Claws in the Dark | ✔

XXIV

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When Dolph came to a stop, he sighed with a smile. It was unbelievable that he'd actually found other people, and they had a vehicle. He stepped out of the car just as they did out of their truck. With wide eyes and an even bigger smile, Dolph ran to Miles, Gina and their third party.

"I was hoping that you're still alive!" he said, hugging Miles.

"Where's Landon and the chief?" Miles asked.

Dolph's face dropped and he sighed. "Kelly didn't make it and I have no clue where Landon is. We've all been split up since at the precinct."

Gina cleared her throat from behind Miles.

"Oh, Dolph, this is my wife – Gina," he said. "And this is Enrico, Antonio's dad." Dolph nodded and shook their hands. "Have you come across any other survivors?"

Dolph shook his head. "I've been running from these monsters for so long that I hardly had any time to focus on whether there was anyone in bed of help or not."

"So, that means you haven't seen any small children, then?"

"Wait," Dolph's eyes widened. "You have kids, right? Where are they?"

"We left them home to go to a funeral today," Gina said.

"And now we're trying to get back and see if they're still okay," Miles finished.

"Well, come on. I'll go with you guys and when we've found them, we'll get out of here." Dolph started walking back to his car and Miles, Gina and Enrico got back in their truck.

Enrico coughed and muttered something in Spanish when they settled in their vehicle.

"You okay, pal?" Miles asked, turning and frowning at the man.

"Nothing," he muttered in response.

They started their vehicles and then Miles led the way towards their house. They passed a few Clawdens on the way but dispatched them with a simple hit-and-run.

When they turned a corner and onto the street where Miles lived, they stopped the vehicles, turning off the headlights in the process.

The trio stepped out of the truck and Dolph got out from the car behind. Snarls emanated from down the street and Gina whimpered. The cold wind blew fiercely, howling and shook the wind chimes on the porch of a house on their left.

"We're gonna walk from here," Miles said.

"Why?" Gina asked. "We could've stopped directly in front of the house."

"I don't want to risk drawing out those beasts before we even reach the house," her husband replied. "Our children are in there, remember?"

"We'll have to make this quick," Dolph said. "The quicker we're in, the quicker we're out, and the safer we'll be when we're out of this town." He turned around and ducked into the car. He pulled out two bottles of acid and handed one to Enrico and Miles.