Run

Run

Rubinus laughed, the noise filling the eerie silence.

“Nowhere to go now Bryony,” said Rubinus, returning to human form.

“I’m out of here,” said the gatekeeper abandoning the cabin and running through his door into the city. I panicked, knowing there was no way of getting into the city, then I had an idea.

I backed up against the gate and took a deep breath.

“You win Rubinus, but please turn into a wolf. It’s your most beautiful form, most natural,” I lied, pressing against the gate.

Rubinus laughed and leapt into his wolf form.

“I love you Rubinus,” I lied again, biting my cheek.

He grinned and bounded towards me. I ducked out of the way as he crashed into the gate, bursting it open.

“Clever, very clever,” he growled, baring his teeth.

I ran into the city, along the quiet streets. I started to panic as I saw no sign of Brooklyn or the others. Then a cool hand grasped mine and whisked me into an alleyway. I turned to see everybody huddled by a big rubbish bin.

“I’m so, so sorry Caroline. I’m sorry everybody, I’m a danger to you all, please go and be safe. Leave me, I need to deal with Rubinus,” I whispered, pulling my top tight around me.

“You must be joking dear, you are family now. We’re not going to abandon you,” said Caroline, her kind eyes smiling as she adjusted Sophia’s blanket.

“Come on, let’s kill this beast,” said Brooklyn, guiding me back out of the alleyway.

“Good luck,” said Clive, holding Penny close.

We entered the streets, but kept in the shadows.

“Where is everyone?” I whispered, still clutching his hand.

“Henry said that since your disappearance, they have been advised to stay inside,” said Brooklyn as we shuffled down another street.

Then a low laugh came from a dark alleyway alongside us.

“I’ve been looking for you, and it seems I’ve found both the remaining little pigs,” laughed Rubinus in his human form.

“Way to go with flattering her, I love you, you little pig,” said Brooklyn, smiling.

“Brooklyn, don’t make him angry,” I warned, squeezing his hand.

“I have a plan Bryony, I’ve hidden a Degradation Gun in my pocket. We’re going to make him angry and then I will stand up to him, you reach out, grab the gun and then you can degrade and kill him,” whispered Brooklyn and I nodded.

“It’s rude to whisper, please do tell me your interesting topic of conversation. Were you saying your goodbyes?” barked Rubinus, stepping closer.

“Of course not, Bryony has already said goodbye to you,” said Brooklyn.

“Excuse me?” said Rubinus, his tone deadly sharp.

People had heard our shouting and some of them watched from their windows. I saw little children grasping their parents and old grandparents’ faces lined with fear.

“Yes, she’s made her decision, she chooses me. You must always have known that you were never meant to be. You are, of course, a wolf – a beastly, angry creature. And she a - human, a beautiful, peaceful girl. It would never work. But then she met me and as fate would have it, she fell in love. I don’t know why, I am just normal Brooklyn Charleston, nothing special, except the love we share for each other,” said Brooklyn, wrapping an arm around Bryony.

“That was very poetic Brooklyn but you really do not know Bryony’s history that we share,” said Rubinus.

“A history based on lies,” I hissed, drawing closer to Brooklyn.

“You cannot change fate Rubinus,” said Brooklyn, seriously.

“Yes I can, there is one way to. I must kill you Brooklyn,” grinned Rubinus.

“That’s not happening. Kill him and you might as well kill me,” I said, staring Rubinus in the face.

“Fine, he may live, but you must turn your chip back on,” laughed Rubinus.

“She will do what she wants. If you love her, why are you controlling her? Why are you hurting her? Why are you threatening her? If you were so sure of her love, you wouldn’t need to do any of that!” yelled Brooklyn, letting go of me and approaching Rubinus. Carefully and quickly I slipped the gun from his pocket.

Rubinus growled and then sprang into his wolf form, back arched and teeth bared.

Brooklyn took a small dagger from one of his worn, leather boots and charged at Rubinus. He plunged it into Rubinus’ right side and sliced his back. He yelped in pain and staggered momentarily. Then he shoved Brooklyn to the ground, Brooklyn kicked out and dodged Rubinus’ blows. But on one he was not quick enough and Rubinus’ claws dug deep into his chest. Brooklyn gasped and kicked Rubinus hard in the face.

This caused Rubinus to fall and turn to see me beginning to run away. It was then I knew where Rubinus had to die. He had to die in my father’s workshop, where everything started. I turned briefly to see Brooklyn clutching his chest, blood staining his hands. At my father’s workshop, he kept a small vial of a serum he created. A serum that could heal cuts and in an instance, he used it to heal strong and powerful animals. I knew that to save Brooklyn, I would need to get that vial and give it to him.

Rubinus scrambled up and began to chase after me. I kept on running, down the strangely familiar streets towards my old house. Rubinus’ growling had sent alarm through the city and I saw more people run to their windows to see us galloping down streets. My head ached as the same words drummed through it: save Brooklyn, save Brooklyn, get the serum, get to the workshop, kill him, kill him, kill him.

I had to run. Run and run. To save him. To save them. To save the people. Run.

 (To Be Continued)