Before Grayson could do shit to help, the second creature, which he’d forgotten about, slammed into his back and knocked him face-first on the ice. Good thing for his mouth guard, or he’d have bitten his tongue. Still, the impact hurt, and he huffed out a hard breath.
His life might have ended then and there but for the gunshot. The heavy weight pinning him went limp. Grayson grunted as he strained to heave it off.
Then what did his dumb ass do? Immediately shot to his feet and lunged for the monster trying to scrabble through the hole it had made in the protective glass, slavering with eagerness to munch on the frozen mommy and her sobbing kids.
Being too close to do a proper spin kick, Grayson instead threw himself onto the monster’s back, wrapping his arm around its corded neck and squeezing as he pulled back.
The creature wriggled and snarled in his grip. It wouldn’t be long before it broke free. Grayson lifted a foot and dug the blade of his skate against its spine. Not exactly a killing slice, but the thing stopped wiggling so hard, likely worried it would cause more damage.
And, still, the mother watched, leading Grayson to yell, “Would you get the fuck out of here?”
Apparently, she needed instruction to act because she suddenly woke up and began dragging her kids towards the marked exit.
At least this side of the arena had managed to mostly clear itself out, except for the morons with their cameras pointed, live-streaming. Maybe his death would go viral because Grayson saw no way he’d get out of this alive.
The monster in his grip bucked him off, and as Grayson flew, he saw even more monsters exiting the hole in the ice. Too many for him to vanquish, and yet, he couldn’t run away. Every monster he could maim or take down was at least one life or more he could save.
Fuck retirement. Time for this final stand.
Grayson dropped the gloves and yelled, “Let’s go, motherfuckers.” More bravery than brains, his mom always used to say. But she’d also raised him right.
He did his best as the creatures raced for him, dropping into a spin with a foot extended to see how many he could slice as he whirled like a top. When he wobbled, he immediately popped to his feet and grabbed the head of the monster lunging at him, doing his best to hold those snapping teeth away from his throat. He doubted his neck guard would protect against a chomp.
However, while he wrestled with one, others moved in, slashing through his protective gear, tearing at his flesh.
Biting.
Slashing.
Tripping.
A monster fell atop him, and Grayson almost passed out. Through the roaring in his ears, he heard a man huffing, “Where the fuck did you all come from? Fuck me, I should have brought a bigger gun.”
Grayson almost laughed at the man’s annoyance. It emerged as a choking cough that led to the weight atop him being flung aside.
“Shit, you’re still alive. You did good, son.”
Son? The man staring down at him was probably a few years younger than Grayson.
“Sorry, but there ain’t no healing from this, son. Give me a sign and I’ll put you out of your misery, least I can do. But make the decision quick. There’s more monsters coming.”
Looked like he wouldn’t have to worry about getting fat in his retirement.
“Do it,” he croaked.
As he lay on the ice, choking on his own blood, looking death in its blazing blue eyes, he heard a voice in his head.
Would you serve humanity and protect the world for a second chance at life?
What life?His sucked. Maybe this was the better option.
What if you could become a defender, someone with purpose?
Are you offering me a job?He almost laughed at the irony of his subconscious trying to ease his most recent worry.
A hint of frustration hued the next query.Do you want to be a hero or not?
Sure, but only if I don’t have to wear tights.
