The Last Forester

Tick By Slowly Part 13

(Tallica)

Five minutes passed without a sign of Hugh.  Milo shifted in the back, glancing at Benny.  I let out a sigh and put my fingers nervously to my pink lips.  I deepened my sigh and changed my sitting position.  The minutes ticked by slowly, finally, I could stand it no longer.

"I'll be right back," I grumbled to the boys.  I put my hand on the door latch.  

Milo caught my elbow, "Tallica, let him do this.  He made it clear to stay in the truck."

I yanked my elbow away, murmuring, "What is the deal with guys grabbing my arm and telling me not to do something?  Don't you boys know when you tell me NOT to do something, I just want to do it that much more?"   I stepped out of the truck, and hoped the truck lights didn't turn on.  They didn't, and I released the breath I was holding.  I ran off in the direction that he disappeared.

(Hugh)

I stayed low to the ground as I reach Melanie's truck.  She was seated in the driver's side, looking at the Cadillac.  I tapped on her window and she jumped two feet in the air, but she didn't let out a yelp.  She flipped me the bird as she cussed me out beneath her breath.  

She unlocked her door, and I cracked it open, saying, "You know I can hear you, right?"

"Of course I know you little a-," she began.

"Hey, no name calling," I held a finger, continuing.  "It's not nice.  Now let's go," I came around and helped her out the door.  "Keep hold of me the whole time, got it?"

She gripped my hand, nodding.  I took off, pulling her behind me.  She tripped over rocks several times, but I just yanked her up and kept moving.  I stopped abruptly, and Melanie ran into my back.  

"What is it?" she whispered, but I shushed her, my head tilted to the side, listening.  A heart thumped radically as it approached.  I turned, grabbed Melanie shoulders, and pushed her into the many different types of trees.  I stood in front of her as the heartbeat grew louder as it came closer.    The person crept by and I jumped out behind them, putting my elbow around the person's throat.  

"Jesus!" a girl's voice rasped, which sounded familiar.  

"Hugh, it's me," Tallica rapidly tapped on my forearm.  I released her and yanked her with me into the trees by Melanie.  

"I told you to stay back at the truck," I growled at her.  

"And I don't take orders from you," she poked me in the chest, her one green eye and one blue eye narrowed.

"I could have killed you!" I stared her down.

"I know like ninety different ways to kill you," her brow drew together.

"Yea, well, you were trained to know that," I rolled my eyes.

"Do you have the dream walker?" she questioned, dropping the subject.

"That would be me," Melanie stepped forward.

(Tallica)  

I scan her up and down.  She looked like a model.  Even if she was shorter, her legs seemed to stretch for ever.  She had a long, elegant neck, prominent cheeks, and thick pink lips that I would kill for.  Her arms were long and thin.  But it was her eyes that drew my attention.  They were a brilliant, bright blue...almost unnatural looking.   I offered my hand and her hand clasped mine.  Her long fingers dwarfed my small hand.  

"I'm Tallica Bliss," I introduce myself. 

"Melanie Mason," she studied my eyes, and I smiled.

"So, who am I looking for?" Melanie asked as Hugh quietly led us back to the truck.  As we came into of view,  Milo and Benny jumped from the truck.

"Jesus!  I thought they caught you all," Milo shouted.

"Be quiet!" all three of harshly whispered.

"Don't worry.  They left half an hour ago," Benny motioned with his hand.   The snap of a cocked hammer drew our attention.  Benny and Milo froze as their faces blanched as Melanie stood by the Chevy quietly, watching from afar.  I sighed and ran a hand down my face.  

"This is possibly the worst day in my life," I drawled, then thought and changed my mind.  "No, not the worst day, but the 2nd worst day."

"What's your worst?" Hugh asked shifted his back to mine.  

"The time I got drunk when I was fifteen and couldn't remember a thing," I smirked as he started, looking at me in surprise.

"Yea, but I have a feeling this day will  bypass that day," he raised his eye brows.

I twisted my wrists and whipped my head towards his, "Yea, pretty close."   

(Hugh)  

I saw her eyes flicker a vibrant green and I grinned, lunging for one of the six werewolves.  I grabbed his head and slammed it down to meet my knee.  I turned and my mouth dropped in awe.  Three of them dangled from the trees with ivy wrapped around their bodies.  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed one, who was still standing, jump for Melanie.  I ran and tackled him to the ground.  We rolled, me, sending several punches to his ribs.  I put him in a wrestling head lock and he passed out.  Benny and Milo were double teaming the last one, but Tallica thrust her palms toward them.  The bad guy was yanked upwards by his ankles, the ivy holding him captive. 

I wiped my face and said, "Well that was fun, but let's get out of here."

One of the men hanging from the tree groaned, "Man, now I'm going to have a rash for days."

"Give a message to Chike BlackWood," Tallica strode over to the werewolves.  "I'm coming for him, and I will get my sister back."