8 Years Ago

I was running. From what I wasn't exactly sure, but when a somewhat scary looking British woman dressed in leather tells you to run, you pretty much get out of there as soon as you can. Behind me I could hear pounding footsteps, but I refused to take the time to look over my shoulder to see who, or what, was following me. I just kept to the woman's advice and ran as fast as I could. Did I happen to mention she had a gun? And not a normal semi-automatic or whatever they're called. This was special, like something you would see in a science fiction movie. She didn't exactly look like the type who would appreciate someone like me getting in the way.

As it turns out, running around the back alleys of a city you've only moved to a month ago isn't exactly the best idea. I, of course, would have to find this out by turning right instead of left and landing myself at a dead end. The pounding footsteps grew closer and closer with every counting second.

I had never coped well when things were out of my control. I always liked to be 'in the know' when things were about to go down and in charge of them too. What can I say? I'm a control freak. So when I was backed up against a cold brick wall with what sounded like a herd of elephants coming straight for me, I began to freak out. Me being me, it wasn't your everyday 'hand her a paper bag and she'll be good and dandy' freak out. This was me, hyperventilating more than I ever had in my life, tears pouring down my face, praying for help that would probably never come. I hadn't even seen what was behind me yet and I was already in panic mode.

I should have stayed home, I thought to myself, already cursing whatever higher power that had made me decide that I wanted ice cream at eleven o'clock at night. Because of my sugar craving I was going to be eaten in a dark alley that smelled like urine.

I screamed when the thing finally rounded the corner, quickly followed by the British woman and two other men, both holding the same weird gun things. The creature looked like some sort of oversized hairless cat, with massive tusks that I'm sure could impale a person with no issues.

My back found the brick wall again as I slid down and rested my head on my knees. This isn't real. In five seconds, I will wake up and realize it's all a dream and that I am, in fact, at home being strangled by my many blankets.

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I opened my eyes, and lifted my head. No blankets. The creature was still there, growling at me. I was beginning to feel light headed, but I knew that this wasn't exactly the most opportune time to pass out. I forced myself to watch as the woman and two men attempted to surround the creature, the woman yelling out commands and the men following them with no questions asked.

The creature attempted to move closer to me, but the team finally had it surrounded.

"NOW!" the woman yelled. All three then pulled the trigger of their guns. A quick flash of light came out of them that hit the creature, causing it to immediately fall to the ground.

As the creature hit the ground I let out a shaky sob that came out a lot louder than intended. The group looked over at me. A look of shock passed over all of their faces at the same time, and then my world turned black.

I woke up a few minutes later, with big warm hands on my suddenly cold arms and a jacket neatly folded under my head. I kept my eyes closed, basking in the feel of the touch before it all came back to me. The running. The creature. The people who knew what was going on. My eyes shot open to find one of the men looking over me, running his hands up and down my arms in an attempt to keep me warm. His dark brown, slightly curly hair stood up on weird ends, and for some reason I had to stop myself from laughing at the cute goofy grin that came onto his stubble filled face when he noticed I was awake.

"Welcome back. Hey Doc! She's awake," he yelled at the women who quickly came over to his side.

"Thank you Henry," she said to the guy with the grin and then turned to me, "I've checked you over. Seems as if you had a bit too much excitement for one night and your body reacted. No major damage apart from a few scrapes on your hands." I looked at them both completely dumbfounded.

"Uh thanks. I guess," I said to her, wondering what exactly was going on.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions about what you just saw," she told me, looking at me with a gentle gaze that only a mother could give, "So I'm going to leave you in the capable hands of Henry here to explain it. Have fun." She smiled at me again, clapped Henry on the shoulder and headed towards the exit of the alleyway before turning and vanishing from sight.

I stood up, feeling shaky on my legs, but not wanting to sit on the ground any longer. I stumbled a bit, but the man with the grin, now known as Henry, put his arm around my waist, supporting me. I looked up at him and smiled in thanks as he led me over to a bench on the other side of the alley.

After we both sat down he wrapped the jacket that had been previously under my head around my shoulders, ignoring my protests of not being cold.

"Henry Foss," he said to me, sticking his hand out for me to shake.

"Eliza Montgomery," I said back, gripping his warm hand and remembering what they felt like against my arms.

"I'm guessing you have a lot of questions." he said, looking slightly uncomfortable with the idea of having to explain what he was about to explain to me.

"Only one," I said, and a look of surprise flitted across his face. "What the hell was that thing?"

Henry laughed. "Now that," he said, "is a long story."