Matt bounced to his feet in the hall and dashed after Nadine’s fleeing body. As she approached the front door, Matt took a flying leap and tackled her. Nadine howled and shrieked like a cornered jackal. She dug her nails into his face and raked them through his skin. As Matt yelped and pulled back, she grabbed the opportunity to slide out from under him.
Matt snapped to his feet. “You animal!” he yelled and snatched a handful of her hair. He pulled Nadine back, but she kept squirming and struggling. Sarah or her father pounded at the lab door. Only he could let them out, but at the moment, he had his hands full.
Nadine slapped him across the face. Matt took a swing at her with his free hand, but missed as she jerked to the side. She wrenched her head away from his grasp, tearing hair out in the process. Nadine screamed and hissed.
Matt stared stupidly at the hair in his hand. Where did this come from? Battling like a hellcat? Sure, Nadine had yelled at him plenty, but he’d never imagined she was capable of this kind of fight. She wasn’t finished, either. Before he realized what she was about to do, she lashed out with her foot and caught him square in the groin.
Matt collapsed, as a tidal wave of pain flooded his lower regions. He’d thought having an arrow removed was tantamount to torture, but this was bone-shredding, brain-blazing agony. Nadine wiped some spittle from her mouth and smiled. The doors sucked open, and she fled.