Chapter 303 Cornered at the Cliff
Nira’s POV:
I moved fast–my claws shot out and sank into the first guard’s throat before he could make sound. The other one tried to swing at me, but I kicked him hard in the side of the neck, righ where it’s soft.
They both dropped, but the metal gear strapped to one of them slammed against the iron railing with a loud sound–the sound tore through the quiet night, way too sharp and clear.
Almost instantly, shouts of alarm echoed from farther off, along with the scatter of hurried footsteps.
“Who’s there?”
No time to think. I bolted for the exit.
The moment I pushed open the back door, the cold sea wind hit me, heavy with the smell of salt and something metallic, like blood. Over at the dock, lights were on, and a couple of drunk guys were unloading crates.
I kept to the shadows along the shipping containers, moving quick and low–until I caught the sound of footsteps scuffing closer. Two guards were heading right toward my hiding spot.
I dropped down and squeezed into a narrow drainage pipe. Rusted metal scraped deep across my arm, sending a sharp, stinging pain through me.
The guards‘ footsteps stopped. A crackly voice came over their radio.
“All units, listen up. The female the boss brought in has escaped. Find her and bring her back-
now.”
Before the transmission even finished, high–pitched alarms began to wail across the whole island.
My stomach dropped. They’d found out–a full two hours earlier than I’d planned for.
Down at the dock, everything erupted into chaos.
I used the noise as cover and rolled under a speedboat, but a quick check showed the fuel tank was empty. Then, from the water, came the growl of engines–three patrol boats were already blocking the harbor exit.
Chapiti ovo Comitit at the C
Over the radio, a woman’s voice screamed, hysterical. “I don’t care if she’s dead or alive! Tear this place apart if you have to, but bring her back to me!”
With the sea blocked off, I had no choice—I crawled back toward the sewer entrance.
Back when I’d first been brought to the island, I’d memorized the rough layout. If I remembered right, there should be a cliff due north.
I pushed forward through the pitch–black sewer tunnel. Foul, murky water rose past my knees, smelling of rot and death. Rats scurried past my legs, and more than once my boots bumped against what felt like bodies–most with clear bite marks. These mutant werewolves didn’t leave anyone intact.
The gash on my arm was soaked in the filthy water now, throbbing with every move, but I couldn’t stop.
Then, up ahead–splashing.
I pressed flat against the slimy wall and held
my
breath.
Two guards were wading through the muck with wolf–dogs on leashes. Their eyes glowed wolf- green in the dark as flashlight beams cut through the stagnant water.
“Smells like death in here,” one of them muttered. “You really think she’d hide in this crap?”
“Just keep looking. Boss said check everywhere.”
I started to ease backward, but my foot came down on a broken piece of steel pipe. The loud sound echoed through the tunnel.
“What was that?”
The dogs started barking like crazy. No point hiding now–I turned and sprinted down a side
passage.
Behind me came angry shouts and the excited snarls of the wolf–dogs gaining fast.
A few turns later, I spotted a rusty manhole cover above me. I jumped, fingers scrambling for a grip on the wet metal edge, and shoved with everything I had.
Just as a huge black wolf lunged for me from below, I hauled myself up, slammed the cover back down, and called on Lyra’s strength to hold it in place.
Snarling and howling erupted underneath. Soon, boots pounded above me too–guards gathering, trying to pry it open.
9/4
Chapter ovo Cornered at the CII
I didn’t wait. I ran.
By the time I finally collapsed onto damp grass, gasping, I realized I’d circled back to the gardens behind the main house where they’d kept me.
The sky was pale blue now, with just a few dim stars still hanging in the west. Dawn was close- I’d lost too much time.
I crouched low, moving through the shrubs, when a twig snapped behind me.
I spun around. A guard stood there, his wolf eyes gleaming cold in the half–light.
In one smooth motion, he shifted–a long–furred brown wolf–and leaped.
“Bang!”
His claws grazed my cheek, slicing off a strand of hair. I dodged left and twisted hard, hearing the crisp crack of his neck.
But the noise had done its job. Lights flicked on all over the estate.
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