Cross Bitten

Fight to flight

Annie’s POV

I was in the middle of questioning the chief, when the sky suddenly shifted and changed, as if someone turned out the light. All the sudden chaos ensued, before you could blink these pale cannibals were on top of people, the crowed was trying to run and escape, police were shooting, oddly none of the bullets took the cannibals out, some officers had a perfect shot yet it didn’t even faze the cannibals.

“As you can see, we are having some sort of atmospheric anomaly the sky is dark, and we are currently surrounded by violent cannibals!”

Just then I see one coming up behind Phil, without a word I grab the bottle of pepper spray I always kept on me and motion for the guys to duck. I nail it directly in the eyes, it screeches allowing me a moment to run. I take the opportunity and grab my crew and run toward the club.

As we run I look around for Olivia. I don’t see her in the chaotic scene unfolding around me. I hope she’s ok I think to myself.

We manage to make it inside along with a few bloodied bystanders and police. The chief orders everyone to come hold the door, we all lean our body weight against the doors as we hear the screams and screeches coming from outside.

I tell the chief I don’t think we will be able to keep them out very long with just our body weight. He nods in agreement and asks if there is anything we can barricade the door with, I look around I see couches, bar stools, and props from last nights show, we decide anything is better then nothing so we start pushing the couches in front of the doors, we stack some of the barstools on top and are even able to shimmy the leg of a barstool through the door handles.

I spot Brenda who works production at the club and ask her where their first aid kits are and she rushes to get them. Police Chief Officer Martin takes over and gets his men to help assess and assist the wounded. I grab Phil and Tony and we head somewhere quiet to talk.

“Quick thinking back there with the pepper spray, but what the hell was that!? A little warning would go a long way next time you know!” Phil states looking at me with exhausted eyes.

“Honestly it was all happening so fast I didn’t think, I just acted. Besides it’s not the first time you almost suffered severe bodily harm on the job.” I reply with a small laugh, I can’t help but laugh. Most reporters are only willing or able to capture a quarter of the mayhem we do on a regular basis.

Most go to parades, and vineyards, and opening day at the races or fairs. Not us though, I honestly don’t recall the last time I was sent on anything that didn’t involve some form of action, or violence.

“So, now what? We just stay here and wait to die?” Tony says with a tinge of sarcasm.

“No” comes a familiar voice. I look up and see Juan and Olivia, I immediately jump up and run to wrap them both in a hug. “I am so glad you two are ok! I was worried when I didn’t see you guys!” I say before looking down at the pair holding hands, “and from the look of things I have questions, and I need answers.”

Olivia blushes slightly before clearing her throat “You will have all the time to ask your questions and get your answers once we get out of here.”

I can’t help but smile,“Right, so..what’s the plan?”

With that,Juan pulls up a piece of floor exposing a narrow set of stairs, “One word..tunnels” he replies with a wink.

*****************************************************

Pete’s POV

I look out of my sky rise window at the bustling city below. I hear a knock and turn around to buzz them in. I look up to see my secretary, she’s holding a stack of papers and looks annoyed. Oh Cynthia, she was a hard worker I could rely on her for anything and she always kept my secrets but the women was a thorn in my side, relentless, and exhausting to be around most days.

She slides into the chair across from me and sets the papers down. “You know you are taking a big risk inviting an outsider in to our operation here, you remember what happened to the last one?”

Our? I think to myself, ever since she started helping me with things outside of the office she thought she was somehow a partner in this business. As for the last outsider, however, she had a point. The last person was a brilliant lab tech, highly intelligent, top in their field, they worked for us for a year before they got themselves into a....mess with my associates.

There is a reason we keep the company circle so tight. Most wouldn’t understand or be able to handle our lifestyle, it would take someone really strong to not only stay around our circle but to ever be accepted in. The only reason we are making an exception now is because there is too much at stake with all these attacks. I need an insider who can go unrecognized, but it couldn’t be just anyone, and I had my eye on one delicious woman in particular.

“Well, did we get her for an interview?” I ask with optimism. Annie Levay was the best of the best, a true chameleon in the field, she was strong, adaptive, smart, a true master of her craft with a certain energy about her, and to top it off she was a vision to behold. She had long hair with the most magnificent loose curls that cascaded down her back, a body that had curves in all the right places, nice sunkissed golden skin, big crystal blue eyes, and beautiful plump pink lips.

Not to mention she also carried herself well, she dressed somewhat conservative but sexy, and walked and talked with an unmatched confidence that exude power. I knew we needed her, and if I got her in here she would take the job because after all, I was very persuasive. Besides the other applicants were nothing more then logistical fillers anyways.

Cindy rolled her eyes with clear annoyance, “yes the plane is about to leave to get her. Look Pete she is good and all, but I think you should really consider some other applicants, there are many far more qualified.” I sit back and clasp my hands before setting them on the table.

“That may be the case but I know what my company needs. While qualifications may mean something, there is more important traits my candidate needs to possess. I need someone tenacious, willing to tackle my requests head on, and someone who I believe can, and will get the job done. I know she is the one best suited for the task at hand.”

Cindy sits back and rests her hand on her chin then replaces her look of annoyance with thoughtful eyes, “ you’re the boss, you know what’s best, but I would make sure you have a back up plan just in case...”

I squint my eyes and look at her, “what are you implying?”

She sighs and hands me her phone, I see Annie reporting on a street surrounded by those pesky little creatures, damn another attack! Those soulless animals are at it again and they are growing in numbers. They couldn’t evolve and grow like this on their own though, someone has to be helping them. I have a few culprits I suspect, but I can’t take action without knowing for sure who it is, this only solidifies my need for an insider.

These creatures have been popping up in different cities all over the state, at first it was easy to sedate and hide the issue from the public, but now they are becoming cockroaches among us.

“Send our top associates on the plane to her, tell them they are to execute and subdue preferably out of the public’s eye, but if they cannot, make it swift and clean up the mess.”

Cynthia stands up and nods before heading for the door, but before she leaves I ask her to come to me, she pauses and walks back with a smile, she knows what I need, it’s been a long hard week and I need release. She sits down on top of my desk in front of me and ask the question I was waiting for,”which vein this time?”

Cynthia’s POV

I leave Pete’s office satisfied and tired and head for the break room, I need a shot after that, I find some blood and attach it to the IV and kick up my feet, Markus and Davin walk in laughing,

“awe just the guys I was hoping to see.” I say with a grin.

“Oh you were?” Markus replied before Davin walks over and puts his hands on my shoulders, dropping his lips close to my ear,

“and to what do we owe the pleasure?” My throat gets a little dry and my heart rate picks up a bit before I lick my lips and reply, “Vondervelg needs you to go get that reporter for her interview, he said there has been an attack and he needs you to take care of it.”

Markus claps his hands together and begins smiling, “This is marvelous, I get to kill some fleas, and I get a new treat for my troubles! I’ve been dying for some fresh blood in here!”

I bite my upper lip and squint my eyes, “She’s not your treat she’s his treat, and I can’t wait for him to use her up and move on so we can get back to business as usual.”

I meant it to, he goes through these fazes in fact they all do, it’s not unusual for all of them to have a toy that they toss around playing cat and mouse with until they get what ever resources they need and then they make quick work of them.

Davin moves his hand under my chin and tilts my face to look up at him, “someone sounds jealous!” He laughs before bringing his face closer to mine lips only inches apart, “ and why be jealous? I hear your blood is the sweetest and their are plenty of us around who still want a taste.”

I swallow at his words, his eyes staring into mine when suddenly Markus breaks the silent tension, “I just got a call the plane is ready and needs to leave now, you can play with the little hybrid gnome later.”

Instantly his hand leaves me and they head for the door. I exhale a deep breath I didn’t realize I was holding and relax back into my chair. Maybe having a new toy around for a little while won’t be such a bad thing after all.