After a night perforated by the sounds of intense gunfire, Sheriff Robert Cook was greeted today with the news of yet another tragedy. Several hunting parties... each of three or more experienced and heavily armed men ... failed to return from the woods after hunting the mysterious creature that has terrorized Henry county for the past few weeks. Police have not released the names of those missing, but at least nine people are presumed dead.

"Whatever happened, happened fast," said Cook. "Everyone was carrying radios and checking back to a central point at regular intervals. Several teams heard gunfire. Short, intense bursts... lasting only a second or two, but there were never any calls for help or any indication that the missing parties thought they were in danger."

Cook went on to say that search parties had been called back and that he was suspending the hunt to prevent any further loss of life. When asked what this suspension meant for the townspeople's hopes of returning to their homes by the end of the week, Cook responded that federal officials had taken an interest in the matter, and that it was out of his hands now.

"We've got some people flying in who are better able to deal with the situation. In the meantime, all we can do is keep people out of the area and wait 'til this thing is over."

'This Thing' is a series of grizzly assaults committed by what police still believe is a possibly rabid, non-indigenous, carnivorous animal. The animal was believed to be a pet, belonging to suspected serial kidnapper Alexander Holt. The attacks began shortly after police raided Holt's residence and found the remains of local resident, Bonnie Hand, along with items belonging to several other women who'd been reported missing earlier this year. Since then, the creature dubbed the "Henry County Horror" by residents has left a trail of blood across this small, wooded section of the county. From the bloody campsite of the Jenkins family, to the blood-strewn trailer of Steve and Barbara Holmes, police have been unable to stop, or even identify the creature that is stalking these woods. In fact, the police themselves have experienced the horror first-hand. Three armed officers were slaughtered inside the residence of Alexander Holt just a few nights ago.

Now, with searches and hunts called off, everyone is wondering just what will happen next.