Into Every Stranger Generation

Chapter 15

 Eddie stood there, trying to wrap his head around what just happened. Shit. He grabbed his jeans off the floor, sliding them on, bouncing on one leg in his rush to get dressed. Losing his balance, he hit the floor. Son of a bitch. Jumping up, he pulled his shirt over his head and hurriedly stuck his feet in his shoes.

Becca had a hell of a head start. He was supernaturally fast but so was she. He had no idea which direction she had headed in. Running out the front door, he paused for a moment and caught her scent on the breeze. He took off into the trees, following the trail.

Why hadn't he responded more quickly? She was clearly mortified at what she had said. Was that because she didn't mean it or because she did? If she would have just given him a damn minute, he would have told her he felt the same. It didn't matter that it had only been a few days. Given a few months or a few years, it wouldn't change anything. There were people who were together for decades and didn't feel a fraction of what he felt when she was near him.

He charged through the woods, swiping at branches as he went. Eddie realized, in a moment of clarity, that this was the first time he had been outside in a month. It was a magnificent feeling, the wind whipping through his hair, the breeze brushing over his skin. He had not felt this kind of freedom in so long. He knew he was putting a lot at risk right now, but he couldn't bring himself to think about that.

"Son of a bitch!" came a voice.

That was definitely Becca and that couldn't be good. Eddie found another burst of speed within him as he flew toward the sound and scent of her. As he broke through the trees, he found Becca, but she was not alone. Surrounding her were a group of people. They were just standing there, staring, and it was creepy. Eddie had no idea who the hell they were but they began slowly advancing on her, moving as one unit.

"Back the fuck up!" she yelled, her wooden stake clutched in her hand. "I don't want to have to hurt you. You're possessed and don't know what you're doing so go back to your spider master and save yourself a lot of pain."

One of the people tilted their heads, considering her as they said in an eerie voice, "We have come to dispose of you. You are a threat. He doesn't like threats."

"No?" Becca questioned. "How about this threat? If you don't back off, I am going to take this wooden stake and shove it so far up your ass, you'll be coughing wooden splinters for weeks."

The strange people did not seem to understand what she was saying, or perhaps they didn't care. They began closing in on her, creating a circle of psychos around her. One of them wrenched her arm and she yelled out in pain. Eddie felt an intense rage take him over. Growling, his fangs descending, Eddie lunged forward, grabbing one by the shoulders and tossing them against a tree like a rag doll.

"Eddie!" Becca screamed as the group overtook her, dragging her to the ground. She flailed, attempting to fight back, but there were far too many of them and she disappeared underneath a sea of bodies.

Eddie roared in fury, leaping into the middle of the fray. He grabbed at the bewitched humans, chucking them off of her one by one. He had never felt such wrath in his life. He wanted to rip these monsters limb from limb for daring to lay a hand on his girl. Throwing the last one from her, he spun, baring his teeth at them, his eyes flashing red, matching the burning outrage that coursed through him.

"Shit..." Becca groaned, rolling to her feet.

Eddie turned, suddenly remembering why he was so angry in the first place. He quickly closed the distance between them, grabbing her face in his hands, scanning her body with his eyes to ensure she was alright.

"Becca, are you hurt?"

"No...I..." Becca began but her eyes grew wide, her gaze looking beyond him. "Eddie, we need to go."