Rose.” She cocked her head
slightly and lifted the AK-47 she had slung over her shoulder. “You
look
like hell."
I just smiled. I felt Karl climb out of my arms and down my leg. I knew what he had in mind. All he needed was a distraction. I was it.
Without a single word, I attacked. Before my pod person or the Maryut could react, I was on them. Grabbing my clone by the throat, I could see the sheer surprise on her face. I think she was expecting to engage in some sort of witty banter, like the villains in the movies who always had to explain their plans to the hero before killing them. I just wasn't in the mood for it. Spinning her around, I kicked her in the kneecap, shattering it. As she wailed, I slipped my arm around her neck and restrained her. I wasn't done with her yet, but I had her friends to deal with. Snatching her AK-47 with my free hand, I spun and unleashed it on the Maryut. The demon screamed and flailed wildly against the very consoles it was trying to protect. I felt the second Maryut's claws slash down my cheek. Without flinching, I brought the rifle up to the Maryut's head and emptied the rest of the clip. Alarms began to blare inside the room as the light shifted to red. Looking up, I spotted Karl aggressively ripping wires out of the junction box in the center of the pods. Satisfied, I turned my attention back to my doppelganger. After lifting her to her feet, I held her by the throat and sank my claws into her gut hitting the bony armor just beneath her skin. It didn't really matter. I wasn't going to stake her. I had other plans. Her eyes were open wide as I dove toward her neck. I sank my fangs into her.
A warm fount of blood gushed into my mouth as I tore her flesh open. Pulling my fangs free, I then bit repeatedly widening the gash and finally cracking her exoskeleton. Refusing to inject my neurotoxin, I wanted her to struggle and feel every bit of pain. Running my tongue over the wound, I enjoyed the tactile sensation of the rough, jagged edge. Ripping my claws from her belly, I proceeded to grab my doppelganger's arm and twist it angrily behind her. She writhed in agony as I reached deep inside her and sucked as much of her blood as I could take. I could feel her veins and arteries beginning to collapse under the immense stress. Clamping down on her neck, I tore a massive chunk of flesh free and spit it away.
As her blood flowed into me, I felt my body begin to recover. With each mouthful, each gulp, I started to feel more powerful.
I became aware of the pods beginning to lower around us. Mirroring their descent, I sank down to the floor with the Rose copy in my arms. Her screams had become little more than whimpers as her life faded. Crossing my legs, I slid her gently into my lap and pulled my mouth away. Her wounds wouldn't bleed anymore. There was nothing left to give. I stared into her eyes, which seemed sunken and distant. Her flesh was almost perfectly white and made her blond hair look gold by comparison. She was on the brink of death.
"Rose,” I said, caressing her face. “Can you hear me?" Her eyes tried to focus on me, but seemed unable. "I can't let you live,” I explained. “You understand that, right?"
like hell."
I just smiled. I felt Karl climb out of my arms and down my leg. I knew what he had in mind. All he needed was a distraction. I was it.
Without a single word, I attacked. Before my pod person or the Maryut could react, I was on them. Grabbing my clone by the throat, I could see the sheer surprise on her face. I think she was expecting to engage in some sort of witty banter, like the villains in the movies who always had to explain their plans to the hero before killing them. I just wasn't in the mood for it. Spinning her around, I kicked her in the kneecap, shattering it. As she wailed, I slipped my arm around her neck and restrained her. I wasn't done with her yet, but I had her friends to deal with. Snatching her AK-47 with my free hand, I spun and unleashed it on the Maryut. The demon screamed and flailed wildly against the very consoles it was trying to protect. I felt the second Maryut's claws slash down my cheek. Without flinching, I brought the rifle up to the Maryut's head and emptied the rest of the clip. Alarms began to blare inside the room as the light shifted to red. Looking up, I spotted Karl aggressively ripping wires out of the junction box in the center of the pods. Satisfied, I turned my attention back to my doppelganger. After lifting her to her feet, I held her by the throat and sank my claws into her gut hitting the bony armor just beneath her skin. It didn't really matter. I wasn't going to stake her. I had other plans. Her eyes were open wide as I dove toward her neck. I sank my fangs into her.
A warm fount of blood gushed into my mouth as I tore her flesh open. Pulling my fangs free, I then bit repeatedly widening the gash and finally cracking her exoskeleton. Refusing to inject my neurotoxin, I wanted her to struggle and feel every bit of pain. Running my tongue over the wound, I enjoyed the tactile sensation of the rough, jagged edge. Ripping my claws from her belly, I proceeded to grab my doppelganger's arm and twist it angrily behind her. She writhed in agony as I reached deep inside her and sucked as much of her blood as I could take. I could feel her veins and arteries beginning to collapse under the immense stress. Clamping down on her neck, I tore a massive chunk of flesh free and spit it away.
As her blood flowed into me, I felt my body begin to recover. With each mouthful, each gulp, I started to feel more powerful.
I became aware of the pods beginning to lower around us. Mirroring their descent, I sank down to the floor with the Rose copy in my arms. Her screams had become little more than whimpers as her life faded. Crossing my legs, I slid her gently into my lap and pulled my mouth away. Her wounds wouldn't bleed anymore. There was nothing left to give. I stared into her eyes, which seemed sunken and distant. Her flesh was almost perfectly white and made her blond hair look gold by comparison. She was on the brink of death.
"Rose,” I said, caressing her face. “Can you hear me?" Her eyes tried to focus on me, but seemed unable. "I can't let you live,” I explained. “You understand that, right?"