CHAPTER 03
[] Alexandra []
We sprinted down the hall toward the emergency exit. A square patch of light poured in from the double glass panes, and in some bizarre place in my head I wondered if this was similar to what it would be like to die. Running through the darkness toward the light, lead by an angel bearing the golden sword. I glanced at Oliver, at his hand clasped over mine. Ridiculous.
Through the bedlam, I could barely hear my footfalls. Where was everybody? The place should be in chaos! But no classroom door opened, nobody screamed.
"Oliver-" He came to sudden halt and turned, releasing my hand. I skidded to a stop before I ran straight into him. "No time!" He called. He reached into his belt and brought out a dagger. Unlike the one he held, this one was not as short, nor was it glowing, but it looked just as lethal. The blade was jagged and a dark silver. He took it by the blade and offered it to me. I hesitated only a second before taking it. The hilt was heavy and cold, engraved with unrecognizable lettering. "Thanks." I said awkwardly. "Come on!" We began running again.
We were almost there. I could almost smell the freedom. Every cell in my body screamed at me to move faster, the urge to flee this building overwhelming. Almost there... almost-
The ceiling exploded. Two hands grabbed the front of my shirt and threw me backwards. I went flying down the hallway, skidding against the tiled floor, debris flying at my face. I blinked against the dust, wincing as I attempted to right myself.
There was a massive shape crouching on the pile of rubble. Its figure was hunched and menacing, a low growl coming from deep from within its throat.
Oliver! He stood in front of the creature, looking so insignificant next to the enormous monster. He raised his blade and the bright glow fell across the animal.
I felt my chest tighten in fear. It resembled an overly large wolf; it's back would've been pressed against the ceiling if it were still there.
Its body was heavily muscled, its gray matted fur bristling. Its bared teeth were serrated with a needle like sharpness, the canines nearly the length of baseball bats. Its eyes, like its fur, was an ugly gray colour- like dirty snow. It swished its tail, and I saw dozens of spikes jutting out of the end, each the size of a kitchen knife.
The light seemed to enrage the creature even more and it howled, an eerily human sound, and it lashed its tail downward like a whip. The floor shuddered violently at the impact and I had to cling to a nearby pillar to keep my balance.
"Oliver!" I screamed. He stood a few feet away, his hands gripping the sword so tightly his knuckles shone white. I hadn't even seen him move. One moment he was about to be dog meat, and the next he was standing there in safety.
The beast hissed, jerking the spikes of his tail out of the ground with some effort. It turned its massive head toward Oliver and arched its back, getting ready to spring. I didn't know what to do. I was so lost, so afraid.
And then the beast leapt into the air, its jaw gaping wide open as it launched itself at Oliver. Oliver darted out of the way, so fast that my eyes could barely follow, and slashed his sword sideways in a whirling arc. The animal collided with the lockers, making the metal cave into the wall. The beast fell back, seeming to be disoriented. A long splash of gleaming blood coloured the fur of its front leg, splattering some of the floor with big fat droplets.
