She looked back up to the ceiling. The hallway led directly into the common area.
"And knowing you, little human, nobody else knows you're here."
Why the fuck didn't I listen?
She glared at the locked door, its ineffectual hinges staring guiltily back at her.
"And even if they do, it's already too late." His voice was louder. In a panic, Cora looked back at the monitor. He was standing just below the camera now, a faint smile on his face. His eyes were solid black.
Wall panel under the desk, there's a gap just wide enough for me.
Using one of the clips she'd held onto, Cora pried open the data cables' access panel. Shoving herself into the opening, she pushed aside the hanging bundles of wiring. She hooked a finger around the latch, tugging it shut. This wasn't meant to have someone in it, but it would do. Cora sidled along the dusty passage.
Through the thin metal, she heard the lock click, the door swinging open. She froze, holding her breath.
He stopped after just three steps.
Cora hazarded an inhale, immediately regretting it.
She'd thought it was bad before, when she'd followed Tor into the maintenance tunnels. That was nothing. The scent was overwhelming, the stale air burning in her lungs.
Shit.
Cora's vision blurred, her face heating up as she grew lightheaded.
She shifted towards her left, peering through a gap in the wall.
Shit
. Mar stood there, his back to her. He stared upwards, through the open ceiling hatch. Focusing and holding her breath, Cora watched as he looked slowly to either side before launching himself upwards. He easily cleared the opening, landing silently.
I'm fucked.
She waited for a moment, listening.
I'm so fucked.
Cora resumed sidling, taking an even, steady breath with every step. In the distance, metal shrieked.
Whispering a swear, Cora made her way to a corner. There would be another access panel, this time leading out into the hallway.
I gotta get out of this thing without eating shit.
It was about waist height. Pressing it open, Cora hefted a foot to the opening.
I got this.
She pushed forward, barely catching herself before she hit the ground. Out here, Mar's scent was faint.
Cora crept forward, heading for the engine bay. The many small tunnels and compartments offered her a place to stop and gather her thoughts. As she walked, she cursed her body, which had settled on a state of both intense unease and equally intense arousal. Metal shrieked again, this time from somewhere different. It didn't seem like he was in heat. The way he spoke and moved reminded her of the Noxis that had nearly killed her.
I should have had more faith in Tai's plan.
Cora wasn't entirely sure that Mar would only fuck her if he caught her. She shuddered, annoyed at the way she could still feel her pulse between her legs.
I'm thinking about death and dismemberment. Why am I horny about that?
She reached the doorway to the engine bay, appraising the room for signs of movement. The lights flickered, then went out.
Shit. I need to find a hiding place, now.
Throwing herself at the center column, she flung herself upwards faster than she could get a grip on the polished metal. Her hands slipped, her feet not getting the memo. She flew towards the ceiling, slamming into it and landing on one of the exhaust tunnels. It was suspended below the ceiling, well above the ground. Cora wheezed, scrabbling for a handhold. He'd definitely heard. His footfalls echoed through the door she'd carelessly left open.
Son of a bitch.
She clung on, flattening herself against the rounded surface.
The sound of his footsteps filled the room, along with faint snarling. He was here.
Cora leaned, catching sight of his shadowy outline. His eyes darted around the room.
"Cora. I know you're here."
Suddenly, he froze, dropping into a crouch.
I could take him. He's top-heavy, I just knock him down and out. Easy.
Something was scratching at the door on the far end of the bay.
"Cora, did you bring a friend?" Mar's voice, normally a low purr, was broken up into several wavering octaves.
She didn't respond.
The door screeched open, metal relenting under a massive clawed hand. At this moment, something occurred to her. Mar wasn't the one making the odd noises she'd heard earlier. He'd been right behind her the whole time.
The creature forced its way in, footfalls heavy on the thick flooring.
Oh, no, Mar.
In the dark, it looked like a big, scaly panther.
The creature lunged for him, making a sick
squish
on impact.
No, that wasn't right.
She shimmied forward, peering down.
Oh, fuck.
Blood spattered up the wall as Mar reared back from his assailant. The creature, easily twice Mar's size, was now missing a hefty chunk from its neck.
But Mar wasn't done.
As Cora watched, morbidly fascinated, he tore it apart, limb from limb.
When it stopped twitching, he stood, wiping his mouth.
"Now, where was I?" His voice was even worse now, the octaves tangling into a snarl. "Oh, yes. My little human."
Mar tugged at his torn shirt, pulling it off and haphazardly swiping at the blood soaking his face and chest.
Casting a glance behind her, she realized that he would not be able to get to her easily. She propped her chin on her hand.
"I don't know, Mar, where were you?"
His eyes snapped to hers. "There you are."
She didn't react, confident in her assumption. "Here I am."
Mar slowly circled below her, every muscle fiber quivering in anticipation. Cora knew the danger. His lip twitched in a snarl, the veins standing out on his arms. He had just about lost it.
He took a deep, ragged breath.
"I'm not the only one in heat."
Cora shifted, realizing how wet she'd gotten.
He just dismembered an animal twice his size. Is that what I'm into, now?
"Is that what you're calling this? You look like you want to eat me."
Mar laughed.
I wonder how far he'd go to get to me.
"Come down here."
"No, I don't think I will. This is fun."
"Fun?" He growled.
"Watching you. You were trying to be
so
scary earlier, but you couldn't even catch me."
He bared his teeth, a growl deep in his chest.
I just have to keep him here until they bring his medication.
