The Fate Of The Marked

Chapter Four

My whole mind went blank for a long second before I had enough sense to fling myself left. I stumbled and bolted for the road I had originally came down. It was too dark to really tell the difference. Something loud snapped close to my ear. I didn't have time to think, just react. Something massive jumped straight over my head, wafting a breeze that smelt like coal into my lungs. It burned as if I had inhaled sulfur.

I had to stop. It turned around in the street and I was drawn to it's blood red eyes. It's face was smashed in, as if it had ran into a brick wall one too many times. It's fur was the color of pure fire and it radiated a heat so strong that I had to back away. It lowered itself down into a crouch and growled loud enough to make my ears ring.

I ran.

I made it two streets before I could feel it behind me again. I passed empty warehouses for what seemed like hours. My feet pounding against the concrete and my heavy breathing were the only sounds. As I reached the top of a tall hill, the city came back into view.

Halfway down, another hound jumped in front of my path. I had gained too much momentum and couldn't stop myself from smashing into it's side. Instantly, I felt like I had been engulfed in flames. I curled in on myself and rolled blindly.

I kept rolling, and at one point, my arm got caught behind my back. There was a sickening crack, but I couldn't feel anything. All my concentration went to not letting my brains splatter on the path, and the fact that I was a rolling dog toy.

I slowed as I came to the bottom an managed to stick my good hand out in front of me to stop. I jumped to my feet and took off again. Every step jolted my bad arm and sent sharp pangs up the back of my neck.

As soon as I reached the first buildings, I felt the heat that had been impossible to miss disappear. I ran for another hundred yards before turning around. There was nothing chasing me. I spun around in the darkness, wrist clutched to my chest, but nothing popped out. There was no noise.

I made my way over to the sidewalk slowly, mind racing. I wandered up and down the streets, walking as quickly as I dared. I didn't want to look at my arm. I couldn't go back to the hospital, not unless it was dire. If I could fix it myself, then I would.

The thought hit me like a ton of bricks.

You must learn how to heal yourself.

Could I really heal myself? I walked to the steps of a business that was closed for the night and sat down. I was sick of alleys, and the thought of being caught out in the open didn't seem that important. The pain in my arm was getting worse by the second. I pushed my sleeve up gently and winced.

My wrist was bent in at an odd angel and the more I looked at it, the worse it seemed. I took a deep breath and touched the place where the two parts of the bones touch, eyes closed. I concentrated on the pain and let it wash through me. I thought about it being fixed, about what it felt like before.

After a few long minuets of me feeling like a complete idiot, something changed. The air around me grew warm again, and I panicked, thinking the hounds had come back, but when I opened my eyes, nothing was there. I looked down just in time to see the bones move back into place, and the dull blue light around me fade.

Nothing hurt anymore. I maneuvered my wrist, but nothing felt broken. When I stood, the ache in my legs was gone. I wasn't even tired.

What was I?

I sank back down, shellshocked. I had just fixed a broken bone, and more. I pulled my shirt up and assured myself that the bruising there was gone as well. I didn't move again until the sun began to peak in the distance and the streetlamps went off.

The shopowner came and and politely told me to get off his steps unless I was going to come in and buy something.

I stood and opened my mouth to retort, but stopped myself. My mind was still reeling. I need a quiet, safe place to think. I needed information.

"Where's the library?" I asked as calmly as I could.

The old man stared at me for a second before gesturing up the street.

"Last building on the right," He said gruffly, before slamming the door closed behind him. I heard the lock snap into place as I walked away, and felt his eyes on me until I rounded the closest corner.