Her saviour (1)

Perceiving the danger the beast was in, Emma's heart was gripped by terror. Not pausing to think whether what she was doing was rational or wise, she lunged forward.

"Watch out!" she shrieked.

The black beast ears twitched at the sound and shifted its luminous green eyes in Emma's direction. But it kept its jaws clamped tightly around the other man's neck, even biting down harder until a loud snap was heard.

The man went limp in the beast's jaws, only a faint gurgling sound eminating from his throat.

As Emma sprinted forward, she seemed to perceive everything in slow motion. The man with the gun lifted it to take careful aim at the beast, which stood unmoving, staring down the barrel.

"No!" Emma yelled, reaching her arms out in front of her, ready to knock the gun out of the man's hands or at least throw off his aim. But she was too late.

Bang!

The muzzle flash of the gun illuminated the entire alley for a second as the gun went off.

Her momentum still carrying her forwards, Emma collided with the outstretched arm of the man, and the gun went flying, clattering to the ground some distance away. However, she barely noticed as she was turned towards the black-furred beast.

To her dismay, the creature had disappeared, seemingly vanishing into thin air. She searched the surrounding area frantically with her gaze, trying to locate the beast. It must have moved, somehow jumping out of the way. But all that was left was the lifeless body of the other man on the ground.

As she stepped forwards, intending to search more thoroughly for the beast, Emma felt a large muscular arm wrap itself tightly around her neck. Taken aback, she clawed frantically at the arm squeezing her windpipe.

"Don't struggle or I'll knock you out," the man hissed in her ear, dragging her sideways in the direction where the gun had fallen.

Emma stumbled along, forced to comply as she gasped for air, trying to pull the arm down enough to ease the pressure on her neck somewhat. Her hand came back slick with the man's blood, still seeping from his wound.

The man grunted and squeezed harder. The caution and restraint he and his now dead partner had shown towards her before was gone. He no longer seemed to care if Emma was hurt or not.

He bent down, reaching for the gun, which lay up against a brick wall. Realising what he was trying to do Emma struggled harder, attempting to kick the gun away with her foot.

"Stupid bitch!" the man cursed, and increased the pressure on Emma's windpipe. She gasped for air, now completely unable to breathe.

Just when she was about to loose consciousness, a ferocious snarl erupted from behind her. Next moment, she felt the man being yanked away from her by force, and she fell to her knees gasping and coughing violently as air flowed back into her lungs.

Dizziness almost overwhelmed her again, and her vision blurred, but she could hear the frightened yells of the man behind her, along with a sickening ripping sound.

Then all went quiet.