Chapter 4

Jade Pinkerton's pov

The storm clouds moved in quicker than I expected and I was watching the dark snowflakes that started to fall with a creased brow. The temperature had dropped several degrees and I shivered in my summer attire.

“The dirt from the meteors hitting us is causing this odd weather,” Monica moaned, joining me in the doorway. Her cell phone was in her hand.

“How much battery do you still have?”

“Thirty percent but my signal keeps going in and out,’” she replied.

Letting several thick flakes fall into my palm I rubbed my thumb pad against them and felt the grit in it as they melted.

“Crazy,” I muttered as I continued to watch the dark gray snowfall across the landscape.

“I hope that the injured man made it safely to wherever he wandered off to,” I said absentmindedly and got a snicker from my friend.

“You REALLY must have wanted some D from the guy if you're still thinking about him,” she teased and I shook my head.

“Can't let my mind wander to sexy time while we are being hunted,” I sighed.

Looking out across the street, Monica gasped as she pointed out three dark creatures and a couple of wolves moving around covertly through the trees on the edge of the town.

“I think we should head inside and set up a safe area. If they're out then we are in trouble,” she rushed out and I agreed with her while swiftly closing the metal door.

The bags we had brought earlier lay empty on the floor and I glanced at the faces of the people.

“You REALLY ate it all? Greed is a sin,” I snapped and Monica tapped on my arm.

“I kept each of us a meat stick and a protein bar,” she informed me, causing me to lower my accusing eyes and walk off. I was going to rummage through the lockers for something warmer to wear.

Hearing her coming up behind me I glanced at her.

“The group voted for the old guy to be the head of our group and he thinks we should draw straws to offer a sacrifice to the vampires and werewolves,” she mumbled sourly.

“I will go out on my own before I draw a damn straw,” I snapped, causing her to giggle.

Arriving at the lockers I started to open them in search of clothes. Finding a flannel and a couple of long long-sleeved thermal shirts I put one on and then used the huge flannel as a light jacket.

“You look more like a young guy, now,” Monica chided as she pulled on a dark blue hoodie.

Hearing running I glanced over at the hall and a group of survivors rushed by.

“What's going on,” I asked them, and heard the shotgun go off in the storage area.

“Creatures came in and we all took off,” a middle-aged guy said. I was bad at remembering his name but I knew the group had left the man with an injured leg and the older woman who had lost her twin.

“Unbelievable, you leave the most vulnerable ones behind?” I said angrily while pulling out an arrow.

Shaking my head I readied my bow and made my way back to the room.

The scattered broken skylights brought dim light into the large room.

“Are you all alright?” I shouted as I moved my raised arrow around the area.

Rustling caught my ear as I moved my head toward the sound. Seeing the frightened eyes of the old woman and her finger pointing across the space I turned quickly and saw a black blur move across the shadows. Releasing my arrow I missed and grabbed another as I strode toward the bastard.

“Where is the guy with the shotgun,” I questioned outwardly.

Glancing back over to the old woman I saw her shrugging.

Exhaling deeply I continued toward the dark corner and stopped. I figured they would come to me.

Once I saw a set of red eyes I aimed and fired. Finding great joy in seeing the asshole turning into nothing but a pile of gray ash.

“There were three more,” the woman shouted and I pulled out another arrow and started walking around the perimeter.

Seeing a dark mass in the corner behind a pallet I scrunched my mouth at seeing a dead naked man with a hole in his gut. Looking further, I saw a vampire feeding on the middle-aged guy and shot my arrow into its back. The ash covered the dying dude and I shook my head before hearing the old woman screech.

“Leave the woman alone,” I shouted to hear hissing in response.

I felt a chill in the air before I shifted my position and a pale scary-looking woman was glaring at me with blood-red eyes.

“You foolish human, there's no future for the aged of your species and we are giving them mercy with their deaths! It's our orders from the commander Romanov,” she explained with a low feral hiss.

Raising my brow I looked her directly in the eyes and said, “You're not God, only he decides our fate.”

Releasing my arrow into her chest I smiled and said, “Guess your time was up.”

Collecting the fallen arrow I tucked it back into my quiver and rushed over to the old woman.

Thankfully she wasn't injured and was only sobbing as she reached out for me to hold on to.

“You're an avenging angel! I thought for certain that I was going to be meeting my twin,” she mumbled through her emotions.

The loss of my mother hit me then and I embraced her as the tears poured from my eyes.

“What is your name, I've forgotten,” I mumbled through my sobs.

“It is Greta dear,” she said compassionately as she hugged me tightly and patted my back giving me the comfort I so desperately needed at the moment.

“Is Norman dead?”

Nodding my head I didn't answer her with words fearing my voice would be shaky. I needed to rein in my emotions and stay strong.

Standing upright I wiped away my tears and murmured that we should join the others as my thoughts drifted to the man with the blue eyes again. Were they the same eyes as that standing wolf? I wondered as I frowned and helped Greta toward the rest of the group that had abandoned her.

I would say my piece and let them know that the creatures were sacrificing the older humans.

“Did you overhear what that female bloodsucker said about sacrificing the older ones,” I asked her and the old woman nodded.

“I did but I don't agree with it and feel that you shouldn't inform the others or we will be left by age and most of us are over fifty. I don't know what the monsters consider old,” Greta muttered making me grin slightly.

“Well I think you are still pretty spry for your age,” I commented, making her laugh.

“You're an angel, Jade,” she chuckled, making me feel better.

Once we arrived with the others there was complete chaos.

The newly elected leader came up to us in an angry state.

“A young lady who was experiencing her monthly led two creatures to us and she and your friend were taken! They can scent your women's time and can find us by just sniffing the fucking air,” he proclaimed bitterly.

Taken aback by the information of my bestie being taken I fell to the floor in utter disbelief.

“Did you hear me?!”

Glaring up at the asshole I muttered, “Fuck you! I'm not this group's Savior. I'm on my own and now that Monica’’s been taken I owe you all nothing!”

Standing back up I started to walk away and felt my gut churn hearing Greta whimpering. Glancing back I gestured for her to join me but she shook her head.

“You're still young and will eventually get your period, I'm better off staying with the group,” she said hesitantly and I exhaled sharply before going to the storage room to gather as many arrows as I could.

I was used to being on my own and would try to find Monica because she was my only friend who cared enough about me to make sure I continued to eat and exist when all I wanted to do was lock myself away and rot in my apartment since I lost my real dad.

Shaking my head I decided to go there and get warmer clothes.

Stepping outside I winced seeing the sky had darkened a lot more. Picking up my pace I jogged up the alley to my building. Since I didn't have my keys I climbed up the fire escape and entered my apartment through the open window.

When I got inside I gasped. My apartment had been trashed and my things were strewn everywhere. Sounds could be heard coming from further inside and I quietly withdrew an arrow before I ventured further within.