I reached for my 9mm and shot him in the chest just as he launched himself at me again. He should have dropped. It wasn’t a killing blow. We healed quickly enough that he could have survived, but he should have been down for hours. Instead, he kept coming.
He landed on top of me, his claws sliced down my chest and stomach. The pain was intense, but tolerable. One of my hands had turned human to hold the gun, but the other was still shifted. I used it to dig my claws into his stomach. I ripped upwards just as his jaw clamped down on my shoulder. I screamed and brought my gun up to his head.
One shot, and he slumped dead on top of me. I shoved him away from me and began to stand up. I had to see where the others went. And where in the hell was Terry? I hoped she was taking care of the other three.
Just as I stood, a shotgun went off, and I stumbled back. At first, I wasn’t sure what happened, but then I looked down. Blood covered my entire body, some mine, some the jaguars. It was soaked through my torn clothes, with more pouring out of the gaping hole in my right side.
I looked up and saw the boy lowering his shotgun with a satisfied smile spreading across his lips. I lifted my 9mm, ignoring the burning pain and pulled the trigger. The shotgun fell to the pavement, as the boy's eyes stared wide at me. Blood began to trickle out of the single bullet wound in the center of his forehead, before he slumped to the ground.
I staggered to the building beside me, using the brick wall for support, as I tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t, though. Each breath was excruciating, and I knew a lung had been damaged. I blinked repeatedly, as black spots blurred my vision, and I fell to my knees. My legs felt numb.
I watched as the two jaguars approached slowly. What in the hell was wrong with these shifters? They were the same as the other one. That disgusting pink foam was pouring out of their open jaws and their red eyes glowed in the dark night. I was sure they were just as strong, and I didn’t have it in me to fight another one.
I tried to lift my gun, but my arm refused to work and just hung uselessly by my side. My eyesight blurred more, and I could feel myself falling. The next thing I knew my face was pressed against the hard pavement, as I watched them get closer. My last thought before I closed my eyes, was that we had been set up.
26
Terry
The trek through the forest and farmland had been surprisingly easy, and before I knew it, I was at my destination. I set up on the flat roof of a retail shop across the street from the Town Hall.
I snorted at the sight of the stupid building. I shook my head, Wilde Mountain was a redneck town, and those marble columns looked ridiculous.
I set up my equipment quickly and using the scope, searched the empty streets below. Where was everyone? I was beginning to think the town was deserted. Maybe they packed up their drugs and moved on. I hoped not. We had to catch these people before local law enforcements from neighboring towns caught on to what was going down. Our secret would get out, and all hell could break loose.
“There he is,” I whispered, as I caught Jordan making his way to the Town Hall. He was good. I hadn’t caught sight of him until he came out onto the main road.
I scoped around the area again. So far, so good, I thought.
Wait! Where did that guy come from? He just came strolling out of nowhere with a shotgun in his hands and two jaguars following. I sighted my scope and was ready to shoot when I heard a noise behind me.
Turning swiftly, I came face to face with three ugly ass jaguars. Their fur was ratty, and pink drool coated their mouths as they snarled.
“Eww! You guys look like shit. You know that, right?” I said, and one snarled, showing off gleaming fangs. I rolled my eyes. “Obviously, you can’t take constructive criticism.”
I was glad I packed a back up gun. I had it stashed in my bag only a couple feet on my right. I lunged for it just as one of the cats leaped. My hand found the 9mm quickly, and with practiced ease I aimed, but it was too late. The jaguar landed on top of me with a grunt, causing the gun to drop from my hand and slide across the roof.
Damn! He was fast. I elbowed him in the face and rolled.
As I got to my feet, I saw all three pairs of menacing red eyes coming towards me. There was no way I could take them all.
I smiled wide and said, “Sorry, but I can’t stay and play. See ya later, boys!”
I turned and ran across the roof, shifting in mid-sprint. My fox form was small, and I got trapped in my clothes for a second, but was able to keep going.
My paws hit the tar-covered roof, and I knew they couldn’t catch me. The problem was where would I go? The only way down was a metal ladder and in fox form that was impossible. I should have thought of that, but if I had stayed human, I would have been cat chow.
The edge was coming fast. I glanced behind me and saw them right on my heels. My head snapped forward. I had to jump.