2.08

“Call off your dogs!” Brian’s voice boomed across the room.

It was too late. The Rottweiler had my wrist, and the pain was excruciating. A German Shepherd and a hairless, one-eyed terrier joined in, snapping and clawing. The Rottweiler began to drag me, and I struggled to think of anything but curling into a ball.

A whistle cut through the chaos, and the dogs retreated. Shaking, I was helped up by Lisa and Alec, tears in my eyes and jaw clenched tight.

Across the room, Brian was rubbing his hand, his dogs sitting neatly beside a girl on the floor – Rachel Lindt, Hellhound, Bitch. Blood trickled from her nose.

“I fucking hate it,” Brian growled, “When you make me do that.”

Bitch, propped against the wall, sneered at me. Unattractive, butch, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and a twice-broken nose, she was solidly built, wearing boots, ripped jeans, and an army jacket.

“Why the fuck did you do that?” I asked, voice steady despite the tremor within.

She just licked her lip and smiled, a mean, smug sneer. She thought she’d won.

“God fucking dammit!” Brian shouted. I clenched my fist, then relaxed it, searching for a reason to back down, like I always did with bullies.

But there was no reason. I was across the room before I knew it, my bugs swarming in. Bitch raised her fingers to whistle, but I kicked for her face. She aborted, covering her head. My foot connected with her arm, and she recoiled.

I pressed the attack, landing a kick on her ear. Blood bloomed, but I couldn’t stop. A kick to her stomach, then between her legs, then three to her ribs.

The dogs, over their fear, circled. I backed off, facing them. They wouldn’t run while their master was hurt.

A shadow fell – Brian, standing between me and the dogs. “Enough,” he said.

Bitch whistled weakly, and the dogs retreated. I backed away, keeping Brian between me and the animals.

“No more fighting,” Brian said, calmer now. “You deserved whatever Taylor gave you, Rachel.”

She glared, then looked away.

“Taylor, come sit down. I promise we’ll-”

“No,” I interrupted, “Fuck this. Fuck you guys.”

“You said she wasn’t cool with me joining. You never said she was pissed off enough to try and kill me.”

Bitch snarled, “If I ordered them to kill you, Brutus would have torn out your throat… I gave them the hurt command.”

“That’s great,” I laughed, high-pitched, “She has her dogs trained to hurt people. Seriously? Fuck you guys.”

I headed for the stairs, but darkness blocked my way. Brian’s power – darkness generation. I found the railing and pushed through, feeling the oily blackness slither over my skin.

Hands on my shoulders. I wheeled around, shouting, “Back off!” My voice was swallowed by the darkness, which muffled sound as well as light.

Sensory deprivation. I used my bugs to orient myself, found the stairs, and descended.

“Taylor!” Brian called, alone.

“You’re going to use your power on me again?”

“No… I’m sorry. About using my power, about Bitch.”

“You don’t have to worry. I won’t tell anyone… Let me change my mind. After what your teammate just did, you owe me that much.”

“If it were up to me, I’d kick Bitch out and keep you.”

His words were a bucket of cold water. I’d been furious because I felt betrayed and disappointed, ironic given my reasons for being there.

“But you won’t?” I sighed.

“It’s complicated. We count on the boss… We’d lose all that if we kicked her out.”

“I became a cape to get away from… assholes like Bitch.”

“Come back inside, Taylor. Please… At least let us patch you up, get you in some new clothes.”

I looked at my arm, blood on my sleeve. My costume was still upstairs.

“Fine,” I sighed, “But just so you know, I’m only coming back because she doesn’t want me to. I quit, she wins, and I’m not fucking having that.”

Brian smiled, “I’ll take what I can get.”