The War on Drugs: In Sickness and in Health: Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

November 11th, 8:42 PM

Margot raced from behind the corner to see it all: the dark alleyway covered in grime and trash; the white utility belt lying inert on the pavement; the three big men holding Erin to the ground, clenching her arms and head; the fourth big man squatting down with one hand on Blue Lynx's mask, the other on his phone, which was cocked menacingly at Erin's clearly distressed, clearly pained face.

"Hey!" Margot shouted.  "You idiots!"

The fourth man let the mask fall back onto Erin's skin.  He and the other three turned in Margot's direction.  They saw a young, demure looking woman with reddish-brown hair wearing a black costume cut very similarly to Blue Lynx's, with a black mask (curiously ringed with large eye holes) and purple utility belt to boot.  They saw her unbutton a flap on her belt and pull a small pellet out with purple latex gloves.

"Who the?--"

"Take this!" Margot screamed, chucking the pellet at the four men.  There was a small explosion followed by huge plumes of smoke.  Coughing, swearing, and a mad waving of arms ensued, and Margot dashed into the clouds fumbling at her belt, looking for Lynx darts to stick to the baddies.  She found one, and quickly found a man's neck to stick it in.  There was a shrill cry, and then the sound of a large body hitting the ground.  Margot heard more coughing, and underneath, the smaller, feminine coughs of Erin.  Margot found her friend and crouched down, trying to pull Erin up by the arms.

"Come on, Blue Lynx," Margot said.  "We gotta get out of here!"

A man suddenly ran out of the smoke at Margot.  Margot squeaked, but was able to sidestep the advance.  She then plunged her ready Lynx dart into the attacker's back.  He howled out, and then, he too fell to the ground.

"Margot, what?" Erin whispered.  "What is this?"

"Let's go!" Margot implored.  She gripped Erin by the glove and pulled her away from the center of the smoke bomb.  They had moved several yards when there was a startling pull in the other direction, one dragging Margot backward a few feet.  She looked behind to see one of the men grabbing Erin by the waist, hoping to yank her struggling body back into the smoke.

"Not done with you yet, babe!" the man shouted.  Erin whimpered as his hands pushed up into the underside of her chest, dragging her backward.

"No!" Margot yelled.  She pulled out a Lynx dart and hurled it toward the man.  The dart whizzed past Blue Lynx's face and struck the man in the forehead.  With a terrifyingly loud yowl, the man released Erin and fell back into the smoke.  Margot once again grabbed Erin by the glove.

"My car is just a few blocks from here!  But we've gotta move!"

Margot ran along, practically hauling Erin's limp, weakened body along with her, Blue Lynx's boots clunking along the ground with leaden steps.  She saw Erin's white utility belt and swiftly scooped it up.  The girls rounded the corner into another alley, then took a right into another alley, and then followed that alley back to a parking lot uninhabited but for a familiar vehicle.

Margot opened up her passenger side door and plopped Erin into the seat.  She sat there, almost unconscious, coughing, almost oozing off of the chair onto the floor.  Margot stepped around the car and climbed into the driver's seat.  She stuck the keys into the ignition.

"Margot... Your costume..." Erin muttered.

Margot started the car.  "Call me the Black Bobcat."

Erin tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough.  Margot shifted the vehicle into drive and sped off into the night, leaving at least three fraternity brothers moaning and groaning, waving their hands around clumsily through still puffy plumes of smoke.

On to Chapter Eight