Chapter 4

My best friend had just left me alone with her crazy boyfriend. Blood dripped down my chest and shoulder. I stared up at Des, waiting for him to chase her as my heartbeat pounded in my ears.

He turned those yellowed eyes back at me and I chomped on a scream. I flipped over, crawling as fast as I could towards the truck.

“Orna stop!” Desmond’s voice was so thick and garbled I could barely understand him. His footsteps thudded in my direction.

What? No -- go get your damn girlfriend. Why me?

I flung myself under the truck, squeezing my body as tightly down as I could. He couldn’t get at me. He was too big, and I still had the keys. He reached for me but I still had my taser. I zapped his extended arm and he snarled, withdrawing.

I had to run. There was no doubt in my mind. Desmond had claws -- claws. What were they? Some form of brass knuckles that could stab people? What was he thinking?

I had to get out of here before he figured out how to get me out from under the car. I didn’t like thinking about dying. I normally did everything in my power to avoid dwelling on it. Right now that was hard because I was being faced with my imminent doom. And yes, I was rather convinced he wanted to at least hurt me. My hand touched my searing shoulder and I choked back tears. He’d done that without even trying.

I barely saw a way out of this. If he wanted to kill me, I had no formal training to stop him. I would be at his mercy as soon as he got me out of here. Which reminded me...

Why wasn’t he trying to get me out anymore?

I risked a peek from under the truck. Des was still standing out there, eyes locked on the forest. He seemed to be watching something, muttering under his breath. What was he saying?

I scooted back the opposite direction of him and slid from my cover. Desmond’s eyes shot to me and he headed this way.

I flailed, scrambling to my feet and ran. I ran so hard I stopped paying attention to where I was going, pouring my focus on my pounding legs and thundering feet. Desmond was behind me. I was too afraid to look back and see, but I could hear him back there, deep ragged breaths at my heels.

Keep running.

I ran until my breaths ignited my lungs and they were coming back at me with great heaves. My mind spun. I blinked darkness from my vision, legs wobbling. I found myself on my hands and knees, retching. My shoulder was on fire. It felt like hundreds of ants were crawling inside the open wounds. I shot a panicked glance behind me. Desmond wasn’t there.

My head flew around wildly, searching for my pursuer. I was on the edge of a forest. Moonlight peeked in through the brambles overhead. I could barely make out the shape of tree trunks all around me.

Where had he gone? I checked myself for my belongings. My purse was stretched, scratched, and smudged with dirt. Had I not been running for my life, that alone would have made me angry, but I was just glad to be alive. I drank in a deep breath and choked back an exhausted cough.

It looked like everything was still in the zipper, if jumbled around. I tugged out my phone and let the flashlight app do its job, pouring a beacon over the grass.

I shone the light around the forest, for all the good it did me. My brain still whirled from the run. All I wanted to do was collapse on the ground, panting. But I needed to call for help. I flipped around for my dialpad, my trembling fingers making it hard for me to punch numbers.

Something large and heavy struck my side. I crashed to the ground, phone flying from my hand. I tried to gasp but something caught my throat. I blinked darkness from my vision but all I could see was a blur of black and a flash of slitted amber eyes before I was wrenched upwards.

Then I was airborne. I have no idea what exactly happened, but I have assumptions. I distinctly remember the sensation of my stomach flipping and lurching. Then the weightlessness. I felt like I was spinning in the air forever, completely thoughtless as my body careened. I don’t recall the pain of hitting the ground. Maybe my mind blanked it out. But when I did, I finally lost consciousness.