The wolf side-stepped the jab, undeterred in his quest to overpower his prey. He never once took his yellow eyes rimmed in black off Lexi.
The wolf circled, pacing back and forth.
Lexi searched for an escape route or an elevated structure where the wolves couldn’t reach her.
She scanned for a sign of another survivor in the wide concourse who could help her. The empty expanse of concrete and abandoned stores offered no resolution of help. Desperate, Lexi raised her arms to make herself appear larger to the wolf then screamed a loud, forceful sound of absolute rage, a sound so foreign to her it frightened her.
The wolf didn’t budge.
The wolf was patient, studying Lexi for weakness, searching for a momentary lapse in concentration where it could spring on her and knock her to the ground.
A shot echoed somewhere nearby.
“Help!” Lexi yelled. “I need help!”
A barrage of echoing footsteps answered back.
“Hurry! I’m about to be attacked by a wolf.” The words were lost in a jumble of sounds coalescing into indecipherable syllables, yet the frantic tone was unmistakable.
The wolf lowered its head, its muscles quivering and ready to spring.
Lexi steeled herself for what she had to do.
The approaching footsteps became louder until Lexi saw the group. “Shoot it!”
The moment Lexi screamed the wolf sensed her momentary distraction and charged her.
A shot rang out.
The force of the bullet ripped through the wolf’s lungs then blasted out its side, leaving a gaping hole. The wolf crumpled inwards in mid-stride. It yelped a shrill and pitiful sound before crashing to the floor. Its legs twitched once then moved no more.
The other wolf cowed, and with its tail tucked, it ran for its life. Another shot rang out and the wolf dropped lifeless to the hard concrete.
The tense life or death struggle had taken moments, and when it was over, Lexi collapsed.
“Lexi!” Joe bolted to her, knelt, and cradled her head in his hands. “Lexi, it’s me, Joe. You’re okay. You’re safe now.”
Oscar, shaking and shedding hair, padded to Lexi. He licked her hand and nudged her arm with his warm nose.
Slowly, Lexi blinked her eyes open.
“I’m here,” Joe said. “You’re safe and the wolves won’t be a problem anymore.”
Lexi nodded.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m alive.”
“Always a good sign.” Joe paused a moment, thankful Lexi was alright. “We have company. This is Hannah and Ethan.”
Lexi raised her hand and gave them a wave of acknowledgement.
“Ethan is one of the Blue Angel pilots. He’s helping a family here.”
“I’d stay and help, but I need to get back to them,” Ethan said. “I’ve got an injured friend too.”
“Ethan, come back tomorrow and bring the family,” said Joe. “There’s safety in numbers, and we can help each other out.”
“I’ll take you up on your offer. Be back in the morning. Gotta go now. Good luck and see you soon.”
“Can you sit up, Lexi?” Joe asked.
“I think so.” With great effort and with Joe’s help, she was able to sit.
“How are you feeling?”
“Not very well. I can hardly open my mouth to talk, and I’m in a lot of pain.”
“I can help,” Hannah said. “Do you mind if I examine you?”
“Are you a doctor?” Lexi spoke without moving her lips or opening her mouth, like she was a ventriloquist.
“Almost. I was in my last year of dental school, and would have graduated this May. I’m pretty sure it’s been postponed.”
“You never told me that,” Joe said, perplexed.
“You never asked,” Hannah quipped. “Next time, try asking questions instead of making fun of what I was doing when we met.”
“Seriously, you were in dental school?”
“I was. If you don’t mind, help me get Lexi on the counter so I can examine her. I need a flashlight too.”
Joe placed the rubber mat on the wooden bar then folded a jacket for Lexi to rest her head on. Joe and Hannah helped Lexi up to the bar.
“Lie down,” Hannah instructed.
“What are you going to do?” Lexi asked.
“For now, I’ll assess how bad your tooth is.” Hannah then addressed Joe. “Hold the flashlight and shine it on the swollen area.”
Hannah palpated Lexi’s jaw using the pads of her fingers, paying attention to the swollen area. She gently pushed on the area, noting the amount of fluid. “Open your mouth as wide as you can.”
“It hurts.”
“I know. You gotta do it.”
Like a fish out of water gasping for air, Lexi opened her mouth in increments, fighting the pain. Hannah examined her mouth, noting the inflamed area around one of her bottom molars. Her other teeth and gums were in good shape. Using a spoon, she very gently tapped the molar causing the problem.
A lightning bolt of pain shot up from Lexi’s mouth and exploded in the nerves all over her body. Lexi’s arms and legs jerked up, and she stiffened. It took a few seconds for the intense pain to subside, and once it did, Lexi put a hand to her jaw, cradling it. Tears flowed from her closed eyes.
Joe exchanged a worried expression with Hannah.
“I’m sorry it hurt so bad,” Hannah said. “I had to make sure which tooth it was.”
Lexi could only nod. The intense pain prevented her from speaking.
“Hannah, what do you think?” Joe asked.
“If she was getting treatment at a dental office, the dentist would first examine her mouth then take an x-ray of her mouth to confirm the tooth. A small incision would be made into the abscess to allow the pus to drain out, then a warm saline solution or salt water would be used to wash it. Finally, a root canal would be performed under local anesthesia, and she’d be given antibiotics.”
“What about the big elephant in the room?”
“Meaning?” Hannah
