Chapter 15 #2
It takes Elise a moment to realise that I’ve asked her a question and even longer for her to answer. “I… I think Simon went to go find Tobias and the rest of the group,” she says, her voice shaky as her hand tightens on Bean’s mane.
Well… fuck. “Alright, thanks. Make sure people stay here.” I raise my voice and make eye contact with several people as I say that, hoping it’ll get through someone’s panic. A few people nod and seem to understand my words, so I turn and leave.
I could take Bean with me, but I don’t want to risk her with how chaotic this fight is. Besides, I’m pretty sure she’s the only thing keeping Elise sane.
I’m just passing the end of the hedge when I almost run face-first into Rachel. She’s splattered with blood but appears unharmed.
“Hey, have you seen—” My words cut off as a familiar masculine shout echoes through the field. My eyes widen and my stomach clenches with dread. Oh God, Tobias.
“Go!” Rachel snaps, shoving me toward his shout. “I’ll look out for Simon and defend the people here. Go save your brother.”
I don’t think, I just run. Branches whip against my skin as I plough through the thick bushes and brambles, my heart hammering against my ribs as my chest tightens with terror. I round the corner of the hedgerow and come face to face with my brother and dog fighting for their lives.
A massive Scourge is beating the fuck out of Tobias, straddling him as he slams his fists into my brother while Harlow barks and bites at the assailant.
He pays her little mind, his attention solely on my brother as a bloodthirsty smile twists across his lips.
But Harlow doesn’t relent, getting a good bite on the man’s arm before he can punch Tobias again.
The man growls with a mixture of frustration and pain. “Damn mutt,” he mutters as he bashes the side of Harlow’s face with his other meaty paw.
The sound she makes rips through me.
Fuelled by rage, I pull out my knife, stalk over to the guy and slide the blade across his thick throat. “You don’t get to hurt my dog or my brother like that, you piece of shit,” I hiss into his ear as the blade bites into his vulnerable flesh.
Blood bursts from the wound, showering Tobias in a thick red spray that has him choking and sputtering. The Scourge member gasps and gurgles as his huge hands fly up to his ruined throat, trying in vain to stem the flow of his lifeblood. But it’s futile.
I shove the dying bastard off my brother and turn my attention to Tobias. “Are you okay?” I ask as I crouch down next to him, frantically scanning his body for injuries, but it’s hard beneath the thick covering of gore.
Tobias blinks, his emerald eyes still hazy from fear and adrenaline, and shakes me off. “I’m fine, just got taken by surprise by that fucker.” He nods his head towards the dead body. “Are you okay?”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Yeah, I’m fi—”
Branches snap behind me. I whirl around to find a gun pointed straight at me with a smirking gunman standing behind it.
“I can’t believe a tiny thing like you just took on Mickey,” he says with a low whistle, his dark gaze flicking down to the bloody knife in my hand and the body at my feet. “Well, shit. Luke might have some fun with you.” He licks his lips, the implication clear.
Cold fear skates down my spine like ice, and bile burns my throat as I stare down the barrel of the gun.
While it doesn’t seem like he’s about to kill me, the leer on his face tells me that death is the last thing I have to worry about.
I hate how similar this situation is to another one I endured over a week ago.
At least this guy isn’t my ex.
“Stand up, bitch,” the gunman barks as he motions with his gun. “And drop the knife.”
“Liv…” Tobias whispers in horror behind me.
I remain silent as I do what he says, anger and fear warring inside me. There’s no way in fuck I’m going anywhere with this bastard. Not without a fight.
Movement behind the guy catches my attention, and my brow twitches. Is that…?
I don’t have time to think before Jerri—of all fucking people—launches herself at the side of the gunman with a tackle that would make Alex proud.
She takes him by surprise, knocking him to the side and barely giving me a chance to duck as his finger squeezes the trigger reflexively.
The gunshot is deafening, causing my ears to ring as I blink at Jerri and the gunman wrestling on the ground.
Her eyes meet mine, and her mouth moves like she’s screaming something at me, but I can’t hear her. And then the gunman adjusts his gun, about to aim it towards her.
That spurs me into action.
Déjà vu slams into me as I grab my knife and dig it into the back of the gunman.
The blade catches on his ribs as he writhes beneath me before sinking into his heart.
He bucks against me one last time before collapsing on top of Jerri, blood pouring out from the wound to soak his jacket as I pull the knife free.
The pounding of my blood replaces the ringing in my ears as I stare at the dead man. My body trembles from a mixture of adrenaline, fear, and residual anger.
“Liv?” A hand lands on my shoulder.
I flinch and glance over to see Tobias gazing down at me with pinched eyebrows and tight eyes. Shit, I probably look like a complete nutcase to him right now. Harlow whines and bumps her head against my leg.
“Sorry, I’m fine,” I say, giving myself an internal shake as I crouch to get a better look at my dog. She appears unharmed, but it’s hard to see in the dark. I’ll need to get a better look at her later.
“Can you twats get this heavy fucker off me?” Jerri screeches from beneath the dead man. “He’s bleeding all over me!”
I blink. Oh right. Fucking Jerri of all people just saved my ass.
I scurry over to her and, with the help of Tobias, heft the dead body off her. She lies in the mud, covered in blood, and scowls up at me.
“This changes nothing between us,” she hisses as she peels herself off the ground. “In fact, I’m already regretting it.”
I bite back a snort. Well, good to know she didn’t suffer any brain damage or suddenly have a personality transplant. I can only deal with so much shit right now.
“Don’t worry, I won’t invite you over to my next sleepover,” I say drily, not bothering to help her stand. I wouldn’t have before, and I won’t start now.
“And now my clothes are ruined,” she whines as she glances down at her blood-soaked coat and mud-caked jeans.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes and glance around.
Flames engulf the house as tendrils of smoke billow out from smashed windows to fill the sky with black smog.
The stench of burning wood, plastic and petrol choke the air, and I just know our clothes are going to stink for days.
In the shadows, I can see Scourge gang members skulking around, a reminder that the threat is still here.
We need to move.
And then I hear something that makes my heart stop and my breath catch; a pained yelp that can only belong to one person.
Rhys.