Chapter Four

The pain that seared through Nicole's leg was like none other she'd ever experienced. The one time she'd broken her wrist in grade school felt nothing like the bullet wound in her thigh. She felt Marines swarm around her, some running to the edge to shoot at Alex, others checking to make sure she was ok.

Though she wasn't the intended target, it was clear that they would do anything necessary to catch him, including killing innocent people. This only infuriated her. A Marine grabbed her arm to help her up but she shoved him away as best as she could.

"Get the hell off me!" She screamed, jerking her arm out of his when he reached for it again. A medic came running, then started to look at her leg. This she allowed, but she glared at him the whole time. They probably thought they were doing her a favor, the arrogant bastards.

She was just glad that Alex had escaped. From the chatter, they'd already lost sight of him. She giggled to herself when she overheard them calling him ZEUS. Like the god. Her ears caught some conversation over the sounds around her, dialogue that stopped her heart from pumping.

"It tried to go back for her, sir. I think she may be the key to capturing it once and for all." One voice said.

"That can't be right. That thing isn't capable of love." A tougher voice replied.

"I didn't say that sir. It may want her for completely different reasons. But it does want her. Maybe we can use her to trap it." The first voice said again.

"Very well. See what she knows first. I have an idea." The tough voice ordered.

"Anything we want to do needs to be done soon, sir. Very soon, while we know he is still in the area, and before he has a chance to come back and save her himself." the first voice suggested. There was a moment's pause, and then her attention was taken back to the pain in her leg as the medic was wrapping it up.

"Ow!" She growled, then shoved the medic angrily. He just huffed and went back to work. Then two figures came into view. A thick older man with scars on his face stood before her, exuding authority from his very pores. He had to be the Commander. He looked down his tall nose at her, and she glared right back at him.

"I won't tell you assholes a damned thing. Do what you will." She hissed, then glared again when the commander laughed.

"In that case, you just sealed your fate, lady." The commander said, his tough voice the one she'd overheard. She fumed as she heard him order others to load her on a helicopter. She struggled as two Marines grabbed her from both sides and forced her on the landed helicopter. She tried to pay attention to where she was being taken, but she was only left to be confused when they landed in the center of central park.

She heard orders being barked around for them to take positions. She didn't know what the plan was, but she knew the intended outcome was to capture Alex. She wouldn't allow that to happen. Not after everything he'd done for her. But before she could devise a plan the commander grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet.

"Good luck." he said, then jabbed a finger in the bullet hole the medic had just patched up. She screamed in pain and clutched her leg as he tossed her out of the helicopter onto the dirt. She hit the ground hard, cussing and screaming at the retreating helicopter. The smile on the commander's face was permanently etched into her nightmare memory. Because that's what this was. A nightmare. It had to be. She looked down at her leg, still bleeding like none other despite the pressure she was applying.

"Fuck!" She hissed, then took off her belt and tied it above her wound, pulling it tight. It would have to do until she could find better. She struggled to get to her feet, then looked around. The park was dark, except for the lights that illuminated most of her surroundings. She'd always loved Central Park, but now it was downright scary. And empty.

There wasn't a soul in sight, nor a single sound. No birds chirping, no car engines humming, no people talking. Nothing. She'd never felt so alone in her entire life. And the one person she wished could be there needed to stay as far away as possible. She only hoped he'd see this for the trap it was and stay away. She ventured forth, stumbling as quickly as she could without screaming in agony.

Every step seemed to take an hour, and she eventually made it to a tree to lean on. She looked around, hoping for some sign of where to go, or what to do. Then an ear piercing howl filled the air and chilled her bones. She froze, turning towards the sound. She heard the slow crunch of huge footsteps drawing near, and dread seeped into her bones.

Then she caught a glimpse of the scariest creature she'd ever seen, even in her nightmares. It walked on four legs, bigger than an elephant. Its furless skin was covered in blood and weird growths, with huge claws on its feet and large teeth in its mouth. Its face was scrunched up and deformed, and the very sight of it stopped her heart from beating. Its head sniffed the air, and its eyes caught sight of her. It smelled her blood. The blood from the wound that the commander had reopened right before dropping her here. She wasn't just bait for Alex, but this thing as well.

"What… the… fuuuck are you…?" She whispered, staring at it. It stared back at her, then crouched back like a lion ready to spring on its prey. It was going to fucking eat her! She braced to jump out of the way, and adrenaline slowed her perception so the next couple of seconds seemed to go by much slower. The creature lunged, moving through the air faster than anything she'd ever seen. Though she'd intended to dodge it, as it moved she realized she couldn't outrun it. She had no chance. And as it got closer, she silently cursed the commander for this.

And just as it reached her, a dark figure flew in from the right and plowed right into the creature, knocking it off its course and rolling through the dirt with its assailant. They rolled right into the pond nearby and the figure was the first to come back up. It didn't take her but a second to realize it was Alex. He started to run to her but she shook her head and pointed away.

"No, Alex, run! Go!" She gasped, trying to form the words she needed. But he reached her before she could get her point across. He pulled her into his arms and squeezed.

"You're hurt." He said, looking down at her leg. She stared at him incredulously. Sweet as it was, this wasn't the time. He was in danger!

"Alex, it's a trap. They put me here as bait. You have to get out of here!" She explained, pushing him away. He shook his head.

"I'm not leaving you again. No." He said firmly. She gave him a good shove for his stubbornness.

"Don't be stupid Alex, go! GO!" She yelled. Any protest he would've had died before they reached his lips as the creature roared and climbed out of the water it had been thrashing about in. He stood between it and her, and seemed to brace himself for its attack. He was going to fight it!

"Goddamn it Alex, please. Go!" She begged. The creature lunged, flying into Alex and then into her. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Alex latching onto the creature to fight it.