The Virus Within (Original rough draft)

Chapter 13

I listened as the others headed to various rooms not long after we came in. I tracked the sound of Daniel and Nina's footsteps to the other side of the building. The building fell silent as I lay there listening. I actually managed to doze off for half an hour or so.

I heard faint footsteps as the Terror left the hotel and quietly closed the door behind him. He had likely left to hunt. After my large kill last night, I didn't need to hunt tonight. I remained where I was listening to the nighttime noises. I heard an odd shuffling noise also leave that room. Why would Nina go outside at night?

Her friend had been gone for at least fifteen minutes and her scent had definitely been human. I got up and parted the blinds to look out the window. A low snarl escaped my throat as I saw someone forcibly dragging Nina away from the hotel.

I swiftly and silently left the room. I took off my sunglasses and put them in my pocket since it was the middle of the night. My Nightstalker abilities were perfect for swiftly catching up without getting spotted. The man had already dragged her into the trees. He smelled like sour cooking oil, which he must have used to cover his scent. This was the same man I had scented earlier.

I stifled a growl as I noticed that his hand was clamped over Nina's mouth as he continued to drag the small lady away. I saw his second hand drop to grope along the top of her jeans and tried to undo the button. I could smell the sharp scent of Nina's fear and blood on the air. Nina struggled wildly, but couldn't escape the filthy burly man. The red haze in my sight got more intense in my building anger.

He managed to undo the button. I charged forward with an enraged snarl. He jumped in fright and he spun around as he let go of Nina. He barely managed to turn in my direction before I had his throat in my hand. I pinned him against a tree with another vicious snarl.

Nina dropped to the ground and raised her hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breath. Her voice shook from her ordeal, "Thanks goodness you arrived Daniel. I was worried for a moment that-"

Her voice cut off suddenly as she realized that my smaller shadowy form was not Daniel. The man in my grasp squirmed wildly as he stared in terror at my brightly glowing red eyes. I dug my nails lightly into his neck and felt them pierce his skin with ease. I growled at him, "Run. If I catch you anywhere near us again your life will be forfeit."

He gurgled for breath and I threw him off to the side. Even one handed I had enough strength to throw him quite some distance from us. He scrambled backward before getting to his feet and running away as he crashed through the underbrush.

I took a deep breath and exhaled as I tried to rein in my temper. He wouldn't be back for days. I straightened out of my crouch and gave Nina a sideways look. I didn't look at her full on as that could be taken as a threat or challenge with those familiar with zombies. She was still sitting motionless in the leaf litter as she watched me cautiously.

My voice was rough from how high my instincts were running, "How badly are you hurt?" I could smell her blood on the air. The scent of the man's blood on my nails didn't exactly help cool down the heat in my veins.

She shook her head, "I'm okay, thank you for helping me. Not even a scratch."

I snorted in disbelief, "I could smell your blood from the hotel. As faint as it is, it is probably only small scratches. Let's head back before that friend of yours picks up the scent of your blood on the air and attacks me."

She shakily stood up. I tested the air, but the Terror wasn't close enough for me to scent him. Hopefully he was far enough away that he wouldn't catch her scent until we got back to the hotel. She took two steps and promptly stumbled over a branch.