Page 84 of Trigger Discipline

Empty.

He was completely unarmed.

The thing reeked.

That was the first thing Gabriel thought when the Monkey Cat swung at him. Like a combination of sweat, old tomatoes, and something he couldn’t quite identify. It sat heavy in the back of his throat, lodged there like it was going to stick.

It took another lazy swipe, like it was fucking with him. Those claws just barely skimmed past him, points raking through the air with a whoosh that sent chills down his spine as he lurched backward, desperate to avoid being skewered. At least until the others could get away.

Gabriel was still holding the gun. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the old warrior’s creed about dying with his weapon—although if he had to choose, he would want to die with something cooler than a 9mm. Or maybe it was just because if he dropped it, he wouldfeelunarmed.

For whatever reason, he was still holding it in his right hand, keeping one eye on the alien and the other on the group. Blake was hesitating.Leave,Gabriel wanted to scream. Once Blake was gone, once he was safe, he could breathe. Focus on dying in the least terrible way possible.

The Monkey Cat reared back and jumped forward, its teeth snapping in his face. Gabriel used the butt of his gun to bash it in the mouth. It was a good hit. The alien stumbled back, a tooth clattering to the ground.

As it shook its head, Gabriel got a good look at the eyeVictoria shot up. He was surprised to see that the small, black eye was more like a sunglasses lens. The Monkey Cat’s real eye was below, recessed into its skull and small. Like a mole or something.

Gabriel gasped as he backed up into something. His back struck the plane wing. It was slanted up, torn off from the fuselage. It wasn’t the entire wing, but it was big enough that he couldn’t get around it.

The Monkey Cat wasn’t playing with him; it was cornering him.

Wielding the gun like a bat, he braced himself when the Monkey Cat struck again. This time with its claws, the four digits splayed for the most damage. His gun was useless against the muscular limb, flying from Gabriel’s hand as a sharp pain screamed across his bicep. The tips of the claws had sunk into his flesh, sharp as knives. Already, his right arm felt weak, wanting to go limp at his side.

The Monkey Cat’s tail swished behind it as it turned its head to get a good look at Gabriel. He stuck his good hand in his pocket, fingering the crochet hook.God, this thing is ugly,he thought as he watched it, waiting for that final blow.

Then he saw Blake. Over the alien’s shoulder, he was standing at the hole Tommy had created. He was alone, unwilling to go through. Even from this distance he could see his expression—his hair sticking to his sweaty face, covered in blood, but still so beautiful. Those eyes were bright, taking it all in. There was nothing he didn’t see.

And Gabriel didn’t want Blake to see him die. He didn’t want him to carry that with him, not like Gabriel had carried his victims for so long. It was a weight no one should have to bear. After the zappy balls started falling, he told himself his mission objective had changed. His new mission was to keep Blake safe.

The mission wasn’t over yet.

Twisting, he planted one foot on the ground and jumped. He couldn’t go around the wing, so he’d go up.

The Monkey Cat swiped just as he got hold of a flap in the wing, and then he was on top of it, running up the angled wing like a ramp. Below him, the Monkey Cat paced beside him, silently. It was almost as unnerving as the Off Former’s clicking and whining.

He was slipping with every step, his boots desperate for some kind of friction on the smooth metal. The wing wasn’t stable, and it wobbled as he ran, but Gabriel didn’t stop. A plan was forming in his mind. One worthy of Blake.

The alien raced ahead and got below the tip of the wing, braced to jump up and knock Gabriel off. But he wouldn’t give it time. Pumping his aching legs, he thundered across the wing, raising his arm just as he got to the end of the wing.

Then he jumped.

Gabriel’s stomach dropped as he flew over the gap. Bracing to catch him, the alien lifted its ugly face in time for Gabriel to land on top of its head, his knee striking one of its angular cheeks. It screeched in surprise, stumbling and shaking its head. Gabriel clung to one of its floppy ears, legs kicking to keep out of the Monkey Cat’s jaws.

Digging its claws into the road, the alien twisted, biting at Gabriel. He was close enough to feel the wind whipping off its jaws. Body swinging, he let go of the ear with one arm and aimed.

The cracked eyepiece was right below him. It was thick, but Victoria had chipped away at it. Just enough for him to gouge his crochet hook in.

It pushed past the crack and squished into something fleshy. The Monkey Cat shrieked as Gabriel pushed further, the curved head of the hook sliding deeper and deeper until he lost hold of the handle.

Shaking, the Monkey Cat threw itself to the ground. Gabriel let go and landed hard enough for the wind to getknocked out of him. Trying to catch his breath, he rolled away from the flailing creature. It was screeching still, rubbing its bad eye against the asphalt, its long claws scraping the street.

With his good arm, Gabriel pushed himself to his feet. His breaths were shallow as he tried to run away. The Monkey Cat had completely forgotten him, too busy trying to claw its own eye out.

Blood poured down his arm, dripping off his fingertips to splatter onto the ground. He was feeling a bit dizzy, but he didn’t stop. Not when he looked up and saw Blake running back toward him, arms outstretched.

They collided hard, and Gabriel nearly collapsed into his arms. Blake hugged him tight, burying his head into his chest. He was shaking. Gabriel kissed the top of his head before taking his hand, pulling him towards the shaft of sunlight filtering through the hole in the wall.

“You’re bleeding,” Blake said, running beside him.