Disclaimer: see chapter one
Percy pulled into the parking lot of a small gas station. He was a couple days out of New York. If he kept driving, hopefully he would be there sooner. Percy parked the ambulance, turned off the engine and removed the keys from the ignition. He didn't know why he did it, it wasn't like there was anyone around to steal it. However, he just felt safer with the keys in his pocket.
Percy walked into the gas station and looked around. He didn't know what he had expected to find, food maybe. However, it seemed everything had been picked clean. Percy headed into the restroom and went to the sink. He twisted the cold water handle and, surprisingly, water began to flow. He cupped his hands underneath the water, letting it pool in his hands before splashing the water on his face. He did that a couple of times before pulling out a paper towel and wiping his face. He straightened and lowered the towel, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.
Hazy, dull blue eyes stared back at him through a mess of dark blonde hair. He was thin, pale, almost sickly. He looked like a living ghost. The only thing that looked normal about him was his five foot eleven inch height. Percy wondered if he would ever look healthy again. He didn't even know how long he had been unconscious. And he had no way of finding out. He was pretty sure the press had stopped printing papers long ago.
Percy threw the paper towel in the waste bin and headed back out into the main store. He spotted the front page of a newspaper on the floor. He walked over and picked it up. Virus Hits Japan: World In Crisis screamed the headline. Percy looked at the date. Friday, May 13, 2016. How long had he been out? Surely, someone had to know. He pulled the note out of his jeans pocket and read it again.
If you're looking for answers I know where you can find some.
Maybe someone did know what happened to him. He still didn't know who R was. He folded the note back up and shoved it back in his pocket. He would find out sooner or later.
His eyes went to the window when he heard low growls coming from outside. He ducked behind the counter. He looked up at the large mirror in the corner of the store. Figures passed by the window. Percy blinked and did a double take. There was no way...it was impossible. He watched as the figures inspected the ambulance. Outside, they talked amongst themselves.
You're just seeing things, Percy, he told himself, closing his eyes. You're just seeing things.
"Think it's still inside?" one of them said.
Percy's eyes shot open. Holy hell, he thought. They can talk?!
"Smell that, boys?" came a deep, rough voice. "You know what that smells like?"
"Fear," another voice said.
Percy swallowed thickly, his heart hammering painfully against his rib cage. The front door squeaked open and footsteps padded across the tiles. Percy swallowed again as claws clicked across the floor. He closed his eyes, picturing raptors hunting him instead of wolves.
"Come out, little one," the deep voice coaxed. "We know you're in here."
Percy held his breath, sweat rolling down his face.
"What do you think it is?" a second voice whispered.
"I hope it's a rabbit," a third answered.
"Personally, I think it's a sheep," a fourth put in.
Get to the truck, Percy told himself. All you have to do is get to the truck.
He glanced up at the mirror again. The two legged, talking wolves were circling the store. It was only a matter of time before they checked behind the counter. Percy carefully and quietly shifted to his feet, keeping as low as possible. He peeked over the counter. The wolves were on the other side of the store, however, it would take them no time in catching up to him.
Up and over, Percy thought. Up and over. He closed his eyes and swallowed down the bile that was creeping up his throat. One...
"The smell is strongest by the counter," the fourth voice said.
Two...
"Well, then, go look," the first voice ordered.
Three.
Percy shot to his feet and launched himself over the counter. He made a mad dash for the door.
"What the hell? What is that?"
"Don't just stand there! It's getting away!"
Percy bolted for the ambulance, hearing the wolves giving chase behind him. Every step sent a jarring pain shooting up through his legs, but he didn't slow down. He reached the ambulance, opened the door and dove in, just barely slamming the door shut and locking it before the wolves caught up to him. Percy fumbled with the keys, putting them in the ignition and turning the engine on. He prayed he had enough gas to get him as far away from the pack as possible.
"You can't run, freak," one of the wolves yelled as the ambulance drove away. "We'll find you."
Percy breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the wolves grow smaller and smaller in the side mirror. His eyes began to tear up from the pain in his legs. It never ceased to amaze him what the human body could do when it was threatened. That had been the second time he had escaped a pack of wolves by a mere split second. He was sure that the third time he wasn't going to be so lucky.
Percy ran a hand through his hair, still gasping for breath. "Talking wolves," he said in disbelief. "Two legged, talking wolves. What the hell?"
Last time he checked, wolves walked on all fours and couldn't utter a word. Percy checked the fuel gauge. He would need to find a different car if he was going to make it to New York. Luckily for him, there were plenty of cars to choose from on the side of the road. Percy pulled over and got out of the ambulance. He walked up to a black sedan that had the driver's side window busted out. He reached through the window and unlocked the door. He opened the door and climbed in behind the wheel. Unfortunately, there were no keys.
What was it the hero always did when he had a car with no keys? Percy wasn't even sure he knew how to hotwire a car. He didn't want to cross the wrong wires and set something off. However, he wouldn't know until he tried. Percy reached down and pulled out the panel from underneath the wheel. A mess of wires fell down. Perch swallowed nervously. He took the red and blue wires, and praying that they were the right ones, rubbed them together. The engine started to sputter until it finally roared to life.
Percy breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the door. He put the car in drive and hit the gas. With any luck he would reach New York City before those wolves caught up to him. He needed answers to his questions, and he needed them soon. He needed to know what happened to civilization after that outbreak hit. And, hopefully, whoever this R character was would have those answers. Percy checked the fuel gauge. He just hoped and prayed that he would get there in one piece.
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