This certainly is a Moment. (Anyone who's reading my novel right now is going to be like "WTF?!" because this does not fit with what's happening in the chapters I've currently posted. But you'll see. Things happen. Slow-burn plot, as I've said.)
She found herself staring into the grinning face of Crump. He appeared to be alone. His pistol glinted from inside his pocket.
âI thought I recognized you,â he hissed. âLittle bitch who wouldnât shut up in the shop. New around here, arenât you? Well. Youâd have had to get to know me eventually.â
Hannah fought with everything she had. She threw wild punches at his broad chest and kicked him as hard as she could and screamed loudly and hoarsely for help, but it was no use. Nobody came. Crump dragged her backwards and pinned her neck against the brick wall of one of the houses, constricting her windpipe. Hannah began gasping for breath. She had no air left to scream with.
âThe question is,â said Crump, and she could smell what she was sure was celebratory champagne on his breath, âwhatâs the best way for us to acquaint ourselves with each other? Thereâre a number of ways we could go about it. What do you think, little miss?â
He moved his hands so that he was holding her by the armpits instead. Hannah coughed painfully, gathered her strength, and kicked him in the stomach as hard as she could. He was so stocky that he hardly winced.
âFeisty,â he said, grinning. âPlucky. I like that.â
He ran a hungry finger across her collarbone. Chills erupted down Hannahâs spine, but she used his second of distraction to plunge her free arm into her coat pocket and draw out the set of keys Brenna had given her.
She shoved the metal points into his chest with the last bit of strength she hadâthen, in a flash of inspiration, she bit down hard on his arm. She tasted blood; she bit harderâ
âWhat the fuck!â
Crump yelped and took an angry step backwards; his other arm slipped from the wall and held Hannah there somewhat less forcefully than before. But she knew she couldnât run yet. She knew she would have only one shot.
âIâve just turned you into a werewolf,â she said, as mildly as she could, though she wanted to keep biting himâkicking himâhurting himâuntil he was nothing but a pulpy mess on the ground. âI bet you didnât know that we can spread it while weâre still human. We can, if itâs a day or two before the full moon. Once our senses get stronger.â
This was, of course, total nonsense, but she was banking on the idea that he wouldnât know that. His face instantly turned an odd kind of green.