Birthmarks and Bruises

Andrea's bruise.

Andrea gulped down gasps of air, praying that she didn't trip over her own feet. She didn't know how the hell she got into this situation but, God, she hated it. How long had she been running? Minutes? Hours??

She could still see the image imprinted in her mind. Glinting teeth stained scarlet with the blood of a young girl. A helpless human being. It had grabbed her by the ponytail. Crushed her head effortlessly.

The image was nauseating.

So as Andrea ran, the drawstrings of her hoodie streaming out behind her, she resisted the urge to vomit, to hyperventilate. To stop and break down.

This was uncanny. Sudden. And Andrea didn't like it.

No longer being able to hear the click-clack of claws against pavement behind her, Andrea retreated to a shaded alley. Fumbling with the hair tie wrapped around her wrist, she twisted her blonde locks into a ponytail: and with her hair out of her face, she allowed herself to throw up. From fear, absolute terror... from exhaustion. From the sight of literal murder.

Sliding down the brick wall, panting, and gulping down air, the teenage girl started to cry. Scared tears poured down her cheeks. Andrea attempted to muffle her choked sobs, in case it were to attract any more... 'wild animals'. What were they, anyway?

They had the appearance of some kind of dog on its hind legs, with a human face. But not the centaur style Andrea would've imagined if described in a children's book. It's head appeared to be attached to no neck, seemingly perched atop the bony body. The surface of the creature looked as though it had been skinned, with clumps of bloodied fur appearing in some places. And the scythe-like claws. The claws which made the haunting click-clack sound which still echoed in Andreas ears.

She rubbed the large bruise across her hand, stretching from her middle finger down to her wrist.
The little girl she had attempted to save was maybe no older than ten. She didn't even know her name. Helpless, defenceless... grasping on to Andrea's hand for dear life while she screamed, trying to bat the creature away with her short little legs.

The girl buried her face in her hands, whimpering and sobbing,

"Hey, um. Are you okay?"

The hand which had suddenly been thrust out towards her seemed to be speaking. The fingers wiggled.
"Helloooo? Anyone there?"

She felt her hands being gently pried apart. Andrea screamed, not wanting to be attacked again. She was in too much of a bad state to run anymore.
"Hey!! Hey... I won't hurt you!! Do I look like the kinda guy who'd hurt you or something?"
Andrea flicked her eyes up, meeting the gaze of a ginger woman with large, dark lashes and a freckled face.
"Oh, sorry. I..." Andrea choked, gasping for breath. Unable to explain what had happened to her, she broke down again.
"Dude... those are not the tears of a breakup." Another voice mumbled, followed by the sound of a kick and a yelp.

The red-haired woman shuffled a moment, then sat down beside her.
"I don't know what's wrong, and you don't have to tell me but..."
She stretched out a hand.
"My name's Felix."
Oh.
The, supposedly male, person smiled reassuring up at her- and behind his shoulder, a dark haired boy raised an eyebrow.
"Huh... what the hell happened to you?" He questioned. Andrea's eyes darted between the two boys, bewildered and scared.
"I... I was attacked, and I saw a girl... she, she was-"
Andrea's gasping quickened and she started coughing.
Felix and his friend exchanged worried glances.
"It's ok, take your time." Felix reassured.
"She died. Something killed her."