Hidden Nature
By Shadowriter
Part Nine
Cindy Thomas had found herself in trouble before, but nothing like this.
She came back to consciousness to find her hands tied over and slightly behind her head, her toes barely reaching the floor. If she stood on her very tip toes she could ease some of the pressure on her shoulders, but only just. With a grimace, she closed her eyes, then opened them again, trying to get a picture as to where she was.
It looked like an almost empty warehouse. There were no windows, only small shafts up near the ceiling to let in air. The walls appeared to be metal, except for the unfinished concrete divider that split the building in two. There were a few pallets of boxes and crates around, but the boxes appeared to be empty and the wooden crates were half broken and crumbling.
The next thing she noticed was the bloody tarp on the ground. It wasn't far away from her, maybe ten or fifteen feet, lying at the foot of a support pillar. A pillar that had shackles attached to it.
And she knew: this was where Sandra Montserat and Anthony Venner had both died.
She swallowed hard, trying to take deep breaths. Despite her earlier thought, she knew it wasn't Drake who had grabbed her in her apartment. It was the killer. The rogue clan member. And she was about to find out exactly how it felt to die slowly, in agony, watching pieces of her own flesh be chewed from her body.
"Are you awake?"
The voice was deep, heavily masculine.
"Who are you?" She yanked on her bonds and tried to turn around. "Look, Drake will be looking for me. She'll find you."
Someone clapped. "Oh, Thomas, such bravado." The man stepped around to her front. "You do know I'm going to kill you, right?"
Her eyes wide, Cindy took him in. She didn't know him. While she'd been a guest at a few clan events, they had mostly been small, and Drake had introduced her to only a few people. This wasn't one of them.
"I don't know you."
"But I know you." He moved toward her. "Cindy Thomas, cub reporter. One of Drake's pet humans. Does she know you're fucking someone else?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because I can." He tilted his head. "Because I want to. I'm tired of being a predator and living like a sheep." With a measured step, he came closer. "I'm tired of following the rules of someone who's so afraid of her own shadow that she can't see what humans are." Another step and not he was right against her. "And I'm tired of eating everything but the sweetest meat in the forest." He licked her cheek. "Oh, I'm so going to enjoy you."
There was madness there, she realized, but in a very dangerous way. Most mad people couldn't focus. This one could. And he had focused on a plan to fill his desire for human meat. If Drake didn't find a way to stop him, there'd be more corpses, because he wanted to hunt and kill for his food.
And Cindy was next on the menu.
"You don't have to do this. Drake will --"
"Drake! Is an overgrown cub with delusions of being in charge, but she's not. She can't control us. She doesn't control me."
"And you're so special? What makes you better, huh? Why are you so much better than everyone else?"
He pulled back from her and to her horror began to change in front of her. His jaw jutted forward and his hands turned into claws. Teeth turned into fangs, and his arms bulged against his shirt.
It wasn't a complete change. She'd never seen a complete change, but it was enough to make her understand that he wasn't about to be talked down.
"This." His breath blew hot across her face. "This is why. Because I can. Because humans need to know. They have chained us for too long. Broken the world. Killed millions of their own kind and mine. The world cries out, nature screams for the death of humanity." He leaned in and tasted her skin again. "And I will give her the revenge she longs for."
It was full dark when Lindsay arrived at the warehouse. She killed the engine and coasted to a stop, then threw the car into park. Opening her door she stepped out and crouched down, trying to stay out of sight.Things seemed very quiet, and Lindsay hoped this was the right place. No light came from the inside of the building, but there were no windows, and no outside lights. The darkness could be a friend or an enemy; she could hide in it, but so could anyone, or anything, else.
With this in mind, she crept up to the side of the building, moving carefully, leading with her weapon in her right hand. She approached the door from the left, slowing her steps and tightening her grip on the gun she held. After a moment to listen, she reached forthe door handle, testing it slowly. It turned and the door opened half an inch.
Lindsay considered her options. She could go through the door with guns blazing, but the possibility of hitting Cindy made her discard that idea. She could just be aggressive and charge inside, using the element of surprise. If she knew the layout of the inside a little better, that could be a possibility, but she didn't. That left the slow and careful approach. Keeping both hands on her gun, she reached out and eased the door open with her foot.
It swung smoothly,with only a minor squeak from the hinges. With one last look around the area, Lindsay slipped inside.
There was no heat in the warehouse, and Cindy became aware of that fact quickly after he used his claws to peel her shirt from her body.When he was done, he slipped behind her and brought his hands up to her shoulders, the sharp nails tracing the bite mark on Cindy's shoulder.
"Drake's work. Well healed. A reminder of your service to the clan." She said nothing, and he dug one claw into the flesh just under the mark. "Perhaps I should give you a new bond."
Cindy remembered clearly the night that Drake had given her the mark, the pain that had accompanied it, the fear, and the pride she'd felt that night at Drake's trust in her.Now he was threatening to pervert it, and Cindy couldn't see that happen. Her memory of her bond was still sacred to her and no matter how much she had lost this day, this wasn't going to be one of them.
She swung herself around to face him, kicking out as she did. Her leg connected with his and he grunted, stepping back. Pulling herself up by her wrists, Cindy leaned back and then swung forward, aiming her feet at his head.
He turned aside at the last moment, catching hold of her and swinging her body around. Cindy felt something in her shoulder start to give and she stopped fighting for a moment, trying to ease the pressure on her arms.
"I'm going to enjoy feeding from you. Slowly. Hearing you scream as I drink in the taste of your blood and swallow the meat from your body. And when I'm done, maybe I'll drop off your carcass at your precious Inspector's place." Another long lick of her cheek. "What do you say to that, hm?"
She screamed as he drove his fangs and teeth into her side, right below her breast. Biting down, he sliced through the flesh there, then straightened to put his bloody muzzle against the side of her face."Can't say I really like the idea."
Through her tears, Cindy's eyes opened wide. She knew that voice.
Apparently so did her attacker. "Well, well, well. Food just seems to walk into my parlor." He turned slowly, rising to his feet and stepping carefully away from his first prey. "Welcome, Inspector."
"Turn around and put your hands behind your head."
Turk laughed. "You know, I’m impressed that you found me. Either you’ve done your homework or you've been talking to Drake." He tilted his head. "Is that it, Inspector? Did she give you the address and send you off to arrest me?"
"I said turn around!"
She had her weapon raised, pointed at Turk's head. Part of her was telling her to pull the trigger now and end it. Cindy was injured and she needed to just finish this. But the police officer in her wouldn't let her do it.
"Last chance, asshole."
"Somehow, I don't think so."
And then he moved.
Jill had told Lindsay that Drake had moved extremely well and with incredible speed. But that warning did nothing to prepare her for what she was facing. She had time to get off a single shot before he was on her.
The gun was batted down, but she managed to hold onto it until his teeth sank into her forearm. She yelled, more in shock than pain, and tried to pull away, punching at his head in an attempt to dislodge him. Once the gun fell, he moved back, but instantly back handed her. She fell to the side, then dived for the fallen weapon.A claw raked down her back, slicing through material and skin, but she got a hand on the gun and rolled, firing as soon as her back was on the ground. Turk howled as the bullet creased his skin, leaving a bloody trail across his side. Another swing with his arms and the gun went flying, this time landing near Cindy's feet.
Boxer rolled again, trying to gain her feet, but as soon as she did she felt his hands get a purchase on her jacket and then she was flying through the air to land against a support. Her head bounced off concrete and she had to shake it to clear it. By then he had grabbed her by the front of her shirt and her belt and lifted her from the ground, carrying her several feet to slam her into the unfinished concrete wall.
Where the protruding end of a re-bar pierced her left shoulder, pinning her to the wall. She screamed, and heard Cindy respond by crying out her name. The pain held her frozen in its grip for a moment before she slowly leaned forward, letting her body weight pull her off the metal rod that held her.
"Bitch."He pushed her back against the wall hard and she screamed again, the spike pushing through and exiting the front, tearing through the leather jacket she was wearing.
"Stay put, little bitch." He slapped her, his claws leaving shallow furrows on her cheek. "You've caused me trouble tonight, Inspector." The title was spoken in a sneer, the voice low and laced with anger. "But I'm sure your little tramp is grateful for the reprieve. Instead of dying right away she gets to watch you die." His head twitched a little. "That could take all night."
"No, I don't think so."
Once again, it was a new voice. Cindy tore her gaze from her bleeding friend to stare at Drake, who was slowly slipping off her own jacket. She tossed it to the floor some distance away, close to the backpack she'd carried in.
"Drake. I'm impressed. Normally I have to hunt for my meals." His head twitched, his jaws snapping. "But tonight two have just landed in my lap." His face grew longer, more animal like and he growled.
"This ends tonight, Turk. I'll give you one chance. Let them go, come back to the clan."
"Do you really expect me to do that?"
"No. But by our law I must give you the chance." She shrugged, and Cindy saw her begin to change as well. "Now that I have, we can put an end to this."
"Your end."
"Or yours."
"To the death, then?"
Drake smiled. "I'd have it no other way."
The change happened quickly. Within moments they were at each others throats, claws unsheathed and fangs bared. As Cindy watched, the change became deeper, fuller, until it truly was a fight between animals, beasts, with nothing human between them.
A groan from Lindsay pulled her attention off the battle. The inspector had her right hand flat against the wall and was pushing slowly forward, the tip of the metal rod disappearing back into her shoulder. Her eyes closed, and she rested a moment before starting the fight again.
The pain on Lindsay's face brought tears to Cindy's eyes and she swallowed hard. Tugging on her wrists, she tested the bonds again, then twisted, trying to fold her thumbs inside her hand so she could slide through the restraint. Pulling her feet up off the floor, she let her weight hang from her wrists, the cuffs beginning to cut into her skin. Her shoulder protested, but she ignored it as long as she could, until her tears for Lindsay were tears of frustration and pain.
The battle went on, Drake and her opponent pulling away, then coming together again. Blood flowed between them as claws raked through skin and teeth sank into flesh.
At long last Lindsay was able to pull forward enough to free herself. Biting back a scream, she collapsed to the floor, blood pouring from her wound. She lay still for several minutes, ignoring Cindy's frantic calls to her, and concentrating on breathing.
There was a yelp behind her. She hoped it was Turk, but was afraid that it wasn't. Lifting her head slightly, she saw what she had hoped her antagonist had forgotten. Less than twenty feet away lay her gun, just a yard to the left of Cindy's feet.
Slowly, Lindsay managed to lift herself on her right elbow and tried to pull her knees under her. She didn't think she could stand, her head was spinning from shock and blood loss, but there was nothing in her path except the pain from her shoulder -- and that she could fight against. After several deep breaths, Lindsay Boxer began to crawl to her gun. Her energy didn't last long and soon she was back on her stomach, her left arm cradled against her body, while she dragged herself along with her right.
Cindy's attention had been drawn to the fight. It wasn't hard to tell the combatants apart; Drake's fur was light on her face but darker on the rest of her body. Turk was a light brown color with a white streak down his chest. Blood was flowing from his side and his shoulder, but it coated Drake's right leg and she was now limping, and her attacks were slowing. It was only a matter of time till she went down and didn't get back up.
Refocusing on Lindsay, Cindy finally noticed her objective. The gun lay just feet from her, and still a long way from Lindsay. It would be a race; would Lindsay reach it before Turk killed Drake? If she didn't, they'd probably all die. But if Lindsay could get her hand on the weapon, they would have a chance.
After several deep breaths, Cindy began stretching. She pulled on her restraints, letting them cut into her skin. Her shoulder protested again, but she didn't stop. Instead, she reached with her feet, straining as hard as she could to get to get an extra half inch or so.
Finally, she swung her leg as far as she could in a sweeping motion. As she did, something gave in her shoulder and she cried out, biting back a full fledged scream. But she'd made contact, and the gun slid neatly across the floor. With one more pull of her hand, Lindsay brought herself in reach. She dropped back to a fully prone position and wrapped her hand around the grip of her weapon, then rolled and fought to get a good view of what was happening.
The two shape-shifters had come together again. It was clear that the brown furred fighter had the upper hand. Up on his hind legs, he stood taller than his opponent, and was clawing at her already bleeding side. The one with darker fur was unable to do anything but defend.
"Lindsay, aim for the white of his chest!" Cindy was finding it hard to talk through her tears of pain, but she had to warn her friend. "Drake, pull back!"
Closing one eye, Boxer aimed and fired. The kick back of the gun made her roll a little further, driving her injured shoulder into the ground. Her eyes closed automatically and she fought through the pain to open them and see if her shot had been enough.
It had. Lying on his side, his feet twitching, lay Turk, a bloody hole in his chest. Drake sat off to the side, panting and wounded, but alive. Already she was beginning to change back, her fur disappearing and her head changing to a more human shape.
Several minutes later she was fully human again. Her body was littered with bites and scratches, and a wound in her leg was pouring blood. The exhaustion was written on her face.
But they were all alive, and Cindy was grateful for that.
Moving slowly, Drake pulled off her ripped shirt, leaving her in torn jeans and a dirty blue tank top. Ripping off part of her sleeve, she wrapped it around her leg, grunting as she pulled the knot taut. Then she made her way to Lindsay.
"Boxer? You alive?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah." Drake knelt carefully, stretching out her bad leg to the side. "Got a phone on you? I'll give one of your buddies a call for help."
"You can't."
"Yeah I can. Got it worked out. Just like I told Cindy." Remembering the third member of their party she looked up at the woman to see her still chained, but leaning slightly. Her eyes were closed and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth while tears tracked down her face.
Dragging herself back to her feet, Drake hobbled toward her. "Thomas? You okay?" She got a nod in return.
"Fine. Check Lindsay." The woman's voice was so filled with pain that Drake had to draw in a breath.
"Where are you hurt?"
"My shoulder. It's nothing. Something just popped."
"Shit. Let me get you out of there."
It took her a moment to find the buckles on the cuffs and undo them. Once she did, she carefully lowered Cindy's arms, trying not to place any more pressure on her muscles and tendons. When she got the right shoulder to a certain point, Cindy half yelped, half groaned, and clutched her right shoulder with her left hand. She sank to her knees, Drake trying to stay with her.
"Something popped you said?" She nodded. "Sounds like you might have torn something. Give me a few minutes to make some phone calls and we'll take you to the hospital."
"Lindsay?"
"I'm about to check on her. Come on."
Together, they made it back to Lindsay, who had rolled over on her side, cradling her gun and occasionally whimpering.
"Linds?" Cindy's voice was as fearful as it was pain filled.
"Here." Lindsay opened her eyes enough to take in Cindy's form. "Nice kick, Thomas."
Cindy managed a tiny smile. "Nice shot, Boxer."
"Yeah, good shot, Inspector. I owe you one." Drake slipped a hand under Lindsay's good arm and put the other hand on her back. "Let's get you sitting up so I can get something on that shoulder." With one smooth motion she lifted Lindsay, and turned her to put her back against the one of the support pillars.
Boxer groaned and tightened her jaw. Her shoulder was burning and she was terrified that there might be damage to the nerves or the muscles. She could only thank God that it had been her left arm instead of her shooting arm.
"Here, Thomas, move over this way." Pulling Lindsay slightly forward again, she helped Cindy move behind her, then leaned the taller woman back against Cindy's front.
"You two stay the hell here, okay?" She tore her shirt in two and put half of it on either side of Lindsay's shoulder and then covered the front with Cindy's hand. "Push here, keep the pressure on. Boxer, you're damn lucky, I don't think it hit any major veins. And since I've seen you clench your hand, I don't think there's too much damage. Might have been just a really painful flesh wound."
Lindsay scoffed. "Right. My luck isn't that good."
"Open your damn eyes."
Startled, she did, and found herself staring into Cindy's.
"Maybe it's better than you think."
With that, Drake picked up Lindsay's cell phone and limped toward the door.
It was very quiet after she left. Lindsay was content to feel the warmth of Cindy's body against her, listen to her breathing, and enjoy the fact that they were both alive.
Cindy had nothing left, to say or do. She merely waited, not wanting to lose contact with her former lover, wishing that Drake would take forever. This might be the last time she ever held Lindsay Boxer, and she wanted it to last as long as possible.
Eventually they heard Drake's shuffling footsteps coming back. There were other voices with her, and Cindy supposed that the cavalry had come.
"Cin?"
Lindsay's voice was softer than she'd ever heard it and she tightened her hold just a little. "Yeah?"
"I remember what you said." Cindy took a deep breath. "I won't forget."
Then help was there, separating them and pulling Lindsay from her arms, and all she could do was hold on to those final words that filled her chest with hope for the first time that day.
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