Faline
5:39 pm
"He's beautiful."
Kierra nods and starts walking again. We're maybe five minutes away from the mall parking lot. The dog was pitch black, not a dark brown, but true obsidian. His eyes were the color of seawater; a mixture of blue and green.
"Kie, did you see something around his neck?"
"Yeah."
"What was it? It didn't look like any collar I've ever seen."
"It's a necklace."
"A necklace? Why would you put a necklace on a dog, but not a collar?"
She shrugs as we come up on the concrete expanse. It's pretty cool how they built it; a 'single' long building as you would see with any strip mall, with a parking lot surrounding it and half the lot being up against the woods. Then there's the back lot that has an empty overgrown plot of land that no one's done anything with.
There are still cars parked at Spergmen's and, from what I can tell, J.P. Lenny. The woods are at the end of Spergmen's, where we came through. There are also a few cars in the middle, where you would enter into the original mall part.
All the stores had been taken out a couple of years ago since more and more people went to Cherryvale Mall instead. But now it seems there's a single store there. A really big one. 'Farmington Coats'. Oh, yippee.
Kierra stops midway through the parking lot, looking at the building. She looks bored and kind of disappointed. Can't say I blame her, I am too. Come on, a coat store? That's lame.
I hear her heave an exaggerated sigh. After all that walking though, I suddenly have an urge. Grabbing her by her good arm and missing her small wince, I pull her towards the store.
"What are you doing?"
I don't answer her till we get to the doors. Sliding glass doors, go figure. I turn to find her glaring at me, then she cocks an eyebrow.
"If we don't get in there right now, I'm gonna be doing the pee-pee dance out here."
Eyes widen, then she bursts out laughing. I frown at her.
"It's not funny, I really have to go. Now."
She keeps laughing, but steps on the sensor pad to open the door. I walk through in front, wanting to hit her. Hard. Glancing at a sign that's hung on one of the large windows, I learn that they're actually open till 8PM.
As we walk in, the sliding doors make that 'swoosh' sound as they close behind us. Looking around, I notice that it's not just coats they sell, but all sorts of clothes. Sweet, but first; bathroom.
I look around the ceiling for any signs. Can see plenty of advertising sales, specials, clearance, and sectioned off clothing, but no restroom. Kierra nudges me and points to a far wall, sure enough, RESTROOMS is labeled.
Thank God. I hurry towards them with my sister a couple of steps behind, probably lagging so she can look around. I see the men's room first, they have it closed off for cleaning. Praying to the restroom Gods for the women's to be open, an older woman, probably in her seventies, walks in front of me heading in the direction I am. I move to go around her when Kierra grabs me.
I glance back, about to bitch at her, but she catches my eye and shakes her head, grinning. I growl at her. She cocks an eyebrow. Yeah, slight role reversal there, but I really have to go. Turning back, the old lady goes in. It's open! Yay for me.
I head in after her, sibling waiting outside. Luckily, it's the typical three-stall room, and the old woman and I are the only ones needing the bathroom, so I'm able to use it right away. Afterwards, my hands get washed, dried, then the room is exited. All before the old woman is done.
After leaving the room, I see Kie looking at some belts on a display rack. Standing with her hip cocked, she doesn't look too thrilled with the selection. I walk over and join her.
"Anything good?"
"Sure, if you're twelve and like wrapping yourself in clear plastic, then you're all set."
Her face scowls, but she's right though, most of the belts are gaudy and tacky. Pink pleather, sequins, super big chain links, and others that I have no name for. We leave the belts behind and look at other items.
Not a bad store really, just gotta know what you're looking for and where it's at. We look at pillows, bedding, men's shirts, women's pants, shoes, and boots. Making fun of the assorted items as we go.
Why is it that guys have the cool designs on their shirts, but women get dorky stuff? The men have dragons, tigers, awesome designs, and band shirts. While women get bows and hearts and sappy stuff. It's aggravating.
Never really noticed it till Kierra had said something about it at the shopping center once. I had asked her why she always shopped in the men's shirts, and she explained it. Kinda sad really.
We're looking and trying on shoes when an announcer comes over the speakers, telling all shoppers that closing time is in five minutes. We've been here that long?
"What do you think of these?"
I'm wearing a four-inch heel, sandal platform that has straps crisscrossing the ankle. They're bright green with my toes peeking out between more straps.
"Yeah, uh, no."
We laugh as I put them away. She's taking off a pair of knee-high glossy black boots. They are pretty, about a two-inch heel, zippers on the inside, fringes hanging on the outer sides, and a squared toe.
"Those are cute, how much are they?"
She looks at the tag, her eyebrows raising.
"A hundred ninety-nine. Not including tax."
"Holy cow. Is that expensive or cheap?"
She studies the boot.
"Dyed leather, double cross-stitching, soft insides with a hard sturdy heel... I have no idea."
We laugh, both knowing that she has no idea what she's talking about, just spouting random nonsense off the top of her head. Kie isn't fashion savvy by any means.
"They're really nice, but I wouldn't buy them."
She says that, but the look on her face says a different story. The woman loves her boots. After we've put all the shoes away, she needs to stop at the restroom. 'Bout time.
When done she comes out, waving her hands around to dry them faster, flicking water drops at me. Together we walk to the front of the store, a harassed-looking employee standing by the doors, waiting to lock them. Kierra steps on the sensor pad once more to open them, so I walk through with her a step behind.
Out of the dozens or so lights they have in the parking lot, only about a third of them are still on and mostly centered in the middle. Saving energy and all I guess. All the cars from the other two stores are gone, only two left are probably the employee that was at the door and a security guard.
Kie and I walk across the lot, but before long, she stops and looks up. The stars can't be seen through the dark clouds, and the breeze had turned into a mild wind. She stretches her arms out and turns into the wind, her long hair streaming out around her. She loves to do that. I smile and join her.
A few wet spots hit my face a few minutes later, stopping me in my tracks. My sister has a silly grin on her face, green eyes sparkling as they reflect in the light. I grin at her, not really paying much attention to the fact she's moving her left arm.
"I do believe we should head home now, what do you think?"
I nod. I like being out in the rain, but it's also getting pretty cold out. My sister loves the cooler weather since her normal core temperature is higher than normal, but I'm anemic and therefore get cold easily and quickly.
We both turn in the direction that we need to go and start walking, my heels slightly echoing. There's a couple of people ahead of us, walking our way, but talking to each other.
I walk closer to my big sister's right side, noticing that she's got her left arm held close to her, yet she still obliges me by putting her arm around my shoulders. As we get closer to them, I see they're both males over six feet. I hear her mumble about hating tall people.
I laugh, causing them to look up. They stop in front of us, so we move to walk around. I can feel her tensing up next to me. They step in front of us again, blocking our way. My sibling takes her arm from my shoulders as she glares at them.
"Got a problem?"
I wince at Kierra's tone, she doesn't sound happy.
***
Kierra
8:21 pm
The two guys leer at us. One has muddy brown hair that's short and sticking up everywhere, looking like it was cut carelessly when it got in the way. Eyes are the same brown as his hair, nose looking too long for his face, his mouth too small.
The man looks to be somewhere in his twenties or so and his large hands keep clenching, drawing my attention to them. Faded jeans are dirty with holes up and down the legs, wife-beater tank top nearly nonexistent. My eyes travel over his body...he isn't wearing any shoes. Lean and muscular, really defined. Bodyguard looking, just not the beefy kind. The lack of footwear is a bit odd though.
His companion also looks to be in his twenties and has dark brown hair, just with red streaks. I can't tell length since it looks to be pulled back. His eyes, I think, are a goldish color. Something's off about them though.
A thin scar runs from above his left eye, over it to slide to his left ear, shaped like an L on his face. I didn't see it at first, but as he gets closer, I can make it out. Drawing the eye to his face, not distracting from it. He's pretty handsome, in a playboy kind of way.
Wearing a dark-colored button-down T-shirt tucked into black jeans, black knee-high boots encase his lower legs. Looks real slim, but judging by the corded muscle on his arms that I can see, probably really strong as well.
I try to get Faline to stand behind me, but she won't budge. The lamps near us flicker before going out altogether. Right at this time, I'm really regretting that I didn't grab any of my knives.
Lot of good they do being left at home. I usually always have one on me, but I'd been too focused on Faline's being upset with me. Muscles clench so hard in my arms that my injured one starts up its throbbing to double time.
"Well?"
My temper gets the best of me as my patience wears thin. All they do is smile and smirk at us. Mr. Red Streaks looks Faline up and down, and my temper snaps.
"Back the fuck off man, I don't care what the hell you want, but you need to leave us alone."
He looks at me then and laughs, Muddy Hair joining him.
"Why, don't you recognize me, Marion?"
His eyes shift back to look at my sister once more, asking his question. It's then I notice his eyes are slit, like a cat, dilating in the low light. Her eyes grow wide, but she looks confused. We've talked before about her R.P. character, and I know for a fact that she doesn't have a picture of herself to go with it.
"It doesn't look like she knows who I am, Anthony. Should we tell her?"
The one named Anthony just smirks and laughs, leering at me. These guys are really pissing me off.
"My Darkest Maiden, you injure me with your ignorance."
Faline looks stricken, her body starting to shake. I try to keep my eyes on them, but she keeps drawing my attention.
"Nicolaus?"
She asks in a choked voice. He claps, nodding his head with a grin and a mock bow. I look at her, then back to him. This guy is nuts.
"But how? Why?"
"I told you it was time for us to meet. I got tired of waiting for your sister. But she will no longer be a problem for us."
Faline shakes her head over and over. The rain that had started as a sprinkle is starting to come down harder, lightning streaking across the sky above our heads. My arm starts screaming from all the adrenaline and tension.
"Faline, we need to go. Now."
I try to grab for her arm, but something knocks into me before I can reach her, my glasses go flying from the force. At first, all I see are glowing brown eyes, the impact to the ground knocking my breath away, then I cry out as pain shoots through my already injured arm, elbow hitting the concrete. The heavy weight of someone on top of me pushes down steadily.
Anthony raises his head, long tongue slipping out of his mouth as his hands hold my arms down. His face looks weird with glowing reflective eyes. The wet appendage obscenely runs over my face, and as I watch, his face changes, the skin over it moving as if alive. Not waiting to see what happens, I turn mine away and move my legs to kick him off of me. I hear Faline scream.
My legs falter as I panic, my knee sliding off a hard leg harmlessly. He grunts and my eyes shoot to his face. What was a human male face is now gone, and a beast has taken its place. Short, shaggy brown fur covers a canine face but does not hide the open mouth full of teeth. Very sharp teeth.
My mind is whirling. This can't be happening, not for real. This is impossible. I hear my little sister scream my name. I really begin to panic now.
I scream, kick, and claw at the thing on top of me. His hands holding my shoulders down have grown fuzzy with what feels like daggers for fingernails. Claws dig into the bone as I watch, frozen, while his muzzle bears down on me, biting into the hollow of my injured shoulder. I scream as vicious pain tears through me.
Why is no one coming to help us?
Tears run from my clenched shut eyes as his clawed hands rake down my chest and stomach. I can feel the skin split, I've never felt pain this intense. Hot blood scents the air and runs freely.
Opening my eyes, I raise my right arm, hitting at his face, pounding down on his muzzle. He barely looks fazed as he gnaws at my collarbone. Fire trails where he's licking at the blood, then the bone snaps. My breath leaves my lungs in a harsh gasp.
Legs work at kicking him off me, but he's much too heavy now. My left arm is useless, twitching every once in a while from the nerves that he teases with his tongue and teeth. I'm able to get a kick in at his groin, even with his body distorted as it is, he yelps.
The claws slashing at me graze off ribs, I scream some more, trying not to blackout from the pain. My mind is crazy and whirling. I can't hear Faline anymore. Where is she? Is she being attacked by a creature too?
My punches aren't fazing him, just hurting myself more as I push him into my injuries. I aim for his eyes, which are closed as he laps at my opened shoulder.
Steam rises from both his breath and my wounds, white bone protrudes from my torn skin. I only have one chance to get this right, otherwise; I'm dead. I stiffen my thumb and plunge it into his unprotected eye, stabbing into the soft tissue, plunging deep as it gives way; breaking open like a squished, overripe grape.
He rears up above me roaring and howling in pain. What remains of his eye runs down along his canine face, the socket filled with bloody mush. What I see above me is no wolf, but not human either.
A male humanoid body combining with animal fur is on his knees, screaming in pain. His legs start to bend and contort, bones popping. Looking like a seven-foot-tall dog walking on his hind legs, a tail worms out from behind him.
Long fingered clawed hands clutch his face. Not wanting to waste the advantage, I pull my legs into my stomach, and with as much force as I can muster, I kick both legs into his very nude, very male groin. His one good eye shoots open as his tender bits get kicked into his spine. His screams pierce my eardrums.
Good thing I'd already been born deaf in my left ear.
"You bitch!"
He gasps at me while clutching himself. High pitched sounds escaping as he relearns how to breathe. I look around for a weapon, anything to help me.
Of course, nothing is around.
I try crab-walking backward on my elbows, my left side totally lame, leaving me to push myself as my arm just drags next to me. My abdomen and ribs scream at me while using my legs to thrust my body further away.
The rain is still coming down but I didn't really notice it when he was on top of me. I can feel it now as it pelts down on raw nerves. I wheeze with pain, my ribs hurt so badly.
My shirt is in shreds with my blood everywhere, mixing with the sky water. Taking a quick look down at my body, I pray I haven't been eviscerated.
Nope, innards are still in my body...barely.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you slowly!"
My hand lands on a chunk of cement about the size of my fist as he lunges at me. Everything seems to slow down all at once. I see his one eye filled with rage, the blood, my blood, covering a snarling face covered in dripping eye fluids.
I also see long, curved claws reaching for me. Blood drips steadily from between his legs, which is only seen from lightning flashing above us, lighting up the area for a split second. Enough for me to get my aim just right.
I bring up the clump of cement, smashing it into the side of his face just as his jaws open. They snap millimeters from my skull, if I hadn't jerked back, I wouldn't have a nose, let alone a face. As it is, I have to fight from falling back from avoiding the attack, which has my body burning with agony.
The blow knocks him off his course, but he isn't down yet. I bring it up again, hitting him across his busted eye. The crunch of bones cracking can be heard before he yowls.
I try to bring my other hand around, but it won't work. I grip my only weapon in my hand as I pull my legs under me, rising to my knees. Even with the adrenaline coursing through me, the debilitating pain in my chest and belly slows me down.
I reach my feet too slowly for my liking. He's still on his...are they called knees? Nope, he's just crouching really low. His screaming hurts not only my ears but my head, grating like nails on the inside of my skull.
I wobble closer and hit him again. And again. Bringing my arm up and around as hard as I can. He finally falls and the silence is loud, even though the rain is coming down harder.
My breathing comes in loud gasps and pants as I stand above him. The left side of his face is a bloody ruin, while my whole body hurts. Limp fingers drop the cement onto his head. It hits with a wet splat before rolling off.
Faline!
I whirl around looking for her, having to stop for a moment as the dizziness overtakes me, the need to vomit strong. I don't see her anywhere. Blood smears the ground; his and mine.
I look down at my hands. They're both covered in blood, my right hand has a small bone shard stuck in it. I cringe and try to pull out what I can with my injured arm, but it still won't move.
Unable to hold it back anymore, I stumble away a couple feet and fall to my knees. My right-hand flies out, catching me just in time before I fall over and expel everything in my belly. The left side of my collarbone screams at me.
A continuous stream of tears fall from my eyes as the harsh upheavals bring up acids, then nothing. Squeezed shut, color bursts explode behind them. I'd broken my collarbone when I was younger, but I don't recall it feeling anything like this.
The smell of blood is strong around me, not even realizing that I myself am still bleeding everywhere. Wiping my hand across my mouth, I try to stand. It takes a few tries, but I'm finally able to get to my feet.
Opening my eyes as they fill with more tears, I stumble towards the woods. Hard to see without my glasses, but I need to get home. I need to call someone. I need to find Faline.
My blood falls to mingle with the dirt and fallen leaves as I stumble along, falling against trees multiple times, just to drag myself back up. Have to keep going. My mind is blank except for the thought to find my little sister.
I'm in shock, I know that much. With the adrenaline fading from my body comes the onslaught of mind-numbing pain. I'm just walking past the burned-out house when I burst out laughing. My mind has come to the conclusion that this is all a dream, and I'm about to wake up at any time.
"Anytime now. Yup. I would really like to wake up now."
I stumble and fall to my knees, crying.
Faline is gone. I have to find her.
Getting back to my feet slowly, my right hand rubs on my pants. When I notice, I stop, vaguely remembering that something had gotten stuck in it. Hot tears fall from my eyes, making it really difficult to see.
My chest is throbbing, stomach burning, my back feels as if it's been ground against jagged shards of glass. Ribs protest each breath. I can no longer feel any pain in my left arm, but it still won't move. In the back of my head, I remember that being a bad thing, not to mention the exposed and broken clavicle bone.
Rain continues to pelt me as I reach the edge of the tree line that surrounds our house. Leaning heavily against an old oak tree, I stop and look at it.
I have to find Faline.
Blood smears against the rough bark as I push myself away, trying to walk faster to the front door. My ribs shoot pain through me as I try to breathe evenly, it doesn't work, as gasps escape in sobs. Here's to hoping they aren't broken. That would be just my luck. Just walking up the single step sends pain shooting through my whole body.
Unhooking my keys from a belt loop, I move to unlock the door, pushing the key into the lock. Miss the hole, but the door slides open. Weird, I know I locked it.
I step inside without turning on the light. Water and blood drip down to make a puddle as I stop and frown down at my keys. A quick question popping up as to why I didn't try to use them as a weapon. I shake my head, dropping the things as my hand goes to my forehead, pressing hard.
I need to find my baby sister. I have to find Faline.
"Faline..."
I fall to my knees, then forward onto the floor with that as the last gasp on my lips.