Chapter 33: The Rescue
I felt my heartbeat accelerate just as the car rolled to a gentle stop. Dave looked at me intently and asked,
'Are you sure you want to do this?'
Of course I didn't want to, but I had no option. Nadia, Nathan and Luz were in this mess because of me. It's after discovering that I was a vampire that Guy came along and made the proposal to Christian to spy on me. Talking of Guy, I didn't know whether he would be there too, but I hoped not as he was an experienced werewolf and thus not easy to dupe.
'You remember the plan? As soon as you see them coming, you run. If you can't outrun them, you use your locket. Is that clear?'
'Yes boss,' I answered pulling out my tongue at him. I just wanted to coax a smile out of him. But he merely frowned and reached under his seat to pull out a small knife, which he handed to me.
'It's not enough to kill a werewolf, but it can slow them down.'
I took it and put it in my pants' pocket where it fit snugly next to my phone and its weight boosted my courage a little. It was still better than nothing. I caressed the metal of my locket then to remind me that it was still here. It was perhaps going to be the key to my survival.
'Ready?'
I nodded shakily and got out of the car, slammed the car door as loudly as I could. Dave winced at the sound but he did the same with his side of the door. Taking a deep breath, I squealed loudly, 'No, you don't touch me.' And I looked at Dave for him to tell me if it had been loud enough. He gave me a thumbs up and I continued. 'You pretended to be my friend, but you only came close to me to steal my locket. Where is it?'
'I told you it's not with me, Ash. Get back in the car.'
'I won't. I'm safer here outside than here with you.'
'Don't be ridiculous. Get in.'
'Oh, I'm the ridiculous one, you liar.' If it had been on any occasion I would have enjoyed this moment. After all, who knew that Dave could be such a good actor? Also, the wind had picked up, so I tightened my jacket around me. Hopefully it would carry my scent towards the guesthouse. My bluetooth earphone then sprang to life and I heard Claudia's voice whisper, 'The wolves have left the den. I repeat, the wolves have left the den. There are two of them.' This had been my idea, to keep connected through a conference call. The earphone was so discreet and I camouflaged it by letting my hair hang free around my face. That was also the signal to end the fight.
'Leave now, I don't want to see you ever.' The last word was said on a higher note for maximum effect and it was also the clue for Dave to leave. He did so, with one last worried look in my direction. I was now alone next to the forest which looked so threatening. My only source of light were the streetlamps which were set at an interval of 10 meters. They were surrounded by pools of artificial garish yellow light, which gave an unnatural color to all the objects surrounding them. I counted one to ten silently and tried to hone in my new vampire senses.
'Remember Ash, you're not the same anymore. You're stronger, better and more determined,' I gave myself a little pep talk for the next part of the plan. I had to make sure that the werewolves were on my track and did not go back to the guesthouse too soon or it would foil our plans.
'Ah, I hate this life, I hate you Dave,' I screamed in frustration.
Suddenly, I smelled the familiar doggy scent that had repulsed me earlier and it was accompanied by the sound of footsteps on dry moss and twigs. Two pairs of footsteps. They were near and I heard the steps hurry. The plan had worked, so it was time to put part two in execution.
'Part two activated Claudia.' And with those words I started running. I couldn't go down the road as it would bring us close to the parking of the Academy and if I went up the road, it would lead to the next town, too far. So I had to cut across the sugar cane field which stretched across in front of me. I found the path which cut across the field and ran. Luckily for me it was the full moon night so I could see quite well especially with my heightened senses. It was then that realization struck me.
'Claudia, it's the full moon. Werewolves are stronger when the moon is full.' Amidst all our planning, this fact had escaped our minds. But in a way it was better as otherwise Dave would never have agreed to the plan.
My shoes smoothly ran over the small rocks that paved the path. It was relatively flat and soon I was warmed up enough, and my steps were regular. I had been a cross-country athlete when younger but when life took over, this passion of mine had been relegated to the past. But now, with the wind in my hair, I was enjoying the run so much. I vowed to start running again as soon as this situation was solved.
'Nadia and the children are out. They're fine' Less than a minute later,' Okay, we're moving.'
'What about Dave?'
I didn't get any answer fom Claudia so I asked again.
'Nadia telling me after Dave freed her, one werewolf who had stayed behind, attacked him. She didn't see what happened next as she came out.'
I felt so perturbed that automatically my stride slowed down and my chest felt constricted. But that was a wrong decision. Out of the corner of my eyes, I witnessed a sudden movement to my left and I saw the sugarcane leaves rustling before one of the young werewolves, who had atacked me, burst on the path. He was bulkier now and looked even more menacing. Maybe if I just sprinted I would be able to outrun him.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice a rock that was protruding and I went tumbling down the path. When I sprang to my legs, there was another werewolf behind me while the other one was in front. He was baring his teeth and snarling.
'Relax, Kutz,' the older one said. He looked to be in his late thirties, but I could be wrong. I hadn't thought to question Dave about how werewolves aged. He was well-built and tall, reminding me of Mr Loup. The one called Kutz, obeyed and adopted a wide-legged stance, keeping his eyes on each of my movements.
'Now, now, now, if it isn't Miss Ash. I was sorry to hear about your grandmother. A fine woman. Too bad I didn't get to kill her when I got the opportunity,' he said, growling.
My mind went into overdrive and I understood that this werewolf must be the Guy that Dave had talked about. Unless there were many other werewolves on the lookout for me.
He sprang in my direction and before I could do anything about it, he had caught both my arms in a vise-like grip. I couldn't reach my locket now. With despair, I looked at both werewolves. My prospects looked quite glum at that moment.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone