By Hook or by Wolf

Fuck.

I had hoped I’d make it through the escape without having to fight anyone, much less two someone’s. I’m a fantastic thief, and honestly, I’m a pretty good fighter. It’s just that I hate violence. I hate the feeling of hitting someone. I hate the idea that I might cause pain to anyone.

Then again, this is wha

t I signed up for.

“Got it,” I think to myself. I can’t exactly speak with my gas mask on, so I don’t bother trying. Daisy will figure out what’s going on if she hasn’t already. She’s an expert at monitoring things remotely, so she probably already knows about the gas and is going everything she can to turn it off.

I don’t slow down when I go around the corner where the monsters are. Instead, I rush around the edge of the wall and instantly start throwing punches. I block one of the vamps and the other one I kick between the legs. They might be undead, but they still have balls, and that doesn’t feel good for anyone.

One is down for the count and I hit the other one again. I slam my palm into his nose and fight the wave of nausea that washes over me when I hear a solid crack. Gross. He’s holding some sort of rod, like an old-school night stick, and I take it and keep running. I go around another corner and then another.

I make it back to the empty room where I first entered. I can hear the guards running toward the treasure room. I have no idea how long it’s going to take them to find me, but something tells me it’s not going to be very long at all. I take a quick second to bag the knife, shoving it deep in my sack. It’s more of a shoulder bag, really, and I make sure the strap is securely in place.

Then I take off my mask and shades and shove them in the bag, too, along with the night stick. I zip the bag up, making sure it’s tightly closed, and I then I take the most important thing of all: a deep breath.

“You can do this,” I whisper.

“You can,” Daisy echoes. “But you need to move. Now.”

I exit the building and carefully close the door behind me. Then I start walking swiftly toward the main road, but I don’t run. I can’t risk that. If they don’t know who I am and they can’t locate me, then I’ll be able to easily blend into a crowd, which is what I’m hoping for. I move silently, quickly, away from the Mountain. I need to get back to Daisy so we can get this job over and done with.

I’m almost back to where Daisy is hiding with our transport when I hear yelling. Shouting. Instantly, I break into a run, but I needn’t have bothered. It’s not me they’re after. I stop when I see two of the vampire guards from the Mountain beating the shit out of some guy. They’re in an alley to my left and I stand at the entrance, looking at them from the shadows. They don’t even see me.

I know they work in the large building I’m running from because of their distinct uniforms. The red-and-gold coloring doesn’t look good on the vamps, but they wear those jackets with pride. Who the fuck knows why? They’re ugly. Besides, Derek hasn’t done a single damn thing for this city that should give anyone pride.

No one should be proud of what he’s done.

“Hey!” I shout before I have time to think. I shouldn’t bother trying to save this dude, but really? What the fuck are these vamps doing? They don’t have the right to hurt anyone, much less an unwilling victim who hasn’t done anything to them.

The reality is that I don’t know this guy.

Maybe he has done something.

Maybe I haven’t got a fucking clue.

But I’m more than happy to stop and take twenty seconds to chase these monsters away. I’ve had my life saved before and let me tell you: there’s nothing quite as wonderful. Honestly. Having someone who steps on your behalf and defends you even though it’s deadly? There’s no comparison.

Besides, vampires are assholes.

“Leave him alone!” I shout.

Daisy lets off a slew of expletives in my ear, but I ignore her entirely. I’ve gotten pretty good at blocking out the voices in my head over the past few years. Adding one more to the list doesn’t bother me. Daisy is a sweetheart, but she’s also a dreamer. She’s crazy if she thinks I’m about to let this guy be killed by vamps right in front of me.

Instantly, the vamps stop what they’re doing and run at me. The guy doesn’t make a move to escape. Fuck. He’s in a bad way. Hopefully he’s not already dead. I punch one of the vamps in the face and kick the other one, but it doesn’t make much of a difference.

“You can’t fight them! Run!” Daisy’s voice is growing more and more shrill, but I don’t care.

“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” I growl. I throw another kick and dodge a punch from one of them. One of them grabs me from behind and I thrust my elbow down and back, getting him in the stomach. He loosens his grip enough for me to break free.

Then I remember the knife.

I yank it from my bag and without thinking too much, I shove it deep into one of their stomachs. Instantly, the vamp falls over. Before the other one can respond, I repeat the action, killing him, too. They both drop dead at my feet.

I stare at the knife.

“What the fuck did you just do?” Daisy is screaming and I can’t think. I tap a button on my wristband and shut off the sounds.