The Dragon Man

“What are you doing?” the small Chinese man said to Sam.

Sam turned, surprised by the tone of his voice. “I am standing here,” Sam replied indignantly. Sam was searching the holes in the side of the building for something. He knew the creature he had seen the previous night had climbed the orange-brick wall, leaving holes behind.

“You’re a peeping Tom! Looking into windows!” the Chinese man yelped, waving his fingers.

Sam felt out of place in this neighborhood. He had only been to Chinatown a few times, even though he had lived in New York his entire life. Annoyed, Sam didn’t reply. Instead, he crossed the street to get a better look.

Sam tugged at his coat as the chill of the New York winter air swirled around him. He spotted a man in his fifties leaving the building and hurried toward him before he could get too far.

“Hey, mister, can I ask you a question?” Sam pleaded.

“Are you a cop? I told my ex-wife I’d start making payments as soon as I got a job—”

Sam cut him off before he could continue. “No, I’m not a cop. I just…” He stammered, unsure how to avoid sounding completely crazy. “Last night, did you hear or see anything unusual around here?” Sam pointed toward the building.

“You sound like a cop,” the man replied.

Sam turned to look at the building again. This time, he saw what he had been looking for. One of the bricks had been knocked loose and lay on the ground, surrounded by debris scattered across the street. He followed the trail to the alley beside the building.

Sam took a few timid steps into the dark alley. He groped along the side of a dumpster to steady himself. He tried to keep his eyes fixed on the side of the building, where the evidence of the creature he had seen the night before was more clearly visible in the distant streetlight.

Sam slowed as he realized he was breathing heavily. The fear of the moment was beginning to overwhelm him.

“I gotta get ahold of myself,” he whispered.

“What are you doing here?” a voice thundered.

Sam never spoke another word. His throat had been ripped out.

His body was found the next day by a homeless man in that very alley.