The creature was coming at me too fast, my sword was never going to make it in time. It jumps for me, and I thrust my bad arm into its mouth. A scream escapes me as it bites down, crushing my already weakened bones. "Now!" I scream to Michelle, "Take its head clean off!"
I lean back and keep my arm out as far as it would go, giving her a clear shot. But as I looked up, the fist dog was jumping for Michelle. She screams as it sinks its teeth into her shoulder.
"No!" I shout, trying to get to her.
I drop my mothers sword, it was too heavy and I couldn't use it to injure something so close to me. I pulled free one of the knives I had strapped to my leg and stab the thing in the neck. Thick, brown blood gushes from its mouth, but it doesn't let go. I pull my knife free and stab it again and again until my hand was covered in so much rotting blood, my knife slips free from my hand.
As my knife clatters on the floor, the creature finally goes limp and collapses in a pool of its own blood. I try to get to my feet, but I slip and stumble in the foul-smelling blood. I look up at Michelle as she battles this thing that rips a chunk out of her shoulder off. Her screams fill the air as I fight to get to my feet and grab my mothers sword.
I finally stand, and using both my arms, I lift the sword above my head, "Ardeat!" I call out, using the latin word for burn. My sword suddenly glows red, the edges flickering with flame, and I swing it down, slicing the creature right in half, its two parts lighting on fire.
I step between Michelle and the door just as the third creature slams into me, throwing me back on the floor. My head cracks against the hardwood, and the largest of the three creatures sinks its teeth into my good arm. I throw my head back and scream in pain as it whips its head back and forth, tearing its teeth deep into my skin.
Somehow, my sword had been knocked from my hand, and I quickly search for a new weapon, pulling free only a small push dagger that was stashed in my belt buckle. I go for its eyes, stabbing repeatedly but, It doesn't let go. I cry out as its teeth sink deeper.
The little knife wasn't going to be enough to kill it. It wasn't even enough to make it let go or hesitate. I look back, searching for Michelle, but only see her body in a pool of blood. My heart sinks, was she ok? Was she dying? Was she already dead?
I switch tactics and stab the thing in the throat, but it still doesn't even flinch. Over and over, I stab and slash, hoping that somehow I could get this thing off of me.
Suddenly, with a loud yelp, the creature was torn off and ripped in half. Gore exploded from it, bathing me in its blood. Its stench fills my nose. I roll to the side and push myself up to my elbows, hissing in pain.
Above me, holding the two halves of the creature was a man with wings and the legs of an eagle. Its face looked human enough, but feathers sprouted where hair should be. Both on the top of his head, and on his face.
For a moment, we lock eyes. Something about their deep golden color held me. They were beautiful but filled with something. Bitterness? Resentfulness? I couldn't tell, but he looked down as if I were an ant, but I felt nothing hostile from him.
He turns his back on me & I see his wings fully. They were enormous and folded up tightly and neatly on his back. They were beautiful with stripes of grey, brown and white.
He was so large that he barely fit through the door, having to duck and carefully, but expertly maneuver his wings through. Once outside, he unfolds his enormous wings, easily a twenty foot wingspan. I watch, gapping as he flaps his wings, taking off without a sound.
I stare after him for a moment, processing, then I hear Michelle cough, startling me back into attention. I stumble to my feet and fall at her side. My first thought, knowing I needed to stop the bleeding, being interrupted with the realization that I couldn't lift my arms. I couldn't help her.
One of the men from the restaurant comes to my side, "What do you need?"
"I…" my mind was foggy. I'd lost too much blood. Where would I go? Does DMHS have their fingers in the hospitals? Could I trust them now? I look up at the man trying to help, his eyes full of worry, I search them for any indication that I might not be able to trust him. "North of downtown." I say, "Take us to the burned down house."
His face pales, "What? But…"
"It's safe," I promise him, between gasps of pain. My world was darkening, I wouldn't be awake much longer. "Ask… for Noah." Then my body simply gives out and everything goes black.