THE ALPHA'S SECOND CHOICE

VI

ms could be heard from the house, filling it and overflowing through every outlet of the burning house. I made to move, but my legs wouldn't obey. I was st

un! Run!” The voices began to chant “Save yourself!” I was no coward, and

Esc

my legs just

ing black smoke that wrapped around him in large circles, twirling continuously. His eyes blazed in uniformity to the flames that burned

ruggled to make out any significant features, but all I got were shadows. The body moved slightly, rai

d

luttering from his mouth. The

no

se do

uddenly, I felt my limbs loose, and my first thought was to lurch at the murderous creature before me, but before

ned to me, life still in it, then the eyes blinked rapidly. "Run Xaviera. Run!" It w

su

un

up suddenly, my eyes tore open as reality came crash

nk

in sweat, and my heart raced erratically. I rested against

ning houses and gut wrenching screams, but this was the first time anything emerged from the smoke. It was the first time he was slain before my eyes—the first time h

his head was intact. The digital clock beside my bed began to blink, 6:30am the blinking lights indicated. I

r creaked slightly underneath me. Struggling to push away

of the memory of it, mostly about what happened before. They always came in

s grateful she wasn't home to witness another of my early mor

and fell hard on my ass. The impact knocked

ed in my head. Luckily, my tailbone wasn't affec

last time I f

f, fast approaching the beta rank, and the next I was

°°°°°°°

act. The last of our afternoon lunch rush customers had just exited the

nd the restaurant. I grabbed several trays, neatly stacking them on the trolley. My br

an and his stack of dirty kitchen wares. He relea

is is the l

of them,” I mutt

s. It was basically his first rush hour shift. He

evenings . The food was exquisite, the designs were comely, i

t the trash” I informed him, then turned to

two shifts” Milligan said “Extra

ur paycheck” I lifted the bag out of the can, then wrapped it. Th

He said over

heavy bag, taking it outside. The afte

to slither down my spine. I felt the hairs on my body rise, a prickling sensation shot up to

s goi

gaze lifted as though summoned, resting upon a figure that stood a good metres away from me. It stood still, watching me. It was dark, so I

o?” I

budge. It just sto

ds it. The closer I got, the distorted it became, my vision began

ned to the direction my name was called. Adeline stood at the backdoor of the restaur

s headed a few seconds ago. Th

saw someone

s definite

” She

eturning to the poi

feeling. My mind must be playing tricks on me. S

us” I nodded, as she turned, going back in. I threw one more

fi