Dawn and Quartered

by Hunter Blain

  The wolf with the missing ear leaped up onto his back paws and brought one of his front claws down on Joey’s nose. Blood squirted from the torn flesh as Joey yelped in pain.

  Dawson heard this in the midst of his own back and forth and looked at his brother for the briefest of moments. This gave his experienced attacker all he needed as he lunged forward and snapped his jaws around one of Dawson’s front legs that were extended just a little too far. After locking onto his paw, the wolf leaped up and over the white wolf, pulling his leg with him and twisting his body until his remaining legs were yanked off the ground and pointed into the night sky. They were turned in mid-air and landed on top of Dawson and immediately began digging into his stomach like he was digging for a long-lost bone buried in the yard. White fur stained red as flesh was rend.

  I decided I needed to intervene. A spear whistled through the air and found a new home in my guts just below my chest plate. I grunted with the impact and clenched my jaw, but didn’t drop my focus from my meal— I knew I would need every last drop of Fae energy to aide in my fight. I finished draining the Fae, whose eyes had rolled up into his head, and let him drop to the ground. Then I willed my weapons back into me as I grabbed the spear and tugged it out easily. The wound closed immediately as I looked up at the stunned troll who had thrown the weapon and yelled, “OW!” before flipping the spear around in a show of prowess and throwing it right back at its owner; but much faster and harder. It went into the front of and out the back of his neck and into the sternum of the ogre who was charging from behind. The troll went down, clutching his throat as gross blood gushed out and escaped through skinny fingers. The ogre took no notice of his injury and plowed through the troll, crushing his skull underfoot as he knocked him over in pursuit of yours truly.

  Forcing my eyes to shift off the immediate danger charging right at me, I noticed Joey was on his back now as his one-eared attacker went for the kill.

  I took a risk of losing a tad bit of energy and flung out a sheet of blood the size of printer paper at the eyes of the ogre, who stopped his charge as he became blinded. With my foe temporarily distracted, I jumped into the air and over to the wolves who had my friends pinned helplessly to the ground. Two katanas formed in my hands as I was descending, and sliced cleanly through the neck of the first wolf right as its jaws began to tighten around Joey’s neck. It’s one ear head toppled on top of Joey as blood erupted from both stumps. I wanted to imbibe that blood so bad, but had to focus on saving Dawson who was seconds from having his insides be on his outsides.

  I somersaulted into the air, removing the remaining werewolves head, effectively stopping the deadly onslaught. The defeated twins rolled their lifeless attackers off them and strained to get up. I could see Dawson’s intestines were barely contained by strips of muscle. All his fur and skin had been ripped off, some of which remained under the claws of his skilled opponent.

  Both twins whined in defeat as they assessed their grievous wounds. Joey had been struck multiple times in the head, chest, and back— blood shone like rubies under the moonlight in his black fur.

  Kneeling down between the twin’s wolves, I placed one hand on Joey’s face and the other underneath Dawson’s stomach. I sent blood out and over their wounds, willing their flesh to heal. I was surprised at how much energy it took to stitch Dawson up.

  An earth-rumbling roar almost knocked me on the ground as I turned to see the red-eyed ogre lock eyes with me. He had gotten most of my blood off and started charging.

  I healed the twins as much as I could in the time I had, using more energy than anticipated. Dawson’s stomach was closed, but the skin I had managed to grow looked like a burn ward. Joey’s multiple wounds had stopped their steady flow of crimson, but still oozed a little. I stood up and faced my attacker while the wolves slinked off, seeming to avoid an impossible match up. Probably for the best as my friends were a liability in their weakened state.

  I wasn’t frightened of the ogre as much as I was wary of his ability to one shot anything it punched— especially with those iron knuckles he wielded. He swung wide and I dodged low, slicing open his thigh with a scythe I manifested while our dance commenced. He roared in blind rage as he backhanded me to sail several feet into the air. I’m not sure how far because I was tumbling in the air like a ragdoll in a clothes dryer. I landed with a thud and a plum of dirt. I lifted my head in time to see a comically sized foot rocket towards my face. Seriously, the appendage reminded me of the new Godzilla with his thick thighs, ankles, and hilariously fat feet.

  Luckily, I had two wers who flanked him from either side, Dawson going for the hamstring of the leg flying at me while Joey leaped to grab the back of the hulking beast’s neck. The ogre paid them no mind, fully intent on his target, until a loud twang shot through the night’s air. His attack, though diminished now, made contact and I was thrown backward while stars swam in my vision. At the height of his attack, the ogre cried out in furious pain as he fell to one knee, unable to bend his leg back anymore. His bellow shook the teeth in my head even from where I landed.

  The gun for hire turned to swing at Dawson while Joey held on like an impromptu ponytail, swinging with the monster’s movement. The ogre had less momentum after having his hamstring completely severed, but could still kill the twins with one hit. Dawson nimbly jumped out of the way and then rushed towards his now exposed target as the ogre swung too hard and couldn’t easily stop his own fists. Dawson slammed into the chest of the Fae muscle man and latched onto his throat. Both Dawson and Joey were growling as they squeezed with all they had. Joey couldn’t quite break the vertebrae of the ogre but Dawson had nothing but soft neck. It still took all his might to crush the larynx of his prey. The ogre bellowed again and was cut off when Dawson made headway and gnawed through its flesh. Blood erupted and coated the white of Dawson’s face. Joey dropped what he was doing and went for the face, tearing chunks of flesh and popping eyeballs. The ogre scream was nothing but a whisper as air was unable to escape the clutches of Dawson’s jaws. Then the red-coated wolf shook his head from side to side until the sound of tearing flesh silenced even the insects in the immediate vicinity. There was one last, horrifically long and wet ripping sound as Dawson detached all the meat he had clutched in his vice-like jaws before swallowing his prize. The ogre’s hands and feet went still as they dropped to the ground; the only sound left from the big faerie creature being the blood that gurgled out of what remained of his throat. I took note that I could see the white of his spine before blood dyed it crimson.

  The black and now fully red wolves started eating the flesh of the ogre, chomping their hard-earned kill greedily. They had a long way to go until their wounds were completely healed. Meat from a giant faerie beast would certainly help.

  The sound of an engine starting and tires slipping on gravel grabbed my attention as I looked up to the see the limo take off from the driveway. I didn’t care so much about Ulric escaping if it meant I could save my best friend; but something didn’t feel right. I pulled out my phone and noticed Depweg’s icon was moving in relation to the car.

  “I got this,” I cried out to the twins. “You two won’t be able to catch it. Clear the house of the remaining bad guys so Ulric won’t have anyone to run back too.” They nodded their heads and began padding to the house, mouths still chewing ogre fresh ogre flesh.

  I turned to face the gravel road, crouched down, and then leaped with all my might. I flew through the air in the direction of the vehicle. In my panic and rage at knowing Ulric was in there with Depweg, it was hard to remain in control and I leaped past the limo and deeper into the forest as it took a sharp turn— tires kicking up dirt and rocks as it fled. I shot my legs out and landed on a tree, squatting to absorb the impact, before shooting off again towards my best friend. The tree splintered behind me and fell, crashing through its brothers.

  As I got close to the limo, I shot out a blood-tendril and latched onto the bumper. Once secured, I began to pull myself in until
I was on top of the trunk. I was about to slam through the back window when a beautiful Fae woman with the same color scheme as the first Fae male I killed, burst through the open sunroof and sprayed me with a water gun. I was stunned when I saw her pull the trigger of the bright yellow gun with an orange tip and green water reservoir; then I was screaming. Holy water ate into my flesh, melting my eyeballs and dissolving my skin. I fell off backward, furiously rubbing at my eyes when my subconscious pointed out that I was about to lose the car. Without even thinking, I shoot another tendril that hit somewhere on the back of the limo, and I willed myself to it, staying low and out of sight as I was dragged over the gravel road. I covered my mouth with my melting free hand to muffle my screams of agony. As my cheeks melted away and my lips curled back, I took off my grey beanie and shoved it in my mouth to keep from behind heard. Then it hit me, I used the beanie to soak up as much of the water as I could before shoving it into a free pocket on my trench coat. My poor trench coat that was being dragged to tatters.

  With the water soaked up and any remainder being air-dried from the speed of the fleeing limo, I was able to use the fake blood I had consumed to slowly heal. It took its sweet time as my cheeks filled and lips plumped. My eyes were the last to fill like little balloons. I don’t know how long I had been healing as I was dragged, but I became aware the road was no longer gravel and had become asphalt. Once I knew I was ok, I became really pissed.

  “THAT. IS. IT!” I bellowed from below the limousine as I extended my blood-tendril out, letting it form two anchors that lead to both my hands. Once my ropes were securely fastened, I set my feet down until my boots were ground away and my bare flesh dug into the asphalt. I set my footing and pulled the limo with both hands until its weight distribution was moved to its front from the quick deceleration of my braking. Then I lifted my hands high and slammed them down, sending a huge ripple down the ropes and flipping the limo ass over nose through the air to land on its roof.

  I leaped through the air and landed next to the vehicle before it came to a full stop, and ripped the back door open. Using preternatural speed, I looked in and grabbed the first being I saw, which happened to be the holy water bitch who had dropped her weapon and was severely dazed. I ripped her out with enough force to snap her neck as she went flying through the night like a train off its tracks.

  Repeating the process, I looked in and saw…nothing. The back portion was empty. I strode to the front and pulled the driver out who was nothing more than a mortal.

  “WHERE ARE THEY?” I screamed into his face with enough force to cause ripples to dance on his skin like a pebble being thrown into a still pond. The man didn’t answer, only sobbed in terror. Furious now, I put my palm on his forehead and forced my essence into his body. I broke through walls of sanity and thought, like a bulldozer in a library, until I found what I was looking for. Ulric back at the house, telling the Fae girl something and handing her a water gun, and a fucking cell phone that I instantly recognized.

  “HOW DID HE KNOW TO USE THE PHONE?” I screamed through clenched teeth, unable to control my rage but trying not to kill him yet. I poured more of myself in, searching desperately.

  I’m standing by the limo having a smoke, wondering why these weird fuckers are paying so much to have their own limo driver on call this late. I look up and see the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She is talking to Ulric through the glass and appears to be pleading. Ulric is wearing a black beanie over his head with red streaks down his neck under his ears. That’s odd. I take a puff of my cigarette as I watch the wavy blonde hair woman walk out of view for a moment and then return, holding a cell phone. She puts it in Ulric’s hand— what kind of name is Ulric anyway— and points at me through the window. I can see she is desperate to make this guy do what she says. This gorgeous woman takes the phone from his hand and pushes some buttons and then points. Ulric took note of this and walks out of view. I see one of the motion activated light in the yard turn on and I look in the direction to see a giant black thing disappear into the trees. I gulp and rub my eyes with my free hand, not believing. There is a crash as glass is shattered. Then another. I have no idea what the fuck is going on and my cigarette burns my fingers. I yelp and let it drop to the ground. That’s when the chick wearing the weird black and blue makeup bursts through the front door and walks up to me, whispering. “We need to go, now,” she says. I agree with the plan to get the hell out of here and climb into the driver’s side. She tells me to drive like my life depends on it and I slam on the gas after starting the ignition.

  I pull out of the mortal’s mind, sickened.

  “Lily,” I drawled out in complete disbelief. Lily tipped Ulric off. Lily told Ulric how to trick me into following the limo.

  The mortal driver fell to his knees, drool spilled from his parted lips. Woozy, he looked up at me with glassy eyes and moaned incoherently. Blood started to seep from his nose and ears as he began to sob uncontrollably. He attempted to make syllables but couldn’t quite connect the dots. His eyes shift from focused to unfocused and then back again as he wailed one long note. He grabbed either side of his head and pressed in, hard. I fucked up his mind in my rage. I burst into the china shop that was his brain and broke things you cannot break. This man was innocent, just a hired driver. My stomach became queasy with the realization that I would probably have to kill him right here and now or leave him to a life of endless suffering. He will never know who he is again. He will never recognize his family. And if I had to guess, would always be in indescribable agony. His family. My eyes shot down to the gold band on his left hand. Oh god… what have I done.

  I could give him my blood. That would heal him; but this close to death, with his soul barely tethered to the body, he would turn. That means I would damn his soul for an eternity. Plus, there was no way he would be able to maintain a normal life with his family after this. No matter if I turned him or ended his suffering now, I would throw black ink on my soul. Murder of innocents was at the top of the list of things to not do. I was about to negate countless good deeds in one fell swoop.

  “I’m…sorry,” I whispered as I forced myself to look at what I had done in my rage. I formed an ice pick in my hand while kneeling down next to this innocent man whose only job was trying to provide for his family. I placed the pick behind his ear and said, “Tell God I made it quick, would you?” before jamming the pick into what was left of his brain, killing him instantly. He stopped moving, stopped crying, and rag-dolled to the asphalt as I removed the pick— daring not to drain any of his blood. I stood then, forcing myself to take in every moment of this dead man. I could feel the weight of the pain his wife would endure once she was told he was dead. It was sickening to be the only keeper of this knowledge, knowing that an unstoppable fuse had been lit and a bomb was going to go off once she received the knock on her door. Somber faces of uniformed civil servants would tell her everything without having to utter a word.

  I felt sick. Not only because of my rage-filled murder, but because I was betrayed by Lily. Lily, whom I think I was starting to fall in love with, had warned Ulric and even shown him how to trick me into leaving.

  “JOEY! DAWSON!” I cried out in panic as I spun around, trying to orient where I was. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!” I repeated in a terrified mantra.

  My phone chimed and without even having to look, I knew what it was going to say. I pulled it from my pocket and held it up, my eyes staring at a spot in the distance, refusing to look at the screen because it would solidify what I already knew.

  Gritting my teeth and pulling my lips back in a snarl, I forced my eyes to look at the screen. What it said made me want to faint as my world began to teeter further.

  “I have them.” said the text from Ulric whose name was flanked on either side by purple eggplants. It had been funny when I put them in, now I wanted to crush my phone between my fingers.

  Looking up from the screen, I could see the dawning sun announcing that it was going to
arrive soon.

  My fingers flew on the keyboard as I responded, “Dawn soon. Finish this tomorrow night. Them for me.”

  “That’s all I’ve wanted, child. Tomorrow night.” To add insult to injury, the son of a bitch added a winky face emoji. God I hated emojis and I think he knew that.

  Feeling the impending dawn, I checked my map app to orient on a direct path home. That’s when I saw the icon that was Depweg’s face staring at me. I glanced up from my screen and noticed the icon was directly where the upside-down limo was. I walked over to it, careful to not step on the corpse of the driver, and crawled into the back of the crushed roof. There, on the ceiling of the vehicle, was Depweg’s black phone. I grabbed it before shimmying backward onto the asphalt. I turned the phone around in my hands as I stood, admiring the choice of case as the screen wasn’t even cracked in the least.

  “Neat,” I sighed absently as I pocketed Depweg’s phone before looking back at my own to orient myself. After spinning in place so the phone registered due north, I set course for home southeast of my current location. I put the phone in my other pocket of my road rashed trench and leaped into the night with no time to waste. I willed a blood-helmet as I rocketed through the night at match speeds.

  As I began to run, sun tendrils crested the horizon and waved a warm hello. I was already running at ludicrous speed and was betting I could make it to my lair in time. About half-way home, the first light exploded over the flat landscape, tickling the bottom of the clouds. It was blinding to my preter eyes and I was aware that I had effectively become a battering ram. I was traveling at speeds fast enough to cause some serious damage if I were to strike anything, and now I was having to squint to barely be able to see directly in front of me.

  It was time to utilize a risk and reward algorithm by taking the assumed amount of time left and the distance needed to trail. A glass building came out of nowhere, forcing me to crash through its tinted panes on ground level and tumble into a hotel lobby where two employees were checking in what had to be a conference full of guests. Hundreds of eyes shot my way, startled, as I attempted to slow my roll— because I was actually rolling from my abruptly halted momentum. I saw that I was about to crash through the first line of guests so I cartwheeled between two people that gave me some room as they jumped out of the way. As I passed, I noticed one person I wheeled passed had a slice of pizza, so I said the only logical thing; “Smells good.” Then I was through the first line and was forced to jump over the second, as I called out, “Dinners ready!”