The Fate Of The Marked

Chapter Six

Those words seemed to come out in slow motion. Every muscle in my body wanted me to run, but my mind held me still.

The man pulled something long and sharp out of his jacket. The black blade glinted in the light and my heart seemed to stop.

I tried to open my mouth, to scream, to do something, but nothing happened. 

"You'll have to forgive me, but keeping you still is really more humane for the both of us," The man said as he raised the knife.

As he came closer, I closed my eyes. I couldn't feel anything but the panic rising in me. It built until my sides were tight and my mind was buzzing with static.

And then I exploded.

Not literally. But all at once, the tension had been released. I felt it leave my body and I knew that whatever hold he had over me had been broken.

I opened my eyes. The man was right above me and I barley had had time to register the faint blue glow before the blade came down towards my neck.

I threw my hand up, not expecting it to do anything, a light so bright that I saw white spots on my vision exploded like a bomb.

When I could see again, the man was laying on the ground right under a street light, already pushing himself up again.

I managed to stand and stumbled away from the bench. My legs felt like lead and my while body burned.

I only made it three feet before a hand grabbed my shoulder and held me in place. Something cold pressed against my neck.

I reached up and grabbed the man's wrist. I pulled down and felt the blade slice across my chest. I flung myself away, reaching for the power again, but it didn't come.

I heard the man curse as he came after me again. I was more prepared this time and kicked him as hard as I possibly could between his legs. There were no sissy moves in life or death situations.

He dropped the knife and I ran for it.

"You'll pay for that, you creatin!" The man screamed after me.

I couldn't be bothered to turn and see if he was still on the ground. I didn't stop for what felt like miles. Finally, I doubled over by a 7-11, trying to catch my breath.

I couldn't even feel my chest, but I could see the thick blood dripping down the entire front of my shirt. A lot of blood. The world spun in and out of focus. I didn't want to touch it, even if I could heal it. The thought made me want to throw up.

A loud howel broke my thoughts. I guess my hoping the hounds couldn't cross the city limits has been wishful thinking. I righted myself and tried to walk as normally as I could until I was out of view.

I sprinted again, desperate to find some place to hide. I could feel how slow I was moving. There was no way I could run all night. I only hear another two hotels, but they were close enough to set me on edge.

Could they get inside? Could they jump to a second or third story? I was fairly sure that if I could get to a rooftop, I would be safe for a little while.

Every building I came to was locked. Just as I was giving up hope, I saw the Mayfield library. It was two stories. If I could just get up there then I would be alright.

I searched all around the building for an open window. The one on the far side was cracked slightly. I pushed it open and slipped into the bathroom, before shutting it firmly behind me.

I kept the lights off and made my way up to the second story stacks. I fell over looking for the door to the roof and didn't get up.

My chest wasn't numb anymore. I could feel the burning and the pain from the wound. It was longer than I had thought. Despite my stomach's protests, I lifted my ragged shirt off and put my hand over the cut.

It took me a long time to heal it. I breathed in and out and counted to nine-hundred and eighty-seven before I almost fell asleep. Then, I did it all over again. After another round of deep breathing, the pain lessened and I felt the blood drying on me.

I couldn't get up. My whole body was shaking. I knew I should go outside in case I passed out, but it was so warm in here. I told myself another thousand seconds wouldn't make a difference.

I curled up on my side. The howels grew dangerously close and seemed to circle the building. As scared as I was, I couldn't make myself get up I couldn't get the blinding blue light out of my mind.

When I came around again, it was completely silent. I stared at the dark shadow of the bookshelf in front of me and tried to not think of the feeling of the knife on my neck.

I knew it had to be close to daylight again. I pushed myself up, even though I was tired in my bones, and cleaned up the blood I had left on the carpet.

I went to the bathroom and washed myself with paper towels. I even used hand soap to get the blood and dirt out of my hair and off my face. I hand to lean against the sink. The dizziness hadn't faded.

I threw up twice. When I knew there was nothing left in my stomach, I slipped out the window and landed heavily in the alley. I rested my head against the brick building. The cold had soaked me though in seconds.

As soon as the doors open, I told myself, you can go back in and sleep by the fireplace. Because you sure as hell don't need pneumonia on top of all this.