Fighting that man had taken all my strength, and with my wound burning, I knew running was useless. They would catch me sooner or later.
Zaman sealed the cut with his web, quick as ever. I wasted no time, leaping roof to roof, my breath chasing me.
The leader raised his fist, gathering energy till it glowed red. Then came the strike, boom! Even the sky jumped at that sound.
From the corner of my eye, I caught that red light.I swear, death's hand almost touched my shoulder. I threw myself aside and crashed down into the street, just as the magical punch tore the world apart behind me.
When I staggered up, they had already surrounded me. And Bullgruff, heavy steps, slow and cruel, was coming closer.
Zaman moved ahead, taking a stance. Strange, his eyes glowed faint red, his breath heavier, as if battle itself had entered him. He drew his poison needles, grinning in a way I had not seen before.
"Run when it begins," he told me, almost laughing. "I'll carve my way out."
Both sides stood ready. The air tightened. Just as the fight was about to begin, boom! Smoke balls rolled across the ground, swallowing the street in a choking haze.
A presence slid up behind me. Before I could turn, darkness closed in.
---
(Zaman speaking now,—gotta tell it for some brain dead readers )
The smoke blurred everything, but my blood was singing. Against so many enemies, most would hide or pray. Me? I like when the odds are unfair. That is when a fight feels alive.
I kept one eye on Mikael. And then, gone. He vanished.
I looked again, and there he was, slung over the shoulder of a shadowy figure. A ninja, clad in dark grey-blue.
I spat, shot a web, and hooked myself to his back. The Bullgruff crew had slipped behind us somehow, or maybe we had slipped them. Either way, a new problem had arrived. And to tell you the truth, I was almost glad.