Ark (#Wattys2016)

The Ugly Truth

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." 

-Oscar Wilde 

If this moment had been in a movie, there would have been a lighting strike sound effect at the moment when Alice and I collided. Or maybe a cymbal crash, something dramatic like that. We both went flying to the side, rolling among the debris. My broken wrist screamed in protest as I pushed myself back up to my feet. I didn't care what Baz said; I didn't feel very lucky. I had recovered faster than Alice, giving me the upper hand.

I quickly lunged at her, my stake clutched tightly in my left hand. Why couldn't she have snapped the other wrist? I aimed straight for her heart but never reached her for she swiped out her leg, knocking my feet out from under me. I landed on my back with a thud. All of the air was pushed from my lungs when she pressed a heeled show to my chest. She smirked down at me, "I've got to hand it to you, you can pack a punch. But I pack a bigger one."

"Size doesn't matter, Alice. Haven't you ever heard that in your three hundred years of living?" I spat out, sarcastically. She scoffed.

"Love, that's just what we say to make you males feel better." she drawled with a sadistic smile, adding more pressure to my chest. I coughed and quickly stabbed her ankle with the stake. It didn't do much more than piss her off but it gave me the time and distraction I needed to roll away.

She collapsed to one knee, letting out a growl of frustration. I jumped to my feet and before she could recover, I landed a solid punch to her temple that knocked her out. She collapsed in a heap on the ground as I shook my sore fist. I gasped for breath, using the sleeve of my jacket to wipe away blood from my busted lip. I spat out blood and glared down at Alice, who was already coming to, slowly rolling onto her side. I had to do finish it while I still could. I knew that my chances of of getting the upper hand again where slim to none.

I quickly raised the stake, prepared to deliver the deadly blow but hesitated when I heard a yell of pain. I turned to see a vampire towering over a wolfed out Dylan, who had her hand pressed over a bleeding wound in her side. Her stake had been knocked out of her hand, lying several feet away from her, and the vampire was moving in fast. Dylan growled threateningly and slashed her claws out in warning but that did nothing to slow the assault.

I looked down at Alice, who was slowly getting to her feet. If I was going to kill her, I would have to do it then, when I still had a chance. I looked back to Dylan, knowing that she would be killed in a matter of seconds. Making my decision, I called out, "Dylan! Catch!"

The werewolf turned to me just as I threw the stake towards her. She easily caught it, turning back around just in time to kill the vampire as it lunged on top of her, exploding into a cloud of ash that blanketed her.. The relief of knowing that Dylan was safe was short lived as I felt a hand grab me by the back of my neck. I was thrown across the room, rolling over debris and glass. I let out a startled gasp when I felt a sharp, tabbing pain in my torso.

I laid on my back, grimacing in agony as my hand went to the source of the pain. I looked down and saw a dark red stain spreading through my jacket from a wound just to the right of of my bellybutton. I bit back a yell as I pulled out the long shard of glass that caused the wound. The glass clattered loudly as it slipped from my hand, slick with my blood. I pressed my hand to the wound, feeling blood gush past my fingers in a sickening flow.

The noise of the fighting ceased as an eerie silence surrounded us. All of the remaining vampires, about eight, stopped their attacks and turned to stare at me, sniffing the air. Growling and hissing, they rushed towards me, halting only when Alice held up her hand. Behind them, I could see the Ark agents, battered and bruised from the fight. Baz met my gaze, his eyes filled with panic and worry. His lips moved, mouthing my name before shouting louder, "Paxton!"