87 Abbygale (1/2)

Day 3 – 11:03 AM – Bacoor City Hall Rooftop, Molino Boulevard, Bayanan, Bacoor City, Cavite

Mark could see the claws of huge cat coming closer from his left. The huge cat seemed to have slipped out of Abbygale's interception and rushed towards him when he was concentrated on trying to burn the Woodman despite its strong attacks. This feeling…

It was similar to the time he encountered the first infected he killed in the mall. He was in the verge of death after a sudden ambush. His eyes dilated but he did not panic but his concentration heightened in that millisecond. Everything slowed down in his eyes as he heard Abbygale and Mei's screams.

Reflex!

His heightened reflexes that were cultivated in playing fast passed games kicked in once more.

Mark made a step back with his left leg evading the initial contact. Without knowing and thinking about his movements, he bent his body backwards and did a fast back walkover with his left arm as support. Since the speed he did the tumble was too fast, he added another backflip to mitigate the impact his feet would receive upon stopping.

He was surprised after the backflip. Mark did not know how he was able to do that move. His body moved subconsciously at the last second and he evaded the fatal attack. However, he did not get out of the situation unscathed. Since his right arm was holding the shotgun, the arm's movements were slower that the other parts of his body. The huge cat's claws managed to hit his arm.

The sleeve of his jacket was torn and there was four bloody, centimeter deep slits on his skin. The flesh of his arm could be seen as the slits tore through all the layers of his skin. The flesh was immediately covered behind the flow of blood dying his black jacket with a reddish hue and the blood started to drip on the roof.

Mark saw the flow of blood on his arm but his face did not change at all. Yes, it was painful. But Mark was the kind of person that never displayed pain on his face for something like this. However, it would hard to use his arm like this.

He looked at the assailant that attacked him. He smiled. It seemed that the cat was confused on how he was able to dodge the attack it made. The huge cat recovered from its stupor and posed to charge at Mark once more but its movements were cut off. With dilated eyes, it suddenly turned its head away from him and posed to dodge.

Mark did not let it do what it wanted to. He did not need to look but he knew that someone got angry at the moment. His eyes glowed red and he raised his wounded arm.

Mental Pierce!

The energy composed of negative emotions flowed towards the unguarded mind of the cat. Its body froze and could only stare at the attack it was about to dodge that was coming towards it.

***

Abbygale stood several meters away from the tree while intently watching the huge kitty that was not really paying attention to her. Her Papa already said it that this huge kitty was hers to guard.

During the time her Papa was intensely battling the Mutated Woodman, the huge kitty was watching her Papa in confusion. As if it was thinking of something.

After her Papa started to get the upper hand on his fight with the Woodman, the huge kitty started to make its way down of the tree. It its target was her Papa. Abbygale became sullen. This huge kitty must not disturb her Papa's fight!

BAM!

Before the huge cat was able to land on the roof, the little girl already made her move. She anticipated where the cat would land and charged towards the location. She tried to welcome the huge cat with a fast kick and succeeded since the huge cat was not paying attention to her. The cat was hit below its abdomen and panther sized cat was sent flying. It rolled in the air before the gravity pulled it down.

Yet, as a cat, it regained its balance before it fell. The arrogant cat became angry as this little human that it did not put into its eyes was able to send it flying. However, it did not change its intent and still tried to charge towards Mark. But it did not let down its guard anymore against the little girl.

Noticing its intent, Abbygale immediately charged at the huge kitty once more. Since the cat was now aware of her speed and strength, it was not caught by her attack and agilely dodged.

The chase between the huge cat and the little girl commenced. Still, it was just the Abbygale attacking the huge cat and preventing it to get on her Papa's fight. On the other hand, the cat only dodged the little girl's attacks and proceeded on trying to approach the fight between Mark and the Woodman.

Two blurs, one black and one red, chased around the southern half of the rooftop which even took several minutes while Mark was fighting the Mutated Woodman.

The huge cat seemed to have realized that it could not shake off Abbygale from blocking its way and attacking it. It started to fight back. It made a huge and fast swipe towards the little girl which she easily dodged. Abbygale counter attacked but was also dodged by the huge cat.

The huge cat charged with all its might towards Abbygale forcing her to retreat back. It was unknown to the limited knowledge of the little girl that the cunning cat was just baiting her into retreating. As the little girl retreated, the huge cat immediately turned around and charged towards Mark. The little girl who was caught off guard was not able to react in time. Even if she was able to react to it, it was already late as the speed between her and the cat was not that far. If she chased the cat even at the moment it turned around, she would still not be able to block it.

The poor Abbygale paled when she saw her Papa who was caught off guard. The huge kitty flexed its right paw making its sharp claws stuck out of its fingers. The huge kitty was aiming for the kill. It was aiming to kill her Papa.

”Papa!”

She shouted.

Abbygale saw that her Papa managed to dodge but his arm was still struck on his arm. Four bloody slits was visible on his arm and her Papa's blood overflowed from those wounds. The blood continuously flowed out and dripped on the white colored roof staining it with red spots.