“‘It’s too late,” Dennis whispered and drew her closer to his chest.
“We can still–”
What sounded like a tuba on steroids filled the air as all the pressure came rushing back out again in waves. The air vibrated and the two of them, along with everyone else, were knocked to the ground. Jen landed badly on one shoulder with a grunt and Dennis skidded some distance away toward the curb. Jen was sure her eardrums popped.
The buildings were the next to follow. The low rumble of collapsing concrete grew louder, and great clouds of dust rose into the air to start blocking out the sun. The screams, though far away, intensified, as did the sounds of stomping feet.
Pained and tired screams grew louder until Jen could hear nothing else. Expressions twisted in agony, streaks of red cutting through the white dust covering their faces. It was a nightmare.
Flashing red lights and sirens came and went as ambulances and police cars rushed to the scene. Jen wasn’t sure if she should follow and satisfy her curiosity or follow the rest of the crowd to try and escape. She didn’t get long to contemplate that choice as Dennis grabbed her arm and turned away from the disaster.
She wanted to yell, to pull away. There had to be some logic to this situation, why these people were doing this. Surely enough, they could be reasoned with, right?
Then she remembered Dennis’ tale, about how they’d gone to a planet and killed…
Pups.
A long and high howl pierced the din of chaos, seemingly freezing everything going on around them. Some slowed to a crawl to see the source of the noise; others kept running, not wanting to face any further harm from whatever was emerging from the mess.
Tall, hairy silhouettes soon stepped out of the clouds of dust to reveal half-man, half-wolf creatures, covered in thick hair. Snuffling noses sniffed the air and orange-brown eyes stared down at those before them.
Not pups. Children, Jen realized.
Lips peeled back to reveal vicious, sharp teeth, dripping with thick strands of drool. Another howl signaled the others, revealing their location. So they could join in on the “fun.”
Screams filled the streets once more as the first leaped onto the nearest person. Large talons shredded them apart with ease, sending splatters of blood across the street and anyone else who happened to be nearby. Screams died and faded in gurgling blood until they were nothing more than a ragdoll. Though already dead, the wolf-like creature sank his teeth into their neck and began feasting on the corpse with hungry noises.
“You took our offspring from us, now we will take your people as payment!” A voice yelled above the crowd, deep and feral.
How and why this was happening, Jen couldn’t comprehend. Today had started off so simple and hopeful. And now it looked like the world was ending.
“Jen, run!” Dennis got to his feet and ran toward the creatures with his arms spread wide. “It’s me you assholes want! Just leave everyone else alone.”
Despite his warning, Jen couldn’t move. Her feet were frozen in place as she watched everything play out in slow motion. The feasting creature paused in its meal and raised its head, blood dripping from its bared teeth and matting the fur on its muzzle. It snarled, reared up onto its two hind legs and dragged a hairy arm across its lips to clear it of blood.
“Did you leave our children alone? Did you stop your murdering after their first cries, or did you keep going like a pack of savages?”
Jen thought she heard a hint of sadness in its voice, but it was hard to tell through her adrenaline-muffled ears and the strange muzzle it talked with. No one else seemed to care; everyone else was still running away, scattering through the streets in a feeble attempt to find safety.
The alien stepped closer and it was only then she realized just how tall they were. A touch over seven feet, Dennis didn’t stand a chance at survival.
“‘I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Dennis dropped to his knees with his hands raised above his head. The creature paused and placed a claw-tipped hand atop Dennis’ head. It seemed to be thinking for a while, contemplating what its next move should be.
Jen felt her chest ache and tighten. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d breathed.
“Sorry… won’t bring them back.”
Jen turned away and screamed once she heard the first crunch of bone. She didn’t want to bear witness to such a terrible sight, to see the man she loved reduced to gristle and blood and crushed bone. She didn’t want to see Dennis’ last moments after traveling all those light years back to his home.
She ran as fast as her legs could take her, as far as they could take her. She felt the hot tears running down her face and knew it was all over. There was no going back, no “normal” part of her life she could resume. The world around her was ending.
The only question left on her mind was how much of this disaster she would live through before her life was ended as well.
The blood rushing in her ears deafened her to the rest of the sounds around her. She heard no heavy footsteps of pursuit, but she was too afraid to look back over her shoulder to check.
Going back to her apartment would be a death sentence so she settled for the streets and searched the crowds for anyone she could stick with.
Behind an overturned delivery truck, she spotted a small group of women huddled together, glancing back and forth across the street before they sprinted across it, hand-in-hand. They formed a chain as they ran, not wanting any of their group to get left behind. That seemed like her best bet and shoved her way through the chaotic crowd to get to them.
Where they were going she didn’t know and she didn’t care. All she knew was her Ione safety net was dead in the street behind her and she was going to have to look out for herself.
The women continued past the empty bakery and rounded the corner. Afraid she would lose them, she quickened her pace and ran smack dab into someone’s back.
A terrifying scream erupted from the woman and they all turned, brandishing keys, a trowel, a metal pipe, and one even had a plunger in her hand. Jen would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so dire.
“Who the crap are you?” one woman yelled. It was the woman with the pipe. Dark hair, a pinched nose, and a bruise on her right cheek that was swollen and purple.
“Jen,” she answered meekly. She knew she had no right to join them but she didn’t have many options. “I’m just… I just…”
The tears welled quickly in her eyes as she tried to put her predicament into words. She would have to admit that Dennis was dead and it was all still too fresh in her mind.
The woman at the front of the line – a short black woman with glasses and keys poking out between her fingers – rounded the group to take one of Jen’s hands in her own.
“Join the line, don’t say anything unless you see one of those creatures coming at us, okay, Jen?” The woman thumbed away her tears and joined her hand with one of the other women, then returned to the front once more.
Jen did as she was told, following along behind and keeping an eye out. Not once did she have to say a thing. But she could see the nervous looks on everyone’s faces; they didn’t want her here.
It wasn’t long before they finally stopped to rest at an abandoned garage, closing the heavy doors behind them and instantly grabbing any tools that had been left behind. Thankfully, there were no victims lying around. Jen didn’t think she was capable of seeing another dead body.
“I’m Samantha,” the black woman introduced herself as she took out a large canteen and took a few sips. She passed it on to the woman to her left, who did the same. They each took a drink in turn until the dark-haired woman from earlier snatched the canteen away before Jen could quench her thirst.
“Karen…” Samantha warned but she didn’t seem to care.
“What? I’ve been walking around all day, she hasn’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Neither do you,” she retorted and took another sip before passing it on.
The woman next to Karen kept her head down. “She’s only going to slow us down.”
“I could’ve said the same thing about you the first time I hauled your ass out from under a car.” Samantha handed the canteen directly to Jen once she regained possession of it. Jane nodded a thank you before indulging herself in the cool, fresh taste of water. It washed away the layer of dust that still coated her throat and filled the empty space where she was once hungry.
Steak. She had wanted to take Dennis out for steak tonight.
She coughed at the sudden lump in her throat and pretended as if she’d accidentally choked on some water. These women already saw her as a problem; she didn’t want to burden them further with her insignificant concerns.
The trouble started, however, when she tried to return the canteen.
“‘Samantha, you’re being ridiculous! We can't pick up everyone along the way, the group would become unmanageable! We’ll be a bigger target,” Karen yelled before everyone’s hands reached for her mouth to stifle the noise. She shooed them away, her stare fixed on Samantha for an answer.
“Listen, you all asked me to be in charge of the group, didn’t you? And now you want to question my decision?” She took her canteen back and screwed the top back on.
They all clammed up. Jen felt like an outsider listening to their bickering. She appreciated the woman’s help but she didn’t want this Samantha to get in trouble on her account.
“We can if we don't agree with it. Who here thinks we should leave the newbie behind?” Karen raised her hand and looked around at the others. They glanced at each other. Then at Samantha. A few dared to raise their hand but their bowed heads revealed they were not proud of their choice. Four out of the six women voted in favor of dumping Jen and moving on without her. Jen couldn’t blame them either, they were only looking out for themselves.
“I guess that’s makes us the majority, doesn’t it?” Karen smiled triumphantly as she gathered her things and started heading for the door. She paused when she realized no one was following.
“Well don't just sit there on your asses, we’re losing daylight,” she barked before hefting her bag a little higher on her shoulder and stepping out through the door. One by one, the other women started to follow, unsure as to whether they should be leaving at all. But staying here in the awkwardness of the situation they’d created was too much for them to bear.
“Don't listen to them,” Samantha finally said after the door closed behind the group. “They don’t know this city like I do. They all just signed their death warrants.” She casually got up and grabbed her bag and her keys. It would be just the three of them now but at least there wouldn’t be any bickering.
The sun set long after they’d left the shelter, making it easier for them to remain hidden and duck between the shadows. But that meant they couldn’t see much of those aliens either if they were prowling around. Which was a real problem since no one really knew what kind of abilities they had outside of murder.
They linked bike chains and carabiners to their belt loops so that their hands could be free, should they need to defend themselves from more than just these creatures. They hadn’t come across anyone else yet who was interested in starting a fight. Jen couldn’t be sure if that was a blessing or a curse.
The screams were long gone now, settled into an eerie silence that left everyone in their small group feeling on edge. Every now and then, there would be the occasional rumble or car horn somewhere off in the distance. Then they would stop and wait for at least ten minutes or so, checking the area to see if one of those creatures was nearby. And when the anxiety of waiting finally overtook them and they’d seen nothing, they would move on.
Their legs and backs were aching by the time they finally stopped again, and it was long after midnight at this point. They stood in front of a dark library with almost half of its windows smashed in.
“‘We’re stopping here?” The mousey shy woman from earlier adjusted the half-broken glasses on her nose as she stared up at the dark building. Jen thought her name was Brenda.
“It’s the only place that’s nearby and not locked and has couches in it. Plus all of those shelves would make for a good hiding place.
“For us or for them?” The bespectacled woman shrugged her shoulder before heading inside. She’d had the sense to grab a flashlight earlier and switched it on once they were inside. The bright beam of light washed over the dust-lined shelves and the empty tables. There were a few pools of blood too, though they found no bodies.
“All clear, Brenda whispered back to them as she headed toward the stairs, where the couches would be.
Jen remembered coming here in her high school days when she had to write reports or wanted to make out with a boy between the shelves. Despite the teasing, the boys thought they were doing her a favor by at least letting her experience what second base was like. Jen didn’t care at the time; she was just glad for attention.
The three women headed upstairs and quietly shoved all the couches against the furthest wall from the door. That way if they heard anyone come in, they had a better chance of getting out of there alive. They arranged the couches in a semi-circle and sat in the middle, going through the belongings they still had.
“Tomorrow, we’ll have to get more food and water. Some batteries too, just to be sure… and maybe some deodorant.” Samantha separated the items into categories.
“Wouldn’t that be a bad idea if they can smell us?” Brenda asked.
“I think they can smell us either way, whether we smell like fresh daisies or body funk,” Samantha retorted.
That was the first time they all smiled, sort of. It eased the tension for a second.
“Since you took me in, it’s only fair I take first shift,” Jen offered. It was the least she could do for the selfless women.
“I… usually take first shift.” Brenda slid her busted glasses higher up her nose again.
“It’s all right, Brenda. Think of it as my thank you.”
The woman wrinkled her nose with disgust.
“It’s Wendy.”
“What?”
“My name. It’s Wendy, not Brenda.”
Jen felt the heat of embarrassment flood her face and she was glad it was too dark out for anyone to see.
“Sorry.”
Wendy snorted before returning some of the supplies back in her bag. Just when Jen thought she’d started to become a part of their little group…
She picked a couch and rolled over to face away from her. Samantha stayed with her.
“Don’t worry too much, it’s just a name, who cares.”
Jen did. Because making any enemies out here was as good as signing her own death warrant.
* * *
The hours slowly crawled past and Jen felt herself starting to nod off. She couldn’t tell what hour it was but the moon had moved significantly across the sky. She was about to wake Wendy to take the next shift when she heard something outside. She paused, waited. Maybe it was nothing, a trick of her exhausted mind.
But it came again and she knew it was no illusion. She moved to Samantha’s side and shook her awake.
“Where?” was all she asked, her hand already going for her keys.
“Front door,” she whispered back.
“Wake Wendy.”
She rose as quickly as she’d fallen asleep and had her weapon at the ready. Jen hadn’t had the privilege of finding her own but Wendy offered her the flashlight. It was heavy enough that it could knock a person out if swung hard enough. Better than nothing.
They gathered behind the couches, their weapons at the ready as they listened to the front door creak open. Jen wanted to convince herself it was just another person seeking shelter, that she wouldn’t have to put the flashlight to use. But then she heard a single heavy step, one that shook the entire air of the library, and she knew.
They were trapped.
She choked back a squeak of fear and stiffened against the back of the couch.
Frozen with fear, her mind was a complete blank. Samantha seemed to notice and elbowed her in the side. She shook her head and gestured for Jen to tighten her grip on her weapon. The tiny woman showed no signs of fear. Jen wished she could commend her for that.
“They’re in here somewhere,” a voice came from below. It was so familiar and yet so unbelievable that Jen wasn’t sure she was even awake. This must be a dream... or else that was Karen’s voice accompanying one of those things.
“Remember, you promised to let us live if we found them for you.” Karen sniffed from below, her voice strained. She sounded like she’d been hurt on the way here, either from her own mistake or her confrontation with the creature. Was she offering up Samantha and her team as a sacrifice?
Jen secretly wished she was injured. At least she could spit smugly in her face before they were ripped to shreds.
“Don’t make demands of me, girl. If they’re not here, then I have no further need of you,” it growled, its footsteps getting closer. A great snort echoed around the empty halls before there was the creak and groan of the stairs.
Brenda turned to Samantha for an answer. She pointed a finger over at the unlit red sign, where the fire exit was. If they were quiet enough, maybe they could make it there before the alien got up the stairs and found them. But that meant gathering their things as quietly and quickly as possible and moving now.
“Wait!”
The creature stopped and turned its great head.
“Shouldn’t we have one of your guys patrolling around the back? You know, in case they know we’re here and try to escape?” Another cough and Jen was sure she heard something wet hit the ground.
The footsteps retreated and returned to the front door. That was the opening Samantha was looking for and led the way to the exit. They didn’t bother tethering themselves together this time, knowing if they needed to scatter, that would make it impossible.
The Dragon’s Gift Page 2
