Chapter 6 - Attacked

15:05 – Day 1

Petra stared down at the blade in her hands, feeling herself start to smile. She was feeling a lot better about going out again, now that she at least had some sort of weapon.

Raising her head, Petra walked towards one of the gas station's large glass windows. A blizzard was raging outside, bathing the landscape in snow and fog. The sky was visibly starting to grow dimmer as night loomed closer.

Petra shivered slightly, the mere sight of the storm outside making her feel even colder. It wasn't the warmest building, and definitely not a long term hide-out. Luckily she knew there was a cabin nearby, a wooden one at that. Hopefully it was still in good shape, and well insulated.

She turned away from the window with a sigh, still holding the hunting knife. Subconsciously biting her lip as she puzzled over what she should do next. Probably search out the building, see if there was maybe any water.

Petra leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes for a few seconds, reaching up to rub her pulsing forehead. In reality, there was nothing she wanted more at that moment than to just lay down and sleep.

Her eyes flew open at a shuffling sound. Petra glanced around, her gaze searching for any movement.

"Hello?" Petra felt stupid for even calling out in the first place, of course no body was going to answer her. She was probably just imagining things.

She shook her head, pushing herself off the wall. Glancing around the dark building, trying to see where she hasn't been yet.

Petra walked in the direction of the cash register, her eyes catching some energy bars there. Not many, but it was at least something to go along with the canned food.

"Don't get me wrong." Petra muttered under her breath. "The food's great, but does this place serious not having any wa-"

Her voice cut off and she raised her head. Looking around for anything that could have caused the shuffling noise she heard.

"Focus, just focus." Petra muttered to herself, walking behind the register to see if there was anything else she could take.

She raised her eyebrows, staring down at the scene in front of her. The remains of broken planks lay in a heap on the tiled floor, covered in ash and burned out coal.

"Seems I wasn't the first to take refuge in here." Petra thought out loud, kneeling down by the fire.

She held her hand over the unlit fire, feeling for any heat. When she didn't feel any, she stood back up. Glancing down at the knife in her hand, wondering if the person who left it there was the same person who built the fire.

Petra stiffened, hearing more shuffling noises. This time accompanied by scratching. She stepped back out into the open, glancing around and subconsciously raising the knife.

"If anybody's there.... come out." Petra said in a hesitant voice.

Somewhere in the shadows, a low growl responded to her demand. Petra gulped slightly, feeling her heart start to beat rapidly. She took an uncertain step back, her blue eyes darting around anxiously. Barely even feeling the continuous throbs in her head any more.

Then slowly, two green eyes became visible in the shadows as the shape of creature's face became clear. Lips curling back in a snarl.

Petra took another slow, shaky step back, her grip tightening around the knife she was holding. The animal stayed in the shadows, slowly beginning to move as it sized up it's prey.

Sweat broke out on Petra's face as her eyes swiftly searched for an escape route. The creature was between her and the door – not that going out in the blizzard would be any more of a pleasant way to go.

Petra took another hesitant step away, her back meeting a cold surface. She subtly glanced back, realising that she was pressed up against the built-in shelf.

There was another deep growl from the shadows. At the speed of light a shape flew out into clear view, teeth bared.

Reacting on pure instinct, Petra kicked forward, her boot meeting the animal square in the nose.

It staggered back with a yelp, shaking its head. That was all the time Petra needed to grab onto the shelf, hoisting herself up. She clambered right to the top, until she was crouched right below the ceiling.

Petra's gloved hands tightly gripped the edge of the shelf, as she peered down with wide eyes. In her haste, she had knocked down all three of the cans of food. The beans and sardines were still in tact, but the can of pork had burst open, it's contents spilled across the floor.

But that wasn't what Petra was focused on. Her eyes were glued to those of the animal. A large wolf was staring up at her from the ground, it's green eyes blazing with blood lust.

It growled at Petra, pulling its lips back in another snarl to reveal it's razor sharp teeth. It stepped around on the spot in agitation, but then gave up the act of trying to stare the redhead down. It lowered it's head, hungrily beginning to devour the spilled food.

Petra could tell that the wolf had been trapped in there for a long time. It was barely skin and bones, it's shaggy coat thin and frail looking. It over all looked weakened and ill.

Taking deep, shaky breath, Petra closed her eyes. What the hell was she going to do? There was no chance in hell that she could leave the building, otherwise she'd be nothing but a human icicle by the next day!

Petra opened her eyes again, craning her neck to see the wolf. It had eaten the entire can of meat, and was now gnawing on the can of sardines, trying to get it open as well.

Is was very clear that the animal was desperate. Some how, some way, it had gotten trapped inside the abandoned building, and had been slowly starving to death for who knows how long. Petra knew that this wolf wouldn't hesitate to kill – He was desperate and she was a meal to him.

The wolf growled in frustration, giving up on the can of fish. It looked back up at Petra hungrily, licking its lips.

"You already had a can of meat, you can't have me too." Petra muttered under her breath as she glared down at the animal.

She grunted slightly, adjusting her stiff position on the shelf. It was a very small, cramped space, one which her sore and cold body did not appreciate one bit.

Petra craned her neck to look in the direction of the door. There was no way she could reach it, not from her position. Maybe she could wait out the wolf? He might wander off, and then she could make a break for it. All she needed was for him to get out, slip back in behind him and shut the doors again.

She leaned slightly down on her left elbow, letting it support the weight of the front half of her body. Her adrenaline was beginning to wear off again, leaving her feeling groggy and tired.

The wolf grunted, lifting it's front paws onto the shelf. It's green eyes bore into Petra's, another growl sounding from its throat. Then – much to her horror – it lowered it's body to the ground, lying down. Waiting for its prey to come out of her hiding spot.

"You good for nothing fleabag." Petra hissed under her breath in frustration, slamming her fist against the shelf.

She gasped in pain as the action caused her injured arm to throb heavily. She pulled up the sleeve of her jacket slightly, seeing the blood-soaked bandanna around her arm.

Petra's gaze shot back to the wolf as it let out a low growl again. It's eyes were fixed right on her, it's tongue slipping out to lick it's lips. It's nose twitching in delight.

It could smell her blood.

It knew she was injured.

"I refuse to go out this way." Petra said, gritting her teeth.

She slowly raised her left hand, her reflection staring back at her from the hunting knife's blade.

Petra bit her lip, glancing back down at the wolf. She couldn't do it... The animal never asked to get locked into the building like that.

She took a deep, shaky breath. Did she have a choice, though? The wolf was going to wait her out, it knew she couldn't stay on top of that shelf forever. And in the state it was in... Petra wasn't sure if an animal that weakened, could hunt. She might just be condemning it to a much more cruel fate by letting it out.

Keeping her head low so she didn't collide with the ceiling, Petra struggled up onto her knees. She blinked heavily a few times another wave of dizziness washed over her.

Come on, pull yourself together... you only get one shot at this.

Petra took another deep breath, adjusting her grip on the knife. She peered down again. The wolf's gaze was't on her, as it had lowered its head, now licking its one front paw. It was the best chance she would get.

Petra gulped slightly, hating the heavy rock of weight that had come to rest in the pit of her stomach. I'm sorry.

Swiftly planting her boots on the wall, Petra pushed herself off the shelf. Landing right on top of the wolf, the knife impaled into its neck only seconds later.

For a moment, Petra was completely frozen. Staring down at the lifeless form beneath her, her blue eyes large. She felt sick.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Petra pulled the knife out of the animal. It's gleaming silver blade was coated in blood, staining Petra's gloves red.

Petra took in a shuddering breath, placing her good hand on the floor and shakily pushing herself up. She staggered slightly, grasping the shelf for support. The world was properly spinning around her.

Through the dizziness Petra looked back down at the animal that she had just taken the life off. The wolf's eyes closed, it's mouth slightly parted. Blood pooling beneath him.

It was clear that he didn't see the attack coming. And Petra had landed her stab just right – it was immediately over. A quick and painless death.

Gritting her teeth, Petra let go of the shelf, forcing her legs to take her weight again. She took in another deep breath, slowly exhaling. The frantic beating of her heart only slightly started to calm down.

Keeping her head turned away from the dead wolf, Petra staggered slightly away. Blinking heavily a few times, she stared out at the empty room in front of her. She clenched her hands into tight fists, blinking a few times as she felt a much hated burning sensation in her eyes. The last thing she wanted her emotions to be doing at that moment.

"Pull yourself together." She muttered, scolding herself.

Taking one more deep breath, Petra walked back over to where she found the burned out fire. Maybe she could find some wood and get it started back up again, restore some heat.

Petra knelt back down by the fire, inspecting the few planks that haven't been burned through. Hardly proper firewood. Biting her lip, her eyes glanced around for anything wooden she could possibly burn.

"Bingo." Petra pushed herself back upwards, seeing the few discarded planks resting only a few metres away.

She frowned slightly, realising they they were... really out of place, so to speak. It didn't look like there was any construction that had been going on, or anything in that sense. Why would perfectly good planks be lying out in the open like that?

Shaking her head, Petra bent down to pick up some of the wood. She didn't care in the slightest how they got there, no matter how freaky it was. All that mattered, was that those planks would be stopping her from losing a fight to hypothermia.

As Petra got up again, clutching two sturdy planks beneath her good arm, her eyes caught something. A pink and black backpack was resting not far from the planks. She raised her eyebrows slightly, filled with curiosity.

Petra quickly walked back to the burned out fire, placing the two planks down, before walking back over to the backpack. Maybe it belonged to whoever built the previous fire? Maybe they were responsible for the odd placement of the planks?

Petra groaned slightly as she knelt down beside the backpack, reaching up to rub her forehead again. All the recent moving about, was not helping in the slightest.

Pushing aside any thoughts of her pain or injuries, Petra carefully pulled the backpack closer to her. She pulled open the zipper, peering inside.

The first thing to catch her attention, was a flashlight shoved into the side of the backpack. Petra pulled it out, immediately testing to see if it worked. Much to her amazement – and in her favour – a dim light illuminated the room.

She flinched slightly as the sudden light fueled the pulsing in her head. Using the new light source, she returned to looking into the backpack.

There was what looked like a red jacket bundled up right at the bottom of the pack. On top of it rested a few things, a pen, a lighter, a small packet of dried fruit, two cans of tomato soup and – much to Petra's relief and delight – a bottle of water.

Switching off the flashlight to save whatever battery power it had left, Petra immediately took out the bottle of water. It wasn't filled all the way to begin with, so without thinking, Petra thirstily finished off the entire bottle. It may have been a stupid move, but at that moment she was too relieved about having her thirst quenched that she didn't even notice.

Letting out a slow exhale, Petra placed the empty bottle back in the bag. She got to her feet again, picking up both the flashlight and the backpack. Carrying them back to her unlit fireplace and dumping them both down there.

Petra got down on her knees again, this time not planning to get up again soon. She picked up a paper slip that looked like it might have floated down from the cash register, bunching it up into a small ball and placing it in her soon-to-be fire. She took out the lighter from the backpack, carefully setting fire to the paper.

It didn't take long for the fine remains of the previous fire's wood to catch on fire as well, the flames soon spreading onto the fresh planks.

Petra held her hands in front of the fire, closing her eyes as she felt her cold muscles relax ever so slightly. It wasn't much, but it was heat nonetheless.

She blinked her eyes back open, hating how drowsy the new-found heat made her feel. She really longed for a nice, long, nap.

Petra shuddered slightly as she heard another harsh gust of wind outside the gas station. It was growing darker inside the building as well, evening beginning to set in.

Maybe some rest wouldn't be such a bad idea... she doubt she'd be able to keep herself awake for the entire night, not in that state. The fire should keep her warm enough against the cold.

"Let's hope this isn't stupid." Petra said to herself, getting up again.

She lugged a few more planks over, adding them to the fire. The flames crackled, soon starting to spread over onto the fresh wood. Hopefully they didn't burn through the planks too quickly.

Petra gratefully lowered herself back to the ground, a short distance away from the fire. She used the backpack as a sort of pillow, resting her head against it.

The moment she was lying down, the fight to keep her eyes open quickly increased. Petra blinked slowly a few times, wondering what her next move would be in the morning. Provided the weather calmed down, she'd probably set out for the cabin she spotted. She wondered if anybody were still living there, or if the place was entirely abandoned?

Petra slowly closed her eyes, the darkness immediately helping to soothe her headache. She briefly thought back to the wolf, that was still inside the gas station. She prayed she wouldn't run into any more... not just because she couldn't stomach the thought of killing another, but also because she believed that next time – luck might not be on her side.

The wind gusts outside were slightly beginning to settle outside, causing a small smile to creep onto Petra's face, before she completely sunk into the clutches of sleep.

Maybe the odds weren't all stacked against her... maybe things would turn out after all.

___

So that happened!

A lot of people were theorising about who was in the gas station with Petra, guessing Cassie, Aiden, you name it. And I was nervously reading those comments, wondering if you guys would be disappointed to find out it's just another wolf XD

Fortunately, Petra managed to get out of her encounter with this guy, somewhat unscathed. The wolf... well, at least he won't be dying a slow, painful death of starvation, I guess. But it made for a good, exciting chapter!

Admittedly, a bit of a filler here, but hopefully it was still fun to read. Things are going to be escalating quickly in the next few chapters, and this a bit of a buffer to avoid rushing into the plot.

Speaking of the plot, I feel like I should mention that we're not going in a perfect loop, regarding the characters each chapter is focused on. Right now, Jesse and Petra will be the ones focused on, as nothing exciting is happening with Lukas and Olivia for the next few hours to come - Lukas is trying to stop himself from freezing in a shed and Olivia is huddled somewhere in a cave.This is just so we don't get a lot of chapter - like this one - that takes place hours before the chapters that's already posted.

Even my brain is tired of doing time math xD

Also, we're officially in the part of the book that I wrote during my ten-pages-a-day writing challenge I did in December! This book had 99.9% of the spotlight in that time xD

Anyhow, holy cow, look at the length of this A/N. I'm out!Be sure to share any new theories you have, I'd love to hear 'em!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all with chapter 7 in five days!