Mark Clodi - Discovery

“What's the matter bitch? Having vision problems? Just wait until I rip out your eyes!”

“Talk, talk, talk. Why is it all the goddamned zombies just want to talk?” Stewart replied, still she made no move forward, she was waiting, thinking of her Akido lessons and preparing herself.

“You want action? I don't think you really do? You're stalling.” Ella said, which, truth be told, so was she.

Stewart made a sudden step forward, causing Ella to move sideways, which caused Stewart to bark out a short laugh, “Made you flinch.”

Ella heard Aubrey laugh as well, which sent her into a rage, focusing she ran forward to Stewart and at the last second twitched herself sideways. Ella knew the other woman had some training and she was hoping to thwart any moves Stewart had planned. Her plan worked, Stewart had reached out to pull Ella sideways, but the last instant move had put the woman in the wrong place, the two crashed together and bounced apart. Ella had managed to catch onto Stewart's military shirt and ripped the tough fabric apart as they separated, revealing the bullet proof vest the officer was wearing.

“Hah! Bitch! I knew you couldn't have taken a punch from me and still stand.”

Stewart sighed and just gestured 'Come on' with her hands, her vision had cleared and once again there was just one Ella standing in front of her. Her opponent jumped forward and then ducked down low, sliding under Stewart. For a split second Stewart thought about jumping onto her, but then decided against it, she was not an expert at holds or wrestling and had done well enough using kicks and punches so far. She tried to spring away, but Ella's hand reached out and caught her above the right ankle, the other women twisted and squeezed, putting all her effort into it, but Stewart had momentum on her side and broke away to roll and regain her feet. Ella was up again like lightening and pounced on the now limping Stewart, who barely pivoted in time to take the punch on her vest instead of her hip. The blow lifted her from her feet and sunk her into Harry's chair, kicking upwards she nailed Ella in the crotch with her military boot. Ella stumbled and caught herself on one arm of the chair, putting her and Stewart's heads close together.

Stewart looked at her and whispered, “You know they will kill you. They are not helping you. Come with us.”

This shocked Ella more than anything, she felt a bubble of laughter well up inside of her and she said, “You? You? Where were you when I needed help? Where were any of you? I was left here! They saved me! They took care of me, gave me power!” Ella started punching Stewart in the chair, hitting the woman in the face and occasionally landing a blow on her arms or legs, but avoiding the vest covered area entirely.

As a punching bag Stewart thought, I am doing okay. The blows were falling like rain, and they hurt. She swept her arm over her face, aware that somehow Ella was using her broken arm again. If she can heal, so can I! I just need a little time to recover. She reached out and grabbed Ella's shirt and pulled the woman down to her legs, pushing her head down between her knees Stewart caught a glimpse of Max with his arm around a zombie throat, his other hand was twisting the thing's head sideways, oh so slowly.

Ella didn't go down that easy, her arm was working again and Stewart's move had caught her off guard, but she was not hurt. She grabbed the legs of the chair and pushed up with her legs, the chair lifted and flipped over, dumping Stewart to the ground. Raising the heavy piece of furniture over her head Ella brought it down on top of the woman on the floor. The chair shattered leaving a club like leg in Ella's good hand, Stewart, meanwhile was moving feebly on the cool tiles of the Art Institute. Risking a glance over at Harry, she was pleased to see Aubrey frowning, but Harry ever so gently nodded his head and Ella smile as she moved forward and hit Stewart in the head. Blood splattered onto the floor and Ella raised the chair leg to her mouth to savor the blood of her enemy. To Ella, nothing tasted as sweet as this.

Max screamed as he watched Ella club Stewart in the head, this seemed to give him the extra energy he needed to finished twisting the zombie's neck in his arms, the crack as it gave sounded like a gunshot, pushing his way to his feet he started towards Ella as she finished licking the blood off the end of the club. Ruben stepped forward in front of Max, “I can take her, you see to the cop.”

Max looked at the old man in disbelief. “What?”

“I got her.”

“Old man you don't know what you are talking about. I won't even waste time with you. I could bend you like a pretzel or rip your head off with my bare hands.” said Ella tossing the chair leg away from here. Her eyes followed the bloody end until it struck the wall and rebounded to spin lazily, the blood calling to her, she almost started towards the club, then remembered the woman was right behind her, waiting to be devoured, she half turned, when Ruben spoke again.

“No Max, I got this one, trust me.” Max looked into the old man's eyes seeing him wink, he continued in a whisper, “Just get your lady friend out of here.”

Ella looked back to Ruben, then to Harry, who glanced surreptitiously at Aubrey who shrugged her shoulders and said, “Fuck it. What could they tell us anyway, kill them all Ella for all I care.”

This gave Ella pause, who was giving the orders here? Behind her the blood continued to pour out of the head of the police woman, she could hear the heart beat, each pump caused the stain on the floor to grow a little larger.

“You ain't afraid of an old fart like me are ya?” asked Ruben, “I got grandchildren older than you.”

“You're dead old man, you just don't know it yet.”

Ruben stepped sideways away from Max, locking Ella's eyes with his own, “We'll see.“ he put his hand on the combat knife at his belt, Max thought he saw it tremble a little. “Go Max!”

Max went, skirting Ella he rushed to Stewart's side to see if she were still alive, not even considering looking at her with his special vision.

“You think a knife is going to help you?” taunted Ella.

“I think so, yeah.”

“Well go ahead, then.” ' This old fool was slower than even the other guy was, at least the police woman was a challenge' , Ella thought, 'Gramps will be dead in seconds.'

“Well since you've said to, I think I will.” Ruben pulled the knife out and pointed it at Ella, who laughed at the way it was shaking in his hands.

“You're trembling old man, be careful not to drop it.”

“I'm okay.”

'Always do the unexpected.' Ruben thought, ' she doesn't even see this coming.' Glancing at the two zombies that had stayed out of the fighting so far, 'S omething tells me they might.'

Ruben stepped closer to Ella, who did not back away, but sneered at him, “Now what? You stab me?”

“Not yet.” said Ruben, taking the blade of his knife in his left hand and holding the handle out to the woman.

“You're giving the knife to me? What the fuck are you playing at?”

“If you have the knife I win.”

“The fuck you say.” said Ella ripping the knife out of Ruben's hand.

'Ice' thought Ruben, ' it's like someone put something cold on my hand, really, really cold.' His blood started flowing out of his cut hand to splatter on the floor. ' I hope this works.'

“Now I have the…” Ella began, then looked at the blood pouring form Ruben's hand, “…and you…” She was infatuated with the bleeding, every precious drop raining down in front of her, she stood still a moment, the knife forgotten. ' This was what he meant, he thought I would be infatuated with the bleeding and not be able to act. He was wrong.' Ella tilted her head up and started to laugh.