Parahuman (Parahuman Series) Page 17

  Laney looked up at him in alarm. She had no idea what going on.

  Devan knew it was imperative that people find a place of safety.

  He yelled as loud as he could. “Wolves! Everyone get inside a car or to the building, fast!”

  Devan’s words sent people running and screaming in all directions in a panic. Grabbing Laney’s hand he pulled her toward the building while continuing to watch the wolves.

  The pack’s behavior was extremely peculiar. They came from around the building and began roaming the parking lot seemingly uninterested in all the pandemonium around them; their noses to the ground trying to pick up some scent.

  “It can’t be wolves; wolves haven’t been seen in Silverton in sixty years.” Laney was looking around trying to locate the source of the panic.

  “Sixty-nine,” Devan corrected. “Yes, its wolves, I can see them.”

  His gaze was focused on the animals coming steadily their way, but at the same time he could see that the entrance to the school was jammed with people trying to get inside. However, once inside people were not moving away from the door, rather, they were crowding the vestibule in an attempt to see what was going on outside. There was no way they were going to get through that melee in time if the wolves came this way.

  Feeling a frantic desire to get Laney to safety Devan was about to jeopardize his secret by grabbing her and jumping for the roof of the building when he noticed the smaller structure adjacent to the main school building.

  Changing his plans he hugged Laney to his side and ran with her—mostly he ran as she hung on to him. Gripping the door handle to the building Devan pushed sharply feeling the lock break from the frame. Pushing Laney in, he slammed the door behind them.

  Scrutinizing the inside Devan realized it was a supply building; storing a variety of equipment from sports to maintenance. At the moment he was more interested in the industrial size lawn mower. There was no key so he put it in forward gear, got behind it, and pushed it in front of the door since he’d broken the lock.

  Going to the window Devan saw Laney gaping at him incredulously. He evaded her gaze looking outside instead. There were still a few stragglers outside running for a vehicle or the school building. In their panic some people seemed to think the back of an open truck bed was a safe place, not seeming to comprehend that the wolves could easily get to them there. Buses still full of students were waving and calling to people. Several cars were screeching out of the parking lot not wanting to stay or else going to get help.

  Strangely enough the wolves still appeared to be searching for something rather than wanting to attack anyone. Devan took note that there were only six wolves present; he had established at least nine different tracks in the woods.

  Laney came over to stand beside him and her arm brushed up against his causing a shot of heat to pulse through his body. Devan shifted away reflexively at her touch, but she seemed to think he was only making room for her at the window.

  “They’re huge,” she exclaimed, peering out the window.

  Devan had already taken notice of that fact, and it was something that caused him not a small amount of concern. These things were almost twice the size of a normal Gray wolf. Their facial structures were also slightly irregular; the jaws heavier and wider, the snout shorter.

  “They don’t seem to be trying to hurt anyone, it’s like they’re looking for something,” Laney observed.

  The wolves had their noses to the ground, sniffing. One wolf passed by a truck with two guys crouching in the bed trying their best to go unnoticed. The animal had to know they were in there, but took no notice of them. It just sniffed the tires and continued on.

  “I’ve heard of lone sick wolves strolling into populated areas and attacking people, but it’s a very rare occurrence, I mean really rare.” Laney continued in wonder. “I’ve never heard of a whole pack just wandering in.”

  The wolves’ manners were too organized and controlled, and they weren’t attacking anyone; this didn’t coincide with her viewpoint of them being sick. They began to congregate around Devan’s jeep; jumping on the sides and one even leaped onto the hood−there goes that new car look. Circling it, they appeared to be getting worked up over something.

  “Don’t worry about me, I love talking to myself.”

  Laney’s words, laden heavily with sarcasm, had him jerking his head in her direction. She wasn’t looking at him; rather, she was gazing out the window with pursed lips looking annoyed. Devan could only conclude she was upset with his extended silence. He hadn’t been ignoring her; he had just been analyzing the situation.

  “I have been listening to you; I was just caught up in their behavior.” Devan offered in way of apology.

  Her eyes remained locked on the scene outside, but her lips and shoulders relaxed at his words.

  Devan continued, “And you’re right, it is a very rare occurrence.”

  “They appear too really like your jeep.” Laney commented, watching as the wolves paced around his jeep. “Did you run over something recently?” She jokingly asked.

  “Not that I know of.” He answered, although, that would give some credence to their escalated interest.

  The pack began to stride away from his jeep, and this relieved some of his tension, but their bearing brought it back double. The entire pack was beginning to make their way to the storage building that he and Laney occupied.

  “They are really huge.” Laney whispered.

  The animals grouped around the door, snuffling, and were becoming more agitated by the second; pacing relentlessly to and fro, whining, and throwing themselves against the door. The door rattled but didn’t open, with the mower lodged against it.

  “That is the darn’dest thing I have ever seen,” Laney said in fascination.

  Devan looked at her in surprised admiration. Instead of panicking at the thought of a wolf pack coming in and having her for a snack, she was instead commenting on their peculiar behavior.

  She noted his surprised expression.

  “What?”

  Devan looked into her eyes that were void of fear. “Aren’t you frightened?”

  She shrugged, stating confidently. “There’s no way they’re coming through that door.”

  As if hearing their conversation, one wolf moved to the window they were looking out. The window was set high; Laney’s head barley reached it. They watched the wolf pace back and forth before suddenly leaping up to set his front paws on the window sill. It was as tall as Devan and it stared in through the glass at them.

  Laney squealed softly jumping back in surprise. Devan held his ground. It was eerie the way the animals brown eyes considered Laney and him. Growling menacingly it fell back to the ground and backed up several paces. Devan’s heart skipped a beat.

  “It’s going to try coming through the window.” Grabbing Laney’s hand, he pulled her further away from the window and looked around. A quick inspection of the area revealed no place to conceal themselves. There was another window they could have gone out, but with the other wolves out there that was out of the question. He could take her to the roof. A further inspection of the building unearthed a chain saw which could get them to the roof without having to leave the structure.

  Laney looked up at him and then back at the window in alarm. “Why would it even do that? It didn’t attack anyone outside where it would have been way easier.”

  That was an excellent question and one he had already asked himself. It was worrisome conundrum.

  Suddenly, they heard a shot from outside. Devan didn’t hear a bullet impact, so either the bullet had sailed past not hitting anything or someone was shooting in the air. Holding Laney back Devan went to the window to see that the wolves had halted their incursion of the building to look around. Two men were standing near the main entrance of the school, both of them holding shot guns.

  No such thing as a ‘Weapon Free Zone’ at this school.

  Seeing that the wolves hadn’t scattered, the men
shot into the air in hopes of scaring them away. Devan watched in disquiet as the animals twitched in alarm at the noise, but didn’t run. One of the men took aim; although it was statistically low that he would hit one with a shot gun at the distance he was at. Firing, he kicked up some asphalt as the bullet smashed into the ground. This startled the animals a little more and they did scamper back a few yards.

  Except for one…the wolf that had looked in the window stood its ground, looking at the men as though seeing if they would do anything else besides make noise, and then as if deciding they weren’t a threat it turned slowly…making a rush for the window.

  Turning Devan scooped Laney up in his arms and jumped as far away from the window as the interior would allow; landing in the far corner just as the animal came crashing through the glass.

  Spinning around to face it he pushed Laney behind him. They had landed by a variety of football equipment. Devan grabbed what would be useful as a weapon…two football helmets.

  The wolf shook itself scattering shards of glass everywhere. The animal had to be at least seven feet long and looked to weigh at least two hundred pounds…definitely larger than the average gray wolf.

  Even though he was concentrating mostly on the wolf Devan still sensed Laney behind him reaching for a couple helmets of her own. He was terrified at the thought that the animal might actually get close enough to her that she would have to use them.

  “Find somewhere to hide,” Devan yelled in a panic.

  “There’s no place to hide,” she shot back tersely. “You might need some help, and two is better than one.”

  Devan knew she was correct in that there wasn’t any where to hide, but her announcement to help him was not something he wanted to think about.

  The wolf padded closer, its gaze intent upon them. It was snarling but not salivating as one would expect a diseased animal would. He was at a loss as to why this animal and the rest of them were acting the way they were. Devan was just thankful there was only one to deal with and that the rest of them hadn’t followed this one through the window. He could hear more gun shots from outside and the sound of a siren in the distance. Reinforcements were at least on the way.

  The wolf had closed the distance between them to ten feet. Forgoing stealth it leaped into the air with its jaws wide, Laney screamed behind him.

  Swinging both helmets Devan knocked the wolf sideways through the air away from them; he heard a satisfying crunch as the helmets made contact with its head and shoulder. The animal yelped in pain as it went soaring into some track hurdles. It staggered up disentangling itself from the hurdles looking a bit wobbly but righting itself rapidly. Devan could tell he had hurt it, but that wasn’t stopping it from coming at them again.

  “Oh God!” Laney exclaimed. The fear in her voice stabbed at Devan’s gut.

  The animal leaped for them again, snarling viciously. “Get down.” Devan commanded. Hoping that Laney listened to him Devan bent and lodged the helmets under the airborne wolf; using the wolf’s own momentum he sent it flying into some garden tools.

  When the wolf crashed Devan observed a bundle of sky poles in the corner where it had landed, and rather than beating the animal to death he decided the best plan would be to go for a quick kill. He just needed to get over there without leaving Laney exposed.

  There wasn’t anywhere to hide, but he could get her out of the wolf’s immediate reach. Spinning around he grabbed her by the waist hoisting her over his head. She gasped at his sudden actions, dropping the helmets and gripped his wrists reflexively.

  “Grab the ceiling joist,” he urged. “Quickly!”

  Grabbing a post Laney swung a leg over. Her gaze moved over his shoulder and an expression of acute horror crossed her face. “Look out,” she screamed just as he was hit from behind.

  The weight of the wolf slamming into him was jarring, but its weight wasn’t enough to take him down. It did dislodge his glasses though, sending them skittering across the floor. Claws dug into his skin about half an inch and it hurt, but not as much as the teeth would. Before it could sink its teeth into him Devan reached back and grabbed a fistful of its pelt; bending and spinning quickly he pulled it over his shoulder and sent it soaring and skittering into the back of the lawn mower.

  Looking up Devan made sure Laney safe in the rafters, well away from the wolf.

  “Stay there,” he commanded.

  Bounding over the injured wolf, that was getting to its feet a little slower this time, Devan could see its gaze track him instead of Laney, for which he was grateful.

  Landing near the ski poles he grabbed one and ripped off the circular basket near the end.

  He turned as Laney yelled his name and saw the wolf spring with another ferocious growl. Devan had enough time to bring the pole up as the force of its two hundred pound body hit, sending him staggering back against the wall. The pole pierced the wolf’s body, the force of the animal’s lunge sending it forcefully through muscles and organs out the other side. He felt a faint thumping along the stick telling him that it had gone through the heart.

  The wolf didn’t die right away though; its eyes rolled madly and its teeth went for his throat. Letting go of the pole Devan grabbed the muzzle keeping it away. However, he wasn’t able to stop the claws from dragging down his left shoulder and arm leaving a searing burn in their wake.

  That was all the animal had left to give though. Its front paw slackened falling from his arm, and Devan watched the life leave its eyes as it slumped dead against his body. He pushed it off him, his arm throbbing at the effort.

  Devan’s primary thought was for Laney’s continued safety and he looked up to make sure she was alright. She was dropping from the joist and hurrying over with tears in her eyes. She didn’t say anything for a moment when she reached him, just stared at him with watery eyes. Devan felt like he could get lost in those green depths.

  “Are you okay?” Devan asked, worried when she didn’t say anything.

  This seemed to snap her out of her shock.

  “Am I okay; of course I am,” she declared emotionally. She reached out to put her hand under his forearm; lifting it gently she pulled the material of his shirt away from the bloody scratches to examine the wound.

  Looking down at her bent head Devan felt a lump in his throat at the gentleness of her touch. Yes, the scratches hurt, but the feel of her hand on his arm and the heat of her body close to his overshadowed any pain he was feeling—that could have also been from imminent shock though.

  “Why didn’t you just get up on the joists with me?” She asked in a reproving tone.

  “I had a feeling it wasn’t going to stop.” He watched her as she tenderly saw to his arm. Her actions sent a serene feeling through him. It was nice even with the pain of his injury.

  “God, these are a mess. We need to get you to a doctor before you lose too much blood.”

  Devan took note that Laney’s voice sounded like she was the one in pain instead of him; however, her words brought his attention abruptly back to the moment. There was no way he could go to a doctor. Devan cocked his ear to the sounds outside and could sense no signs of the other wolves. They must have been scared away by the gun fire. He did hear sirens echoing in the distance though. Someone was bound to check on this building any second.

  What Devan was going to do next was going to change everything.

  “Laney.”

  “What?” She looked up from his arm her eyes still moist with tears.

  “I need you to do me a big favor.” She was never going to agree to this.

  “Of course,” she said fervently, looking almost enthralled by his eyes.

  “I can’t be found in here with a dead wolf, and I can’t go to the doctor.” He was in a dilemma of epic proportions.

  This seemed to shake her out of her enthrallment and she frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “This incident is going to end up in the news, and I can’t be associated with it.”

&nbs
p; “Why not?” She asked warily.

  “If I’m seen on the news I would be put in danger.” Devan heard voices in close proximity to the building and knew he was running out of time. “Can you pretend that you did this? People are coming and I can’t be seen here.” He urged desperately with little hope that she would agree. Why would she?

  Devan would just have to slip away at some point during the chaos. He could text Brett and he would have everything necessary packed and then they would have to get out of town quickly so…

  “Yes.”

  Devan’s planning came a swift halt at Laney’s response and he stared at her in shock; he couldn’t believe she had just agreed with no real explanation. Maybe…

  A voice from outside yelled. “Is anyone in there?”

  “Go, out the back window,” she whispered, pushing him in that direction. He let her push him in a daze, astonished it had been so easy. He really hadn’t expected her to agree.

  “Is anyone in there; is everyone okay?” The voice called again, getting closer.

  Looking out the back window to make sure it was all clear Devan pulled himself up and out. It deposited him in the back of the school. Devan just stood there for a moment staring down at her when his priority should have been finding some place to hide out. Their gazes were locked, and the intensity he witnessed in hers was making it hard for him to turn away.

  Movement and someone yelling out front broke the connection causing Laney to jerk in surprise. Devan took a step back and after one last longing look he turned and sprinted away.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Is anyone in there?” A voice from outside yelled.

  Laney watched Devan disappear from the window her heart twisting in anxiety. Those scratches on his arm weren’t minor and she had allowed him to run off to who knows where. What if he lost too much blood? He could end up passing out somewhere and nobody would find him for hours and then he could end up dying.