Snippet #2511968

Taking the stairs two at a time, Ione ran down narrow hallways and up countless flights of stairs. Needless to say, she was red in the face and puffing like a steam engine by the time she reached the rooftop. Bending over and letting her hands rest on her thighs, Ione gasped in some much needed air. Her thighs and legs were burning from the exercise and she was sweating something fierce. Catching her breath, she straightened with a groan and pushed through the door and out into the coming night. Already the light of day had started to fade, shadows stretching as the fading light cast the scene before her in a sinister light.

Thick creeping vines had wrapped around a number of buildings like a weed, the squeezing tendrils embedding into concrete causing large cracks to form. Brick and cement crumbled under the pressure, windows broken by the invading flora. It reminded Ione of numerous nature documentaries of constrictor snakes crushing the life out of their prey between thick coils. In the growing shadows, the vines looked like a mass of writhing snakes, sending a shiver of revulsion down Ione's spine. Even as she watched, one of the buildings began to collapse in on itself, joining a number of others. Ione was well aware that she was gawking, but really, this wasn't a sight she had expected to be met with.

She turned around on the spot, trying to see how far the damage spread. The silence that had fallen after the collapse of the latest building was quite suddenly broken by a primal sounding roar. Having jumped at the unexpected sound, Ione whirled around trying to locate where it had originated from. Her heart had started to double time it again when she realized that it was much closer than she was comfortable with. Soon the sounds of fighting made its way to her, followed by the sounds of pained yelps that caused her blood to run cold. She could not see what was happening, but she guessed it came from an alley only a few streets down.

A low growl from behind her had her spin around yet again. There in the doorway stood the solid lupine form of the wolf whom had been stalking her earlier.

"Aw, shit."

Backing away slowly, she lifted her hands in a placating manner, knowing that it was a futile gesture but unable to help herself. Ione was quickly reaching the edge and would topple over if she wasn't careful. Glancing behind her, she tried to see how much roof she had left. There was certain to be a fire escape on a building this old, she just had to find it before the beast in front of her took her out. Ione slowly eased the handgun from her pocket, aiming it at the wolf. She could swear the thing was smiling at her in a most predatory way. The wolf darted forward and Ione took a shot. The bullet missed but hit close enough that the wolf halted in its tracks. Iones hands had started to shake again.

Ione was at the edge now and she glanced back desperately in search of the fire escape she was sure had to exist. Three meters to her right she found it. It was a bit of a drop to the first platform, but it was a risk worth taking. Turning back to the wolf she nearly lost her balance when she saw it storming her way. With a shriek she sprinted for the fire escape, scraping her palms as she vaulted over the side. Praying that she hadn't misjudged the distance, Ione cried out when her feet hit the first platform, momentum sending her rolling forward and slamming her forehead into the railing.

Reeling back, she curled up as pain from her head and from her legs fought for attention. Knowing that she was far from safe, she forced herself to get onto her feet despite wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep and forget she had ever left the house. Stumbling at first, Ione grabbed the gun from where it had fallen and ran down the fire escape as quickly as she dared. She was dazed and in pain, but fear for ones life had a way of pushing such things to the back of the mind. Ione didn't dare glance back to see if the wolf had braved the same jump, just kept pushing ahead.

She pushed the last ladder down it's track and soon enough her she touched down in an alleyway once again. At least there was no wolf to stand in the way for now. There was still one after her yes, but as she stumbled out into the wider street, she already felt much better about her chances.