The Perks of Being a Freak (Editing)

93. Here, Fido. C'mere, Boy!

The creatures voice sounded like rocks scraping together as it growled again. It was a disgusting sound, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose involuntarily.

I saw it’s little red eyes lock onto me. I had the target painted on my chest.

Good.

If that thing was after me, it meant that the others could get away safely and…

And then what? After they were safe what do I do? Do I let the thing kill me? Do I fight it? How could I kill something so enormous?

I couldn’t.

At least not alone.

“Em?” I didn’t break eye contact with the wolf-like thing. “You, Benny, and Jaeb get down to the wharf. Get ready to try and melt this sucker. Start evacuating people from near the water.”

“I can’t hurt it,” Emily said. “Too strong. Made so I can’t break it.”

“That’s fine,” damn it all. “Just started getting people out of here. Simon and Mitchell? You start down the street. Clear a path for me and Fido.”

“What are you gonna do?” Mitchell asked.

“I’m gonna give that bastard something to chase,” I replied. Mitchell nodded and turned to start shoving cars out of the way. Benny and Emily piled into the car, and took off down the street, screaming out of windows for people to run. Jaeb flashed in next to people, and flashed them out to somewhere safe.

But Simon didn’t go anywhere.

“Sometimes I think you have a danger fetish,” he said sadly. “Sometimes I think you love getting hurt more than you love me.”

“I don’t love anyone more than I love you,” I replied fiercely, taking his hand into mine and my eyes off of the wolf. “Don’t ever say that.”

“Then don’t do this,” he pleaded. “Please. I couldn’t… If I lost you I don’t know how I would survive.”

“You’re stronger than you think, Simon,” I whispered, touching my forehead to his. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

As I started to walk towards the wolf, Simon grabbed my arm. “You don’t owe them anything!”

“What?” I frowned. Who didn’t I owe? I wasn’t doing this for anyone. I was just trying to help.

“These people,” Simon gestured around to the city. “You don’t owe them this. You don’t have to give your life for them.”

“You’re right,” I said, cupping his cheek. “I don’t have to. I’m choosing to.” I touched my lips to his gently, and then shot upwards and back.

Maybe Simon was right. Maybe I did get a high off of adrenaline. Being there, swooping underneath a giant dog’s razor teeth and dagger claws, I had never felt more alive. I shot under his legs, and realized that I had finally found something that I’m good at.

Maybe my brothers were better at sports, and academics, and fine arts, and selling people out to science. But I was better at helping people. I was better at throwing my life on the line to save others.

I was better at pissing off giant dogs.

I noticed the helicopter above us, aiming cameras downwards towards my fight. Typical humans. A giant dog attacks a major city, and they waste resources video-taping it, not evacuating the people who are in the line of fire.

Where the hell are the police? I realized. They should be all over this, trying to take down Fido with their pathetic little guns.

I dove under Wolfy’s chin, narrowly missing his teeth. Bloodred eyes rolled, trying to keep track of the annoying little hornet that buzzed around him.

And then my phone rang.

I didn’t realize it at first. I figured that it was someone elses, and that they would get it.

But then I remembered that I was four stories up in the air, and that there was no one around.

I back-winged upwards and flipped over the edge of a building so that I was on the roof, hidden behind a lip. Then I pulled out my phone and answered it.