Page 10 of Before Their After

I gathered our belongings, confident in my decision to leave after not having seen much movement throughout the streets over the last day. There were a few Pansies straggling around, but nothing we couldn’t dodge. We’d finessed our way through far worse these past few months.

Five minutes later, I was forced to swallow my words. Sticking to the sides of the buildings and keeping my eyes up and around, a small cluster of Pansies from inside the windowless storefront escaped my radar. Harley barked in alarm. A hand closed in on her tail, dragging her toward the broken glass and inside the building.

Huffing a sigh, I drew my knife from the holster at my hip. A physical fight was exactly what I needed to relieve the tension building up beneath my skin. The emotions from my restless sleep craved release. Six quick and efficient movements later, and they were down. The blade of my knife entered their skulls with what would once have been a sickening wet slush. I could have ended them in three, but there was something poetic about even numbers. Smearing their rust-colored blood across my pants, I gave Harley a pat on the head. My eyes scanned the length of her body, checking for injuries but finding none.

Placing my knife back at my side, I removed the glass bottle from my bag. Holding my tongue out, I savored the bitter taste of the last drop as I shook the bottle, making sure none went to waste. A sharp laugh scared the shit out of me. Clearing my throat with little recognition. It was hard to accept this pathetic state. I dropped the bottle, head motioning for Harley to get moving again.

“We’ve got places to be and food to find, my girl,” I sang out, riding the high of putting two down with little effort.Music,I need music. It was tactically stupid, but I didn’t care, a false sense of invincibility clouded my judgment.

We made it to the next alleyway before a hand covered my mouth, preventing the next words from flowing and sealing my breath. Harley growled, a few quick warning barks unleashed as she latched onto the culprit’s leg.

Cold metal jabbed into my neck as a man whispered into my ear, “Call the dog off, or I’ll kill you.”

He paused, and I calmed my movements, deciding kicking back toward him wouldn’t help my situation. “If I die, she’ll kill you,” I said, gasping for air.

Strong hands grabbed on my shoulders, twisting me around to face him. I studied him; he was older. His face was kind, but weathered, hair gray and fine lines creasing the skin near catlike eyes. Panic set in as I took in his size, and my flames claimed my fists in defense.

He was over a foot taller than me, the muscle in his build making what was sure to be an extra-large shirt appear as an extra-small. He had either roided up before this, or had been given an edge on survival after.Probably both.

In the days I’d spent observing from tall structures in the cities I passed through, I’d noticed an increase in unusually large people. Some you could tell had already been of substantial size before, either naturally or through enhancers. Others were clumsy. Uncoordinated and not used to their now long limbs or what was likely heightened senses if the size of their nose and eyes were any indication of additional mutations.

The advantage had escaped me, keeping me at the five foot two I was before. I fixed my stance, ready to put additional distance between us, as he interrupted. He put his hands up as if offering peace, face grimaced at Harley still clamped onto his skin, awaiting my next command.

“I’m trying to—” he hissed in pain. “I’m trying to save you, child. There’s a group of men a few blocks away. They won’t be as pleasant as I am.”

I scowled at him. “Bullshit.”

Shifting my weight, I raised my hand, still wrapped in flame as I peered behind my shoulder toward the street, then back at him. There was sincerity behind his gaze. My gut told me he was telling the truth, at least about the men.

I doused my flames, calling Harley off, a groan following in relief.

“I’m not a fool,” I grumbled. “This isn’t so much about saving the two of us as it is about saving yourself. My singing was just drawing attention to your location.”

His eyes narrowed at my accusation. “I can do both at the same time. It’s human nature to work together to survive. Not everyone in this world is out to get you.”

“Likely though,” I chuckled, voice laced in sarcasm.

The rumble of a motorcycle sounded, followed by the murmur of voices, a rough male voice ordering a group to spread out. The large man extended an arm, pushing us into the shadows as I pulled my gun, finding security in something I’d been trained to use efficiently. With certainty.

He shook his head. “No. It’s too loud, the noise will attract the others. More of them than possible for us to take down fighting.”

I grinned, ready to test out the next best option—throwing knives. I’d been practicing for some time, finding them easier to control than the unpredictable flames, meeting my target each time. There was little effort on my end and I didn’t have anyone to teach me the correct form. Just had to go with what felt right, but it worked. Both palms tightening on the helm of the knives, I took in a deep breath as the motorcycle passed us.

One breath out. A breath in. Another breath out.

The engine of the motorcycle revved, closing back in on our location. I closed my eyes, and the sound stopped as the engine cut off. Another breath in, and my blades flew through the air, entering near his jugular and clearing straight through his neck.

Harley lunged forward, her jaw secured around his wrist as she dragged him toward the alleyway, synchronizing her movements with me, pulling his bike out of view. I froze. The man hadn’t moved. Instead, he watched, studying me. An expression of horror filling the kind features of his face.

“You’re too young to know violence like this,” he whispered. I wasn’t even sure he’d known he’d said the words out loud.

I cleared my throat, uncomfortable under his gaze. “Way of the world now. Do what you have to, to survive.”

“It shouldn’t have to be that way.”

Wishful thinking never got anyone far,I’d wanted to say, but was cut off by the sound of voices nearing closer, searching for a friend they’d have to spend forever missing now too. The only difference being, they’d have the opportunity to kill what had ended the life of someone they loved. They’d be rightful to do so. There were moments I’d wish I could myself, but I couldn’t. Wasn’t strong enough to, or weak enough to.Whatever. Instead, I did what I did best.

I ran.

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