“You won’t get out of this, Foxx!” Jericho calls, his voice almost unrecognizable due to the hate pouring out of him. “The place is surrounded. It’s time you stop hurting people!”
Foxx snarls at Jericho, ducking behind a bartender in the direction of the door. Two fireballs crash into the wall behind him, sending broken pieces of bottles falling to the ground. We all duck for cover and several people scream. When I look up again, the cedar shelves are alight with green and blue flames, reminding me of an iridescent waterfall.
The beauty is short-lived. We have mere minutes before those shelves give way and more liquor bottles fall. Soon, the entire building is going to burn, and we’re still trapped inside.
Screeching alarms deafen me from a side door that is used as an emergency exit. Cheers erupt as people start filing out. The fire must have broken whatever protective spell Orem used.
Good. At least the people can get out!
But so can Foxx.
Fury fills me when I see him slinking his way toward the exit.
Oh,no you don’t!
Gripping my gun, I take aim and fire, but the crowd jostles me just as I pull the trigger. The bullet lands in the wall, inches from a bartender’s head.
Cursing, I push my way forward, determined to catch up to him. Icannotlet Foxx get away. Not after everything he’s done!
Reaching the end of the bar, I leap over it, shouting, “Foxx!”
He keeps running, slipping between two women before exiting the building.
Fuck.
I shove harder, kneeing a young man in the back on accident. When I reach the door, I force my way through, tumbling onto the street.
The outside of the club is just as chaotic as inside. People are running everywhere, cars honk, and somewhere in the distance, sirens blare. Someone must have called the cops.
“FOXX!” I shout, looking around.
I rush out into the street, leaping onto the top of an unmoving truck to gain some height. The driver honks at me, but I ignore him, scanning the crowd.
He has to be here.
Then again, Foxx is a vampire. He probably took off at sonic speed as soon as he was out of the building.
“FOXX!”
To my surprise, someone turns to look over their shoulder, their face illuminated under the light of the street. Anger burns hot with recognition, and I tighten my hold on the gun.
Jumping down, I take off after Foxx, using the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. Foxx watches me, confused, then disappears around a corner.
I push myself harder, running until my side aches. When I reach the corner, I come to an abrupt stop. The sidewalk opens to a large park, lit only by a dozen lamp posts along a path.
Is he here? Or did he turn in another direction? The only thing here is a large parking lot. Beyond that, more buildings.
No. My gut is telling me Foxx is here. But where? There aren’t many places for him to hide. A few trees, a couple of barren lilac bushes, and a children’s playground a little further away.
Had he crossed through the park then? I don’t know what’s there, since it’s too dark to see.
Dammit. I wish I had taken the time to study a map. Maybe if I was familiar with Prodigy, I could have predicted which way he was heading.
I pause and scan the darkness carefully, finger poised over the trigger.Any movement and I’ll shoot…
Pain pierces my neck as a sudden force knocks me to the ground. My gun fires before flying out of my hands. Rocks and dirt scrape against my back as we slide, yet I am unable to move due to the sudden weight on top of me.
When I feel the familiar pull at my throat, fear seizes in my chest. Foxx is drinking my blood!
