Chapter 98 - Gone Too Far
The hop over the spot in the brick wall was difficult for the wolf, but the adrenaline in his veins eased the blow. Pulling Louis up was much easier.
They made a quick pace toward the city, exchanging no words as they hurried in the night. The breath from their mouths puffed out and dissipated rapidly, and Legosi couldn't help but feel the specters of all the herbivores that had lost their lives due to predation.a
Louis was stuck in his own head, still thinking of the plan. "I think I've got it."
"Got what." He didn't look back when he responded, his voice remaining flat.
"The plan."
"What is it."
"You just need to distract him long enough for me to get to a higher spot and shoot him. Of course, I won't kill him. If Bill doesn't come, we have no chance by ourselves."
"So, when we get there, we buy time until Bill arrives?" They quickly crossed a street, now entering the city proper.
"Not exactly. You buy time until I can get to a place where I can shoot him. Oh, but I already told him it would be you and I. Shit...Okay, then we're both going to have to confront him, then you distract him so I can slip away and get to a higher place. Or should I just shoot him while I'm close?"
"He might have Pina as a shield," Legosi frowned.
"Then...we'll just have to hope I aim well..."
Both of the animals looked up, spying the bridge between two buildings. They weaved in and out between the few animals walking at night, both of their hearts pounding in a nervous anticipation.
The deer tightened his grip on the gun as the finality of it all hit him. After this...that was it. No more murderer, no more Cherryton. It was the last obstacle in their way.
Through an alley and across another street. A park was now all that stood between them and their destination. Legosi marched ahead, confidence bolstered by the footsteps he heard behind him.
Louis stayed behind him, looking around. This was quite a shady area. He wondered why Riz had picked it, but there didn't seem to be any animals here besides them so it made sense. He wasn't really mentally prepared for what could happen. If things went wrong...
The park was sparsely lit, causing Legosi to slow down a bit so Louis wouldn't lose sight of him.
The deer got closer. "See him?"
Legosi squinted. "Too far away." He pointed a few dozen meters in front of them. "There's a chain-link fence up ahead that should lead under the bridge, and then a steep incline up. He's probably up there."
Louis nodded as they continued their journey. He felt his heart rate grow faster as they got closer to their destination. This wasn't something even adults did, normally. Would they be able to pull it off? Could Legosi stay calm enough not to lose his shit and get hurt again? Louis didn't want a repeat of Adler, even though he was sure he wouldn't be able to save the wolf this time.
The fence had a locked gate. Without much hesitation, Legosi started to climb it. "You think you can handle this?" he asked his partner.
"I'm wondering how you are, with your injuries and all..." The deer began ascending. "Ergh...Wish we could be out for different reasons, like a date or something..."
"We never really had a night on the town, huh?" Legosi mused.
"That's because it's dangerous for carniherbi's like us."
They both stood at the bottom of the concrete slope where the runoff had frozen solid. Legosi started to pace. "So, wait for Bill or go up now?"
"Do we have any more time to waste?"
Legosi let out a staggered breath and shook his head. He started the climb on a dry spot of the slope.
Louis followed. "It was...quite the journey out here— WOAH!"
His mate shot backwards and reached down to grab the deer by the wrist. "You okay?"
The buck looked up. "Y-yeah. Just...almost lost my balance there." He regained composure and began climbing once more. "Something tells me we'll be exhausted after this."
"I hope someone will be able to call an ambulance if needed," Legosi, stated grimly.
"...Yeah."
Their destination grew ever closer. Legosi sniffed the air. Was that...His pace quickened, pushing his burning legs forward.
Louis attempted to keep up with him, which proved a challenge, but finally they arrived at the top of the hill.
A hulking, imposing form stood by one of the concrete supports of the bridge. It straightened up slightly at the sight of them.
"He's here," Legosi said under his breath, unsure if the deer could see it.
"Where?" Louis tried to squint but it was too dark. At that moment, he realized that actually hitting Riz with a bullet would be a challenge.
Before Legosi could answer, Riz's voice called out from the darkness, loud, yet eerily calm. "Just the two of you?"
"Like I said," the herbivore raised his voice.
Silence. The wind blew across the open space between them.
Legosi stepped forward, sniffing the air again. He turned to Louis, grimly. "I smell blood."
The cervid swallowed. "Oh, god..."
The wolf faced the bear again. "Where's Pina?"
A pause, then a deep chuckle. The dark shape threw something out onto the ground. Legosi gasped once he realized it was a bloodied and torn Cherryton shirt.
Louis turned his head to his mate. "What? What is it? I can't see."
Legosi, shaking with rage, ignored the deer's question. "What did you do?"
Riz stepped forward. "Wow...a dall sheep's body really is a lot to take in. I do believe he was taller than average..."
The deer felt his heart sink to his feet. "No..."
It took everything in the canine's body not to leap forward and tear the bear's eyes out. "Wh-why? Why did you do it?"
"To draw you all out, of course." Riz still had a strangely calm air about him.
"Did you really...eat him?" Louis asked, finding his bravery dwindling each second, if it was ever even there in the first place.
The ursid stepped out even farther, entering the light offered by the overpass above. Now even Louis could see the blood that coated his hands and shirt. "Yup. Pretty boy's dead."
"YOU BASTARD!" A deep voice cried out, then an orange blur as a familiar tiger rushed at Riz, but was knocked to the ground when the bear punched him in the nose.
Bill felt warmth from his nose and looked down at his hand, seeing red and orange there. "Gah..."
"Bill!" Louis called.
Legosi offered one last look to his fiance. "I'm going." And he was off, running up to Bill and placing a hand on his shoulder.
The deer blinked as both carnivores united. Raise the gun, Louis...
The tiger looked up at Legosi. "My nose..."
Riz laughed again. "I knew you were part of this too! Both of you, with your disgusting relationships with herbivores!"
Legosi's fur bristled. "You...WHY DID YOU EAT TEM?" It was the loudest any of them had heard Legosi yell. It echoed out into the night, bouncing back off the large bridge.
Once the wolf's voice faded, Riz spoke again. "Well, it's simple." He stepped forward once again. "Tem was a herbivore. I'm a carnivore. He let me eat him. It's the relationship we were destined for."
Legosi felt bile build up in his mouth. He wanted to call Riz a liar, but he remembered Louis desiring him to devour him all those times. Did the same thing happen with them?
Bill hissed. "Bullshit! No herbivore would ever let you just...do that. I know there's no fucking way Pina or Els did!"
"Oh, no. Not them. They didn't understand. I had to take care of them." The bear took another step forward, his hulking form now more apparent. His eyes were small black dots, unblinking.
Louis felt his breathing pick up. "You expected them to let you?"
"Well, they found out I ate Tem. Then, I took care of that. And now..." In one fluid motion, the bear threw off his hoodie, flexing his huge muscles enough that his shirt sleeves ripped. "I'll take care of you three."
Legosi helped Bill up, standing beside him.
The tiger's face was the most angry any animal had ever seen it. Blood continued to drip from his nose but he didn't care about that. In his mind, he and Riz were the only animals that existed right now, and one of them would be left standing by the end of tonight. He was going to kill him.
That sprint over to Bill had done a number on Legosi's body, though he didn't want to admit. it. He looked back at Riz. "How did you know about Pina?"
"He asked me about the murders this afternoon. Just about as subtle as you were the other day." Riz cocked an eyebrow. "You were probably using him to lure me out, right?"
Louis swallowed. So this bear wasn't as dumb as he had hoped. Doubt started to crawl into his mind. Pina…
Bill wiped the blood from his nose, a look of fire on his face. "You're going to pay for everything you've done. Right here, right now."
Louis knew it was time to get away so he could get to a higher place. How would he know when to shoot Riz, though? What if he shot Bill or Legosi? There had to be some way. Was a phone's light strong enough? Would he have to take a shot in the dark? There was no time, he needed to make himself scarce.
The feline removed his jacket and shirt, getting into a fighting stance. I'll kill you...I'll kill you for what you did!
Legosi did the same, the hot blood coursing through his veins enough to keep him warm.
Riz cracked his knuckles. "I'm going to enjoy this. You two are an insult to my relationship with Tem!"
"If anything, you're an insult to all carnivores! Because of you, the school will be segregated!" Bill yelled.
The smile on Riz's face remained. "An insult? I fulfilled my duty by eating Tem. I'll be closer to him than either of you ever will be with your herbivores."
Legosi pointed an accusing finger. "You killed him!"
"We fulfilled nature's purpose! Unlike you two, who dance around your prey. It's because neither of you have eaten them that you'll lose tonight."
"Tem was your friend! He trusted you!" The dog was shaking now. "You had a responsibility as a carnivore to protect him!"
Riz shook his head slowly. "Stupid...you're all so stupid!"
"And you're delusional and insane!" Bill shouted.
The bear laughed again as he punched his palm a few times. "I'm getting pumped up. You two better not disappoint!"
"This isn't a game!" the feline hissed again, becoming even more upset that this crazy bear acting so casual about this.
"Fine." Riz shot forward, aiming a right hook at the tiger's head.
Bill jumped back and almost slipped as he dodged it. He and Legosi charged at the large murderer as the battle began.
