The Animal Inside

Chapter Ten: Aftermath

The police barged onto the roof seconds after the Shadow Master had disappeared. Once they confirmed that he was gone, they escorted me back down to the street to be checked by an ambulance worker. I saw others from the club being checked out as well. Kimi and Gaia standing off to the side, waiting for the others to finish. They spotted me and rushed over.

“Thank God you’re alright. I was so worried. We all were,” Gaia babbled, giving me a big hug, much to the dismay of the ambulance worker.

“Please move out of the way, miss. I have to make sure your friend wasn’t hurt,” the worker said. Gaia politely moved.

I needed a bandage or two for my cuts from the glass, but otherwise I was fine. After I had been given the all clear, we met up with Noa, Dexter and Lock.

“What happened?” demanded Lock. “Did he hurt you?”

“Calm down Lock. I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. In fact, quite the opposite,” I said, holding out my arm. They gazed in amazement at the bare, unmarked skin. Last they had seen it was bloody and torn. Now, it looked as though nothing had happened to it.

“How did he heal you? Why? He threatened to kill you,” Kimi said. I wondered the exact same thing. Why would he heal me when moments earlier he had held a knife to my throat? It was very strange.

After taking statements from us, the police took us back to the school along with others that had come from the Academia. Once back at the dorm, I removed my make-up and got changed into my PJs. I fell into bed, and was asleep almost instantly. However, the events of today were still fresh in my mind.

* * * * *

Suddenly a strong arm grabbed me. I screamed. A hand covered my mouth.

“Now, now, now. What’s with all the fighting?” said a voice from behind me. The shadows stopped in their tracks. Everyone else froze, looking at me and the person that held me. I realised it was the Shadow Master.

“Stop the fighting or I kill her.” He held out his hand. A shadowy haze floated around his hand. It was there for a moment, then it disappeared, leaving a dagger in his hand. The dagger had a clean, sharp blade. The handle was as black as the shadows he commanded. He held the dagger to my neck. I could feel the cold blade against my skin. It seemed so close that it would cut me if I even swallowed.

“Try to free her and she’s dead in an instant. I don’t think you want an innocent person’s blood on your hands.”

* * * * *

The Shadow Master held out his hand and dagger reappeared. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

“Sorry sweetheart. It’s nothing personal. It’s just business.” With that, he plunged the dagger into my arm, up near the shoulder. I screamed out in pain. He pulled the knife down, cutting down almost to my elbow. He wrenched the knife from my arm and held it up like a trophy. Crimson blood covered the blade, and began to drip from the tip.

Looking down at my arm, I saw the blood running swiftly from the gash. I put my hand over it, and the blood began to run through the spaces between my fingers.

* * * * *

The Shadow Master held his hand out, and a ball of shadow appeared. Then he placed the shadow at the base of the gash, and slowly ran it up my arm. I watched in awe as the large gash pulled itself back together. The blood disappeared as well. When he is done, the ball disappeared. I moved my arm. It was as good as new.

“Why did you do that?” I asked. He said nothing, just offered me his hand. I took it. As my skin touches his, I could feel a spark of electricity between us. I stood up and looked at him. His dark eyes met mine.