Road to Death

Chapter 2

"That was the most boring lecture in the entire universe!" Liam complained.

"You're just not as good at school as me." Sticking out my tongue at him, I continued, "You don't even show up half the time. How are you supposed to if it's the most boring lecture in existence?"

"Blah blah blah, all you ever do is nag me. How about we go get a coffee?"

"Fine. We're going to Dunkin's. Actually, I'm too fuckin' cold. You go to Dunkin's, I'll meet you at the apartment and unfreeze some old fashioned chocolate chip cookies while I warm up."

"Why do you always get to go back to the apartment?"

"Dude. It's my apartment. If you're really gonna be such a crybaby, let's play a game of chance. You can pick."

"Hmm, how about rock paper scissors?" 

"Sounds good to me. Rock pap-"

"HAH! I'll do paper and she'll never guess it."

"er scissors shoot! Haha! My paper beats your rock!" I grinned.

"Why do you always win rock paper scissors?"

"I'm not the one that yells out what I'm doing every time!" His complaining face dropped and surprise mixed with fear took over.

"What do you mean Niamh? I've never said anything out loud when we play rock paper scissors."

"Yes you do, every time. That's why I always win Liam. Are you on crack? We can go get help-"

"Shh." he straightened up and put his finger against my lips.

"No, you're starting to scare me what's going on-"

"Go home. Get the cookies from the freezer. Go straight home, don't look at anyone, don't talk to anyone. Straight home Niamh."

"What? No I'm not gonna listen to you for no reason. Give me an explanation or I'm not going."

"I have something to take care of. Please, trust me on this, go straight home."

"How do you want me to go straight when I'm not even-"

"Niamh, now's not the time for jokes, go home quickly please."

"Fine." He walked away and I started to go home. Why was he being so grumpy and assertive about it? Who does he think he is? Also it's New York, and I'm a hot young woman turning 20 next year. I can't walk safely without a dude with me. Urgh, men have so much privilege.

 Well, I need another book, it won't make that much of a difference, he'll never know. I decided to stop at the library on the way back, and grabbed a few new books. My tummy grumbled. Mmm, I could almost smell those cookies. I was almost home, it seemed I was lucky. I saw the usual alleyway shortcut and turned onto it.

Something flashed in my peripheral vision and I immediately whipped around. Nothing there. I've been getting more and more paranoid as I've been having that dream. Whatever. 

"Calm down Niamh, it's just your imagination playing tricks on you," I told myself and kept walking. Then I gasped as something stabbed through my lower back. No, I'm not gonna die, I-I can't die no, no, no. I turned my head around and what met my eyes was a horrific sight. I saw this large, blackish green creature, with fangs as sharp as razor blades and the length of my forearm. The acrid stink of scorched tarmac met my nose as this gooey liquid, which was definitely acidic, dripped off the creature.

 I cried out in pain as the thing ripped out the weapon, which looked to be a long dagger. I could already feel the warm blood soaking through my shirt. Damn, this was a terrible day. A boring lecture and a grumpy, ugly, stupid thing stabbed me. In the middle of December. I scrambled away and looked around the alleyway for anything sharp I could find. Why did I take this shortcut? I don't even know. It roared and began to approach me.