Page 100 of Embracing Sky
That wasn’t a good enough answer, apparently, because Thompson struck me across the face with the back of his hand.
“Don’t play me for a fool, whelp. I see your lies. Carry him,” he barked.
“Yes, sir.”
The guard jerked me to my feet and roughly tossed me over his shoulder—and that’s when we heard the first howl.
It came from the woods, warbling and low.
“What was that?” one of the men asked.
“Goddamnit!” Thompson grabbed River by the shirt front and shook him. “Did you bring backup, you little shit?” he snarled, spittle flying. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll kill them all!”
He shoved River away from him, then spun around to face where the eerie sound had come from. His face red with fury, he shouted, “Come out of the woods, wolf scum!” and pointed his pistol into the darkness, waving it threateningly.
Another howl rose from the west. Thompson spun around, like the beasts might come at him from all sides.
“Dr. Thompson!” A guard barked in alarm as a gray wolf went running from the direction Thompson had been facing only moments before.
Thompson wheeled around and fired his pistol. Bark exploded off a nearby tree. Thompson shook his head, backing away slowly.
“Goddamnit. We retreat. Stay close and fire at anything that moves.”
“Yes, sir.”
My breathing came short and fast, and my guard dumped me on the ground so he could use both of his hands. I knelt on the forest floor and watched as wolves of different colors and sizes rushed the group, then veered off into the woods, while Thompson and his men fired shots into the night.
My ears and skull rang with each blast—Bam! Bam! Bam!—and Dr. Thompson’s scream: “I’ll kill every last one of you!”
Howls echoed through the woods, too many to count, and with them, my hope rose as well. Maybe we did have a chance…
“MONGRELS!”
Suddenly, a blinding light illuminated the forest, and boots stomped over dirt as figures ran closer. A man shouted, “Put down the weapons! Hands where we can see them! You’re under arrest!”
Cops? My heart skipped a beat. I scrambled to do as they said, only to come face-to-face with the muzzle of Dr. Thompson’s gun. I gasped and froze. He looked down at me, his eyes wild and his face contorted into a twisted, desperate expression.
“Don’t come any closer!” he screamed back. “I’ll fucking kill him!”
He cocked the gun, and the air left my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. All I could see was the end of my life dangling in front of me. My lifeless body sprawled on the grass, blood pooled around me, brains and skull shattered.
Unable to look death in the face, fear choking me, I closed my eyes. Took shallow breaths. Tried not to think about the pain I’d feel in the moments before my end.
I’m sorry Adam, Fletcher…
“Put. The gun. Down,” the cop said sharply.
“Don’t come any closer,” Thompson warned. “I’ll kill them both. I’m warning you. I’ll?—”
Rapid-fire gunshots sounded, and I screamed. Instinct had me ducking for cover, burying my head beneath my arms and cowering, whimpering softly.
“Jesus Christ!” someone shouted.
“Hands above your head!”another barked out as sirens wailed in the distance.
Someone touched my shoulder. “Are you hurt?”
My head throbbed. My ears ached. My arm still hurt. But I was alive. Miraculously. I let out a half-hysterical laugh and shook my head. “Thompson…”
