Episode 14
The corpse like creature standing before him sickened
Gabriel; it was an insult to him that he felt deep inside. It was little more
than a ghastly refugee of the grave, an abomination never meant to still walk
the world. And yet, here it stood reaching out with bare boned fingers that
begged to tear into anything within reach. The previous piercing projectiles
didn’t seem to prompt any response from the thing. It was almost like it hadn’t
even noticed the damage.
Inwardly Gabriel cursed the fact that he hadn’t had the
foresight to ask Dr. Foxfire more of the particulars about the dangers she had
mentioned as a warning. If bullets didn’t look like they had an effect then
what was he going to do? He looked to his ready right hand as it held his
waiting hammer reflexively. The marred metal mallet had served him well on
countless jobs he knew it wouldn’t let him down. But as another wave of rage
ripped through him he struggled to maintain control. He was facing something
out of nightmare with only his hammer in one hand and his other ending in
claws.
There wasn’t enough time to second guess his decisions
anymore, he had to act. The creature was right in front of him now and its eyes
were squarely trained on the people behind Gabriel. Anger insisted that he was
not about to allow this thing to get past him. Not this cruel mockery of life,
it was going to pay dearly for even trying.
A baleful moan began inside the hideous horror that built
until it escaped from its opened maw. With jagged remnants of what had once
been teeth exposed a shriek exploded upon the air around them. It cast itself
outward bringing with it a cascade of terror that rippled all around Gabriel.
His fiery temper rattled against it and he howled in response to the perceived
offensive gesture. A simple cry was not about to cower him to this thing.
But behind him he could already hear the wailing cries and
whimpering sobs. He could even smell a faint scent of something like ammonia,
and instantly he understood. This thing made use of fear; it capitalized on it
to cripple its victims. And for Gabriel that was the final straw as he allowed
his fury to flare until it threatened to color his vision in crimson.
He surrendered a part himself to his primal instincts and
found his body responding rapidly. A hammer blow hit solidly to smash the
things left shoulder in a crackling crunch as bones shattered in answer. Still
the thing drove itself forward with a lurch that longed to reach the promise of
prey. His left hand slashed to slice its way across its chest and then jerked
to rip its way downward. The semi-rotten flesh failed to resist being separated
and fell to the ground with a released stench.
With his assault proving effective Gabriel seized on the
rising thrill that drummed itself into life and redoubled his offensive. His
hammer drove itself into his foe over and over driving it back in a series of
slams. Every step backwards was punctuated with a piercing punch that rent the creature
with his claws. Each evisceration delighted his darker desires until he
realized the foul foe had fallen before him to become lifeless.
Every part of Gabriel screamed to tear his prey to pieces,
to completely repay its challenge against him with nothing less than oblivion.
But a subtle chord tugged at him, reminded him that he had sworn to reign
himself in, to maintain control. He had to concentrate on that thought at first
until he slowly felt his rage subsiding. It took a few minutes at first but as
they passed Gabriel could feel his shape shifting to return him back into the
familiar form of a metal-armed man.
As Gabriel struggled
to slow his breathing back down from it’s previous panting pace that
accompanied the shocking surge of adrenaline he looked back to check on the
officers. Both had managed to pull themselves together enough to stand once
more. Oliver obviously was still trying to mask how shaken he still was by
everything while Vedia almost looked unaffected. But as Gabriel turned to
approach them he found a waiting muzzle pointed in his direction.
“What precisely was that thing,” Vedia demanded instantly.
“That creature doesn’t match your description at all. And furthermore, what
manner of game are you playing at monster? Huh, did you plan on luring us out
here with some story using your own description to trick up until you could
pick us off? Is this some sick plot to slaughter the only defensive forces on
Gallu to stop you?”
Each question increased in volume and emphasis until Vedia
was near yelling. Her gun barely twitched as she launched herself to implore
Gabriel for some kind of explanation. They had just watched him transform into
some fur and metal monster man that tore another creature to pieces. If he
wasn’t behind what was happening then what was? A part of Vedia coldly
calculated every observation she had made up until now. How he had stepped
forward to shield them and even faced the foul creature to protect them. Could
a monster have done that? Would a vile villain take such an act just to
slaughter them later? It didn’t seem likely.
Gabriel’s mind spun as he tried to form some kind of
explanation to ease their fears, but nothing came to him. All he could do was
raise his empty hands apologetically as he stepped towards them and hope he
could show them he meant no harm to them. But as he stepped forward he saw a
brief flash and heard Vedia’s gun bark as something slipped into his ribs to
burn briefly.
“You shot me,” he said still shocked by the response. He
could feel the wound already closing physically but the revelation of distrust
still lingered like a phantom pain.
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