Rabbit Blood

Chapter 56 - Death

The fact of Leslie's latest idiotic blunder was not lost on her. She was outside on the worst possible day to be outside, looking for someone who could be anywhere... and she had a stitch from running. But she was here now. And if Karl was planted on some sidewalk, tripping outrageously... well, she'd scoop him up one last time, and then he'd really have to make it up to her. Later, though. One last time.

She couldn't not do it.

It was eerie to see Hell like this: everywhere closed, the streets empty but for the odd figure slumped in their doorways. Drunk or asleep - she couldn't tell. Perhaps they knew their possible fates. Perhaps they even wanted it.

Leslie wondered how it felt to be exterminated. Was it as quick as a 2019 Fiat 500L at top speed? She hoped so. Angels ought to be merciful and deliver a quick death. Painless.

It was chilly today, even for December. Why was it so damn cold?

Then Leslie heard scrunching. Someone was leaving an alleyway to her left, coming this way - a wolfy-looking figure with a wine-stain beard, a bit taller than her, and he angrily shredded a bundle of scratchcards as he walked.

They locked eyes.

"Hey," he said.

Leslie nodded without looking and walked on.

"Hey, lady. You got something on you? I need just... something."

Was there a way of speeding up without looking like she was speeding up? Leslie took longer strides. "Uh, no, sorry," she said.

"Sharing's caring, little lady." He tried catching up to her, and now she smelt him, and glimpsed the streaky white stains on the sides of his pants. "Come on, I'm not dying sober."

"I don't have anything!" Leslie insisted, now speed-walking backwards. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Where was a shard of mirror when you needed it?

"No cash, even?" Wolfman's expression changed. "If I search you-?"

"Leave me a-fucking-lone," she warned.

"Ohh, you're sweating," he said, in a way that made her nauseous - and he was getting close, very close. Leslie's stature was a disadvantage, but there was one thing she could try. She dared him to take another step, which of course he did, and then she threw her chest forward, swinging into an illusion turn with all her force. Her foot came round and struck him in the nose. "OOF!" Wolfy said, clutching his snout, and Leslie overbalanced and fell. He tried to stomp on her, but she rolled away, then got up, and he snatched her.

"Let go!" she yelped.

This time, partially remembering something from some stupid overrated movie, she kicked Wolfman in the knee, and when his mouth opened to yell, she stuck her claws into his gum line and tore sideways. That did the trick. He released her, clutching his face, and Leslie ran again, blood on her fingertips and streaming down her arms, her side-stitch complaining all the way.

o - o - o - o - o

"LARCENY!"

The blob demon raised an amorphous arm and confirmed his presence.

"LESLIE!"

Angel and Husk exchanged a glance.

"HERE!" Husk called.

There was a pause, and the sound of a clipboard slapping against Vaggie's thigh. "Can I get a yell from Les, please?" she called back.

Angel gazed guiltily towards the doors. "She's upset," he said, "goin' ta get some air, I think."