Snippet #1942619

When she pointed at the first door, Markus knew it was in hopes of there being a way out of the mall. The doors were all barred. It was only just as likely for the fire-escapes to be in the same predicament. However, her quick change to the elevator gave him that glimmer of hope. He grabbed her pointing outstretched hand and pulled her up. "Stay close!"

The mayhem had not yet subsided. Most of it was the sound of sinew cracking and flesh tearing, but the remaining people standing were the ones that had even an inkling of knowledge in how to fend off the brutes.

It was the longest 50 meters of Markus's life. They started the sprint, the moment she was on her feet. A second or two after that, the first couple 'monsters' had taken notice in them. "Just keep running!" The first one closed in. He was incredibly strong. It sent Markus back to a class in his dojo.

"It doesn't matter how strong someone is. Whenever you find yourself in a situation, where a strong person has advanced upon you, just remember that you are in control of the situation. Keep calm and use the basics: Absorb and redirect, circular motion, and force with no force. Most importantly, don't be your own enemy. If you need to fight with yourself, every time you have a physical conflict, you are only putting yourself at a great disadvantage."

The image of his sensei subsiding, Markus found that not too long had passed in life. The man had still not followed through with his tackle. If anything, he was still in the process of it, the second attacker was still six feet away.

Markus took in a breath, clearing his mind. When the man made contact, he exhaled sharply bringing his forearms down on top of the man's elbow joints. From his point of balance, Markus swiftly guided his attacker around him and to the ground, while planting an elbow in his jaw for good measure. The man let go part-way down to regain balance, and Markus geared up to stop him in the face. Which was something he did not get a chance to do, as he parried the strike of his second attacker, and punching him in the jaw instead.

Markus's second attacker was unconscious, and he finally thrust out a kick to the side of the other man's head, as he was getting up. After that altercation, he mentally thanked his sensei for everything he was taught, and caught back up to the girl.