plot: narrative Who: Chloe (Narrative) What: Little Red Riding Hood When: May 21st, Evening (before the move) Rating: Medium Warnings: Violence
She waited for thirty minutes at the front of the store where Michael had told her to meet him, had even tried his cell phone three times. They all had been ignored, so had the text messages she'd sent, and it was starting to get dark. With each second she waited, the more nervous she became, she needed to get back. Especially since those shifters were surely around, she could feel them, at least she thought she could.
With a sigh she sent another text to Michael telling him she was going to head back and then one to Jace letting him know that she was on her way home. Today was moving day, tonight there would be a celebration feast like always. She didn't need him worrying about her, he deserved at least one day without having to worry about her well being.
The circus wasn't too far from town, maybe a mile or two, she could hoof it that far. The exercise would be good for her and the baby. At least that's what she'd read and what Sandra, the lady doctor as Jace had called her, had told her when they'd gone to see her. She'd liked Sandra, she answered so many of Chloe’s questions with such patience, and there had been a lot of questions.
With bags in hand, Chloe set off in the direction of the cirque, her phone stuffed neatly in the purse she carried. She had started off keeping a watchful eye, especially within the city limits, making sure she wasn't being followed. Halfway there however, she'd let her guard down, wasn't paying as much attention as she knew she should have. Not until she heard the whistle, low and long. The cat call. She almost stopped, almost froze. Her steps faltered for half a second before her pace picked up. She didn't dare look over her shoulder.
She could hear them now, the footsteps growing louder, the laughter as they realized that she knew she was being followed. She could see the Ferris wheel over the horizon, it was close. All she needed to do was make it to the gate, she'd be safe once she was inside, she just needed to make it.
Her pace picked up a little more, now a brisk walk as she finally looked over her shoulder. Her stomach dropped at the sight of them. There were three of them, and only one was in human form. Don't run. She reminded herself, fought back the urge to until she heard them too close.
“Where's your bodyguard girlie?” the howl of laughter made her stomach drop. Not so tough when your back up ain't around, are you?”
She shifted the bags to one hand, reaching into her purse with the other to pull out her cell phone. A mistake she would realize later. The hand around her arm was bruising, cutting off the circulation in a matter of seconds. She couldn't help the scream that escaped as she swung the bags wild, their contents spilling out on the ground around her. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Now why you gotta go making noise for? We just wanna say hello.” His breath was hot against her ear as he pulled her against his chest, her other hand trying to push him away. Play nice and we might let you make it back to pretty boy in one piece.
If her stomach could sink any further it would have. The very thought of what he wanted made her want to vomit. No, he couldn't have that, couldn't have her. Bringing her foot down as hard as she could on his, she pulled herself away, stumbling back and then falling. She didn't focus on the pain, just the fact that she needed to get away, needed to make it home and back to Jace.
Scrambling backwards on hands and feet she tried to put some distance between herself and them before pushing herself up and running. The sound of howling pushed her faster, she could see the gate now, it was just there all she had to do was run a little faster. But then the wind was knocked out of her and she landed with a shriek, catching herself on her hands before she could smack her head against the pavement.
Down, down, down. It seemed such a long way down. The baby. Those were her first thoughts but they were pushed into the back of her mind as she rolled onto her back. The wolves were circling, as if deciding where best to bite, as if waiting for permission from the man that walked slowly toward her.
“Stay away from me.” she hissed reaching to pull one of the knives Elia had gave her from her pocket. The man laughed again, but it was the wolves she paid most attention to. They snapped at her, snarling and fangs bared. “Get back!” she said again, a tremble in her voice. Her heart beat wildly not unlike a frantic bird trapped in a cage.
Another howl of laughter as the man kneeled in front of her. Now what do you plan on doing with that little thing darling? Poke one of us with it?” She could hear the amusement in his voice. She kicked out at him, and harder still when he grabbed her leg. This time the blow was solid and the man fell back on his ass.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the wolf on the right lunge at her and she swung just in time for the blade to make contact. He fell with a yelp, the knife buried in the side of his neck. Silver, thank God for silver. She didn't have time to be thankful for long, the pain that radiated through her leg was enough to make her scream something awful. She'd been bitten, and it was deep, she could feel it, all the way to the bone.
”Goddamnit Mark, I said scare the bitch not bite her!” Another yelp but Chloe wasn't sticking around to find out what had happened. She took advantage of the distraction, pushing herself up and running as best she could. There, there was the gate and she stumbled through it with tears coursing down her cheeks.
She needed to get home, needed to find Jace but the thought halted her. There were three of them out there and only one of him; she still didn't know if the one she had stabbed was alive or dead, she didn't care. They would probably be gone long before she found him and told him what happened. No, she needed to go home. It was just a bite, maybe it didn't even break skin. But she knew it had, she could feel the blood soaking the material of her jeans. This time her stomach did turn and she leaned against the fence emptying her stomach of its contents. Jace was supposed to be the one who turned her and only after the baby was born.
Slowly, gingerly, she made her way to their home and headed straight for the shower. Maybe if she caught it in time everything would be okay. Maybe if she just cleaned the bite nothing would happen, but deep down she knew that it was futile. She knew that she'd change with the next full moon, but she couldn't bring herself to care just as long as their baby would be okay.