FATED MATE

Marina had heard the screams from the background. She was in the store room when she heard the noise. She went out to ask the people who were running. She saw Harris and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the safe side. "What's happening? Is the place on fire?" That was the first thought that came to her mind. Harris was trying to catch his breath. He was a young lad in his early twenties, fine and long for his age. "Some group of men .. are breaking down some things and beating up Jamal and the...the other stranger," "Try to calm down, I can't hear a thing you are saying," she tried to slow him down. A shot was heard and screams erupted around them. Harris pushed Marina's hand. She was his senior at work, yet he wanted to save his life. "I'm sorry, I have to go," he apologized, looking over his shoulder now and then. Afterward, he pushed past Marina. Marina rushed out, thinking about the injured man. When she went out towards the counter, the sight she saw shunned her to the blues. A wolf stood in the center of the room roaring into the air. Her hands fled up to her torso, hugging herself in fear. Hide, Marina! before he sees you! Her head screamed at her. She had even forgotten that she was wearing heels. She squatted at once behind the counter, taking a peep at the hole behind the counter. Some men were lying bruised on the floor, and one of the men who was holding a pistol shot at the creature countlessly, yet the creature didn't seem affected in any way. The wolf came towards him and slapped the object in his hand, then grabbed the man. Two of the men seeing this raced out of the bar when he took a step towards them. Who was this creature? His body was covered with massive furs, his claws were thin and long. His look was menacing. How had he entered the bar? Where had the security men gone too? They should be here doing their job. The manager of the Penguin bar wasn't even in town; he had placed Saint, a friend of his, to watch over the affairs of the bar. The last she had seen of Saint was him drinking with some women and had gone off with them. So much for his name. Her eyes scanned the area and then caught hold of Jamal on the floor. What was he doing there? His eyes were open, he couldn't be....... She saw the streak of blood on his head. Noooooo! No way. Goosebumps suddenly shot through her skin, she was scared to her bones. She saw the gaping hole in front of his head. Jamal was shot. As if sensing her presence, the wolf's head wrenched in her direction. Her heart jumped out of her, she swirled around, covering her mouth with both of her hands. She could hear the thuds of his footsteps walking towards the counter. She looked around quickly. Where would she go? He would notice her, of course, he would notice her. She should be rather still, he might turn around. She heard the wail of a siren in the distance. Finally, the police were there. She heard a grunt and footsteps racing. She looked back through the peephole, only the door was open. She stood up quietly, turning to scan the area. The animal had left. Fiona had seen the news, she had taken a cab down to Penguin Bar. The bar was surrounded by police officers and also littered with reporters. Fiona pushed herself past a thin line, and a police officer asked her outside of the barrier. "My friend is in there, she works here." She said to the fair-headed man. "There's no one in the bar," he told her. "Please, leave." She nodded, walked out, then moved over to the ambulance. No sight of her. She moved over to the place where some dead bodies were. A brown-haired lady was bent over a body weeping profusely. She recognized the face of the dead man. That must be Jamal. Her heart ached as she saw the scene. What had happened in the bar? Fiona recognized a lady in a white shirt and black skirt. The sleeves of her shirt were folded up to her arms and her hair was also ruffled. She was at the rear giving her testimony to a police officer who seemed puzzled by her tale. Fiona raced towards her, swirled her around, and embraced her. Are you alright?" Fiona asked, turning her around to look at her body. "I'm fine, Fiona. I just had a rough evening but I'm fine." Marina assured her. "I'm glad. I heard the news. I just saw Jamal's corpse." Fiona said to her. Fiona had natural emerald eyes. She was Marina's best friend. They had been childhood friends from high school. "It's sad. I can't even tell how he died. The police won't believe me when I say a wolf attacked. They think I'm telling some fantasy story." "Wolf? What do you mean wolf? The newscaster didn't say anything about some wolf?" Fiona asked, flipping the side of her red hair. "It's already on the news?" Marina was amused. "Yes, it is. Everyone is talking about it. Saint is nowhere to be found. How would your manager take in all of these?" Marina shrugged. "I don't know, either. But I feel so sad about Jamal. Though he's always a troublemaker, he loved to help." Marina said, looking directly at the lady crying over his body. "Who is the lady?" Fiona questioned. "That must be his fiancee," Marina answered. "You say there was a wolf. Could a wolf gun down a man like that?" Fiona asked. "That, Fiona, is what I can not answer. It has me confused." Marina told her friend. "The police will look into the CCTV and probably come up with the answers.