by S Mays
“Again, I am sorry. I don’t believe you are evil, but I can’t have my mission jeopardized. You are not human, so you must die. I shall pray for forgiveness tonight, and pray for your soul as well,” she apologized before lunging at his chest with the blade.
Instead of backing away as she had expected, he dashed forward, turning sideways at the last instant, pushing her as he tripped her with his other foot. She rolled without pause, returning to her feet. She turned to face him, blade readied. Except he was now gone.
She scanned the area without moving or breathing. A leaf fell from a nearby tree, blown sideways by a gentle breeze. She looked up into the tree, noticing him sitting on one of the middle branches, observing her.
“Look, I don’t want to fight. I’m not even sure how I am fighting, although it’s pretty damn cool. Why don’t you put that thing down, and we can get to know each other a little better?” he asked with a wink.
She sprang forward, slashing repeatedly at the tree. To his amazement, there was no sound from the strikes, just a faint vibration throughout the limbs. Again and again, her blade emerged from the opposite side of the tree without slowing. She reversed her hold and swept through the trunk a final time. It had to have been at least thirty inches around, yet she cut through it faster than any chainsaw. A loud crack echoed across the area as the sliver of the remaining trunk begin to splinter.
The mammoth tree toppled forward. She raced to meet where he would fall. As the tree fell, he braced himself against the largest, most flexible branch. As soon as the tree impacted the earth, he used the rebound of the trunk and the branch, along with tensed muscles, to catapult himself out of the tree just as her blade swung. It sliced through air and wood with the same indifference, but missed its intended target. He sailed high into the air in an arc over her head, looking down on her with a grin on his face.
She gasped in amazement at the feat. He was as graceful as any acrobat she had seen. He landed as softly and quietly as a bird, rolling forward to disperse the momentum, despite his size and weight. The height and distance of his jump were impossible for his mass — unless he wasn’t human. She broke out of her reverie when she noticed he was now running at a remarkable pace for the nearby forest. She dashed after him.
He wasn’t sure what this was about, but he had decided he was done playing around with this crazy girl. His primal instinct to survive had just gone into overdrive, and he planned to rush into the trees to try to lose her while he called the cops on his cell phone. He leapt over the surrounding brush and crashed through the trees at breakneck pace. Branches snagged on his clothing and skin, but he ignored them. Putting as much distance as possible between Jessica and himself was his only thought.
***
After a short period, he stopped and listened. He heard no following footsteps through the brush. The only sound was a light breeze blowing through the treetops. Looking up, he could make out the outline of branches swaying hypnotically against the sky. Fumbling for his phone, he covered the screen so the light wouldn’t give away his position. He punched in the digits for emergency services. No service. What the...I always have full bars on campus! He tried again, moving the phone about, but it was useless.
“Your phone won’t work. I’m passively jamming it,” Jessica stated, emerging silently from his right.
“Jamming? But...how?” he asked.
“I think the time for questions is over. Just stand there, and I swear you will feel no pain. The chase is done. There is no one coming to help you, and you are exhausted. Your abilities are remarkable, but I do not have time to explore them further.” She was so calm and cold compared to the girl he had just flirted with while walking just minutes ago. How the hell could he have been such a poor judge of character?
His eyes darted around the forest for an escape route. He was lucky to have been able to survive when it was just hand-to-hand combat (and his mind was still reeling from the things he had done), but there was no way he was fighting her barehanded against whatever she was wielding at the moment.
She started to move toward him, leveling the sword horizontal to the ground, keeping him lined up in her sight. He felt he had no choice but to fight for his life. He wasn’t going to just stand there and get sliced in half. Squatting down, he frantically searched the ground for a makeshift weapon. Rising to his feet, he now held an apple-sized rock.
Her pace didn’t slow as she strolled forward, a look of admiration on her face. “Don’t move, and I’ll make the cut clean,” she said, as if that was supposed to make him feel better. He launched the rock at her head. Surprisingly, his aim was deadly accurate for a change. If it hit her, it would probably kill her.
“Duck!” he shouted, wondering why he’d said that as soon as he had spoken.
She aligned the blade with the rock, holding her arm straight in front of her. It bisected the rock evenly, both pieces splitting off and around her head. Continuing forward without stopping, she drew her blade back for a killing blow. Sverre bent down, patting the ground in an attempt to find a tree branch to use as a weapon. There was a loud crash from her right as something massive exploded in and out of view. Leaves, dirt, and branches erupted around them. Sverre shielded his face from the debris with his arms. Then there was silence. She was gone.
He stood still, holding his breath for long seconds, listening. He could hear crashing to his left, but it was growing faint. A rustling at his feet caused him to look down. Her strange weapon slowly retracted back into the hilt. He opened his phone to shed more light on the phenomenon and studied the device. Metallic particles slowly moved into the hilt. Soon, it was just a basic cylinder again.
He kicked it with his foot, but it lay unmoving. He grabbed the bottom end with the tips of his fingers, half-expecting pieces of his fingers to fly off. When they didn’t, he switched his grip to mimic hers, waiting for the blade to extend again.
Maybe it’s broken or something. Unable to find any buttons or switches, he pocketed it, pondering his next course of action. Something big, scary, and powerful had carried her away, which was good for him and presumably bad for her. The problem now was that he wasn’t sure of his location or the proper direction to get back to school. What if there were others like her back there, searching for him? What if there were more of those giant things prowling around in the woods? He couldn’t be more than a few miles from campus, but that wouldn’t help him if he started walking in the wrong direction.
He looked up at the moon, hoping it would give him some clue as to which way he should head. “Now, is it the moon rises in the west and sets in the east? Or is that the sun...damnit, I’m such a moron!” he muttered.
“I think moss grows on the north side of a tree?” He got down on his knees at the base of a tree and inspected it with his phone light. “Is this lichen or moss? What the hell good does it do me if I don’t know which direction I ran in the first place!” he stated, exasperated. He’d never been camping or in Scouts, so he had no knowledge about what to do in the wild. This was pathetic. He thought he heard a faint shriek from his left, although it might have been a bird crying out. He felt a pang of guilt.
Why the hell should I care about her? She tried to freakin’ kill me! Thinking about it further, he realized something was amiss. At first, it had seemed like she had genuinely enjoyed the brief moments with him as he walked her home, and then it was as if she was required to test him, then eliminate him. He couldn’t detect any malice in her actions. It was like she was duty-bound to attack him.
“She mentioned a ‘mission.’ I wonder what the hell that was about?” Divided by self-preservation and the desire to help someone in need, he wavered. “Aw, hell!” he exclaimed, heading off in the direction she had been taken.
CHAPTER TWO
Farther ahead, Jessica confronted her assailant in the pitch blackness of a dingy underground den. She knew exactly what the creature was, and she also knew her situation was dire. Weaponless, exhausted, and injured due to the
beast dragging her a mile through the brush by her shoulder, she’d have to be quick-witted to survive. Warm, sticky blood soaked through her shirt from deep puncture wounds. Bruises, scrapes and cuts screamed out in pain from almost every limb.
With her back against the rear of the cave, her eyes strained in the darkness, searching. Concentrating on her ability to see auras, the faint roiling energy of the beast coalesced twenty feet ahead. The creature was silently observing her, believing her to be blind in the darkness. Long seconds ticked by until it realized she was watching it. It moved closer. Two faintly glowing yellow orbs faded into view. The werewolf regarded her with amusement.
“Oh-ho, Stalker! So tasty your blood is, just as the rumors said. I watched your combat with the boy from afar. A grave mistake on your part, lowering your guard. I believe you mistook him for me, whom you have been tracking for the past few weeks? Not sure why you pressed your assault when it became obvious he was not. Regardless, I’ll investigate him further after I am done with you. Mayhap he’ll make a welcome addition to the Master’s slaves, or simply dessert. I am happy with either outcome,” he said with a chortle.
Her eyes narrowed as she retorted, “Cur, you’re correct that I mistook the boy for you. His aura was unusual, although not what I am accustomed to from your kind.” She hoped to buy some time to formulate a plan. She knew now that this was the beast she’d been stalking originally.
With such a large student body, no one questioned her presence around campus, carrying what appeared to be a backpack full of books. Impersonating a student to walk freely throughout the campus was one of the easiest assignments she’d had, at least as far as blending in. Tracking and locating her prey was another story entirely.
Two students had disappeared in as many weeks. Besides the missing college students, there were unconfirmed reports of several homeless residents in town missing. A long-distance aerial drone had picked up evidence of something supernatural in the area, but whatever it was, it was far too cagey to be pinned down by any satellite, long-range scanner, or cameras. That necessitated an agent’s personal investigation.
She had discovered the subtle hints of a werewolf around campus, but he was an expert at covering his tracks. That meant he was probably experienced in dealing with her kind. If she had called in backup, it would have spooked the creature. He’d escape to another area and start his rampage again. Most of the time, a predator like this would have already moved on by now, but this one was different.
Although she had the equivalent of a post-graduate degree herself, she’d never gone to college. Most of her assignments were usually wrapped up in a day or two, but this one was difficult, both on a psychological and a technical level. She had enjoyed submerging herself in the college life — going to parties, talking with others her age. Her grandfather wondered if one reason this mission was taking so long was because she was enjoying herself a bit too much. Insulted by his accusations, she had denied it all. However, he wasn’t angry. If she hadn’t known better, she might have thought he wanted her to stay a bit longer. She wondered if her complacency had led to her current predicament.
She needed to get the beast talking to see if he was alone or if there were more enemies in the area. If she hadn’t reported in within forty-five minutes, someone would come looking for her. In the meantime, she would have to play it by ear. She berated herself for not reporting her situation and position before engaging the boy. She’d be hard-pressed to win a fight with the creature out in open space, in perfect condition and armed. She could possibly hold her own against him if she didn’t make him angry, but that would prove difficult. Victory required one or two precise strikes that were powerful enough to render the creature unconscious.
He noticed her contemplation. “You are correct — this is your last day. Either alive or as a free woman. One less of your kind to hunt my kind. Although, from your weapon and demeanor, I surmise you are the Daughter herself. I may have to convey you to the Master for further study. It would be a shame if I destroyed such a grand bargaining piece.”
He appeared inches from her, jumping the distance between them in a heartbeat. Slamming her against the wall, his massive weight and strength bore down upon her like a boulder. She had lost her ability to see in the dark along with her night-vision contacts. Her aura-vision required concentration. His vision was as accurate in the night as in the brightest day.
“I was quite shocked to find you this night. My senses told me someone was attempting to hunt me in these past days, but he was hidden from even my abilities. My instincts told me to flee such a worthy opponent, but my curiosity prevailed. I remained to see if I could eliminate this threat. Imagine my surprise to find a Stalker of some renown was my adversary. What a prize I have won. You know, Daughter, I have been rather lonely these past few weeks. I haven’t had company since the last girl I brought here from the school. If you had arrived in a more timely manner, you might have saved her.”
His glowing eyes turned to the side, peering at something she could not see. She followed his gaze. The heavy scent of decaying flesh assaulted her nostrils. Disgusted, she recoiled from the rotting odor. The malicious glowing eyes fell upon her again.
***
Sverre crashed through the brush. What the hell am I doing? Chasing after some crazy girl who was attacked by some…thing. Actually, after thinking about it, I think I’m the crazy one.
No further noise guided him, but he sensed he was heading in the right direction. A faint glowing object on the ground caught his eye. Reaching down, he picked it up and examined it with the light from his phone. “What the...a contact lens?” he exclaimed.
He held it up to his eye, peering through it. Though his vision was tinted red, the forest was visible, despite the absence of any light besides the moonlight trickling through the tree branches. The reverse side of the lens appeared normal in every respect. “An infra-red contact lens?” he marveled. He spat on the lens and rubbed it between his fingers to clean it, then popped it into his eye. He was relieved to find that it wasn’t a prescription lens. With his now enhanced vision, he noticed a slight path torn through the brush. “Badass,” he whispered before trudging on.
***
Jessica could feel his hot, rancid breath upon her cheek. His eyes burned into hers.
“Oh, yes, my sweet, you are extremely tempting.” She could feel his tongue slowly slide across the drying blood on her face. Inhuman arms held hers to the wall like iron manacles. “Your blood is like nectar. I am very excited this night!” he gloated. His panting became heavier.
“Your master would be extremely upset if his gift was delivered in such a sorry state, wouldn’t he?” she asked. “The Daughter of the Creator himself, and granddaughter of the great Bilford Luvkrafft, bleeding out as we speak. I’m not sure I even have the strength to make the trip you plan.”
“Oh, my sweet, I suspected your identity, and you confirmed it. I shall not further damage you. My master has sought you for many years. Once he is done with you, you may even join him as a concubine.” Visibly excited by her admission, his tail practically wagged. “Yes, I am sure he will wish to reward me for bringing you to him!”
“You know I will never join your master, monster. It is not possible,” she responded, disgusted by the idea.
“I see. You do not know everything, Stalker. The Master can defeat your protections. Others also thought they could not be turned, but they were.” He padded away a short distance, conjuring up images in his mind of the rewards his master might heap upon him.
“I will bind your wound, then we will go!” he exclaimed.
If she had had her sword, this grinning idiot would have been dispatched by now. He kept speaking of “the Master.” She had no idea who that was, so it was best to keep him talking and keep him alive. Bare-handed against a werewolf was a losing proposition for any human. Fortunately, there was a reason she was a Master Stalker.
“Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t we get to know eac
h other first?” she asked. The big lug wasn’t very bright. Perhaps he could be tricked.
“No, no more talking.” He shuffled off to the edge of the cave, searching for scraps of clothing he could use to bind her wounds. It looked like she’d have to try to escape first, then track the creature down afterward, once she had proper backup. If he bound her wounds, he might decide to hobble her hands and feet while he was at it.
She followed as closely and silently as she could manage. Sensing her presence, he turned only to meet her rushing knee, which connected under his chin. She brought down her elbow at the same time, cracking it across his dense skull. Shaken, he stumbled backward. She kicked his knee from the inside, tearing the ligaments, then swung around with her other leg, striking him directly in the nose, blurring his vision and causing him to howl in pain. She turned to dash for the doorway.
His speed was greater. Despite being blinded by the pain he was in, he managed to snag her foot as she ran. He slung her across the room into the wall of the cave, stunning her. She collapsed to the ground, dazed.
Furious now, he moved toward her, but paused, sniffing the air. “The boy you were fighting has come. I will take my rage and pain out on him so as to spare you.”
***
Sverre thought he had heard a faint cry up ahead. Increasing his pace, he raced forward. Again, he questioned the wisdom of his actions.
“Not sure what I am supposed to do against whatever just trounced her. She was about to kick MY ass,” he muttered.
He bounded out of the brush and into a small clearing. Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. If not for the night-vision contact lens, he wouldn’t have noticed it. The ground was disturbed, indicating something large had passed. The trail led to a small opening in the brush, terminating in darkness. A cave? Even in the daytime, the cave would have been difficult to detect if the foliage around it hadn’t been upset.