-Cat
“Cat! Grenade! Incoming!”
It’s not the words that spur me into action. It’s the panic in Ryker’s voice. The usually calm, cool, and collected warrior sounds like he’s freaking out. I don’t stop to think about it. The forest floor drops off about ten feet from me into a deep ravine. When I hear Ryker’s warning, I jump over the edge and roll down the hill to the stream below, landing on a sharp rock that jabs me in the butt.
Motherfucker.
I cover my head, waiting for the explosion.
Nothing.
For about five seconds.
Then - BOOM!
The grenade explodes on the rise where I’d been standing. Rocks and dirt rain down on me. The blast was so close. My ears are ringing.
Damn it.
I won’t hear if someone tries to sneak up on me. I need to get to cover and wait for Jeffrey Rose. He’s not the type of criminal to shoot and run. He’ll want to make sure.
That’s why he went back to the scene of the crime when he murdered his wife. That’s why he went to the police station the next day and confessed in front of dozens of cops and surveillance cameras.
He’s a fucking lunatic.
My muscles complain as I get to my feet and reach for my guns.
Nothing.
I lost them in the jump and roll.
Just as well. I’m out of ammunition anyway.
I look at the forest around the stream. The trees aren’t wide enough to hide behind. The rocks in this area aren’t big enough for cover. They’re just big enough to be painful when they jab you in the ass.
Dark shapes catch my attention downstream a few feet. They look like metal barrels. There are five of them clustered together. It will have to do.
I sprint for the barrels and crouch down behind them, reaching for the knife strapped to my calf. It’s not as big as Ryker’s, but it’s not the size. It’s what you do with it.
Heh. Heh.
My spine prickles as leaves crunch underneath footsteps. There’s a pause. I am on high alert. Was that an animal or Rose?
More leaves crunch. My hearing is returning a little bit, but not enough to tell me which direction the killer is coming from.
I slow my breath and chance a look around the barrels. I can’t see jack or shit. I return behind the barrels when I hear more shuffling. It’s closer this time.
I squat on my heels and clutch my knife tighter.
And wait.
Nothing.
Even breaths.
I hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Slow breaths.
