Summer Flings and Other Things

Chapter 3

It’s completely silent other than mine and Mia’s breathing. Not even the usual night critters or summer cicadas are making their usual music. All of a sudden we hear a twig snap to the right of us at the edge of the forest. 

Both of us turn instantly and crouch into a defensive attack position, just like Mia’s dad taught us. I whisper to Mia, 

“We should go inside.” I whisper curly to Mia, “ I don’t like this feeling I have in my gut.” An early summer night breeze ruffles our hair while we’re still crouched and I feel Mia stiffen and hold her breath beside me. Then the next instant I know what put her on alert. A foul, sour rotting smell hits my nostrils wiping out the existence of the late spring smells that had previously been on the night air. Despite the stench I can still make out a hint of werewolf scent on the air as well. Rogues. I had never smelled one until now but had heard their smell described countless times. This was undoubtedly what I was smelling. I grab Mia’s hand and pull her with me as I rush to her back door. I wrench the screen door open and as soon as Mia’s in I slam the heavy metal door her dad had installed as soon as they moved in and lock it. Thank the Goddess her dad was so paranoid. 

“Go Mia!!!! Close and padlock everything else!” 

My heart’s racing and I can hear Mia’s as well. I can see the terror on her face before she turns and sprints to the front of the house. I go to the bathroom on the first floor and slide down the metal reinforced shutter her dad had installed on all their windows. I laughed when he first installed them and then insisted on showing me how they worked one of the first nights I had slept over but right now I’m so thankful her dad did. I get to the other three windows facing the back and the east side of the house and lock them when I hear a huge bang coming from the metal door. It sounded like someone was angrily trying to knock the door down. 

“Mia! I’ve got all the windows here! What about you?”

“Just one last one almost there-”

CRASH. I just hear glass shatter and a scream and before I can fully register what it could have been I sprint to where I hear growling. I turn the corner and for the second time tonight, all the air in my lungs just whooshes right out and I can’t breathe. 

The dirtiest, grungiest looking werewolf I’ve ever seen is standing in the middle of Mia’s living room. His fur was matted in several places, cakes of mud spattered throughout, one of his ears was torn from some previous fight and he had an ugly gash along his side that was currently oozing a little blood. He had somehow managed to squeeze himself through the small window on the stair landing but must have nicked himself on the broken glass. It must have been the window Mia hadn’t reached in time. I glance at Mia to see if she’s okay and she’s already in her defensive stance, a small knife in her hand. I quickly run to her side, grabbing the only semi-weapon I could find - what looks like a broken broom handle but it will have to do. I notice how short and quick my breaths are coming and try to slow it down. Four counts in, four out. Out of all the things Mia’s dad had taught me, all I could run through my head right now was his breathing exercises. The rogue is slowly moving towards us, his eyes flicking between Mia and I, his growls and rotting smell mixed with fresh blood filling the room. I tighten my grip on the stick and just wait for him to make the first move, hoping at least my body would remember something from the training sessions Mia’s dad had given me since all my brain could do was focus on breathing. 

He lunges at Mia and she sidesteps quickly using her hand to block his hand and push him off to the side. He barely stumbles and quickly turns and faces her again. His eyes flick between Mia and I again and I can feel a bead of sweat drip down my back between my shoulder blades as he lunges again at Mia focusing on her hand with the knife. He manages to bite down on her wrist and I hear her scream followed by a muffled c***k. Her scream gets cut off as I see him head butt her and she goes flying across the room. He then turns towards me, a deep throaty terrifying guttural growl coming from his throat. I can see blood dripping from his mouth and I hope that Mia at least managed to stab him and that it wasn’t all her blood. Before I can register any shift in his weight, he’s already flying at me with his teeth bared. Without thinking I try dive out of his way but feel a burn in my side. Next thing I know is I can smell my blood and feel my shirt sticking to my skin, my blood soaking it through. I don’t even glance down at myself but am trying to assess the rogues next move. I see him coming for me again, this time I use the broomstick like I would a Bo staff, albeit a much shorter stick with a splintered end. I quickly swing the stick down as he lunges and manage to make contact with something. Before I can even think I follow up my first strike with side-side strike and feel the stick make contact two more times and see the rogue stumble a bit as the strikes to his head seemed to be having a bit of an effect. Mia had been training with her dad her whole life so she was much more prepared for this than I was so I was feeling a rush and giddy that I was able to actually make contact during a real fight. Before I can get too carried away with giving myself a pat on the back though. the rogue is already back on his feet coming at me again. I quickly try to brace myself and do a forward strike where I just thrust the edge of the staff directly at him like you would a blade, but I wasn’t completely balanced on my feet and the momentum of the rogues jump pushes me back and I fall into the edge of the dining room table and I hear a c***k from my ribs. I try scramble to my feet but I’m gasping for air and feel a sharp pain as I breathe in. s**t, I must’ve broken a rib or two. Before I can regain my balance and get into a good stance the rogue is coming at me again. With the stick in my right hand I use whatever strength I have and thrust the broken end with the splinters up at him trying to aim for his heart. I feel the stick make contact somewhere on his chest and thrust with everything I have, but he was closer than I expected and the next thing I know I feel his teeth clamp down on my shoulder. I scream out in pain, I can’t really feel any blood coming from my shoulder and neck, but I feel my muscles getting weak and my vision fading and then I collapse. I hear Mia yelling my name as I slump on the floor and then the rogue makes a yelping noise and I feel his jaw slacken on my shoulder and I’m released from his bite. I raise my hand trying to shield my face from any other bites but none come. The last thing I remember is hearing Mia running towards me and her crying. 

Then everything goes black.