Page 72 of Afflicted

I'd never been much of an adrenaline junkie but as I stood waiting for the doors to open I felt energy coil in my stomach. My heart pounded and my grip started to feel slick on the hilt of my knife. I could have almost confused the feeling with excitement if I wasn't so sure it was terror.

Spencer took a deep breath and threw the door wide.

The street outside seemed clear and we hopped down, glancing around nervously.

Rose took the lead and slipped around the van to the righthand side where the shadows were thicker. A huge truck was half on the curb beside us making a narrow gap for us to run along.

Our friends started screaming warnings and breaking glass sounded on the street behind us as they launched their beer missiles.

We broke into a sprint and dashed for the passenger door.

A wolf leapt out of the darkness just before we reached it and Rose swung her rolling pin as she screamed in fright.

The wolf yelped as the rolling pin collided with its jaw and it spun away.

I passed Rose as she staggered back and reached the passenger door of the cab. I dropped one of my knives, grabbing the handle and flinging it open.

I scrambled inside, dragging myself over the first seat and onto the next. The driver’s door was open and I crawled across the seats as I reached for it. My heart hammered uncontrollably and I lurched to a stop as my waistband caught on the handbrake.

I fumbled as I tried to release it and slipped off of the edge of the seat, steadying myself with my foot on the floor.

“Move, move!” Spencer urged as he clambered in behind me and shoved me towards the driver's seat to make room.

I grabbed the steering wheel and wrenched myself over the handbrake, hearing the other door slam behind me as Rose made it inside too.

I reached for the driver's door as a low growl sounded right outside. Before I could grab the door, the wolf lunged and I fell back with a scream.

I kicked out, catching the wolf in the snout as I turned the steak knife towards it. I swung the knife as the wolf came for me again.

Warm blood splattered my face as the wolf howled in pain and leapt away from me. I dropped the knife and it clattered into the footwell as I grabbed the door and slammed it.

I fell backwards and felt Spencer's arms close around me as I practically fell across his lap. I couldn't catch my breath and I just lay there for several seconds, staring at the closed door as the shock wore off.

A wolf slammed into the door, yapping angrily and I flinched.

“Are you okay?” Lacey called from the back of the truck, her voice muffled through the thin wall.

“All present and accounted for,” Spencer agreed shakily. “Everyone alright back there?”

“We’re fine. Can you just get this thing moving?” Demi called impatiently.

“We need to swap places,” Rose said as she pointed to the steering wheel in front of me.

“Okay,” I agreed.

I moved aside as Rose clambered over Spencer, half falling into his lap as she did so. I expected him to crack a flirtatious joke but he just lifted her off of him and slid along to the far passenger seat. As he gazed out of the window, a low howl sounded, sending a shiver down my spine.

Rose clambered over me next and I wriggled underneath her into the centre seat as she finally made it behind the wheel.

Spencer reached forward and used his sleeve to wipe the wolf blood from my face. “You were pretty badass there.” He smiled at me and I returned it.

“Let’s just hope I never have to be again,” I replied with a shudder. I had just come far too close to death for my liking.

I gazed out into the gloomy evening and tried not to panic as I spotted several canine shapes circling between the abandoned cars outside.

I jumped as the electric engine roared to life and Rose gave me an apologetic smile.

“Let’s see if we can get out of here,” she said as the truck started moving.