Page 82 of UNAwere

‘Thanks,’ he murmurs. His eyes flick up to me, illuminated by the flame I’ve still got between my palms.

I kill the switch and nod. ‘You’re welcome.’

‘Sybbie.’ Jude comes up beside me.

‘Jude.’ I smile at him.

But he’s watching the man, his nostrils flared.

‘Get the fuck away from her,’ he grates.

My heart jumps. ‘Whoa, Jude, he was just asking for a light.’

The man takes a step back, the cherry on the end of his cigarette glowing. ‘Hey, man, it’s like she said: I was just getting a light.’

‘I’ll rip your spine out of your fucking throat if you go near her again.’

‘I don’t want no trouble,’ Cigarette Man says.

But Jude doesn’t seem to hear him, all the muscles in his back stiff as he stands in front of me.

‘“Want no trouble”, huh? You think I can’t smell what you were thinking?’ he growls.

‘I didn’t know she was yours,’ Cigarette Man tells him. All I can hear is his voice, as Jude’s bulk has taken up my entire field of view. ‘I promise, dude.’

Jude shakes his head. ‘I don’t think you understand.’

‘Jude…’ I start, but it’s too late.

Jude advances and grabs the man by the jaw, slamming the back of his head into the wall. He slumps, falling to Jude’s feet.

‘Jude!’ I step forward to grab his arm, but he’s already picking the man up by the scruff of his neck.

‘You take one more look at her and I’ll fucking kill you,’ he growls.

Cigarette Man groans. ‘I won’t, I-I swear.’

Jude’s got about eight inches on the man, and he hangs limply in his grip.

‘Jude… Can we go?’ I ask.

Jude pushes the man off him. He stumbles a little, shoving his hand into his pocket. And when Jude goes for him again, I see the knife before he does. I gasp, but there’s no time to warn him. Cigarette Man grapples him around his midsection and sends the blade into his belly.

Something within me snaps, seeing it. Smelling Jude’s blood being spilled.

My canines come forward. My nails grow.

I scream and don’t think.

Before I know it, Cigarette Man is between my hands, and I’m shaking him, nails digging in, growling. He grunts low, swearing and throws me off him. I hit the deck and hear Jude roar.

‘You two are fucking crazy,’ Cigarette Man hisses. He turns and runs, cigarette forgotten.

Jude stumbles after him, clutching his bleeding stomach, but I call out.

He stops, hearing my voice. Spins and sees me on the ground, his brow buckling.

‘Sweetheart…’