Okay, so I have one request: review. If my stats are any indication, then there's a whole ton more readers than reviewers. Since I should be spending more time on school work, I think I'll take my sweet time about writing chapter 18. Although, reviews would induce me to write a little faster! Hint, hint. Gotta get my fix: Reviews!
Chapter 17
He couldn't believe this was happening. More importantly, why hadn't Leigh noticed? He wanted to slap the palm of his hand to his head, but now wasn't the time to beat himself up or he'd end up dying. And more importantly, Leigh might too. He was so surprised that he cared so much. Ever since he was little, the Colonel had taught him to look after number one first. Everyone else came second.
In one smooth motion, Doug kicked the detective in the back of the knees. Tross buckled, falling against the side of the car. At least he would be out of the way of jetting silver spikes. Helping Tross was like an automatic reflex. If he could help it, the detective wouldn't get hurt--even if he was a sleazebag.
He moved to grab Leigh and pull her to a safer position, hidden behind the Corvette but she was already diving behind the car. Her body hit his and he toppled back, the air exploding from his lungs. He hit the ground hard enough to let out a muffled "oof". Her tail lashed against his leg furiously. Doug caught the frantic look in her eye. A powerful whine exploded from the silence. There was the sound of shattering glass. Tinkling objects fell from the sky, pitting his face and arms. His torso was only protected by the large furry animal that was planted on his stomach.
"Hey!" Tross was crying out suddenly. Seeing his car being attacked by a thousand silver needles wasn't sitting well with him. His eyes had focused and his mind seemed to be whirring, taking in the possible ideas. Doug immediately wrote him off as helpless. Sure, he could possibly be useful in a fight, if you needed an intimidating police officer with sharp voice and piercing eyes. However, Grady wasn't likely to be intimidated by anyone. Least of all, Tross.
Slipping out from under Leigh's weight, he gently placed her to the side. "Stay here," he whispered on a breath of air. "If he comes around the side; run. Don't look back." She gave him a sarcastic and disbelieving glance with one midnight blue eye. The look clearly meant. "You've got to be kidding if you think I'm going to leave you to save my own skin."
Doug's ears were too focused on the sound of crunching gravel to give her a reply. Grady's steps headed toward them slowly, methodically. Grady's head was clearly working ahead of his balls. Now: the one time Doug didn't want him to use his head. There was a certain stalking grace in Grady's steps, but he couldn't muffle the sound of the gravel altogether. Gravel was a tricky thing to quieten. Doug knew this from experience. Luckily, he himself had had lots of practice in that venue.
He flitted around the car in the opposite direction from the one in which the soft footsteps were leading. He had to catch Grady by surprise and knock the gun from his fingers. The weapon would be just as deadly to him as it would be to Leigh, if it hit him correctly. Leigh was hot on his tail, her soft fur brushing up against his side as she slunk in next to him.
"You can't hide forever, Doug," Grady's voice was eerie; almost silky. Like a cat playing with a mouse. A cat that knows he has a certain advantage. Doug only wished that he'd brought along some sort of weapon. He didn't bother to reply to Grady's taunt.
Grady was just opposite of him. Doug ducked his head under the car to check for a pair of feet. There were two white sneakers on the other side and then a pair of knees as Grady kneeled down. One thing a hunter has to realize eventually is that kneeling down is a very vulnerable position. It didn't allow for quick and unrestricted movement like Doug's crouch.
Doug didn't think. He acted as Grady was bringing the gun underneath the car to shoot at their feet. Doug sprung into the air, propelling himself to the roof of the Corvette. He faintly noticed the cold metal of the roof as he rolled over it and plunged over the other side, hands and feet first. The whine of Grady's gun went off just as Doug was falling.
Doug thought he heard a wolf's yelp.
Doug brought his knees in at the last moment, jarring Grady in the small of his back. Grady fell onto his face but he didn't lose hold of the gun. He kept squeezing of the trigger and the whine continued as he moved his hand wildly, turning the tires to putty. Doug slammed his fist into Grady's wrist and the other guy dropped the gun reflexively. Doug gripped the bulging object and threw it down the road before Grady could react.
Grady took that moment to heave Doug from his back. Doug fell to the side, landing softly on his feet. Grady jumped to up, swinging his fists wildly. His ponytail flew out behind him in a rage. Doug knew instinctively that Grady had the advantage in weight and strength. He was going to have to use his speed to his advantage. It was the one thing he did have.
Doug began hopping on his feet to distract Grady from noticing any subtle movements of his muscles. He didn't dare give away any hints to his next moves. He suddenly jumped forward, driving his fist into the larger man's stomach before he could react. Grady doubled slightly and then went for him. Lucky for Doug, he had already jumped back a distance.
Grady was letting out some pretty wild punches, but Doug knew if he happened to get hit, it would most likely be all over for him. He ducked and twisted artfully as Grady continued to advance toward him. They had moved a good distance away from the car now.
Doug tried to focus most of his attention on Grady's muscles, trying to discern his every move. He was doing pretty well now, but eventually he would wear out. He only hoped Grady would wear out as fast or faster than him. He caught sight of a skulking gray shape moving up behind them. Leigh's teeth flashed and she let out a soft and feral growl.
Doug wanted to tell her to keep out of this. He could handle Grady—but not if he had to pay attention to everything she was doing. A small part of his brain was trying to assure him that Leigh could take care of herself, but the stronger and more demanding part of his mind pushed this thought away almost immediately.
He dodged another fist and slammed his own fist into Grady's nose. Blood spurted. His hand stung from the action. Grady was not deterred in the least.
"I'm going to make you suffer for every wolf you've ever saved," Grady told him with a furious glint in his gray eyes. He meant every word of that statement. "People like you don't deserve to exist. Every wolf you save is killing our people off one by one."
Doug didn't deign a reply—not to Grady, at least.
He turned half his attention to the wolf. "Leigh, get out of here!"
Leigh ignored him. She dove forward, sinking her teeth into Grady's leg. Grady let out a cry and kicked backward explosively. Leigh just didn't way enough. She was jolted back and forth by his foot and finally he was able to get enough force behind his kick to make her fly loose. She flew backward through the air, slamming into the rear of the Corvette with a loud yelp.
Doug cringed, feeling waves of pain released from her.
Then something was driving toward his face. It was a fist and suddenly it was too late to dodge, but Doug tried anyway. He probably only saved himself a little pain by propelling his body faster. The fist drove into his face, serving to quicken his fall to the ground. Doug saw a flash of white light, his teeth jarring within his mouth. He tasted something coppery and knew it was blood. He landed on the ground just to have Grady's foot slam down on his ribs.
"You are going to die, Vince," Grady said through clenched teeth. Slowly his jaw relaxed to turn into a deliberate and mocking smile. "I always knew I was stronger than you. Smarter too. You don't have a prayer."
Doug only glared back, feeling like a cornered animal. He could still feel Leigh's pain faintly in the background of his mind.
"Then I'll take you with me," Doug replied darkly.
Grady laughed. "I don't think so."
He lifted his food above Doug so all Doug could see was the bottom of Grady's shoe. The shoe slammed into his face, and his nose spurted forth blood. Doug ignored the pain, bringing up his legs to kick Grady between the legs. Grady cried out loudly but this only made him angrier and more determined. He slammed the same foot down on Doug's ribs and he heard a cracking sound. Doug took in a sharp intake of breath. The pain was almost consuming. There was a flash of red before his eyes.
Grady jumped down on him, his hands groping for Doug's neck. He found it and applied pressure. Doug took a difficult and gasping breath. He weakly punched Grady in the chest, but it barely did any damage. He pummeled him with his fist desperately as black dots began to appear before his eyes.
Then a shot rang out. For a moment, Doug thought Grady had found a gun and shot him. Then he realized that Grady couldn't have because his hands were still around Doug's neck, squeezing. Slowly the hands slackened and he took in a long gulp of cool fresh air. Grady slumped forward onto Doug and the world disappeared under his bulk.
Doug managed to push Grady to the side, realizing there was blood all over his hands. All over his shirt too. He looked up to see a hawk-eyed man standing over him, a gun wavering within his grasp. It was probably the one Doug had extracted from him earlier.
Doug slumped back breathing hard. Leigh growled thumping her tail against the gravel.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Tross managed, looking sick. "But are you alright?"
Doug laughed weakly. "I'll live. But I'd appreciate it if you'd point that gun in some other direction."
