MUTT

TWO

My boots splash tiny puddles in the brick tunnels. Rats squeal and squeak as I hum the James Bond Theme song. From down the tunnel, a soft white glow creeps along the walls. I walk down the steps into the old sewer construction office.

Old arcade games line the east wall, giving off an eerie neon glow. In the middle of the room the floor dips into a split level. An old black leather couch sits in front of a tellie. A small kitchen sits a bit off of the TV room.

I pull of my bow and quiver throwing it on to the floor beside the chair. I collapse on the leather couch and turn on the TV. News headlines line the screen.

"The Night Brothers has been spotted again!" shouts Tyler Murray, The Daily Bugle news anchor. A picture of them slinking across a roof flashes on the TV.

"These brothers need to be stopped!" he roars. "I don't feel safe with mutated wolves rampaging around New York!"

I bite into my greasy, sweet, delicious pizza, "Then let me do my job and put an end to their 'rampage'!"

As if Murray heard me he yells, "The police are doing their best to keep New Yorkers safe!"

I take a sip my pop and shake my head. "Yeah, right!" I laugh.

He reminds me of my father. Austin Firewinter. I dunno why but he does; maybe because both are arrogant, rude and ignorant.

I shove the crust of the pizza into my mouth and lie back in the comfy chair and watch some Grey's Anatomy.

//...//

Something wasn't right.

Something was here. Or someone.

My eyes open slowly and I sit up, wiping the drool from my mouth. I pick up my bow slowly.

The TV is off. I don't remember turning it off because I fell asleep with it on. The room is partially dark. I can only make out the silhouettes of the furniture three feet around me.

I carefully stand up, trying not to make a sound. I sling my quiver and bow on my back, shoving a handful of knives into my pocket.

"Hello?" I shout.

Silence. I quickly rub my hands together and snap. A spark glows in the palm of my hands.

"Hello?" I call again.

The hair on my body tingles and sends cold shivers through me. Something moves above my head. I whip around, now scared.

I see my messenger bag by the stairs. If I can get to it I could probably escape in the sewers.

I hear the arrow before I see it. I duck and it whizzes over my head. I race towards my satchel. Someone drops down on my back.

"Sorry to drop in on you!" he says.

I scream and bash my elbow in his face. He grunts and let goes of my neck. I jump to my feet but something hits me in the side of the head. I shriek through gritted teeth as blood drizzles down the side of my face and scrabble quickly up the stairs, throwing my bag over my shoulder. I sprint down the sewers. I slow down and listen. I don't seem to be being followed.

I turn around and scream.

"Hello again!" he says, hanging upside down.

"What do you want?!" I shout, gripping a dagger in my hand.

"Hey, hey, hey!" he says quickly, "I don't wanna hurt you!"

"Then why are you following me?"

"Well, more like why are we following you," a female says.