.

He gripped his weapon confidently with both hands. He took a step forward. He trembled.
With each step he took and with the distance between him and the beast growing nearer, he felt his confidence drain away from him.

" I can do this, " he thought to himself, but it was obvious from the dreadful expression on his face that he could not, and dared not achieve his goal.

A deafening roar escaped from the mouth of the beast.
To the beast, it was a cry, the only way it could communicate.
But to John, it was a proclaimation of his doom.