Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Seventy Two

     Link took a deep breath, and everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that. He brought his arms up against the restraints one last time before they snapped, and he pushed himself backward, the chair hitting the ground and splintering into a billion pieces. 

     Link freed his ankles from the restraints and kicked himself into a standing position in one fell swoop. He began approaching the man that was choking his daughter and the dark haired man released Rhett and bolted over toward Link. Link spun on his heel and delivered a punch right to his gut, knocking him to the floor breathless.

     The red haired guy went after him next, running toward him. Link caught him by the arm, spun him around, grasped his other arm as he pinned the both of them to his back and kicked him into the nearest wall. He stumbled and fell head first into the wall, his head going right through the plaster. 

     Now that Ponytail's two henchmen were out of the way, he cleared the 5 ft between them and snatched him by his hair, catching him completely off guard. Ponytail released Lily and she slumped to the ground, gasping for air. Rhett began crawling toward her, and once he was close to her, he cradled her in his arms. She rested her head against his chest as the both of them watched Link and Ponytail.

     Ponytail snarled and reared out of Link's grasp, taking him by the throat with both of his hands. Link lowered his head, his vibrant blue eyes dulling as he seared with anger. Ponytail squeezed, pushing the two of them toward the opposite wall. Link dug his heels into the carpet, prying at Ponytail's hands with his own. To Ponytail's surprise, he watched with wide eyes as Link slowly but successfully peeled his hands away, Link's arms trembling. 

     He then used every ounce of strength in his arm and back muscles as he shoved Ponytail, sending him stumbling backward and landing on the floor. Rhett grabbed Lily around the waist and pulled her away, the both of them with their eyes wide as saucers. Link walked over toward Ponytail and straddled him, taking fistfuls of his shirt. His nostrils flared, the veins in his neck bulging as well as in his arms. Rhett knew exactly what was coming and he hurriedly threw his hands over Lily's ears.

     Link screamed. It wasn't like any scream Rhett had ever heard him scream before in his life, and it wasn't shrill as it had been in the recent past. It rumbled out of his chest like a guttural roar and if Rhett didn't know any better, he would have thought Link was a werewolf too. 

    Lily's mouth fell open but her head began swimming, and then her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she slumped in Rhett's grip. Rhett gripped her tighter, fearing she had passed out from being so terrified. When Link had finished screaming, he straightened his stance, looking a very ticked off Ponytail in the face.

     "If you play with fire, you're going to get burned," Link said breathlessly, his shoulders rising and falling.

     Rhett was in complete awe, his jaw hanging open the entire time. He knew Link had it in him to scream, but he never imagined that it would be that powerful. Ponytail was stuck in a trance with his eyes hanging open, but his comrades were coming to and they slowly approached Rhett and Link. Link spun around and shot them a dangerous look and the both of them held their hands up defensively, their eyes wide and terrified.

     "We just want to gather our friend and go," the dark haired one said reluctantly, and the red haired one nodded his head emphatically, rubbing the side of his head. Rhett had to laugh inwardly because of how Link handled the two of them. They totally deserved whatever they got. Rhett looked to Link, wondering if he was going to choose to let them go or not. 

     Link simply shrugged his shoulders. "Fine. Get him out of my sight before my daughter watches me commit a murder." 

     Their eyes widened even further and they scurried past him, taking Ponytail by each arm and dragging him out of the room. He was mumbling something incoherent like he was hopelessly drunk, and Link shook his head, waiting for them to be completely out of the room. He turned to Rhett. "We need to call the sheriff." 

     Rhett nodded his head as he reached for his phone, Link dropping to the ground in front of Lily. He took the unconscious girl into his arms, her head lolling over her arm so that it was facing his chest. He huddled her close, smoothing her hair back and whispering that everything was going to be alright. 

     Rhett rose to his feet, but not with ease as he favored his back, speaking into the phone. "Yes, we need the police. There's been a robbery at my friend's place. Nobody's been hurt. No, the suspects aren't here still. Yeah, thanks." Rhett slipped his phone back into his pocket and swiveled his eyes around the room, his glance landing on something red and squishy on the floor. He hobbled over toward it, looking at the wall that looked like it was splattered with blood. When he was close enough to see what it was, he brought his wrist up to his mouth and gagged.

     "Where the heck did this come from?" He choked, touching it with the toe of his shoe. He was glad nobody answered his question because he really didn't want to know where it came from. He turned back around and rejoined Link and Lily on the floor, leaning his head back against the wall. He had to give what happened some thought, like how and why they knew to meet Link at his house to ambush them. Why does Ponytail want Link to join him so badly, and what exactly does that mean? How does Link joining him make him stronger? What would that mean for Link?

     Rhett lowered his head into his hands and heaved a big sigh. There were too many questions, and they were too unqualified to find any of the answers. This was something they clearly weren't used to dealing with. 

     Link kept his eyes on Lily the entire time, feeling the pace of his heart quicken on and off. He still felt adrenaline pulsing through his veins from the superhuman he just turned into, and how on earth did he manage to do that? Was that part of this special ability that he had? Nobody knew just how badly he would give anything just to find out exactly what that was, because there was nothing more unsettling than not knowing.

     Rhett and Link simultaneously raised their heads and gazed at each other. They turned their heads toward the door, the sheriff greeting them with a sad smile. Rhett struggled to rise to his feet once more, groaning in pain as he held his back. "It was the same clown that was at the convention, but there were two more of them. They were all definitely werewolves," Rhett began, grimacing. 

     The sheriff pursed his lips, throwing his hands onto his hips. "Remember how I said I needed to talk to you boys? More in detail?" 

     Rhett nodded his head, Link seeming to be in a daze. 

     "Is there a way you guys can meet me at the station tomorrow? We can talk more privately in my office. Preferably away from young ears," he said as he gazed at the girl in Link's arms. Her breathing was steady, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. 

     Link nodded his head emphatically. "Yes please. She already knows too much," he said as he leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. She stirred a little but her eyes never opened.

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