The Angel's Curse

Chapter Five

Ember's POV.

'Run…' My voice echoed throughout my mind. Repeating in time with my racing heart and the fearful face of my beloved niece flashing with each heavy step. I had to send her away to keep her safe. It was the only way to protect her and yet it broke me. Her big hazel eyes were full of tears as she took off down the path, leaving me to play the part of the distraction. I can't recall what had marked us as targets in the first place, let alone the events that had led to us being in danger like this. Whether we had been followed from the start or if it had been a spur-of-the-moment attack, I hadn’t a clue. Either way, I couldn't risk her well-being. So... I forced her to run, and I did the first thing that came to mind... Buy time.

I knew Lily wouldn't stop running until she was safe. Though I knew her well enough to know she'd go where she could find help before leading someone dangerous home. If only because that's what I would have done if I was her. Instead, here is where I had stood, waiting in the middle of the path, a man with two wolves on either side of him blocking my way. The look of him matched the same man that had followed me out of the woods by the school. I could see the resemblance in his face despite not getting more than a few glances at him. He held the same dark appearance in his eyes, an emptiness I hadn’t seen since...well... Veronica’s ex. Though I would have gladly dealt with him over the man before me. The way he seemed to single me out was cringy. His eyes did not leave mine even as Lily escaped. Was...she not his target after all?

Nevertheless, I can’t get distracted now. Reaching down, I grabbed a large branch from off the ground and got ready to swing. Gripping the rough textured limb in both hands, I didn't take my eyes off of him despite my better judgment. It was three against one, not a fair fight in the slightest. That was fine, I was fine. I just needed to get up high out of the wolf’s reach and far enough away from him and wait for help to arrive. Taking slow deep breaths, my body tensed getting ready for the first hit. All I needed was the perfect opening. Watching intently as the two wolves began to circle, their low growls frightening to my ears. The way their sharp canines glistened with saliva, mighty jaws snapping twice threateningly shot chills up my spine. These two mongrels were trained to kill. Closer and closer they came, their growls intensifying bodies dropping low. Both deep gray in color and eyes as cold as their masters. Each massive paw imprinting the dusty dirt road, ready to strike. With his eyes locked on mine, the man released a sharp whistle and the wolves jumped.

Cracking the first wolf hard in the snout, the edge of the branch broke. Turning on my heels, I jabbed the newly sharpened limb into the second wolf’s eye. Blood splattered against the ground below him. Its loud pain filled howl echoes, ripping through the air shattering any silence left in the forest. They were left momentarily stunned, the first wolf wiggling his nose, which I could only assume was to regain feeling. Looking away towards the man, I couldn't help but give a smug smirk. My luck created a sense of pride within me. 'Seems I hit harder than I thought.' I mentally mused, ripping the branch from the wolf's eye, so I could keep my weapon. Gripping it tighter, I took my chance and ran; pushing my body well beyond its limits with the help of the adrenaline coursing through my veins. My feet guided me back the way I came, hoping that I could find help on the road. All the while praying that Lily had made it back to the house and Veronica had help coming for me. Closing my eyes briefly, I needed to focus. If I wasn't careful, this could be where I would die. Leaving behind the two most important people to me. No, I couldn't let that happen. At least not yet anyway. Not when there was still hope for me.

My time to think had ended quicker than it came. I had no idea how he had gotten in front of me, but he had. His smug grin is all too real for it to be an imagination. Bringing my arms up, I swung the branch at the stranger in front of me. I didn't give them much of a chance to react before the hunk of wood collided with his chest. His familiar dark, cold eyes slamming shut with a grunt, taking a single step back to keep himself from falling to the ground, otherwise he hadn't moved an inch.

The force of the impact hurt my arms a lot more than anticipated. In all honesty, I was more impressed that the branch hadn’t split. ‘Keep moving! Don’t stop!’ I thought, pushing myself onward. So I grit my teeth and swung the branch once more, trying to ignore the searing pain. However, he was prepared this time. Watching in horror as his large hand caught it mid-swing, ripping it clean out of my hands. Releasing a pitiful gasp, the rough texture of the bark sliced open my palms, leaving in its wake a multitude of cuts. Blood seeped from each fresh wound and deep within them pieces of wood could be seen. It was difficult for me to ignore these little spurs of evil, especially when I tried to close my hands to stop the bleeding. The little spires tugging at the damaged flesh, threatening to bury themselves deeper. 'f*****g Bastard.' He was grinning from ear to ear when I looked at him. His dark eyes glistened in delight, clearly relishing the sight before him. He has done more than just unarm me now. No, he had now created a means for his wolves to find me should I manage to slip away again. Which, I hated to admit, but I may have foolishly fallen for his game. Thinking about it now, he wanted me to think I had knocked the wind out of him. If only so, I would let my guard down. Which, I did.

"You shouldn't have fought back. " He growled, gripping the branch tightly in his hands. Stepping back, I couldn't suppress a startled scream as the branch exploded in his grasp. Hunks of splintered wood erupted into the air before ultimately crashing to the ground. His lips contorting into a sinister sneer, his dark, hollow, eyes glowing gold. My blood ran cold in seconds. Within moments, it was as if Lily’s excited retelling of the elder woman’s story was no longer a work of fiction. He was changing before my eyes, starting at the face, his nose and jaw stretched out to take the form of a wolf's muzzle. Hair growing by the mounds, devouring his flesh like a highly infectious disease. I wanted to gag when his bones began to crack and pop. His spine stretched, and in some places bent, as he leaned forward to place his newly formed paws upon the ground.

'R-run!' I internally screamed, swiftly charging off the path into the forest. Now it wasn't a matter of reaching the road, it was a matter of survival. No matter what, I had to lose them, or I wouldn't make it home alive. With each step, the trees blended into bunches of green. The beauty of the run was no longer enough to block out reality now. I was in danger! There was no denying it, not after what I had witnessed. My only saving grace being that I had taken off before he had managed to take full form. Even so, I prayed I didn't lose enough blood for him to track.

Watching the area before me, I ducked under branches and broke through bushes. From all sides, I could hear them. The way their massive paws pounded the dirt was so distinct, so powerful. I didn’t have to see them to know that it aided them during their hunt. Their boisterous howl's echoed through the air, drawing them closer and closer to my location. With each call, they drew nearer. Soon within, the blotches of green had shown hints of gray and brown. One to my left and another to my right. ‘One... Two...where’s the third?’ I wondered, faintly hearing the third set of footfalls behind me. They moved faster than the ones on either side of me. I had only heard them for a few seconds and I could already hear the growls. Before I knew it, it was snapping at my heels.

'Faster! Faster! Don't look back!' Gasping, I fought against my urge to look behind me. If I wasn’t careful, the beast behind me would get a hold of me. The terrain was already enough of a problem keeping a fast pace. The ground was uneven, bumpy, and gradually leading towards a steady decline that could pose a problem for me at this pace. And yet, I continued to charge into the decline despite what I knew as fact. Pressure was building on the soles of my feet trying to keep a firm grip on the ground, my pace dropping significantly as a result. I had to be very careful with the placement of my steps. One wrong step and my foot would end up in the indentations barely hidden within the grass and leaves. I couldn’t move very quickly, otherwise I would just fall down the hill. Which was making this grand escape of mine appear more futile. Though, I probably would have a better chance of getting away if I had just fallen and rolled down this hill.

'To whatever god is watching... Please let this work.' Counting the footfalls behind me and then my own, I needed to be certain that there was enough distance for this fool's plan to work. The wolf nearest to me took two strides to my four. At this rate, I was only ahead of them thanks to dumb luck. However, it wouldn't matter soon enough. Pulling my arms close to my body, I took the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken. Sending myself tumbling head over heels down the bumpy hillside, feeling every piece of loose debris digging into my spine as I went. All around me, I could still make out the growling and snapping of their jaws. Their aggression towards me intensified, and I didn't care. I didn't have time to worry. Among the blend of browns and greens, I had failed to notice a patch of gray quickly advancing. My head caught onto the mass and with it came the pain. My world quickly went into darkness.