“William?” Lavender shouted.
Token raised his arms up at the sight of the old man. “Woah! I knew this place had a security guard, but no one said he was armed! That old man’s got a gun!” He shot a look toward Sybil and Montey who seemed just as shocked.
The old man grunted. “You kids step back. I already called Tawny and she should be here soon.” He moved in front of them, as if his old, fat body would shield them from my power.
“How did you know we were here?” Ryder finally spoke up, asking the man.
The security guard hurried them toward the door. “Once the power came back on, the monitors in my office started working again.” His eyes lifted to a small camera tucked in the corner of the room. “I saw you guys on the monitor.”
Sybil’s face went pale. “What else did you see?” she asked.
He hovered his finger over the trigger, glaring at me. “All I saw was Crissa biting your ear off. I ran here as fast as I could. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner. Now you guys get out of here.”
Token hesitated. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure that’s not Crissa.” He pointed to me.
My head tilted. “Bingo.” I lowered to my hands and knees and before anyone could blink, I shot towards the security guard. He fired his weapon, missing completely as I tackled him to the ground. My teeth sunk into his neck and pierced his artery, ripping a mouthful with one swift motion. Blood spewed in all directions as the veiny tissue hung from my jaw. Lavender screamed and the group just stood there, watching in horror as I chewed the man’s flesh and swallowed. He gagged and gurgled, blood bubbling up from his mouth. I glanced down at him, scrapping my claws along his face as they sliced his skin, bleeding a beautiful red. “Meaty arms is right. I am not Crissa.” My claws buried deep within the man’s chest, ripping his rib cage apart as though it were paper, revealing his weak little heart. The smell of his fear wrapped along my nostrils, taunting me. I dropped my head back and disconnected my jaw, widening in an unnatural way before clamping down and tearing the organ from his body.
“Oh my god!” Sybil shouted before vomiting.
The smell of her sickness filled the room, mixing with the sweet, delicate aroma of their joint terror. And once I had devoured the old man’s heart, I knew it was time to begin my purpose.
“Oh shit!” Token cried out, panicking. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!”
I reached out and peeled the weapon from the dead man’s hand, standing as I held it up and aimed at my target. “I suggest you all run, for if I catch you, I will eat you.” I grinned, fleshy bits of the man’s heart stuck between my bloodied teeth. “And you’re first, meaty arms!”
“Oh shit!” Token cried out as he and the others all rushed towards the open doorway which led out into the pizzeria.
My finger hovered over the trigger. “Let’s see just how long you can all survive!” I pulled my finger back, cackling as the loud shot pierced my ears.
CHAPTER 10
ZETH
The ringingin my ears subsided as faded screams filled them. The humans all ran out of the room and into the pizzeria like the prey they were. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” I shouted, skipping around in a circle, waving the gun around. “Such a fun game!”
The storm raged outside, nearly muting the music that played statically over the speakers, setting the perfect mood.
“Mmm. Time to have myself a delicious five course meal,” I sang. As I began walking out of the room, I saw a few of Crissa’s rats scampering around my feet. “Perfect. You little vermin may be of use.” I stepped with purpose so that I didn’t stomp on any of the creatures. My nose lifted, and with a large inhale, I caught the hint of blood. My smile grew, knowing who it belonged to. “There you are,” my words purred. Token’s scent was strong, beckoning me nearer. I walked toward a knocked over table, stopping to observe the drops of his blood along the edge. I ran my finger along it, bringing it to my lips before tasting it. “Mmm. Such a clumsy oaf. He wouldn’t be falling about if his legs were as thick as those meaty arms of his!” I licked my lips. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into them!”
A new, anxious aroma hit my nostrils, drawing my attention as I fell silent.
“Crissa? William? Hello?” A voice shot from the back of the pizzeria. “William? Hello?” The voice sounded familiar.
Who was that human before…she was the dried-up beauty queen who always stuck her nose in everyone’s business…hmmm. Oh yes, I remember. The voice belongs to Crissa’s superior. Tawny.
“Well, this just became a bit more interesting.” My head whipped in the other direction, catching the sounds of mumbled voices from behind a booth, shooshing one another. “It appears an appetizer has arrived, lucky you.” I called over my shoulder. I wasn’t as worried about hunting down the terrified humans, they would be easy prey. But I did need to get this Tawny out of the way. Then, it was onto the others.
Properly ignoring the others, I slowly began walking toward the back of the pizzeria, taking my time, following the smell of the woman’s anxiety. “Oh Taw-nyyy…” I sang, continuing my slow pursuit. The gun felt clumsy in my bloodied, clawed fingers as I tried to get used to holding it. Human weapons were so fickle and odd, and I much preferred a more hands on approach to my killings. “I’ll come back for you,” I said before setting the weapon on the counter.
“Crissa?” The woman’s voice grew closer. “Hello? Where are you? And why is there blood in the kitchen? Crissa!” Tawny busted through the back door to find me standing by the register. I tilted my head at her inspection of me. “Crissa—” she breathed in shock. “What the fuck is going on? Is that blood? Oh my god! Are–are you okay? Where’s William?”
Thunder growled from the storm and I giggled at her question, reminiscing about the taste of the old man’s flesh, savoring the tissue bits of him left between my teeth. Lightning cracked, illuminating my body more in its bright light. The unnaturally large smile that graced my face, displaying my razor-sharp teeth, made Tawny take a step back. “Oh, dear William. He did try his best.” I closed the distance between us, walking closer as my smile fell and I felt the drying blood crack on my painted face. “But I thinkyou—” I flicked her nose with the tip of my claw. “You will try even harder than he did,” my voice rasped. Tawny stared at me with confusion and disgust painted across her face.
The woman fluttered her eyelids, as if trying to clear her vision of me. “What the hell are you talking about, Crissa? Where’s William? He called me to say something about the power? What happened?” Her eyes were scrutinizing as she continued to take in my appearance. Surely trying to pinpoint everything that was different. “Why are you all bloody? And what’s wrong with your face?”
Now that was just rude.
An aggressive growl rippled through me. “You see, Taw-ny,” I emphasized her name. “Your dear Crissa isn’t here right now. I do like her vessel quite a lot, though, I think it suits me. Don’t you?” I did a quick spin while Tawny stared at me in shock. “Well. What do you think?”
