The White Sheep and The Black Wolf Part 29

Hutak dragged himself from the black river muck. He hissed in disgust as he tried to remove it, only to find that it stuck with great tenacity to his scales and had began to harden. No matter. With the green Alpha offered he could afford a real rub-down, with the works and the ladies.
Savoring this thought, he inched his way toward the shore. Just as he was a few feet from land, he stumbled. Cursing in his native tongue, Hutak was about to continue his trek when he spotted something protruding from the water. He drew it out and examined it.

A crooked grin drew across his face when he realized that it was the carte noir of one of the MiB.

They were close.

He glanced about his surroundings. It was a quaint little neighborhood. Neatly trimmed bushes, freshly painted sills, and not a speck of trash anywhere. Except for a small dog playing on a front
yard, no one else was around.

He clambered unto dry ground and stopped. Lowered his snout he caught a whiff of the scent of one of his bounties. Faint, but still there. He followed the scent up to a small brown house. The
smell was the strongest here. No mistaking the stench of wet human.

Elle smiled contently as she sipped some of the herbal tea Rosa had brewed. After all the stresses of the day, she needed it to lift her spirits. She was getting better, and so in repayment of the Edwards' hospitality, she helped a bit with the chore work.

It was quite peculiar that she found these mundane chores to be so engaging. But she figured it must be because with all the paranormal activities she was exposed to for 4 years, and that it was suddenly strange to return to the "normality."

Finished with her work early, Elle decided to read the rest of her novel until the family was back. Prying the decorated covers open, she entered into the world of 19-century England with its
elegant balls and coaches. Entitled Pride and Prejudice, its author Jane Austen, spun a spectacular tale of wit, humor, and satire about the romance between the opinionated Elizabeth and the proud Mr. Darcy.

The handsome miniture grandfather clock chimed the hour of 6 pm as Elle finally finished the novel. She placed the book carefully upon the coffee table. She stood and gave a good stretch.
The tea had long been cold from the duration of her reading. Elle grimaced at the sour taste and headed for the kitchen.

Strolling down the long kitchen corridor, Elle glanced at the the many pictures of the Edwards' family. Several of them showing couples whose faces radiated with joy and pride. Elle stomach
knotted. Those people had something she had long ago given up on finding, true love. She remembered painfully of the man she had feelings for and trusted with her secrets. He had promised her the world. But on their wedding day, he ran off with a more attractive woman and left her standing alone at the altar. Depression set in, and she had even attempted suicide. After several theropy sessions, she was released by the psychiatrist. Only she didn't return back to
her general practice. Instead she withdrew into herself, hiding in the morgue. Elle knew that she was capable of doing more, but she couldn't bring herself to accepting the living anymore. Until she met Jay and Kay, who offered an escape the pit she buried herself in. But even when she began living again, she couldn't accept loving another person intimately.

MiB, the organization which offered her a new home and a new life. What were the Hoon'taks doing to them now? Where had they taken them? Were Jay and Kay still alive? Elle suddenly felt guilty that here she was laying in the lap of luxury while her "family" was in danger.

Elle sighed. She couldn't stay here wallowing in safety, she had to get out there and search for them. And no Hoon'tak or Alpha is going to stop her.

Making up her mind, she decided to tell Rosa that she was going to leave today, despite her condition. She came to the kitchen...

And almost fell when Chico came dashing from it. The little terrier yapped shrilly.

"Chico!" Elle exclaimed. "What's gotten into you?" She pulled herself up and started for the kitchen once again, only to be snagged back when Chico bit unto her pantyhose, causing a runner.

Elle frowned. Chico had ruined another pair. What on Earth was he doing? Then it hit her...Dogs could sense danger.

Chico barked furiously toward the kitchen. His fur was raised and spittle flew from his mouth.

She reached into her coat pocket. Elle was relieved to feel the comforting prescence of her Carbonizer.

Leaning against the wall next to the kitchen entry, she fingered the trigger, preparing to face her stalker.

Chico bared his teeth and growled.

It seemed like an eternity of waiting, but the truth was only ten seconds had went by.

Suddenly a massive explosion shook the house and a window shattered. Elle grimaced in pain. It felt as if her eardrum was punctured. She knew what her assailant was armed with now. A Sonic Disruptor. One blast could strip the flesh from a human's frame.

Luckily Rosa had left with the girls for the store. At least Elle needn't had to worry for their safety...

Except for her own.

For all she knew it could be Alpha just around the corner. She cursed X for abandoning her at a time like this. Shoving aside her fear she focus her anger on nailing her perp before he did her. She whipped her weapon in front of her as she faced the kitchen. Only to find nothing but splintered glass covering the floor. No one was outside the window.

Then the window next to her burst. A shower of glass rained upon her. Elle turned to face it, but already her attacker pinned her to the wall. Knocking her hand against the wall, Hutak disloged her weapon from her grip.

Hutak seized her throat with his claws and sneered. "That was way too easy," he hissed. "Really, I expected more of a challenge."

Chico barked and sank his teeth into Hutak's tail. Annoyed, Hutak snatched Chico with his free hand and hurled the dog against the opposite wall. Chico whimpered in pain.

Elle grunted, trying to squirm from his foul breath. He was too strong for her. Thinking quickly, she kicked with full force at his underside. Hutak's eyes went wide and he collapsed into a miserable heap.

Elle snatched the Sonic Disruptor from the floor and locked it on him. She knew full well that she should have been retreating by now, luring the criminal away from the residents. That she never should confront an alien alone. But something inside her snapped like a dry stick. To hell with procedure! She was tired of running away. Tired of being hunted while MiB was endangered.

"Don't move or I'll shoot," Elle growled between her teeth. She was surprised at the ferocity in her voice.

Hutak groaned and looked up at the barrel of the Disruptor. He blinked, dumbfounded at how the tables quickly changed.

Elle kept the gun on him as she favored her left foot, the same one she had kicked him with. It had began to swell but she couldn't feel it, not with all the contempt she had in her for Hutak.

Suddenly a clamour resounded from the front door.

Rosa rushed in along with Mary and Lisa. She was horrified of seeing the overgrown lizard in her home but even more so at what damage he did to her beautiful home. She gritted her teeth. "Bastard!" she yelled at Hutak. Then to Elle's amusement, she socked Hutak with an upward blow to his snout.

Dizzied by the impact of pain, Hutak passed out.

Mary, Lisa, and Elle stared at Rosa in shock.

It was Lisa who broke the silence. She raised a small fist in the air. "You go Aunt Rosa!"