Rise of the Feline Society Chapter 19 - Running Out of Time
William's heart began to race. It wasn't fast enough to hit 150 BPM, but it was still fast enough. William began to read the text from the Shadowfire gang leader.
It's your lucky day, Will. I can't wait to see what you will do to save your friend. I have decided to tell you where he is early. Good luck, you little sh*t. You're going to need it.
Below it was a picture of where Amos was keeping Jack. It was a standard seven story building. He recognized the building as being close to that indoor mall where his mother and Miranda worked. There was also an address below it.
After William was done reading the text message he clenched his phone in anger as his eyes glowed orange. The phone would've crushed in his hand from anger, but his phone was that of a military grade, so it remained strong.
Amelia, who was sitting next to William, immediately saw his anger and had to ask. "What is wrong?"
William completely disregarded her as he jumped up from his seat. He shoved his phone in his pants pocket as he grabbed his backpack, flinging it over his shoulder as he ran out of the room.
Amelia didn't know what to do as she scanned the room and found his sister Sophie. Sophie had also seen what had happened, but her face was filled with utter confusion and worry. It was something that Sophie didn't seem worried about.
Should I tell Felix, Sophie thought. No, I shouldn't. It's not my place to. If he has problems, he should be the one to ask Felix for help. Unlike other gang bosses he seems genuine.
She just hoped that William would be alright for whatever was troubling him.
Meanwhile William was running up the stairs at a speed he only wished he could achieve before becoming an Animorph. He was currently panicking thinking about everything he would have to do before going to save Jack and while he was saving him.
I must get to him, William thought in a panic. I caused this and I must save him. My energy is currently low so I'm just going to stop and my convenience store and get raw meat. I don't care if it's raw, I'll just have to deal with it. After all, Jack is having it worse off than I am.
He reached the top of the stairs bursting through the door and out into the school hallway. He picked up speed and noticed that his energy was almost out. He was also exerting himself, so he knew that his energy was only draining faster. He opened the system to look at his stats.
"Host Name: William Carter. Species: Felkin. Title: None. Rank: None. Level 3. HP: 38 of 50. Energy: 24 of 180. Strength; 8. Speed; 8. Dexterity; 8. Endurance; 8. Exp: 280 of 365."
I will definitely need more energy, William thought as he kicked open the school doors going out onto the school sidewalk. He ran the length of the school pathway then exited the school grounds. He opened up his system again displaying his skills.
"Skill: Agile Reflexes. Minus 5 energy. Temporary boosts dodge chance and speed for a short time, allowing the cat to evade attacks effortlessly. Skill: Limited Controlled Transformation. Allows the Felkin to transform only his hands, feet, and his head as he wishes. Skill: Balance Burst: Minus 10 energy. Drops into a perfect stance to avoid tripping, falling, or being pushed over, even in hazardous conditions as long as your feet are touching the ground. Duration: 15 seconds with a three-minute cooldown."
He closed the system and kept on running down the road. He was starting to draw attention, so he decided to pull up his hood to hide the orange hair that he had. He looked to the left as the sun's rays were starting to dim on the horizon.
"It's getting dark, William thought. With the sun out and my ability to see in the dark, I'll have an easier time fighting whoever's there holding Jack. I do still have to be careful though. Even with myself being an Animorph, there are some people that are still stronger than me. Yes, I've gotten stronger, but I was very weak to begin with. Hopefully my skills will be enough to defeat them. If Amos or Jasper are there then I might as well already be a dead man.
He shook that thought aside.
No, even if they're there I must fight. That's how much I am in debt to Jack because of what I did.
That's when he took a right entering a convenience store. He rushed over to the cold meat section and picked out five packages of meat. He didn't have time, nor did he care about calculating how much he needed. He just needed to restore his energy as fast as he could so he could get to his friend.
The Felkin ran up to the counter placing down the five packages of meat. The clerk rung it up totaling $51.67.
William took out a couple of twenties throwing it on the counter before shouting. "Keep the change," as he picked up the five meat packages and ran out the door.
The cashier looked surprised but seeing that there was more money on the counter than what it costed, he just shrugged it off.
William had around $2,500 in cash, so he now had around $2,400 after basically throwing $50 away on top of the price of the meat.
He ran down the road before jumping into a nearby alleyway. Just as he entered a sharp hunger pain stabbed into his gut.
"Oh, F*ck off!" He shouted as he tore open the packaging and a sweet fragrance had entered his nose.
He hesitated as eating raw meat wasn't exactly normal for him. In his new form he still hadn't eaten anything that wasn't cooked. He stared at the meat for a little bit longer as saliva began to drip out of his mouth. His eyes started to glow orange as his mouth slowly started to stretch out along with his teeth elongating. He couldn't resist the urge that he had any longer as he grabbed onto the meat, shoving it into his mouth. Another hunger pain hit him, but he just ignored it as he swallowed the food in one go.
"Meat consumed," the system said. "31 energy has been restored. Energy: 55 of 180."
He ignored the message as he tore into the other packages, devouring them too.
"Meat consumed. Your entire energy bar has been filled up. Energy: 180 of 180. Your Health points have been fully restored. HP: 50 of 50. Daily Quest Complete: Consume 3kg of meat a day. 10 exp. Resets at midnight. Exp: 290 of 365."
Well, that's good, William thought. Too bad I'm just a little off from reaching level four. Oh well, I need to go and save Jack now.
***
Amos was sitting on the top floor of the building that they were holding Jack in when the door had burst open. A frantic Shadowfire gang member had barged in interrupting his thoughts."
"Why did you bust open the door?" Amos growled as he slammed his sword on the ground which made the gang member flinch slightly. "You could've just come in calmly and told me that the brat was here."
"It's not that, boss," the Shadowfire gang member shuttered. "We just got a report from a couple of our squads that the Ironclad gang had initiated an all-out attack on us."
The slightly irritated expression on Amos's face turned into pure anger as he slammed his sword into the ground again.
"WHAT!" Amos roared causing the gang member to squeal in fright. "They dare attack us!"
He started to slam his sword into the ground over and over again. In the middle of his bashing rage, you could barely see a flicker of electricity on his sword.
"Go inform Jasper on the fourth floor that the three of us are leaving to defend our territory. You will show me where they are attacking. Tell the rest to stay here and apprehend William. Once he is apprehended, drop his friend."
"Yes, boss," The Shadowfire gang member answered as he disappeared down the staircase.
"Well, well, well," Amos chuckled angrily as he stood up heading to the blackout curtain window. If your friend is skilled enough, you may actually live, since Jasper and I have to go."
He yanked the curtain aside, revealing the nightmare beyond the glass. Below, a sinister machine crouched on the ground, ropes coiled thickly around its frame, blades whirring and glinting as they spun in hungry circles. A digital timer glowed in the center: 17:00… ticking down. The rope stretched upward, threaded through a series of small metal hooks that jutted from the wooden beam overhead. And dangling from that beam, wrists bound cruelly above his head, was Jack. Blood streaked his torn shirt. His head lolled forward, face pale and slack, bruises blooming dark across his skin. He wasn't moving. The timer blinked: 16:59, 16:58.
*****
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