any of my loved ones
As its claws grow weary, it will take mine
As my clock stops in the hands of times
That morning, Stephen buried Sparky in his backyard. Stephen now sits in a chair at his kitchen table with his hands, covering his face, mourning the death of his dog, Sparky and thinking about the mysterious note, written in blood, he had found, beside Sparky's body. "What the hell is going on here?", says Stephen. "Why am I seeing this vulture, every morning? What does it want? How did he kill Sparky? I must be going crazy." Stephen then moves his hands off of his face and directs his attention to his window, where he could see the mound of dirt, in his backyard, which Sparky is buried under. The sky, outside, is pure white, leaving a pale, cold image, surrounding, Stephen's backyard. In Stephen's backyard, no birds flew or chirped, no squirrels ran up and down trees, and no grass grew in the soil, his backyard has become a cold, shell of its former self. Stephen then directs his attention, away from his window and stares off, thinking of the grave look in the eyes of the hideous vulture who haunts him, every morning for the last two days and the look of the face of his dead dog, Sparky, his one and only companion, now Stephen is left alone.
The next morning, Stephen got out of bed and put on his robe, which he retrieved from his closet and made his way downstairs. On his way to the kitchen, his phone, rang in the dining room. The caller ID of the phone, read: "Lawerence, Albert." Stephen then walked over to the phone and picked it up and placed the receiver of the phone to his ear. "Hello dad", says Albert. "Hey Albert, how are you doing?", asks Stephen. "Not good, dad. Not good", says Albert. "Why is that?", asks Stephen. "Well, yesterday, I had to take both, Loretta and Christopher to the emergency room. They were foaming at the mouth and their eyes were rolled to the back of their head and they kept muttering things about vultures. The doctor's there are stumped on what's wrong with them. I might have to transfer them to a different hospital with more reliable doctors", says Albert. "Oh my God, I hope they get better and what's this you say about vultures?", asks Stephen. "Well, I was driving them both to the emergency room, they were keep saying things like, 'beware of the vulture and don't let him get me and only one day left', they were really freaking me out. Poor guys. I hope they get better, real soon. Dad, do you know anything about this vulture thing, they're talking about? Did you tell them a story about some kind of evil vulture or something?", asks Albert. There was no response. "Dad?", says Albert. "No, Albert...no...not that I recall.", says Stephen. "So, what hospital are they staying at?", asks Stephen. "They are staying at St. Joesph Hospital", says Albert. "Oh St. Joesph's...well, I'll visit them as soon as I can", says Stephen."Okay, well, I'll keep you updated. Talk to you soon, dad", says Albert. "Alright, bye", says Stephen. "Bye", says Albert. Stephen then hangs up the phone. "What is going on?", says Stephen, with panic and worry in his voice.
Later on that day, Stephen grew bored and started looking around, aimlessly in his basement, seeking for jewels of his past, buried underneath brown, cardboard boxes. As Stephen, searched, he came upon a diary, buried underneath, books and papers in one of his many boxes. The title of the diary, read: "The Life and Times of Loretta Lawrence." "Oh my God, Loretta's diary", says Stephen with surprise and curiosity in his voice. "I've never read this, before. Now, my wife is immortalized in a book...her very own diary. I didn't know that she kept one. Let's see what she wrote about in here." Stephen then opened the diary and began reading on its first page, it says:
Dear Diary,
Today, I will go to Coney Island with Stephen. After that, we will go to the zoo and look at all the beautiful birds and animals on display. Oh how, I love birds, but it's such a secret love. Without, my love, Stephen knowing, I watch birds and take photos of them as a hobby. I see all types of birds. They're so beautiful with all their vibrant, beautiful colors, but yesterday, I saw a very ugly bird. This bird, that I saw yesterday, I've never seen in this town, before. Yesterday, I saw a vulture and what a creepy thing it was. It just stared at me, with such evil eyes and lifted up it's claw and showed me three fingers and then mysteriously vanished. I don't know what I saw, yesterday was truly real and that I might be getting hallucinations from my hot flashes, but I got really shaken up because of the whole thing.
-Loretta Lawerence
03/13/1992
Stunned in disbelief on what he had just read, Stephen turns to the page of the diary and begins to read, once again.
Dear Diary,
Yesterday, I had such fun and enjoyment going on all the rides and seeing all the attractions in Coney Island, but what remained in my head that entire day was the site of that vulture. This morning, the vulture appeared from my kitchen window, while I was preparing myself some breakfast. I told Stephen about it, but he didn't believe me. He said, it's just my imagination and maybe it is because I do love birds and imagining some bird, isn't really that far fetched because I think about birds a lot, but why a vulture and why did he show me his two fingers, today? Is it some kind of sign? Maybe it's God trying to tell me something. I don't know. I guess, I need some rest. Yeah, that's it. I just need some rest.
-Loretta Lawerence
03/14/1992
"This is unreal", says Stephen in a light voice as he turns over another page of the diary and begins reading.
Dear Diary,
Last night, I prayed to God, so that the vulture will go away. I hope that he listened. Am I seeing things? Is there really a demon vulture, lurking in the shadows of my mind, stalking me? What does he want? I don't even attempt to tell, Stephen about it because he'll just think that I'm crazy, but I'm not crazy, atleast, I think I'm not. Oh God, please help me. I'm afraid, I don't know what's going on and I don't think there is anything that I can do that can stop it from going on. I'm so paranoid, now. I won't go outside, anymore. Not even to do the thing that I enjoy to do best and that is to watch and take pictures of birds, but now it seems as if the birds have betrayed me, well atleast, one of them. Today, the vulture shows me one finger, I wonder what he will show me, tomorrow.
-Loretta Lawerence
03/15/1992
Stephen's stomach sank in fear because of what he had just read. "What am I going to do? My wife...it's happening to me, too. These diary entries are dated on the same week that she died.", says Stephen as he nervously turns the page to the diary. On fear and curiosity, alone, was the reason that he read her next and final diary entry, that was written in the form of a poem and was written, completely in blood.
Vulture
The day grows thin and the night grows cold
The vulture will come when I become too old
For my life, it has come to seek
Through its powers, it will often reep
The vulture will take my life when my three days are done
And I pray to God, it doesn't reach any of my loved ones
As its claws grow weary, it will take mine
As my clock stops in the hands of times
After reading that, Stephen froze and the diary fell from his hands onto the basement floor. Stephen's spine went up in fright, as he thought about what he had just read. As Stephen's thought about it, things went bump in the darkness of his basement. "What? Who's there?", asks Stephen as he spun, around. Paranoia and terror washed over Stephen as a dark shadow stepped out from behind a stack of cardboard boxes. The dark figure stepped forward and Stephen stepped back. "I'll kill ya. I swear.", says Stephen as he steps back, away from the figure, shrouded in darkness. The dark figure stepped toward, closing in on Stephen. Behind the darkness of the basement, Stephen's face was pale with fright on anticipation on who the dark figure is, in his basement and what is it, that it wants. The dark figure, contuined to creep forward to a frighten, Stephen. Stephen backed up, until his back meet the wall of the basement and the dark figure grew inches away from him. "Oh God...what am I going to do?", says Stephen. A flashback then washes over Stephen...
The day was March 15, 1992 and Stephen was sitting on a chair at his table, opposite of his wife, Loretta, while drinking a warm cup of tea in his kitchen, listening to the Yankees VS. Red Sox on the radio. Outside of the house, the streets were barren, their backyard looked as if it was stripped of life, itself. No grass grew in Stephen's backyard and no bird's chirped in the trees. Stephen's wife, Loretta starred off into space as Stephen looked at her in disgust. "You really are a crazy, bitch. You know that?", said Stephen in complete disgust. "Stephen...no...I'm serious. You have to protect me...I might die...Stephen...you have to believe me", said Loretta, frantically. Stephen takes a sip of his tea and then replied, "Loretta...I really think that you need some help. You've been talking about this vulture for the past few days. It's all bull crap, Loretta, that's all it is, bull crap. All this vulture, mobo jumbo is all in your head. It's not real. Get it? You're fucking nuts, you know that. You're fucking nuts." "I hate you!", said Loretta as she bursts out crying, throwing her hand down on the table and then back up, staring at Stephen with sadness and frustrastion. "What I'm saying is the truth. You have to believe. What I'm saying is true...there is a vulture who comes here and I think he's going to try to kill me. He keeps showing up, flashing me it's claw. Showing me it's three, disgusting, long, pointy fingers and Stephen, don't you notice that, our whole backyard, just dried up in a few days. Face it, Stephen. There's a demonic force, sucking the life out of everything that comes in its path!" "No, Loretta...the reason for our backyard being dried up is because we're in a drought. There hasn't been rain for weeks and it's cold as hell, outside. Nothing will fucking grow, right now. Not even a weed, but the good part about it, is that there's no snow, so I don't have to break my back out there, shoveling it, while you sit in the house, all cozy and stare off talking about fucking vulture. You're really starting to scare me, you know that? Vultures? What the fuck did I get myself into marrying you, I mean geez! Stephen Lawerence, an accomplished lawyer, goes and marries a whack job. Who would of knew", said Stephen with aggravation in his voice. "You know what? Fuck you...I don't you. I can take care of my ownself, when the vulture comes and kills me and then you will be happy. When I am fucking six feet under. You know what?! Fuck you!", said Loretta angirly, as she sticks up both her middle fingers at him. "Fuck me, huh? Fuck me?", said Stephen. Stephen then leaned over to Lorretta and then said, "You know what I really think?" "What?!", said Loretta, annoyingly. Stephen then put back his right hand and slapped Loretta across the face as hard as he could. "Fuck me?! Fuck me?! Who puts the bread on the table?! Me! Who pays the bills?! Me! Who has a job in this house?! Me!", said Stephen, angirly as he slapped, Loretta across the face for a second time and then a third time. "I can't take this shit, anymore!", said Loretta as she gets up and storms out of the kitchen and out the door, leading outside.
Stephen's mind then turns back to reality, as he looks around in his basement and sees that the dark figure is gone. "This is too much", says Stephen as his back slides down the wall, until he is sitting on the floor. "Now, I know how Loretta died...that thing is going to pay. Tomorrow. I'll get my pay back." Stephen then notices something lying, next to him on the dark, basement floor. Stephen then picked up the object. The object lying on the floor is revealed to be a feather, a feather of pale gray with a black tip. Stephen then throws the feather back onto the floor and rests his head on the basement wall, looking up to the ceiling. "I should of listened to Loretta...I really should of", says Stephen.
That night, Stephen couldn't sleep a wink. He stayed up all night, lying underneath his covers, thinking about the vulture and about his recent flashback he had of his wife, Loretta. Stephen then reflects upon how bad of a husband he was, when she was alive. He wishes he could turn back time, so that he could be a better husband, espically since he's extremely lonely. Now, he doesn't even have his dog. The vulture took him away from him. The vulture took everything from him, and now, Stephen thinks that the vulture might take his own life. "If the vulture wants to kill me, then I'll put up a fight", says Stephen as he makes his way out of bed. "I'm going to get my gun", says Stephen as he nears his closet door. Stephen then opens his closet door. Stephen's closet was completely dark. Stephen could not see anything inside his closet. Stephen then moved around some jackets in his closet and a mysterious notebook falls out from the darkness. Stephen picks up the notebook. The notebook is entitled, "The Life and Times of Marcy Lawerence." "Strange", says Stephen. "This diary's title is so similar to my wife's diary." Stephen then opens the diary and reads its first page.
Dear Diary,
Today is a day like no other. I stand, alone, in my room, thinking. The vulture will come before the day is done. To whom it may concern, reading my diary. I will die, shortly. For those who gain in ways to get rid of the vulture, read on. For those who don't and think that I am crazy, stop reading now. The way to kill the vulture is the same way to kill a snake. Now, I won't attempt to do it, myself because I am too terrified, to do it. To find where the vulture lives....follow the trail of blood.
Love, Marcy Lawerence 05/13/1956
"Follow the trail of blood?", says Stephen as he rubs his chin. "Interesting." Stephen then turns the page to the diary to see the vulture poem, once again written in blood.
Vulture
The day grows thin and the night grows cold
The vulture will come when I become too old
For my life, it has come to seek
Through its powers, it will often reep
The vulture will take my life when my three days are done
And I pray to God, it doesn't reach any of my loved ones
As its claws grow weary, it will take mine
As my clock stops in the hands of times
"My .45 will reveal this vulture's flaw", says Stephen as he picks up his .45 caliber pistol off of the floor, lying next to some clothes. Stephen then puts down the diary and closes the closet door. Stephen then turns around and looks down at the floor in utter shock in confusion. "What the hell?", says Stephen. Their is a trail of blood, leading to Stephen's bedroom door. "What do I have to lose, as those diaries, say, I'll probably be dead by tomorrow, anyway", says Stephen as he follows the trail. Stephen crept his way to his bedroom door and turned the door knob. Outside of Stephen's room, there was complete darkness. "It's too dark", says Stephen as he turns the hallway lights. The atmosphere of his hallway went from that of pitch black to beeming, yellow light in a matter of moments. "There we go", says Stephen. Stephen then looks down at the floor and sees the trail of blood, leading to his stairway. Stephen walked down the stairs to a dark dining room. Stephen turned on the lights to the dining room and saw the trail of blood, leading into the kitchen. The light of the dining room was powerful enough for Stephen to see that the trail of blood leading into the kitchen lead to the backdoor. Stephen then entered his kitchen and then exited through the backdoor.
The night, outside was cool and dark. Pale light shinned down from the moon, above, making Stephen able to see his way through the night. Stephen looked down, seeing that the trail of blood, lead deeper into his backyard. Stephen walked on, onto the formerly, green grass, stained with red blood. Steven then stopped in his tracks. What Stephen then saw made his stomach sink. The hole that he had buried Sparky in was dug up and Sparky was no longer in the hole. "Sparky...", says Stephen in shock and fear. "This is too much, but I won't stop. It's either me or the vulture and I'm going to make sure that it is not me." Stephen then walked onward, deeper into the backyard. Stephen noticed that the trail of blood, lead all the way to behind his shed. A feeling of dread crept into Stephen as he made his way to his shed. Stephen walked behind his shed and under the moon light, layed the vulture and beside the vulture was a bloody, mutilated carcass, which once was Stephen's dog. Sparky's body looked as if it was torn, completely, inside out. Red, sticky blood, surrounded Sparky's dead body, lying on the formerly, green grass. "Oh my God", says Stephen as he witnesses the horrific sight. "Sparky..." The vulture was asleep and did not notice that Stephen was in its presence. The vulture appeared to be about eight feet in lenght and underneath the vulture, rested several eggs, which Stephen could see. "Time to put this evil thing to rest", says Stephen, with shaking hands, pointing up his pistol at the sleeping vulture.
While Stephen, pointed the gun at the vulture, sweat dripped from his forehand. Stephen starred at the vulture in pure hatred. "I am not afraid of you, anymore", says Stephen. At this moment, morning was dawning and then sun crept over the horizon. "I don't even want to shoot you...that would take the joy out of killing you", says Stephen remembering what this thing has done to his family. Not only has the vulture suposely took the lives of his mother, wife and dog, but has also brought back demons of his past that he would never dare, think about, again. Stephen slowly crept towards the sleeping vulture. Grim yawns crept from out of the vulture's mouth as Stephen inched towards it. Stephen then took his pistol and held it by its shaft and struck the vulture in the head with the handle. The vulture woke up with a stratled as it stared on in the defense at a manic Stephen. The vulture backed up as Stephen stepped forward. "You piece of shit...it's your turn to feel pain", says Stephen as he strucks the vulture, yet again with the back of his pistol. Cries of pain exited the vulture's mouth after Stephen's hard blow. Even though, the vulture was almost two times the size of Stephen, it showed great signs of cowardous, backing away from the enraged Stephen. "Now, it's time to put you to rest", says Stephen as he holds his pistol in the proper position, pointing at the vulture. Stephen then pulls the trigger on his pistol and lets out a shot. A loud bang ruptures the air as a bullet pierces the vulture's left wing. The vulture cries in pain and then takes to the sky. Stephen looks up at the vulture, flying in the sky and chases it as it flies, onward. The sky above, looked as if God spilled brillent colors of orange, yellow and blue onto the canvas, which the sky. The vulture flew high. High above the empty streets. Stephen chased the vulture, pointing his gun up at the sky. Letting off failed shots from his gun, as the vulture flew, onward. "You son of a bitch...die", says Stephen in frustration. The frustration of trying to kill the vulture was getting to him and he did not see where he was going. Stephen hears a loud, halting sound up ahead, but ignores it. He is too occupied. His thoughts, worries and hatred are all centered around one being and that is the vulture. So, Stephen never saw the truck moving down the road. The truck tries to stop, but hits Stephen. Stephen's body is then hurled many yards across the street and makes a thud as it hits the pavement. Stephen is killed, instantly. The driver steps out of his truck, to witness his terrible mistake as the vulture swoops down to collect his reepings. Meanwhile, back at Stephen's house, the phone rang. The caller ID on the phone read: "St. Joesph's Hospital." Finally, Stephen is no longer, lonely. Loretta awaits him, in Heaven.