Fight for Me

Layla’s running, trying to avoid as much debris as possible to not make any sound, - yet.

She runs up the unmoving escalators all the way to the fourth floor.

Now I just need to get to the south side.

This area still looks somewhat untouched.

She knows she still needs to try to be hidden. But there isn’t much place to hide.

She knows she needs to do something a bit drastic to get its attention.

Layla picks up the half-filled trash can on the side of a bench, and throws it against one of the store windows.

The sound of shattering glass echo through the building and not long after she hears a thunderous roar coming her way.

She tries to be quick, grabbing the dustbin again to break another window.

But barely a second goes by when she hears the rogue crash into another store, trying to take a sharp turn in her direction.

Crap. That was too fast. The others won’t be here yet.

She drops the dust bin and rushes into the ruined store to hide.

Ggggrrrhhh!!!!!!

But hearing its growl and determined galloping, Layla knows it probably already saw her.

She rushes to hide behind the counter.

She takes a peek and sees the wolf ripping through the clothes on hangers and roughly shoving against the hanger-stands.

She can hear it getting closer. She pulls her dagger out.

She yelps as something heavy, loudly crashes against the counter.

But the momentary silence lets her know that the wolf heard her.

She makes a break for it and runs, not looking behind her. Running out the store, she hears more crashing noises behind her, and the wolf snapping at her.

Just as she hears the wolf snap its teeth just behind her ears, she hears a loud thud. The trips suddenly, and rolls to the ground with her hands up, - ready to protect herself.

But looking in front of her, she sees the rogue wolf a few feet away from her, fighting an equally large black wolf.

Nick.

She panics. Not knowing what to do. The others aren’t here yet to help Nicholas.

Layla sees the two wolves biting and clawing at each other.

But this rogue is completely wild. It’s practically pushing Nicholas towards the ledge of the balcony. Layal knows she needs to do something fast.

She grips the dagger and approaches the rogue from behind, knowing it can’t smell her.

Nicholas’ black wolf manages to claw across the rogue’s face and bite its front limb. But that’s when the rogue takes a huge bite on Nicholas’ shoulder, making him take more steps back, - right at the edge of the balcony.

Layla lunges and stabs the rogue in the side of its neck from behind.

A loud growling yelp echoes through the building, as Layla sees the rogue’s flesh surrounding the dagger basically disintegrate from the touch of the silver.

But the rogue’s erratic movements push the black wolf away and it falls on her, yapping its jaws at her now. The instant fear of being torn apart has Layla shoving the dagger in his abdomen this time. She can feel the pain of it clawing at her. But it suddenly grips her shoulder in a firm bite and yanks her body to the side, like some rag doll.

She barely realizes what’s happening, when she feels the hard and sharp edges of the escalator steps on her back, as she rolls down its steps.

The rogue, still annoyed with the dagger in its side, tramples away. Running against anything and everything to try and get it off.

Ggggrrrhhh!!!! A loud growl fills the building, as the black wolf jumps from the ledge to the escalator steps.

Instantly shifting back, Nicholas holds his breath as he takes in the sight of Layla.

He leans down and instantly grabs her small body into his arms, placing his ear on her chest, hoping to hear at least a faded heartbeat. But nothing.

Not again. Not again.

He can hear his wolf whine, as he grips on tighter to her. He knows she jumped in to try and help him.

She should have known better.

But he knows, he should have known better, - she’s too stubborn and he knows it.

But in the course of his mental-rant, he notices something. The claw marks on her waist are closing up. So are the deep bite marks on her shoulder. Even the bump on her head from the other night is fading away.

What is going on?

In a matter of seconds, her body looks completely healed, - with not a single scratch on her.

Nicholas just sits and waits. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but something is telling him to just wait.

Suddenly, a loud gasp is heard as Layla breathes for air.

Opening her eyes, she sits up in his hold and sees Nicholas, and gives him a panicked look.

“I was wrong. I was wrong about the rogue.” She says as she looks at Nick’s confused face.

She spins her head from side to side, looking for something.

“Where is it? Where is the rogue?” She asks agitated.

“It ran off.” Nicholas says flatly. “I don’t know how we can lure it in again. We’ll just have to attack it any way we can.”

“No.” Layla rushes out “It will just tear through the others.”

“There is no other way.”

“There is.” She grips his arm. “It’s still in the building, right?” She looks at him eagerly.

He just nods his head.

“Tell everyone to set fires. They’re all coming this way, so it will draw the rogue back this way.” She tries to prompt him. But he isn’t moving. “Nick, please, just trust me.”

He softly sighs as he opens the link.

Everyone! Start setting fires. It will draw the rogue my way.

Fire? Nicholas, this rogue runs through walls. Do you really think fire will stop it?

Just do it, Tristan.

Nicholas looks back at a waiting-Layla and gives her a nod.

She releases a breath. And that’s when she realises she’s in his arms, and he’s naked. She purses her lips trying to hide a smirk.

Nicholas releases a deep growl. He knows he needs to break the silence to break the tension.

“Why will fire help?” He gets her attention back.

“It’s clear something isn’t right with this wolf. At first, I thought it can’t feel pain. But it does.” Nicholas gives a questioning look. “Whatever it is that happened to it, its wolf-senses are basically doubled now. It’s faster, bigger and stronger. But all its other senses are also heightened, - like smell, sight and touch. It feels ‘everything’. That’s why its so crazed. So, it won’t go near fire. It’s too hot and bright.”

Nicholas doesn’t know how she figured all this out in a matter of seconds. But it makes sense.

Both get distracted when they start hearing more crashing noises, and smell the faint smell of smoke.

“Come on.” Nicholas gets up and puts her on her feet, pulling her along.

He drags her under the escalators. “You stay here.” She tries to intervene, but he covers her mouth with his large hand. “I wasn’t asking.” He smirks, before he turns and runs up the escalators.

It’s coming your way, Nicholas. He hears Anthony.

He can already see the light of fire around him and feel its heat slowly growing.

Ggggrrhhhh!!!! He hears the beast coming his way, and gets ready as he shifts into his black wolf.

Nicholas’ wolf is a bit antsy right now from excitement. Knowing what they know now, he relishes in the thought that Nicholas is giving him full control to rip the rogue apart without any hesitation.