Being Human: When will my Death Begin?
By Ldynwaitin
Chapter ten
This Dog Bites Back
Josh slowly walked down the aisle of a drug store. He needed to find a strong antiseptic that he could use to clean the wounds on his leg. It had been over a week since the incident in Texas. In that time the puncture marks made from the buzzard's talons had not healed. In fact he noticed he was starting to get a low grade fever.
He was desperate enough to have Deanna change him into a wolf, but he still did not heal. It had to be a full moon change, and that was two weeks away. He needed to heal the wounds the old-fashioned way. Coming to the end of the aisle he saw a large aisle that separated the front of the store to the back. He walked to the second section of the store. He heard Fidele behind him crunching. Carrying a large back of potato chips, he was practically devouring it.
"I don't know where you put it," Josh told Fidele. "That's the fourth bag today."
"We Pooka's never get fat," Fidele said.
"If you could bottle it and sell it, you'd make a lot of money," Josh mumbled.
Emptying the bag of chips Fidele picked up a toy sword, he slashed it at a stuffed teddy bear.
"That's Captain Sparrow to you sir. You want my Black Pearl? I shall have your innards for breakfast first."
"So you've kept up with modern movies too?" Josh asked him. Glancing down this aisle, he saw the pharmacy at the end. He slowly began to walk down it, Fidele followed him, slashing the sword left and right.
"Oh yes, I've always loved swashbuckling moves. There ain't a better swasher than me."
Fidele continued to duel with his unseen opponent as Josh came to the end of the aisle. Glancing around he went to his left. Coming to the pharmacy he peeked inside. He saw the pharmacist standing in front of shelves filled with medicine that could help him. He knew exactly what he needed to heal the wounds. Without a prescription that medicine was not an option.
Looking up he saw a mirror on the wall that reflected the next aisle. He saw a woman opening the door to a freezer and pulling out a gallon of milk. Looking to the side she smiled and blush. Approaching the aisle Josh looked down, he quickly moved back to hide at the end of the aisle. Looking up he saw only the woman on the mirror.
He peeked down the aisle, he saw two men standing next to the woman. One of them was solidly built, blonde hair, and very pale skin. He was dressed from head to toe in black leather. His companion was the opposite, lean and dark skinned. The pale one was talking to the woman.
"Vampires," Josh hissed. They did not cast a reflection on the mirror. Every bell and whistle went off in Josh's head, he had to get out of there now. He nearly jumped as Fidele suddenly appeared next to him. "Damn it, stop doing that," he hissed to Fidele.
"Fine," Fidele grumped. "Then I won't tell you that I smell vampires in the store."
"I know," Josh whispered. "They're down that aisle." He shook his head, how did they find him? He hoped they were not part of Mother's hunting team.
"We need to leave before they start any trouble," Josh told Fidele.
The soothing music playing on the speakers in the store was drowned by the piercing scream of a woman. Josh didn't have to look to know what happened.
"To late," Fidele said.
"Thanks Captain Obvious, I guessed that myself.'
Josh scooted down the next aisle when he saw a shadow run towards the pharmacy. In seconds he heard screams coming from the pharmacy. When he first entered the store he only saw two employees and one customer in the store. He heard two screams, he prayed that the third was able to get away. His hopes were dashed when he heard a third person screaming. He searched the aisle he was standing in for something he could use to help him. Unfortunately he was standing in the soap aisle.
"Great," he thought. "It couldn't be the gardening aisle." At least there he could grab a shovel or a broom handle. Both were made of wood.
He heard a whistle, a whistle used to call dogs. "Here doggie," Josh heard a man call out, "Where you hiding?" His voice was thick with a Slavic, maybe Russian accent.
Josh glanced to the side. Keeping low he began to back down the aisle. It was then that he noticed that Fidele was gone. He didn't know whether he should feel relieved or mad. He stopped when he heard things being thrown on the floor.
"Do not make us look for you," the Russian accent shouted.
Taking in a deep breath, Josh tried to reason with him. "Leave me alone, I'm not worth your trouble."
Josh saw someone step into the aisle he was standing in. He was in the first section of the store. He could see it was the pale vampire. His chin was covered in blood.
"Aw, listen to puppy whimper," the pale vampire said, with a bloody smile.
"He needs to know who his masters are, Afanas," the dark skinned vampire said, as he stepped next to him. His skin was nearly as black as Afanas' jacket.
Josh searched for a quick way out of there. The dark vampire jumped on top of a shelf, running down it he knocked merchandise on the floor. Stopping at the end out the aisle his head fell back and he let out a howl. "Come on little doggie, we just want to play."
"Get down, David," Afanas shouted. "You no good to me with broken neck."
Jumping down, David ran down the aisle towards Josh. Josh grabbed the liquid detergent, opening it he threw its contents on the floor. David had no time to stop, he fell on the floor once his feet hit the soap.
Josh ran around the corner, he searched for an aisle with merchandise that would be more useful for him.
"Uh, uh, wolf," Josh heard Afanas shout. "You can not go, you did not say Mother may I."
David tried to stand, but the soap was too slippery, he kept falling down. "I don't care if Mother want's him alive, I'm going to rip him to shreds, Afanas."
Coming to the end of the aisle Josh slid to a stop as Afanas jumped in front of him.
"Boo!" Afanas said.
Josh jumped back, his heart was beating so fast he felt as if it would jump out of his chest. He searched around him, looking for something to use to help him fight the vampires.
"Oh, is puppy scared of big Afanas?" the vampire said.
Josh was panting hard, he spied a door marked employees only. He spun around and grabbed a container of foot powder. Opening it, he squeezed the plastic container. A cloud of white powder flew at Afanas. Jumping back, he began coughing as his throat and lungs were filled with the powder. Josh didn't waste time, he ran to the door and shoved it open.
He saw a long hallway with three doors, one just to the right was marked bathroom, at the end of the hallway on the left the door was marked 'Employees Lunchroom'. The door at the very back of the hallway gave Josh hope. Above it was a bright red 'EXIT' sign. Running to it, he tried to open it, he quickly realized he needed a code to get the door open. He could hear Afanas screaming at David to help him. He opened the door to the lunchroom.
Shoving the door open he was surprised to see a man sitting at a table. He wondered why he didn't hear what happened in the store, until he saw headphones planted in the young man's ears.
The young man's nametag read, 'RALPH'. Grabbing the headphones, he ripped them out of Ralph's ears.
"Hey," Ralph angrily shouted. "What the hell, man. Those are new buds."
"Listen Ralph," Josh shouted at him. "You got to give me the code to open the door!"
"No you have to get out, sir. Only store employees are allowed in here."
Josh tried to think of a way of getting Ralph to open the exit door. He knew a story of Vampires would never work. He tried to think of something that he would believe, until he heard the door in the hallway slam open.
"Come here, mutt," Afanas screamed. "You have been a very bad dog."
Josh pulled Ralph towards the lockers. Opening one, he began to push him inside.
"If you want to live, get inside."
"What's wrong with you, dude?" Ralph said. "Chill."
"Chill on this," Josh said. He pulled back and punched Ralph in the face. He stuffed him in the locker and closed it. Spinning around he saw the door slam open. Afanas was standing in the doorway. Foot powder still clung to his hair. Behind him was a very angry, and soapy David.
Afanas stepped into the room. Josh slowly began to walk away from the lockers.
"Where I come from," Afanas said. "Wolf more respectful of vampires. But I come here, and you American wolfs. Well I see that you need a lesson of respect."
He slowly began to unbuckle his belt and pull it out. Josh saw a bright silver buckle on the end. Folding the belt in half, he slapped the buckle in his palm.
"Mother want you very badly," Afanas said. "Have price on your head. She sent Randal to look for you, but he not get job done. She call in other hunters to find you. Afanas lucky, he find you first. He get prize because he best hunter."
"I want a shot at him first," David said. He stepped into the lunchroom. "He made a fool of me, no mutt does that to me."
Afanas widely grinned, "Go ahead, just remember, Mother said she want him back alive. We get no reward for dead wolf."
David slowly cracked his head to the side, "No problem, bro."
Josh searched for something he could use to protect himself. Unfortunately this lunchroom was the cleanest lunchroom he ever saw. Desperate he grabbed a chair and threw it at David. The dark vampire laughed as he easily knocked it to the side. His eyes turned black, his teeth grew longer.
"The one that made me taught me many things," he purred. "You see he had a particular hate for Wolfs. Oh, we had so much fun back then. I miss those days."
Grinning widely he snarled, "Let's rock."
Josh had no other choice, he had to protect himself. Fisting his hands he said, "Come on, you're going to find, this dog bites back."
Backed up in a corner Josh now went on the offensive. As David lunged towards him he grabbed the glass coffee pot and smashed it on the table. Holding the handle he slashed the shattered glass at David. He jumped back, wincing as Josh managed to cut him.
"Correct if I'm wrong," Afanas said, as he put his belt back on. "But to me look like wolf winning, not you."
"Shut up," David slavered. The stinging of the cuts made him angrier. He was going to make this wolf pay for making him look bad to Afanas.
Grabbing the chair Josh threw at him, he used it as a shield. He ran to Josh, with the legs facing him Josh tried to avoid becoming impaled. He slammed hard into the wall. David buried the legs of the chair into the wall, pinning Josh. He was forced to release the broken carafe.
Moving back David wiped the spit from his lips, "You're going to pay for that, I don't like to get cut. I especially don't like getting cut by a mutt."
Kicking the carafe away, he pulled the chair out with one hand, the other hand tightly clutched Josh by the neck. He pulled his fist back and punched Josh in the face, and the stomach. Josh tried to fight back, but it was all he could do to just breathe. Satisfied he had hurt Josh enough for now, David pulled him away from the wall.
"Now we do it old style," David sighed.
He pulled something out of his pocket. "Looky what I found." He was holding a rope used to hang clothes. Spinning Josh around he looped the rope around his neck, slamming Josh on the ground he pulled his legs back and tied the rope to his feet. Lifting his hands in the air he declared, "Boy howdy, hogtied him in record time."
Standing up he punched him in the side. Josh gasped in pain, he had to arch his back to keep from choking himself.
"My maker loved to watch them squirm," David told Afanas. He watched Josh struggle to keep from being choked to death. The rope bit deep into his neck. He could feel it tighten just taking in a breath. Kneeling in front of Josh, David rabbit punched him in the side. A crack was heard in the room. Josh choked, he struggled to keep his head back.
Laughing David pointed to Josh's chest. "Cracked one of the floating ribs, I bet it stings like hell."
"You done now?" Afanas said.
"Yeah," David said. "I can't do what I really want, Mother's bounty is not for a dead wolf."
Afanas pointed to Josh, "Loosen neck, dog no good to me if he can not breathe."
David took one last jab at Josh, before reluctantly cutting the rope. With his head released Josh took in deep breaths. He gasped for air, the rope was still there but it no longer choked him.
As David cut the rope from his feet Afanas walked up to Josh, grabbing the end of the rope attached to his neck, he dragged Josh up.
"Stand wolf, we go now."
Josh panted hard, he was never in so much pain. He struggled to walk as Afanas pulled him out of the lunchroom. David was right behind him, he kicked him in the back of the knee, laughing as he saw Josh stumble.
Stepping through the door that led back into the store Afanas immediately stopped, he quickly pulled out a large gun hidden in his jacket. Josh saw six vampires standing in front of them.
"Well, well," a dark haired woman said. Josh found it hard to keep his eyes away from her, her clothes were two sizes to small. She bulged out of places that would make a prostitute blush. "I was right to follow you.'
"Mariana," Afanas hissed. "You are like gum on bottom of shoe, can't get off no matter how hard I scrape. What you doing here?"
"Me and the boys were just in the neighborhood. What you got there?"
Josh gasped as Afanas jerked the rope. "This? This just dumb dog we caught for fights."
Mariana eyed Josh, "I know what I'm betting on, the other wolf."
"Really?" Josh said.
Afanas elbowed Josh in the stomach, "You are to be keeping quiet."
"I do have to admit," Mariana purred. "He is a cutie, love those sad eyes."
"This one not worth your trouble, Mariana," Afanas said. "He's just dog food, we use to train real fighters. Now go, little sister call, she said to give back her clothes."
"Dog food?" Josh quickly said. "Aidan didn't think so after I won my fi…"
"Quiet," Afanas hissed at Josh, jerking the rope.
"Aidan?" Mariana said. "This little puppy knows Aidan?"
Josh could clearly see that these two had history. Maybe, he thought, he could use that to his advantage. "I'm his dog," Josh croaked as Afanas pulled the rope on his neck tighter.
A knowing smile graced Mariana's lips. "Aidan's dog, I heard Mother put a bounty on it."
"No," Afanas quickly replied, "This not Aidan's dog, just stupid mutt that needs muzzling. He just saying that to keep from being used as dog food in fights."
Mariana snapped her fingers, the other vampires with her surrounded Afanas. "You always said you were the best hunter, now why would you waste your time hunting a 'stupid mutt'?" Mariana shook her head, "You wouldn't." She looked closer at Josh, she could see in his eyes that this was not a dumb animal.
"I must say if this is Aidan's dog, I'm surprised that you actually found him."
Angry, Afanas pounded his fist on his chest, "I am best hunter in my country, any country!"
Mariana slyly smiled, she pushed the right button, now she just had to push more. "I think Randal may have a thing to say about that."
Afanas spit on the ground, "Randal, what he knows I have long forgotten. I find him first, I get bounty."
"Then he is Aidan's dog." Mariana said. "And you're taking him in for the reward. I want a cut of that, I heard Mother just raised it, it's no longer $5,000. It's now $10,000."
"That's all?" Josh said.
"Quiet," Afanas said. "You cause much trouble."
"You know," Mariana said, "I changed my mind, I don't want to split it, traveling costs and all."
Afanas pointed his gun at Mariana, "Reward only mine, I am leaving with him and you are not going to stop me. You know me, this not ordinary gun. I carry it to keep jealous hunters away from my prey."
Mariana stared at the gun, "I heard about it, bullets with wooden tips, they say they leave a nasty sting."
Afanas pointed the gun at her, "Want to find out?"
Mariana crossed her arms. "Now Afanas, look at the odds. There are just two of you, there are six of us."
"I not shoot six, just one." He pointed the gun at her chest. "Now tell 'boys' to back away. Gun getting heavy may need to lighten it, getting rid of one bullet will help."
Smiling Mariana placed her hands on her hips. "You won't get far. It's a long way back to Mother, you're going to have to watch your back every second."
"Not a problem, I have done that all my life," Afanas said. He slowly dragged and pulled Josh towards the front of the store. The vampires kept a short distance away from him, but they continued to follow him. Keeping on eye on Mariana, he slowly made his way down the aisle. Josh's head was bowed down, he struggled to keep on his feet. He suddenly bumped into Afanas. The vampire stood in the center of the aisle. Looking up Josh saw something that brought him hope. He saw a small black dog standing at the end of the aisle.