chapter 18

Chapter 18

 

            “Say that again.” Khan walks back toward Julia, quickly, long strides.

           

            “Carlucious, was General…your father’s right hand man.”

 

            Khan grinds his teeth, clenching them tightly together. “How dare you say-”

 

            “Khan please, I wouldn’t make such a thing up. Carlucious rose to power with the rebellion. But you say your father did not-”

 

            “Stop!” Khan walks away, placing his hands on his hips, his head hot and spinning with anger. “Are you certain of this?” She nods her head at him, the pain in her eyes unnoticed by Khan. He stomps away. His arms heavy, fists clenched as he charges through the forest. Wanting to find Carlucious, squeeze him, snap him, wanting answers. Something behind him now, pushing him. Now that pieces of the past collected together, he had something to drive him toward an end. He keeps on walking, unaware of how far away Julia is behind him.

 

 

 

 

            That’s when Khan hears it. The growl, those same noises he heard before. He quickly turns to look back at Julia who is too far away from him to speak to her. He tries to yell but too quickly does the wolf with the scar over his left eye appear speeding over toward Julia. She shines her light from her hand to whip the wolf away, though his claws cut her deeply. She drops to her knees as Khan unsheathes his sword, sprinting over quickly. The wolf regains footing and jumps toward Julia, fangs dripping with saliva. Julia cannot react fast enough.

 

            Khan dives in front of Julia, as the wolf’s fangs drive deep into Khan’s right arm. He removes the wolf’s mouth but before long is wrestled down to the ground, losing his sword. The wolf’s claws pressed against his neck, choking him. Khan keeps his hands up, pushing away the beast’s bite. As Khan lies there, trapped under the animal for what seems an eternity, he inevitably finds himself in that same rage. He throws the wolf away with one toss. He jumps to his feet leaping over to the wolf before he can stand again. He giggles softly under his breath.

 

            He wrestles the wolf down as he begins to savagely beat the wolf with his fists. Pounding his body over and over again with his hands, grunting like an animal. Finally he holds his right fist in the air, screaming, roaring so the entirety of the forest hears him. He brings his fist down onto the wolf’s skull, crushing it. Killing it.

 

 

            Khan stands, wiping his mouth as the blood from his body continues to flow. He staggers around as the heaviness of his breath becomes thicker. He hears the heart in his chest beat, slower and slower. He drops down to his knees, coughing, wheezing. Suddenly feeling weaker than he’s ever felt. The spinning in his head causes him to fall to his back. Julia’s warm arms wrap around him as her light engulfs his sight. He hears his breath calming, as she softly speaks him into rest. “Rest now rest. I’m here. The beast is dead. You’re fine, the beast is dead.”